Slugfest!

This new book in the All-Star line up provides an excellent canvas for writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely to do their thing in a story titled ...Faster.... Unlike the approach that Frank Miller has taken with All-Star Batman, All-Star Supes is not written like a complete primer for new Superman fans.

Morrison never talks down to his audience and begins his story with a one-page recap of everything you need to know about the Man of Steel's background, succinctly explained in four phrases: "Doomed planet."; "Desperate scientists."; "Last hope."; "Kindly couple." Then Quitely takes charge with one of the nicest two-page splashes ever published of Superman flying near the Sun's chromosphere, replete with solar flares blazing in the background.

The set-up: Big Blue is attempting to rescue four genetically engineered astronauts lead by scientist and philanthropist Leo Quintum aboard the spaceship the Ray Bradbury on a mission to map the sun. And who is responsible for the genetic engineering? Why none other than Lex Luthor, of course! Or so it seems.

As the ship's shields and engines begin to fail, one of the astronauts goes rogue and the first one-panel slugfest begins! The rogue punches a fellow astronaut's head through a control panel and reveals himself to be "a genetically modified suicide bomb in human form." And we find Luthor remotely controlling his genetic-weapon using a voice command sequence from Earth.

Luthor has been released from jail and is working for the military under the watchful eyes of General Sam Lane, Lois' dad. Of course, Luthor has his own agenda, and an expose of his criminal misdeeds is plastered all over the front page of the Daily Planet.

Meanwhile, Superman enters the capsule and engages in an all-out battle with the rogue assailant. And with the help of Astronauts Flora and Quintum, Superman is able to safely move the dramatic, explosive finish away from the capsule to the confines of space!

Back on the moon after the rescue, Leo Quintum performs tests on Superman to find that exposure to "critical levels of stellar radiation" has tripled his strength and caused the manifestation of "one new super-power" (which is yet to be revealed), but unfortunately the exposure has also resulted in apoptosis, cell death from super-saturation of solar energy. Superman laments that the source of his powers may be the one thing that kills him, as Quintum realizes Luthor has successfully used the mission to theoretically kill Superman.

Quintum explains that he is involved with the resurrection of the the DNA P.R.O.J.E.C.T. dedicated to rebuilding a new race of superhumans: photosynthetic giants, Bizarro drones, anaerobic meganthropes with liquid nitrogen for blood, genetically modified P.R.O.J.E.C.T. nanonauts that are "unlocking the mysteries of the cell, atom and the infinitesimal yoctosphere"; all in case anything should happen to Superman.

The issue closes with Superman returning to Earth to offices of the Daily Planet. Quitely renders an awesome panel of Clark Kent in action!


And the issue ends with Luthor getting arrested for attempted murder and crimes against humanity. He goes willingly prepared to witness the results of the plan he has set into action from the safe confines of a guarded cell. Meanwhile, with the apparent end in sight, Clark reveals his identity to Lois in this issues' cliffhanger.

Morrison peppers his stories with a good mix of hard-science and psuedo-science to produce a great story. And although he populates his stories with a few of his own quirky characters, he is fairly straight when it comes to writing the mainstream characters. And so even though this issue is a little weak in the slugfest dept., overall Morrison and Quitely hit one out of the park in their first trip to the plate. I'm looking forward to next issue's exploration of the Fortress of Solitude!