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All-Star Superman
All-Star Superman #2
"The measure of a man lies not in what he says but what he does..."
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.
After the startling events of the first issue, Superman retreats with Lois Lane to his Arctic sanctuary. Find out what mystery haunts Superman’s girlfriend as she spends her birthday in the strangest place on earth—the Fortress of Solitude!
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.
After the startling events of the first issue, Superman retreats with Lois Lane to his Arctic sanctuary. Find out what mystery haunts Superman’s girlfriend as she spends her birthday in the strangest place on earth—the Fortress of Solitude!
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+
21 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 18, 2006
15 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Grant Morrison
1,790 books4,621 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
March 4, 2020
I want to live at the Fortress of Solitude. The way you see Lois typing on her computer next to those IKEA windows (and tables) while a blizzard engulfs the outside... it just seems so cozy to me. Mark my words, I'm making a place like this if I get rich enough.
In regards to this issue, it was beyond cute.
I kinda hate that word. Cute.
But it's the only word that really describes it. There are things that happen that sent my alarm meter off, but by the end it wraps up in that classic old timey sort of storytelling where everything you thought was sinister was actually just a ruse to something more innocent and in this case, heartwarming.
I love Superman. And I love Lois.
In regards to this issue, it was beyond cute.
I kinda hate that word. Cute.
But it's the only word that really describes it. There are things that happen that sent my alarm meter off, but by the end it wraps up in that classic old timey sort of storytelling where everything you thought was sinister was actually just a ruse to something more innocent and in this case, heartwarming.
I love Superman. And I love Lois.
April 1, 2016
Happy Birthday Lois Lane
April 2, 2025
Another excellent read. Such a fun concept. While I normally would take more issue with this particular portrayal of Lois, it fits the Silver Age aesthetic the book is going for and I can ultimately give it a pass.
October 22, 2025
2.5/5 Stars - "Superman's Forbidden Room"
July 11, 2019
A sweet Superman and Lois date that eventually becomes a mystery dungeon and then dials back into sweetness. Superman takes Lois to the Fortress of Solitude after revealing his secret identity to her, and Morrison masterfully manages this new stage on their relationship. Lois thinks a bit differently about Superman knowing much more about him, Superman himself divided between giving Lois a good date and whether he should tell Lois about his terminal condition, which makes a bit of a rift between the two. Morrison takes advantage of the Fortress of Solitude to really exploit the magnificence of being a Superman, as he has quite the intergalactic collection in his Fortress: plants that make music, creatures that eat little sun stars, a machine that gives him not-so clear information about the future; all collected from his many adventures. It certainly is very out-there, but Morrison dials it back by the very human drama in Superman regarding his health and his feelings for Lois: very much human, no matter how many planets he has set foot on. This really uses the idea of Superman without making it too far away from readers, something many Superman writers fail to do.
The art by Quitely and coloring by Jamie Grant once again provides a very cinematic approach to the story, and some fantastic close ups that tells us more about the characters, sometimes more than the dialogue. Quitely and Grant really make the Fortress feel big and imposing, but also comfortable and lovely, depending on the room. The story flows naturally, the mystery is set without any bumps along the way, and the ending/cliffhanger for the next issue is sweet. The only flaw I can find is that this issue does away with the Lex plot in favor of a more personal issue, but nothing that severe.
A great second issue that makes you want to read the rest.
The art by Quitely and coloring by Jamie Grant once again provides a very cinematic approach to the story, and some fantastic close ups that tells us more about the characters, sometimes more than the dialogue. Quitely and Grant really make the Fortress feel big and imposing, but also comfortable and lovely, depending on the room. The story flows naturally, the mystery is set without any bumps along the way, and the ending/cliffhanger for the next issue is sweet. The only flaw I can find is that this issue does away with the Lex plot in favor of a more personal issue, but nothing that severe.
A great second issue that makes you want to read the rest.
December 24, 2024
Superman and Lois Lane are in the palace of solitude and Lois is all kind of paranoid. Let's 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 28, 2025
SUPERMAN'S FORBIDDEN ROOM
Superman (or more importantly, Clark) decides to tell Lois that he's Superman. However, the entire issue is surrounded in mystery because Superman refuses to tell Lois the truth about what's going on with him because he refuses to spoil her birthday.
The relationship here between Lois and Clark is incredibly sweet and I genuinely felt tears welling up in my eyes. I cannot handle where things are going here and I straight up have the easier time making time for this.
