Broken Frontier

It’s a visit to Superman’s past to witness an event that changed his life... the first time he knew what it was to experience a great, personal loss...

Between the cover image and the title for this issue most fans can pretty much figure what they will find inside. It is a tribute to Grant Morrison’s skill as a writer that he can still throw some unexpected moments in as well as making this story possibly one of the most touching Superman stories in a long time.

Clark Kent is home visiting from college and perhaps reconsidering his decision to become a journalist. Jonathan Kent, however, knows his adopted son is destined for greater things. The arrival of three strange men to the Kent farm just might have something to do with that destiny... When a being from the distant future comes calling in Smallville the cost of stopping it may prove to be even greater than the cost of not stopping it.

All-Star Superman continues to prove itself one of the most detailed and amazing reinventions of Silver Age ideas. Here fans are given a fresh interpretation of one of Clark Kent’s greatest losses. It is Morrison’s deft and light touch that shows us two men at opposite ends of the spectrum – one just beginning his life and one nearing the end, one uncertain of his future and one who is well aware of what is coming. Morrison plays with the cycle of years – bringing everything to an emotional but fulfilling conclusion. Fans of DC’s 1,000,000 event will get a couple of Easter Eggs this issue but those unfamiliar with the 1,000,000 mini-series will not feel lost or left out.

Artist Frank Quitely also puts in several nice touches here. The bald spot on the back on Jonathan Kent’s head humanizes the character, bringing him down to earth and making him seem familiar. The look of joy that Quitely places on Clark’s face as the young Superman takes off after Krypto is a study in unadulterated contentment and freedom. With that one panel the reader understands just how perfect Clark feels his life is in that moment.

Despite an erratic release schedule, All-Star Superman continues to deliver stories that get to the core of not only the Superman mythos but also part of the shared human experience. In this issue we see a powerful, mythological figure but one that is all too human as well.