What do you think?
Rate this book
All-Star Superman
All-Star Superman #5
All-Star Superman is back for Volume #5: The Gospel According to Lex Luthor.
Two of the comics industry's top creative talents, writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely, the acclaimed team behind 'JLA:EARTH 2' (2000), reunite to redefine Superman based on the timeless, essential iconic elements that everyone knows about the Man of Steel.
The Man of Steel is trapped behind the iron bars of a maximum-security penitentiary with Lex Luthor! Has Superman’s archenemy finally succeeded in maneuvering his opponent to the wrong place at the wrong time?
You've seen it before. Now, see it again as though for the first time. Not an origin story, modernization or reinvention—but instead a timeless and iconic presentation refined by the passion and craft of master storytellers, All-Star Superman presents a unique and elegant interpretation of the original and most recognizable of all superheroes.
Age Rating: 12–17+ / Grades 7–9+
Two of the comics industry's top creative talents, writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely, the acclaimed team behind 'JLA:EARTH 2' (2000), reunite to redefine Superman based on the timeless, essential iconic elements that everyone knows about the Man of Steel.
The Man of Steel is trapped behind the iron bars of a maximum-security penitentiary with Lex Luthor! Has Superman’s archenemy finally succeeded in maneuvering his opponent to the wrong place at the wrong time?
You've seen it before. Now, see it again as though for the first time. Not an origin story, modernization or reinvention—but instead a timeless and iconic presentation refined by the passion and craft of master storytellers, All-Star Superman presents a unique and elegant interpretation of the original and most recognizable of all superheroes.
Age Rating: 12–17+ / Grades 7–9+
23 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 30, 2006
About the author
Grant Morrison
1,793 books4,630 followersGrant Morrison has been working with DC Comics for twenty five years, after beginning their American comics career with acclaimed runs on ANIMAL MAN and DOOM PATROL. Since then they have written such best-selling series as JLA, BATMAN and New X-Men, as well as such creator-owned works as THE INVISIBLES, SEAGUY, THE FILTH, WE3 and JOE THE BARBARIAN. In addition to expanding the DC Universe through titles ranging from the Eisner Award-winning SEVEN SOLDIERS and ALL-STAR SUPERMAN to the reality-shattering epic of FINAL CRISIS, they have also reinvented the worlds of the Dark Knight Detective in BATMAN AND ROBIN and BATMAN, INCORPORATED and the Man of Steel in The New 52 ACTION COMICS.
In their secret identity, Morrison is a "counterculture" spokesperson, a musician, an award-winning playwright and a chaos magician. They are also the author of the New York Times bestseller Supergods, a groundbreaking psycho-historic mapping of the superhero as a cultural organism. They divide their time between their homes in Los Angeles and Scotland.
In their secret identity, Morrison is a "counterculture" spokesperson, a musician, an award-winning playwright and a chaos magician. They are also the author of the New York Times bestseller Supergods, a groundbreaking psycho-historic mapping of the superhero as a cultural organism. They divide their time between their homes in Los Angeles and Scotland.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
June 7, 2020
These issues are so charming. Even when stuff gets serious, there is this air of inconsequential levity hanging in the air of it. Lex Luthor is so obsessed with being the best it's almost endearing. *ALMOST*
It's also the first time I was ever really interested in Lex Luthor as a character. Much as I would like to see him grow and evolve like all the best characters, this was the only time I can think where I was interested in his basic framework being explored.
The dialogue feels esoteric at times- but I think that's more a Grant Morrison trait than anything.
Calling this series a treat seems odd. But that's really the best description I can find. Reading this is its own reward.
It's also the first time I was ever really interested in Lex Luthor as a character. Much as I would like to see him grow and evolve like all the best characters, this was the only time I can think where I was interested in his basic framework being explored.
The dialogue feels esoteric at times- but I think that's more a Grant Morrison trait than anything.
Calling this series a treat seems odd. But that's really the best description I can find. Reading this is its own reward.
July 15, 2019
A Lex Luthor centered story, this fifth issue of All-Star Superman shows us an extremely egotistical Lex, who is very jealous of Superman as we can see from his comments about the Man of Steel while being "interviewed" by the cowardly reporter Clark Kent (ha, the irony) and constantly calling himself much better than him...while his condemned ass is saved multiple times by Clark's subtle actions as Superman. Now we're into Oh, the irony.