So incredibly beautiful and sweet.
Superman (or more importantly, Clark) decides to tell Lois that he's Superman. However, the entire issue is surrounded in mystery because Superman refuses to tell Lois the truth about what's going on with him because he refuses to spoil her birthday.
The relationship here between Lois and Clark is incredibly sweet and I genuinely felt tears welling up in my eyes. I cannot handle where things are going here and I straight up have the easier time making time for this.
So incredibly beautiful and sweet.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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July 28, 2023Be Careful What You Wish For
Lois Lane gets more than she bargains for, and Superman has more to say than he lets on. There's a wonderful sequence with Lois applying all her world's best investigative reporter skills, and it's perfectly believable.
Lois Lane gets more than she bargains for, and Superman has more to say than he lets on. There's a wonderful sequence with Lois applying all her world's best investigative reporter skills, and it's perfectly believable.
July 7, 2025
Wow continuing to read this series with the audiobook version, the cast and sound effects really elevated this issue into the paranoid horror movie Lois was experiencing this issue to make it such a good read. As we left the last issue, Clark Kent finally revealed to Lois Lane that he is Superman…which is impossible to believe even as he is flying her car to the fortress of solitude. It’s legitimately something Lois cannot wrap her head around, this entire time Clark has really been Superman? We see as Clark walks her through the fortress, from the door with the unassuming key that is really made form a dwarf star and extremely heavy, to his super robots, and then the rooms upon rooms of mementos and weapons he has picked up over the years. One room contains the likes of Kandor to a replica of the titanic, and one room contains the greatest weapons he has picked up…including a Kryptonite ray gun. But as Lois goes to her room and prepares for the rest of the she can’t get it out of her head that there is more to this. Why did Superman decide to bring her here and do this on her birthday? Is this where things get serious or is he setting her up for something else entirely?
Superman was also able to bring her to his time telescope room where he is able to send messages between his successors in the future. On the monitor right now is Kal Kent from the year 853,450 AD, once again talking about fighting Solaris, lol. One day he hopes that the future man or woman of tomorrow will lent he door with the really heavy key and walk through and feel what it was like to live at the dawn of the age of superheroes. On the next stop pf our tour is the phantom zone map room, which doesn’t look like much if you can’t see radio-negative anti-waves, but Lois is able to see the dark void taking up the room, which is Superman’s baby sun-eater! He caught it around Jupiter and now keeps it here while feeding it with baby suns he creates on the cosmic anvil from new Olympus. But right as Superman begins to crack apart a Sun and feed the creature a door cracks open, and its red light brings Lois closer to it.suddenly she is horrified to look inside the room and see a robot working at a horrific machine surrounded by images of her?! Superman quickly rushes her away, explaining that it’s not what it looks like and that everywhere in the fortress is available EXCEPT this room. Seeing this room really shocked and changed the entire vibe for Lois, and everything she sees in Superman has started to be stripped down to the black and white as they enjoy dinner. Their entire relationship has been throw up in the air, all this time he has been lying to her and now she is just supposed to believe that his exposure to the sun has made him 3x as honest as well? But the dinner finally ends when Clark can’t explain why he chose now to bring her here, and just asked for her trust. As Lois retreats to her room to type away her experiences, she can’t get that room out of her mind. Why did he bring her here, what if he is trying to perform some experiments on her and he really has changed?! But even worse, what if he is telling the truth?! Lois can’t stand it anymore, and runs off from her room to get a weapon to protect herself.
All the while Clark is struggling with the idea of telling her that he only wanted to have this time with her because it may be their last. As Lois rushes through the fortress and makes her way to the weapons room, spotting Clark walking into the red room, she suddenly stops as a message in the time telescope starts up. It is the unknown Superman from 4500 AD, with a question mark on his chest and bandages wrapped around his head. The connection is bad and by itself this can be quite a scary individual to see. But as the image asks for questions to be exchanged, Lois steps forward and asks if Superman and her will ever marry and have children? Once again the connection is broken up, and all Lois can hear is that the answer is before her. But as the image begins to ask its own pressing question about the past, some of Superman’s robots begin to walk in and ask if she needs help. So as the image desperately asks who J.Lo is, lol, Lois is already running off to grab the Kryptonite laser in the weapons room! Full or paranoia she rushes towards the red room, she needs to know what is happening right now and as the door opens and Superman walks out…she blasts him with the Kryptonite laser! Only for Superman to brush it off, funny way of discovering his new immunity to Kryptonite. Suddenly Lois hands over the gun, a clarity lifts as she is in disbelief of what just happened. Superman explains that robot 7 accidentally left the door open earlier while synthesizing alien chemicals that she was exposed to by mistake, it can cause visual distortions and extreme paranoia. Clark then brought Lois to fully show her the room and her birthday present. The big scary machine she saw was a sewing machine with diamond tipped needles, and it turns out he kept disappearing because even for him it takes a while to memorize an entire DNA code. Turns out he has been engineering something he calls exo-genes, allowing anyone to duplicate his powers for 24 hours. Happy birthday Lois, here is a glass of powers and a super suit! Hahahaha!
