Books like Absolute All-Star Superman

This is a stunning achievement that fans and non-fans of Superman will enjoy. It’s restrained, subtle, nostalgic, and gorgeously illustrated. I don't know what is and isn't considered a spoiler for this book, so I'll err on the side of caution. Superman is delivered some fateful news involving a situation orchestrated by his arch nemesis (how's that?), and he proceeds to reflect on his life, his choices, and the people that are close to him. As he does this, events unfold beyond his control which lead to increasingly exciting adventures. While each chapter almost feels self-contained, one begets the other and you realize that in fact they're all leading to a purposefully unified whole and ending. As this is a standalone mini-series, All Star Superman is kind of its own world. Frank Quitely, at the top of his illustrating game, creates this vintage, Golden Age-inspired Superman. At one point, even the very first Superman logo makes an appearance. Which is why going back and reading these characters through comic history will help you spot Easter eggs placed by character-history obsessed writers like Grant Morrison. Much like his epic run on Batman, Morrison draws from Superman's long history, incorporating various villains, characters, objects, designs and plot points for a truly unique reading experience. Morrison writes these characters extremely well, with maybe the exception of Lois Lane. She is such a classic and vital presence in Superman stories, and I just didn't love her characterization here. She's often rude, sarcastic, cold, yet capable of warmth, kindness, and love. My Superman knowledge is limited (but growing), so I don't know if this is "true" to character, but I felt that she came on too strong and should have been written more moderately. Lois Lane aside, Morrison's Superman is by far the most dynamic version I've ever seen. He's smart, strong, humorous, subtle, altruistic, sad, angry, weak, and full of regret. The most human I've ever seen him, which is so great because that's exactly who he tries to be. Then there's quirky, desperate, funny, cross-dressing (gay?) Jimmy Olsen. Bullheaded Arthur White. Manly jokester Steve Lombard. And kind, simple Jonathan and Martha Kent. And of course we come to the also well-written Lex Luthor. Arrogant, sharp, witty, thirsty for revenge. While he has that "evil for evil's sake" facade, he's really fleshed out, a man who's been defeated one too many times and devotes his entire life to destroying his natural born enemy. You have to admire his dedication, and he's pretty ruthless despite his congenial appearance. I also really enjoyed the cerebral moments, even if I didn't fully understand them. The whole Bizarro Cube World with the Bizarros and Zibarro (not Sbarro) Supermen and the crazy opposite way they talk. I no hated no that part! The Underverse. P.R.O.J.E.C.T. and their experiments. The strange pink world at the end. And all the crazy gadgets like the Doomsday Gun. Morrison has an appreciation for the wacky sci-fi stuff and I just love it. Some quotes:"...The measure of a man lies not in what he says but what he does.""Fear is the sauce on the steak of life...!""Question: What happens when the unstoppable force meets the immovable object?""Call me nasty...""After bodily death, as neoconlab studies confirm, individual awareness persists for a time and builds for itself thought-palaces or complex hells to inhabit..."It's focused yet epic, light yet deep, new yet old. Somehow Morrison takes everything you know about Superman, everything classic, gives it a slight twist, shoves it into the staggering artwork of Frank Quitely, and out comes this one of a kind, are you ready for it masterpiece.