That said, the artwork does a great job on the layout of the panels (dat prison block passing as a comic panel, thou) and Quitely draws Clark as a little slouched and round, and the little moments he uses his powers we can see his physique is more bulky, his face more defined and strong, even when Clark gets a little passionate about his annoyance in Lex's inability to learn anything that doesn't increase his ego, we can see his face is more Superman-ish; subtle art hints like this really come across as another element that was intricately crafted for the better of the story. And Lex's eyebrow...hilarious and creepy at the same time. This is how you do an evil and devilish villain without coming across as exaggerated and over-the-top. Another great accomplishment.
That said, the artwork does a great job on the layout of the panels (dat prison block passing as a comic panel, thou) and Quitely draws Clark as a little slouched and round, and the little moments he uses his powers we can see his physique is more bulky, his face more defined and strong, even when Clark gets a little passionate about his annoyance in Lex's inability to learn anything that doesn't increase his ego, we can see his face is more Superman-ish; subtle art hints like this really come across as another element that was intricately crafted for the better of the story. And Lex's eyebrow...hilarious and creepy at the same time. This is how you do an evil and devilish villain without coming across as exaggerated and over-the-top. Another great accomplishment.
August 10, 2020
Probably one of the strongest issues of the series. This depiction of Lex Luthor is fascinating. His intelligence and foolhardy ego make him ridiculous but eerily, sadly human. Morrison’s dialogue feels much more interesting coming out of his and Clark Kent’s mouths.
October 22, 2025
3.5/5 Stars - "The Gospel According to Lex Luthor"
April 4, 2025
The way Frank Quitely illustrates Clark is fascinating. He’s still Superman, but you can somehow understand how people wouldn’t know.
March 6, 2022
I like how this went into Lex’s dynamic with big blue.
High 9.6/10
High 9.6/10
December 24, 2024
Ah, All-Star Superman so let's cover each main character one by one this time it was time for Lex and Clark Kent as he interviews Lex as he's waiting for the Death Penalty. Let's continue and Keep on Reading.
I have always loved comics, and I have I can. I love comics to bits, may the comics never leave my side. I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and hope always to love them. Even though I grew up reading local Indian comics like Raj Comics, Diamond Comics, or even Manoj Comics, now's the time to catch up on international and classic comics and Graphic novels. I am on my quest to read as many comics as I just want to Keep on Reading.
I have always loved comics, and I have I can. I love comics to bits, may the comics never leave my side. I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and hope always to love them. Even though I grew up reading local Indian comics like Raj Comics, Diamond Comics, or even Manoj Comics, now's the time to catch up on international and classic comics and Graphic novels. I am on my quest to read as many comics as I just want to Keep on Reading.
July 6, 2025
Issue #5
Clark Kent defeats Lex Luthor by simply existing.
As Luthor monologues about superiority, Clark — bumbling, invisible, deeply good — saves everyone in secret. It's the best depiction of the Clark/Superman duality ever printed. Luthor can’t understand Superman because he can’t see him… even when he’s right there.
Clark Kent defeats Lex Luthor by simply existing.
As Luthor monologues about superiority, Clark — bumbling, invisible, deeply good — saves everyone in secret. It's the best depiction of the Clark/Superman duality ever printed. Luthor can’t understand Superman because he can’t see him… even when he’s right there.
July 10, 2025
The classic Superman - Lex luthor Convo for the ages
July 6, 2018
This one is great. I love the dynamic between Clark and Lex in this one and how they jump around the prison. So much fun.
July 12, 2025
What a fantastic issue, while reading and listening to the audiobook version I have to say this is the first time that problems with the audiobook have shown though. The voice acting and the sound effects are still top tier, but they have taken the direction of telling the story and thoughts from a POV outside of Superman as much as they can. So of course for this issue they take it to the perspective of Lex. But that also generates the problem of Lex having to be a lot more perceptive of Kent than he usually would be, so the listener can still understand what is going on without the source material. But this has also left the audiobook lacking in some areas, as it can be hard to tell once the dialogue shifts in a new direction. Such as when Lex makes up a fake quote from the upcoming daily planet article about him and it really could have used more dialogue to help the listener. Nitpicks from the audiobook aside, this was such a fantastic issue showing the current state of Lex and really encapsulating his ideas about Superman. Lex Luthor has been sentenced to death for crimes against humanity, he will finally have the chance to join the dictators and conquerers he idolizes so much.