Superman was also able to bring her to his time telescope room where he is able to send messages between his successors in the future. On the monitor right now is Kal Kent from the year 853,450 AD, once again talking about fighting Solaris, lol. One day he hopes that the future man or woman of tomorrow will lent he door with the really heavy key and walk through and feel what it was like to live at the dawn of the age of superheroes. On the next stop pf our tour is the phantom zone map room, which doesn’t look like much if you can’t see radio-negative anti-waves, but Lois is able to see the dark void taking up the room, which is Superman’s baby sun-eater! He caught it around Jupiter and now keeps it here while feeding it with baby suns he creates on the cosmic anvil from new Olympus. But right as Superman begins to crack apart a Sun and feed the creature a door cracks open, and its red light brings Lois closer to it.suddenly she is horrified to look inside the room and see a robot working at a horrific machine surrounded by images of her?! Superman quickly rushes her away, explaining that it’s not what it looks like and that everywhere in the fortress is available EXCEPT this room. Seeing this room really shocked and changed the entire vibe for Lois, and everything she sees in Superman has started to be stripped down to the black and white as they enjoy dinner. Their entire relationship has been throw up in the air, all this time he has been lying to her and now she is just supposed to believe that his exposure to the sun has made him 3x as honest as well? But the dinner finally ends when Clark can’t explain why he chose now to bring her here, and just asked for her trust. As Lois retreats to her room to type away her experiences, she can’t get that room out of her mind. Why did he bring her here, what if he is trying to perform some experiments on her and he really has changed?! But even worse, what if he is telling the truth?! Lois can’t stand it anymore, and runs off from her room to get a weapon to protect herself.
All the while Clark is struggling with the idea of telling her that he only wanted to have this time with her because it may be their last. As Lois rushes through the fortress and makes her way to the weapons room, spotting Clark walking into the red room, she suddenly stops as a message in the time telescope starts up. It is the unknown Superman from 4500 AD, with a question mark on his chest and bandages wrapped around his head. The connection is bad and by itself this can be quite a scary individual to see. But as the image asks for questions to be exchanged, Lois steps forward and asks if Superman and her will ever marry and have children? Once again the connection is broken up, and all Lois can hear is that the answer is before her. But as the image begins to ask its own pressing question about the past, some of Superman’s robots begin to walk in and ask if she needs help. So as the image desperately asks who J.Lo is, lol, Lois is already running off to grab the Kryptonite laser in the weapons room! Full or paranoia she rushes towards the red room, she needs to know what is happening right now and as the door opens and Superman walks out…she blasts him with the Kryptonite laser! Only for Superman to brush it off, funny way of discovering his new immunity to Kryptonite. Suddenly Lois hands over the gun, a clarity lifts as she is in disbelief of what just happened. Superman explains that robot 7 accidentally left the door open earlier while synthesizing alien chemicals that she was exposed to by mistake, it can cause visual distortions and extreme paranoia. Clark then brought Lois to fully show her the room and her birthday present. The big scary machine she saw was a sewing machine with diamond tipped needles, and it turns out he kept disappearing because even for him it takes a while to memorize an entire DNA code. Turns out he has been engineering something he calls exo-genes, allowing anyone to duplicate his powers for 24 hours. Happy birthday Lois, here is a glass of powers and a super suit! Hahahaha!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2018
I absolutely loved this one. So much fun to read.
January 9, 2019
IDK Supes is a bug softy I don't get Lois Lane's confusion about his confession of being Clark. Super cute ending though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2025
Superman Comic Reading Challenge
Day 2 - All Star Superman No. 2
I don't think I could have picked a better series to start my journey on. I'm pretty happy I've got 10 more of these to go ☺️
Day 2 - All Star Superman No. 2
I don't think I could have picked a better series to start my journey on. I'm pretty happy I've got 10 more of these to go ☺️
May 27, 2024
I dunno; it's just not working for me.
