All-Star Superman: DC Compact Comics Edition

Loved it.

Essential reading for any Superman fan and the compact comics line doesn't break the bank, perfect if you want to dip your toes into the comic space.

Excelente! Entrega eficiente e rápida :)

طباعه رهيبه والرسم جميل

If you ask any comic book fan what the most definitive superman story is, chances are that they will mention this book. I dont want to spoil anything but if you are here only for the story then the DC compact edition is the way to go. However, if you can afford it, the Deluxe Hardcover and Absolute editions will bring you the full experience of the book.

This award-winning story from 2005–2008 has received much praise but I believe they are excessive. The pacing is there but the entire story comes across as episodic to me. The story can be distilled to the following: Lex Luthor engineers the eventual death of Superman, but before then Superman completes 12 tasks/labours (shades of the 12 labours of Hercules). As the story progresses, many past Superman mythos are dredged up and reimagined. Not all of the 12 labours are properly identified. As such, a reader's list of these 12 labours will likely differ from that of another. A few chapters also border on silliness. For example, in Chapter 3 there is the silliness of Samson and Atlas vying for Lois Lane's attention like two infatuated high-school boys. There is scant introduction to Leo Quintum ... who he is, his background etc. And the same goes for his lunar-based P.R.O.J.E.C.T. The technologies presented in the story are also quite farfetched/unrealistic. In Chapter 6, I believe the bootstrap paradox comes into play. This paradox, in my opinion, is illogical. I extracted this explanation from Wikipedia: Bootstrap paradoxes violate causality by allowing future events to influence the past and cause themselves. There are attempts to develop the characters but they are not entirely successful. The writer tries to bring out Superman's character and values but the treatment is superficial and there is insufficient depth. The artwork is something else though. The panels are very nicely drawn and digitally coloured. But here, there is the unnecessary sexualisation of Lois Lane. The book is readable and enjoyable in parts. As such, I just cannot bring myself to call it a great story. I feel a 3.5-star rating is appropriate and generous enough (not five).