Broken Frontier

Ask many Superman fans about their favorite Man of Steel story published in the last 20 years or so and they’re likely to bring up All-Star Superman, the Eisner Award-winning limited series that recounts the Last Son of Krypton’s final days on Earth. With Frank Quitely’s gorgeous artwork and Grant Morrison’s straightforward-yet-complex tale drawing from half a century of Superman mythology, the 12-issue series is nothing short of a modern masterpiece.

In response to the overwhelmingly positive response to the series, Warner Premier has released All-Star Superman as its latest DC Universe Animated Original Movie. Like the rest of the films in this direct-to-video lineup, All-Star Superman features an incredible voice cast and top-notch animation. But is it worth a purchase by fans who’ve already read the comics?

At the beginning of All-Star Superman—both the series and the film—a mission to the sun leaves the Man of Steel oversaturated with solar radiation that accelerates his cellular breakdown. Essentially, the source of his power leads to his own destruction, due in no small part to the machinations of Lex Luthor. With his final days approaching, Superman re-evaluates his life, his purpose and—perhaps most importantly—his relationship with Lois Lane.

All-Star Superman clocks in at a brisk 76 minutes, and so, many of the stories and arcs in the original series are abridged or dropped completely. Since Morrison crafted each of the 12 issues to exist as a standalone tale, some streamlining was necessary to translate the overall story into a feature-length film. This is completely understandable, but the battle between Superman and a mutated, Doomsday-esque Jimmy Olsen (from issue four) is sorely missed.

In both incarnations of this story, the relationship between Kal-El and Lois remains at its center. Once Superman is faced with his own mortality, sharing his life fully with Lois becomes paramount. He reveals that he’s been Clark Kent all along, brings Lois into his Fortress of Solitude and even concocts a way for her to share his abilities for 24 hours as a birthday present. When people complain about Superman’s near-invulnerability, they often forget that it is Lois that can cut to his core emotionally. It’s his relationship with her that makes him vulnerable—and human.

Of course, Superman’s other primary relationship is with his arch-nemesis, Lex Luthor. As much as All-Star Superman is a character study of Earth’s Greatest Protector, it’s also a look into the twisted psyche of Luthor. Where does his hatred of Superman come from?  Does he really think he can “save” the world with Superman out of the way? The film delves into Luthor’s twisted perspective on humanity, reminding us why he has remained one of the most chilling and effective villains in the DC Universe.

The nuanced narrative is punctuated by some brutal action sequences, most notably the Parasite’s prison rampage and a climactic super-powered smackdown between the Man of Steel and a chemically-enhanced Luthor. The film makes full use of its PG-13 rating, and certain scenes might be too intense for younger viewers. Plus, at times, the denizens of Metropolis have potty mouths.

Speaking of mouths, it should be noted once again that the film’s voice cast is truly remarkable. James Denton (Desperate Housewives) and Christina Hendricks (Mad Men) make us fully invest in Superman and Lois’ legendary romance, while Anthony LaPaglia (Without a Trace) brings the right mix of menace and intelligence to the role of Lex Luthor. Other cast members include seven-time Emmy Award-winner Ed Asner (Up), Golden Globe winner Frances Conroy (Six Feet Under) as Ma Kent and Matthew Gray Gubler (Criminal Minds) as Jimmy Olsen.

If you spring for the Blu-ray, you’ll be treated to nearly three hours of bonus features, including an “Incubating the Idea” featurette with Grant Morrison, audio commentary with Morrison and executive producer Bruce Timm, a featurette on the genesis of the comic book series called “Superman Now,” two bonus episodes of Superman: The Animated Series, the All-Star Superman digital comic and more.

As a film, All-Star Superman is hardly the definitive version of Morrison’s seminal Superman tale, and many fans of the series will find themselves mourning the omission of several key sections of the story. Nevertheless, this is an excellent addition not only to the DC Universe Animated Original Movie series, but to any Superman fan’s DVD or Blu-ray collection.

All-Star Superman is available from DC Universe Animated Original Movies and retails at $24.98.