So of course who other than Clark Kent can be the one to get the exclusive rights to Lex’s life story. As Clark heads over to Stryker’s he finds Lex tinkering on a robot that floats around as a mobile library, able to recite almost any work. Incidentally, Clark’s “clumsiness” ended up saving Lex from a faulty electrical outlet that could have shocked him if Clark didn’t trip it first. Lex sees this prison as his domain, the society he will carve his own to become the ruler of a new model of society. So of course seeing himself as the ruler pf a bunch of prisoners can cause them to be quite restless towards Lex…lucky for Lex today is the day he gets to prove his strength and give Clark the story of a lifetime. During what should have been a normal prisoner transport of parasite (whose design I absolute love) he began to grow and become more powerful from something in his vicinity! Immediately causing a riot and causing the prison to fall into chaos, something Lex sees as the only natural way forward for his new society. Unbeknownst to Lex the mere presence of Clark and his suped charged cells have boosted Parasite’s abilities and causes him to turn into a rampaging monster. While fleeing Clark pulled every trick in the book to save Lex while appearing as a bumbling oaf. “Loosing his glasses” so he can use his heat vision to trigger a water pipe, “coughing up a storm” to freeze some prisoners in their tracks. And finally after Parasite crashed through the walls to continue chasing after the pair, he used his strength to cause an “earthquake,” sending parasite into the ground. This only gave Lex a chance to prove his superiority in the prison, bashing parasite n once he was finally down. As the prisoners looked on in awe of Lex, he has never been in a better position of power there.
As Clark and Lex walk back to his cell to finish their interview, Lex points out how he has liked Kent. “You’re a humble, modest, uncoordinated human. You’re everything he’s not.” But at the same time Lex only sees Clark as another weapon against Superman, just as easily be can make their paper and the penal system seem unreliable. He can see the words in the paper now: “…and then the inimitable Lex Luthor opened up the floor and shook hands with a baboon in a Superman suit…” Well hello there Leopold, a baboon in a Superman suit…thanks for getting the door to the secret passage underneath Lex’s cell, drilled out by the library robot using hyper sonic frequencies, aren’t you doing just a great job at making the daily planet look ridiculous. As Lex shows Clark to the exit underneath his cell, he introduced Clark to his niece, who one day hopes to rule the world, and has the boat ready to take him out. But as they finally end their time together, Clark finally breaks for the first time ever with Lex. Superman and him could have been friends and now he is dying like a mad dog in the yard…but to Lex he sees this as victory. He is going to the chair fulfilled, here's the bombshell for your interview Kent…Superman is dying. Lex used the Sun itself to supercharge his cells and mill him from within. Lex finally did it, and now he gives the word to Clark to do with it what he may and break the news. If it wasn’t for Superman Lex believes he would be in charge of this planet, so what more could he want than to see Superman die.
So of course who other than Clark Kent can be the one to get the exclusive rights to Lex’s life story. As Clark heads over to Stryker’s he finds Lex tinkering on a robot that floats around as a mobile library, able to recite almost any work. Incidentally, Clark’s “clumsiness” ended up saving Lex from a faulty electrical outlet that could have shocked him if Clark didn’t trip it first. Lex sees this prison as his domain, the society he will carve his own to become the ruler of a new model of society. So of course seeing himself as the ruler pf a bunch of prisoners can cause them to be quite restless towards Lex…lucky for Lex today is the day he gets to prove his strength and give Clark the story of a lifetime. During what should have been a normal prisoner transport of parasite (whose design I absolute love) he began to grow and become more powerful from something in his vicinity! Immediately causing a riot and causing the prison to fall into chaos, something Lex sees as the only natural way forward for his new society. Unbeknownst to Lex the mere presence of Clark and his suped charged cells have boosted Parasite’s abilities and causes him to turn into a rampaging monster. While fleeing Clark pulled every trick in the book to save Lex while appearing as a bumbling oaf. “Loosing his glasses” so he can use his heat vision to trigger a water pipe, “coughing up a storm” to freeze some prisoners in their tracks. And finally after Parasite crashed through the walls to continue chasing after the pair, he used his strength to cause an “earthquake,” sending parasite into the ground. This only gave Lex a chance to prove his superiority in the prison, bashing parasite n once he was finally down. As the prisoners looked on in awe of Lex, he has never been in a better position of power there.
As Clark and Lex walk back to his cell to finish their interview, Lex points out how he has liked Kent. “You’re a humble, modest, uncoordinated human. You’re everything he’s not.” But at the same time Lex only sees Clark as another weapon against Superman, just as easily be can make their paper and the penal system seem unreliable. He can see the words in the paper now: “…and then the inimitable Lex Luthor opened up the floor and shook hands with a baboon in a Superman suit…” Well hello there Leopold, a baboon in a Superman suit…thanks for getting the door to the secret passage underneath Lex’s cell, drilled out by the library robot using hyper sonic frequencies, aren’t you doing just a great job at making the daily planet look ridiculous. As Lex shows Clark to the exit underneath his cell, he introduced Clark to his niece, who one day hopes to rule the world, and has the boat ready to take him out. But as they finally end their time together, Clark finally breaks for the first time ever with Lex. Superman and him could have been friends and now he is dying like a mad dog in the yard…but to Lex he sees this as victory. He is going to the chair fulfilled, here's the bombshell for your interview Kent…Superman is dying. Lex used the Sun itself to supercharge his cells and mill him from within. Lex finally did it, and now he gives the word to Clark to do with it what he may and break the news. If it wasn’t for Superman Lex believes he would be in charge of this planet, so what more could he want than to see Superman die.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2025
En una audiencia judicial, Lex Luthor es declarado culpable de crímenes contra la humanidad y Lex culpa a Superman por sus acciones.
