Books like All-Star Superman, Vol. 2

\ \ What the...Huh??...Not sure what I missed along the way, but this story did exactly bupkis for me. One of the most critically acclaimed and popularly embraced graphic novels of the past decade; a landmark portrait of THE iconic superhero…and I couldn’t rustle up a damn to give about it. Honestly, I’m a little crushed. Granted, as I’ve mentioned before, Superman is not among my favorite spandexer. I tend to gravitate towards grittier heroes with more snarl to them, and often find the Man of Steel’s treacly, “Dudley Do-right” way of handling his business low on the entertainment scale. However, I really was looking forward to this, given the lofty esteem with which it is held, and I don’t think my general lack of enthusiasm for the character was much of a factor in my reaction to the story. So…After a nettlesome encounter with All-Star Superman, Vol. 1 that left me a rather disgruntled and disillusioned fanboy, I came to this hoping that the second half of the story would come together and create a more favorable opinion of the completed work. Didn’t happen. Second verse, same as the first. MY GRIEVANCES:1. The writing. First and foremost, Grant Morrison did not impress. This is the same gentleman who knocked me assward with his elegant, piquant prose in Supergods: What Masked Vigilantes, Miraculous Mutants, and a Sun God from Smallville Can Teach Us about Being Human. The man can flat out compose, and ranks high among the most original and talented writers working in the medium. But here, his work felt stilted and lacked elegance or any emotional punch. It was completely missing the wow factor. 2. Worst.Luthor.Ever. This was my biggest gripe. I don’t know who this guy is or where he came from, but this is NOT Lex Luthor:\ \ I’m not just referring to the atrocious art featuring the Fonzi collar and the Elvis, “thank you very much” lip-curl. No, bad art I can forgive…mostly. I’m talking about the character himself, what he says, what he does, and how he comports himself while doing so. Morrison writes Luthor as a petulant dork. This is unacceptable. Lex Luthor is on the shortlist of “Most Likely to Be the Coolest Villain Ever,” and this series has him relegated to the role of some bratty science nerd with a schoolyard grudge. In short, I detested this aspect of the story. 3. The Unsupporting Cast. In addition to the hackle reddening/raising portrayal Lex, I wasn’t enamored with the remaining supporting cast members either. I get that Lois is despondent over Superman’s pending death, but she just came across as so frail and clingy that it irked me. Weak and helpless is not a good look for her. Jimmy and Perry are utterly forgettable, and Steve Lombard deserves special mention because he was an irritant in every panel in which he showed up (which thankfully there are not many). 4. The Art. This is the most subjective of areas so take this as you will, but Frank Quitely’s art offends my personal aesthetic. My eyes and his work do not get along. Beginning with Volume 1, I was immediately put off by his rendering Superman to look like a retired NFL lineman gone to flab, \ \ And even ignoring the pudgy fetish, so many of the other panels just seem…off. Look at this shot of Supes,\ \ Those legs do not match that torso, the face is all jaw...and is that a saggy, oldman bulge in his grandpa trunks. I won’t even address Lex and his World War I cavalry pants with the puffy thighs and the knee-high boots. Nothing about it appealed to me. THE POSITIVES:All the above bitching notwithstanding, the there were some things I thought were good, even excellent. For example, there is a terrific moment in which Superman talks a troubled girl out of committing suicide. \ \ This was a nice symbolic instant in which Superman’s words are really being spoken to all of us and sum up his unique optimism about humanity. In addition, the climax was very moving and Supes final gift to his adopted world was wonderfully done. \ \ For me, it was just too little, too late. 2.0 stars.