What to expect from James Gunn's Superman through the lens of All-Star Superman

Superman! Superman! Superman! The world echoes with the iconic chant, set to John Williams' legendary guitar riff. A hopeful new DC Cinematic Universe dawns with the first trailer for James Gunn's Superman film.

James Gunn's Superman, starring David Corensworth, blasts into theaters July 11, 2025. Gunn serves as both writer and director, a role he initially hesitated to take on, initially focusing solely on scripting the film.

Gunn's script draws heavily from Grant Morrison's acclaimed All-Star Superman comic book miniseries. This 12-issue masterpiece sees Superman reveal his secrets to Lois Lane and confront his own impending mortality. Gunn's long-standing love for comic books is evident in this adaptation.

Inspired by arguably the greatest Superman comic ever? Intriguing! But what can we expect from a film adaptation so deeply rooted in its source material?

Table of Contents

One of the greatest… | Grant Morrison is a skilled and frugal storyteller | The door to the Silver Age of superheroes | This comic is an inventively told good story | It's a comic book about people | A story about our relationship with the past and the future | This comic breaks down the boundaries between the narrative and the reader | It's a story about boundless optimism

Image: ensigame.com… One of the greatest, if not the greatest, 21st-century Superman comics is Morrison and Quitely's All-Star Superman. For the uninitiated, let's explore its appeal, especially within the context of the new DCU. For those who've shelved it, let's reignite that enthusiasm.

Warning: I won't shy away from discussing All-Star Superman's plot. The excitement lies not in the unexpected, but in the masterful storytelling. While I'll avoid unnecessary plot recaps, images and examples span the entire series and may contain spoilers.

Here's why All-Star Superman resonates:

Grant Morrison: A Master of Concise Storytelling

Image: ensigame.com

Morrison masterfully unveils the plot, humanizes characters, and depicts Superman's sun-flight—all within the first issue, while seamlessly weaving in core Superman mythology. This efficiency deserves discussion.

The first page, with eight words and four illustrations, encapsulates Superman's origin story—a concise masterpiece. It's a potent image of love, new beginnings, hope, and faith in progress. Eight words, four images—a testament to effective storytelling. The subsequent expansion adds depth and complexity.

The film adaptation highlights the challenge of Morrison's minimalist approach. One scene jarringly juxtaposes two micro-episodes, inadvertently portraying Superman as culpable in multiple deaths.

Image: ensigame.com

Morrison's minimalism persists. In issue #10, Superman's encounter with imprisoned Lex Luthor—a decades-long conflict condensed into a few panels—is a prime example.

Issue #9 masterfully contrasts Bar-El and Superman, not through lengthy dialogues or illustrations, but through two panels showcasing their contrasting actions.

Morrison's dialogue isn't always succinct, but at his best (All-Star Superman being a peak), every word counts. He highlights the "haiku about unified field theory" in issue one and Lex Luthor's closing words in issue twelve as particular achievements.

A Gateway to the Silver Age

Image: ensigame.com

Decades of superhero comics have strived to escape the Silver Age's shadow. Navigating its lengthy chronology and inherent "silver" aspects is challenging.

The Silver Age, with its outlandish villains, alien pets, and improbable escapes, presents a unique challenge. How do we reconcile this?

The answer lies in acknowledging our shared history. We stand on the shoulders of giants, regardless of how we perceive those giants today. Understanding the past, even the seemingly ridiculous parts, enriches our appreciation of the present.

Image: ensigame.com

We can't return to the Silver Age. Our perspective differs from that of past readers. We see simplistic plots, naive morals, and absurd characters.

A museum isn't a time capsule; it's a learning tool. We shouldn't shy away from comic history; we should learn from it. Morrison understands and depicts the "dawn of the Age of Heroes." He and Quitely translate Silver Age comics into a contemporary language.

An Inventively Told Story

Image: ensigame.com

Superman comics face a unique challenge: Superman doesn't need to fight. Most superhero stories use physical conflict to express various conflicts, but Superman's victories are predetermined.

This limitation forces creative storytelling. Morrison, while self-limiting within the Silver Age framework, masterfully handles this. Most fights end quickly, and the most intense confrontations avoid physical combat, focusing on problem-solving and moral dilemmas. Saving, not defeating, becomes the central conflict.

Image: ensigame.com

In the Lex Luthor confrontation, only Luthor desires Superman's demise. Superman aims for redemption. Solaris is the only opponent he simply defeats, referencing his eventual redemption in other canons.

Morrison's genius lies in cramming the grandeur and classic elements of Superman into a concise narrative. Superman saves people, competes with heroes, and solves mysteries—all within a single, slim volume.

A Comic About People

Image: ensigame.com

Superman's final thoughts aren't about his achievements, but about his loved ones. The farewell scene dedicates more space to memories of friends than to miraculous feats.

All-Star Superman focuses less on Superman and more on the perspectives of Lois, Jimmy, and Lex Luthor. We see Superman inspire and motivate, and recurring characters from the Daily Planet interact with and protect him. Notably absent is his friendship with Batman, highlighting the focus on human relationships.

The emphasis on supporting characters reflects our relationship with Superman. We care less about his battles and more about the people he saves. The story explores what-if scenarios, questioning what would happen if Superman hadn't met Lois, had different parents, or hadn't left Smallville.

A Story of Past and Future

Image: ensigame.com

All-Star Superman explores the interplay between past and future. Superhero comics offer a unique chronology; events from previous issues have a sense of "real" history.

Morrison demonstrates that neither escaping, denying, nor blindly adhering to the past is truly effective. Learning from the past and building upon it is key. He masterfully portrays the "dawn of the Age of Heroes."

Breaking the Fourth Wall

Image: ensigame.com

The comic directly engages the reader. It's not about imposing the author's worldview, but about creating an interactive experience. Morrison doesn't just play with the fourth wall; he transcends it.

The interaction begins with the first issue's cover, where Superman looks directly at the reader. Throughout the series, the narrative addresses the reader directly. Lois's "Let's go!" and Jimmy's "Don't let him be seen like that!" are directed at us.

Image: ensigame.com

The climax occurs in the final issue, where Lex Luthor, with tears in his eyes, looks at the reader, contemplating the universe. "We are all we have," he says. Is he referring to Superman or the reader? The blurring of lines is intentional. We see the world through Superman's eyes, experiencing his perspective and ultimately becoming him.

Boundless Optimism

Image: ensigame.com

The comic reflects on canon formation. Superman's twelve feats, though not explicitly numbered or highlighted, become a canon we create as readers. The series itself becomes a "variant canon."

These feats—conquering time, traveling to a mirror universe, creating life, defeating the sun, curing cancer—reveal Morrison's ambition. He wasn't telling a simple story; he was crafting an epic. And Gunn's adaptation promises a bold reimagining.

Image: ensigame.com

Gunn's film has the potential to be a powerful statement this summer, a faithful and impactful adaptation of a truly exceptional comic.