What to expect from James Gunn's Superman through the lens of All-Star Superman

Superman! Superman! Superman! The world echoes with the iconic chant, set to John Williams' powerful guitar rendition. A revitalized DC Cinematic Universe is unveiled in the first trailer for James Gunn's Superman film.

James Gunn's Superman, starring David Corensworth, will soar into theaters on July 11, 2025. Gunn serves as both writer and director, a role he initially hesitated to take on, initially planning only to pen the script.

Gunn's script draws heavily from Grant Morrison's acclaimed All-Star Superman comic book miniseries. This 12-issue masterpiece sees Superman reveal his secrets to Lois Lane and confront his own mortality. Gunn's long-standing fandom heavily influenced this adaptation.

Inspired by arguably the greatest Superman comic ever? Intriguing! Let's explore what a film adaptation of this source material might entail.

Table of Contents

• One of the greatest…
• Grant Morrison: A Masterful and Concise Storyteller
• A Gateway to the Silver Age of Superheroes
• An Inventively Told Tale
• A Story About People
• Exploring Our Relationship with the Past and Future
• Blurring the Lines Between Narrative and Reader
• A Testament to Boundless Optimism

Image: ensigame.com… All-Star Superman, by Morrison and Quitely, stands as one of the finest, if not the best, Superman comics of the 21st century. This analysis aims to reignite enthusiasm for this classic, particularly in light of the new DCU era. Even those familiar with the comic may find renewed appreciation.

Spoiler Warning: This discussion will delve into All-Star Superman's plot points. The excitement of this comic lies not in the unexpected, but in its execution. While major plot details will be avoided, accompanying images and excerpts may reveal story elements.

Here's why All-Star Superman resonates:

Grant Morrison: A Masterful and Concise Storyteller

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Morrison masterfully unfolds the narrative, humanizes characters, and even depicts Superman's sun-flight in the very first issue—all within a remarkably concise page count. This efficiency warrants closer examination.

The opening page, with its eight words and four illustrations, encapsulates Superman's origin story with breathtaking brevity. It’s a potent distillation of love, new beginnings, hope, and faith in progress. The writers expand upon this foundation, adding layers of complexity.

The film adaptation highlights the challenge of Morrison's minimalist style. A scene, for example, jarringly depicts Superman as indirectly responsible for deaths due to the merging of two short sequences.

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Morrison’s economical approach persists throughout. Issue #10’s prison encounter between Superman and Lex Luthor, a decades-long conflict, is condensed into a few impactful panels.

Similarly, the difference between Jor-El and Superman is brilliantly conveyed in two panels: Jor-El casually tosses a heavy key, while Superman instantly aids his struggling colleague.

Morrison's dialogue, while not always concise, is remarkably precise when at its best (All-Star Superman being a prime example). He notably highlights the "haiku on unified field theory" from issue one and Lex Luthor's concluding remarks in issue twelve.

A Gateway to the Silver Age of Superheroes

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Decades of superhero comics have grappled with escaping the shadow of the Silver Age. Navigating its lengthy chronology and inherent "silver" elements presents a significant challenge.

The Silver Age, with editor Mort Weisinger's Superman facing ludicrous foes and improbable escapes, requires careful consideration. Morrison's approach suggests that we build upon the shoulders of giants, even if those giants seem somewhat comical in retrospect. Understanding the legacy of past works, like Dostoevsky or Dickens, enriches our appreciation of contemporary art.

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Directly revisiting the Silver Age is impossible. Our perspective differs greatly from that of past readers. We see simplistic plots, naive morals, and over-the-top characters. However, the history of comics shouldn't be dismissed; it serves as a valuable lesson. Morrison captures the essence of the "dawn of the Age of Heroes."

He and Quitely translate Silver Age comics into a contemporary language, skillfully employing its techniques and tropes.

An Inventively Told Tale

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Superman comics face a unique challenge: Superman rarely needs to fight. Most superhero narratives express conflict through physical confrontation, a necessity for visual storytelling. But Superman's overwhelming power alters this dynamic.

Morrison cleverly addresses this, often concluding fights swiftly and focusing on non-physical conflicts. The "new defenders of Earth" arc tests Superman's ability to save, not defeat, Kryptonians. His confrontation with Lex Luthor prioritizes rehabilitation over annihilation. Solaris is the only opponent he decisively defeats, leveraging established lore from other works.

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Morrison's genius lies in packing the grandeur and classic elements of Superman's mythology into a concise narrative. Superman fights to save lives, competes to prove his worth, and solves riddles to protect loved ones.

A Story About People

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All-Star Superman shifts focus from Superman's feats to his relationships. His farewell scene prioritizes memories of friends over his extraordinary accomplishments.

The narrative frequently centers on Lois, Jimmy, and Lex Luthor's perspectives. We witness Superman's influence on others, and the recurring Daily Planet characters emphasize the human impact of his actions. Notably, his friendship with Batman is subtly implied rather than explicitly shown.

This character-driven approach mirrors the reader's connection to Superman. We're less interested in his victories than in the people he saves. The story explores "what-if" scenarios, questioning what would have happened if key aspects of Superman's life had been different.

A Story About Our Relationship with the Past and Future

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All-Star Superman examines the interplay between past and future. Superhero comics inherently rely on chronology, building upon established narratives. Morrison demonstrates that neither escaping nor clinging to the past offers true resolution. Learning from the past and building upon its foundation is key.

Blurring the Lines Between Narrative and Reader

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Morrison's work often incorporates postmodern elements. All-Star Superman directly engages the reader, not through overt authorial commentary, but by fostering a sense of interaction with the characters. The comic transcends the fourth wall, creating a sense of immediacy.

The interaction begins with the cover of the first issue and continues throughout, with the narrative addressing the reader directly. The climax occurs in the final issue, where Lex Luthor's poignant reflection invites the reader to contemplate the universe's structure. The reader experiences the world through Superman's eyes, culminating in a powerful connection with Luthor's perspective.

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A Testament to Boundless Optimism

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The comic explores the creation of "canon" within the Superman mythos. Morrison's approach reflects on this process, highlighting the inherent randomness of canon formation. Superman's twelve feats, though not explicitly defined, become a canon constructed by the reader.

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These feats—conquering time, traversing alternate universes, creating life, and even finding a cure for cancer—reveal the epic scope of Morrison's work. It's a testament to boundless optimism and the enduring power of hope. Gunn's adaptation has the potential to capture this essence.