Clark Kent viaja a la Isla de Stryker para una última entrevista exclusiva con Lex antes de ser sentenciado a la silla eléctrica. Conoce a Lex, quien está trabajando en un Bibliobot capaz de recitar libros a los prisioneros. Clark tropieza torpemente con la pistola eléctrica de Lex, pero se considera buena suerte, ya que la pistola estaba a punto de sufrir un cortocircuito y es posible que le haya salvado la vida. Lex está absorto en sus propios planes y reflexiona sobre la inferioridad de Superman mientras Clark lo sigue tomando notas para su obra.
Clark Kent viaja a la Isla de Stryker para una última entrevista exclusiva con Lex antes de ser sentenciado a la silla eléctrica. Conoce a Lex, quien está trabajando en un Bibliobot capaz de recitar libros a los prisioneros. Clark tropieza torpemente con la pistola eléctrica de Lex, pero se considera buena suerte, ya que la pistola estaba a punto de sufrir un cortocircuito y es posible que le haya salvado la vida. Lex está absorto en sus propios planes y reflexiona sobre la inferioridad de Superman mientras Clark lo sigue tomando notas para su obra.
March 7, 2025
Good issue 👍
Perfect issue to see where Lex Luthor is and what he’s been up too. The exchanging dialogue between him and Clark is some of the best writing within the series so far. Nearly would have gave this issue 4 stars if it wasn’t for the random inclusion of Parasite.
Not every issue needs a villain! We already have Lex! I understand it’s a max security prison but c’mon. They just wanted to include a threat to Clark’s true identity to have some sort of tension in this issue.
Perfect issue to see where Lex Luthor is and what he’s been up too. The exchanging dialogue between him and Clark is some of the best writing within the series so far. Nearly would have gave this issue 4 stars if it wasn’t for the random inclusion of Parasite.
Not every issue needs a villain! We already have Lex! I understand it’s a max security prison but c’mon. They just wanted to include a threat to Clark’s true identity to have some sort of tension in this issue.
August 10, 2025
An issue that allows Lex Luthor and Clark Kent to spend a whole lot of time together as the former awaits the date of his execution and the latter tries to keep his superhero identity secret, as ever. A fantastic look at the two characters who make up the absolute yin and yang of this particular superhero mythos. Equal parts fun and darkness, this is a great return to form after the slight disappointment of the previous issue.
February 25, 2025
Superman Comic Reading Challenge
Day 5 - All Star Superman No. 5
A surprisingly funny issue. Lex Luther proclaiming himself as the smartest man on earth yet blissfully ignorant of the events happening around him being caused by Clark Kent/Superman. Frank Quitely's sequential art steps up to another level in this one.
Day 5 - All Star Superman No. 5
A surprisingly funny issue. Lex Luther proclaiming himself as the smartest man on earth yet blissfully ignorant of the events happening around him being caused by Clark Kent/Superman. Frank Quitely's sequential art steps up to another level in this one.
September 27, 2022
3.5. Lex is craaaaaazy.
July 13, 2024
I feel like I'm not really vibing all that much with the art.
December 26, 2024
Perfect Luthor, and a perfect dynamic between he and Clark. Just good fun.
December 29, 2024
Love me some Superman-ing while hidden as Clark Kent.
July 3, 2025
THIS is Lex Luthor
July 14, 2025
this one was a lot of fun. just a one on one interview between Clark and Lex while some chaos goes on around them..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2025
i love the contrast between what lex thinks of superman and how he treats clark it's actually kind of poetic
August 1, 2025
meh 2.5 of 5
August 23, 2025
Superman gets his value from Lex Luthor
Read
September 17, 2025"You're everything he's not" coitado mal sabe ahah
March 16, 2026
umm are they...yk?
April 12, 2026
Grant Morrison must really enjoy "toxic height-difference yaoi." Still the best issue so far.
June 23, 2026
I am finally starting to see the things that inspired James Gunn, the story's picking up.
December 14, 2016
Storyline is not so special. Sometimes even boring.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews