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We're just a week away from the launch of James Gunn's fresh new take on Superman. This has quickly become one of our most eagerly-anticipated new movies and that's partly down to learning that it was inspired by one of the Man of Steel's most famous comic book adventures: All-Star Superman.
Gunn himself hinted at this back in February 2023 by posting a tweet that shared art from the comics that have most influenced the burgeoning new DCU film slate, with a famous cover from All-Star Superman, alongside art from The Authority, Grant Morrison's run on Batman, and Alan Moore's Swamp Thing.
What is All-Star Superman?
Launched in 2005, All-Star Superman is a 12-issue limited series comic by writer Grant Morrison and artists Frank Quitely and Jamie Grant. Set outside of normal DC continuity, the story covers a huge cast of Superman's most famous villains and supporting characters, focusing on the so-called "12 Labors of Superman."
In the story, Superman becomes so overcharged with solar radiation after a daring rescue of deep space astronauts that his cells begin to decay, meaning that Superman is dying. As he fails to find a cure, he also undergoes 12 missions meant to leave the world a better place after his death, taking the nickname the "12 Labors" from the classic myth of the 12 Labors of Hercules.
Across the series, Superman encounters Lex Luthor, Bizarro, and many other villains, and forges an even closer relationship with Lois Lane than ever before, all against the backdrop of a world where every single one of Superman's adventures, even the silly ones from the '50s, are considered canon and have an influence on All-Star Superman.
As a result, All-Star Superman feels a lot like a rundown of Superman's history as well as the final days of his life, leading all along to a bittersweet finale which seems to set up a future for Superman even after his impending death.
Why is All-Star Superman so important?
In the years since its release, All-Star Superman has become a kind of go-to comic for people who want to get into Superman, even more than stories that retell versions of his actual origin.
Beyond that, several pages and scenes from the story – such as a tender moment where Superman consoles a young woman – have gone viral on their own over the years as examples of what Superman should and could mean to people when presented in the right way.
For those reasons, All-Star Superman has become a beloved example of the idea of Superman at his very best, a one-stop crash course in all things relevant to the Man of Steel, including how he relates to many of his most famous foes, his connection to super science and sci-fi, and his deep wells of compassion.
At the time All-Star Superman was released, the DC Multiverse technically didn't exist in the contemporary continuity of the era, so All-Star Superman also offered readers a look at a side of Superman that was not typically seen on the page at the time.
What has James Gunn said about All-Star Superman?
Gunn has been very clear about the impact All-Star Superman has had on the new film. "There's a lot of stuff from the comic books, but above and beyond anything else, it's All-Star Superman," he told ComicBook in late 2024. "That influenced me more than anything."
He went on to add that All-Star's vision of Lex Luthor also influenced the project, saying, "Being able to take that sort of Silver Age feel, that sort of science fiction approach to it with the gadgets, and Lex is really a sort of sorcerer in a way. He's a scientist, but he's so good at science that I think of him as a sorcerer."
Indeed, Gunn also insisted that the cast and crew working on the film read the series – including, of course, the new Man of Steel himself, David Corenswet.
"The fact that he [Gunn] had told me even before I was cast that All-Star Superman was one of his guiding lights was super helpful," Corenswet told CBR. "The thing that I found in that was, I guess, the kind of gentle nerdiness of Superman. I love seeing when he goes into his Fortress of Solitude that he's got a man cave, not in the way that... It's not a Bat Cave. He's got his technology and stuff, but it's mostly all of these relics and fun things that he's gotten to collect because he does what he does, and he wants to show them off to Lois because he can't show them off to many people because he's not supposed to. And sort of the gentle loneliness of that, but without any sense of dark brooding."
All-Star's influence isn't just felt in the characters, however. It also extends to the visual language of the film. Production Designer Beth Mickle, talking to The Nerds of Color said, "Frank Quitely's work in All-Star Superman was by far and away our guiding light for this... A lot of the color palate and notes I had early on came from that. I spent three weeks devouring it, screenshotting it, grouping colors together, lines and shapes together, and there is the most beautiful vivid and simple design language in it… upbeat, bright, but simple, not overworked, not stuffed with color. That became our main source."
How will All-Star Superman influence the story of James Gunn's Superman?
So does this mean that James Gunn's Superman will be an adaptation of All-Star Superman? The answer to that is: almost certainly not. Rather, the comic's influence will be felt more in the film's tone and characterization. As opposed to Zack Snyder's Man of Steel continuity, which proved very serious and heavy, the influence of All-Star Superman signals that DC Studios is looking to change its approach to Superman in movies into something brighter and more optimistic.
Still, by looking to this most beloved comic book story, James Gunn and DC are signaling that they see a bright future ahead for Superman movies. In a dark and gloomy present, we need the warmth and optimism of the Man of Steel more than ever.
All-Star Superman is definitely on the list of the best Superman stories ever.
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