For one, I'm just really, really not into the art. I can't stand waxy digital colors, and I'm just not a fan of how it looks otherwise.
As for the story, I'm just not really grabbed by it. In two issues, the world of the story seems to constantly be expanding when it demands contraction due to both what Superman is faced with and what he is revealing. Maybe I'll come back to this someday, but--like I said--it isn't working for me and I have plenty of other stuff to read.
For one, I'm just really, really not into the art. I can't stand waxy digital colors, and I'm just not a fan of how it looks otherwise.
As for the story, I'm just not really grabbed by it. In two issues, the world of the story seems to constantly be expanding when it demands contraction due to both what Superman is faced with and what he is revealing. Maybe I'll come back to this someday, but--like I said--it isn't working for me and I have plenty of other stuff to read.
March 7, 2025
A good issue 👍
Continuing Lois Lanes exposition, her and Superman go to the Fortress of Solitude. Where Grant Morrison shows us his version of the ice palace and its toys.
We also see a possible antagonist or foreshadowing to the future for the upcoming issues. I do find it weird that after a message from this figure, Lois immediately tries to harm Superman? No questions asked? Whatever. Definitely a step up from the first issue.
Continuing Lois Lanes exposition, her and Superman go to the Fortress of Solitude. Where Grant Morrison shows us his version of the ice palace and its toys.
We also see a possible antagonist or foreshadowing to the future for the upcoming issues. I do find it weird that after a message from this figure, Lois immediately tries to harm Superman? No questions asked? Whatever. Definitely a step up from the first issue.
June 28, 2025
Superman lleva a una desconcertada Lois Lane a su Fortaleza de la Soledad. Ella aún no puede creer que finalmente haya revelado su verdadera identidad como Superman y aún quiere creer que es solo un truco. Cuando Superman recoge la llave para abrir la puerta, Lois no puede creer que la haya dejado tirada. Cuando intenta recoger la llave y no se mueve, Superman revela que está hecha de una estrella enana superdensa y que nadie en el planeta puede recogerla excepto él.
August 10, 2020
The best part about this issue is the allusion to the Blue-Beard fairy tale: “You may go into any room into my house except this one.” The “gotchya” twist of the story may be a throwback to the more Silver Age paternalistic relationship between Lois Lane and Superman, but it doesn’t do much to unpack the emotional fallout of Superman revealing his secret to her. It’s disappointing.
July 6, 2025
Issue #2
A son saying goodbye before the world realizes he’s gone.
Returning to Smallville, Clark faces the slow sorrow of losing his father again — not to time this time, but to memory. Through flashbacks, Morrison paints a picture of a boy becoming a symbol. Jonathan Kent’s quiet strength mirrors Superman’s — not super, just deeply human.
A son saying goodbye before the world realizes he’s gone.
Returning to Smallville, Clark faces the slow sorrow of losing his father again — not to time this time, but to memory. Through flashbacks, Morrison paints a picture of a boy becoming a symbol. Jonathan Kent’s quiet strength mirrors Superman’s — not super, just deeply human.
July 27, 2025
Lois Lane receives an amazing birthday gift by the end of this Superman tale, and it is one that comes loaded with revelations and insight. Most of the panels here show us inside the Fortress Of Solitude, which is fun to explore, and there’s a great change in the way Lois and Superman act around one another here.
December 26, 2024
Exploring the Fortress is so fun, and the casual “moving on” treatment of every piece of sci-fi nonsense matches this Superman’s status perfectly.
It’s always surprising to me how stupid Lois is in this book. Just baffling to write her this way.
It’s always surprising to me how stupid Lois is in this book. Just baffling to write her this way.
February 23, 2021
2.5 ⭐️
July 13, 2024
Still feel like this is moving too quickly.
December 23, 2024
Trippy and weird. I love it.
January 26, 2025
Un retelling de la bella y la bestia mejor que Acotar. Ahre que no había leído esa saga XD.
May 20, 2025
Issue 2 is better than issue 1. 4/5
July 2, 2025
Lowkey locked in now
July 12, 2025
the obsession is obsessioning.
July 14, 2025
Lois is extremely doubtful that Superman and Clark Kent are the same person, because she has numerous examples of them together at the same time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews