This way when we critique the pieces we'll know that we could win any ensuing fist fights.

About 24 issues of this series would have been perfect.

Bloated mid-section aside though, I applaud DC's publishing schedule throughout Countdown, 52 and all of the other titles related to the great impending doom.

I don't think there's enough time left in the series to get Clark or Welling's portrayal of him to a place where we can believe him as Superman.

Do you honestlky think that if they gave Welling a blue suit and little red booties tomorrow he would object to putting them on?

The reason he mulls around as a sullen emo is because that’s what the director told him to do.

The director made him this way because the producers told the director that was the direction they wanted for the show.

The producers made this decision because of an edict handed from the studio based on marketing data culled from a focus group that said 13-25 year old females and 20-27 year old males really think that the Superman character is more identifiable as a bitchy whiner.

There is blame for the direction of Smallville and the last Superman movie. But let’s place the blame where it belongs. Actors are not decision makers folks, if you took away just one small chromosome, they would be dancing next to an organ grinder.

I always thought there were two points to the first Crisis. One get rid of the multi-verse and two to reign in the multitude of powers Superman aquired over teh years.

Well the latest crisis brought back the multiverse (granted it is far more organized now) and All Star Superman is once again turning Kal-El into a God.

I did like this title, but this point just kept nagging at the back of my head while I was reading it.

And I guess that's where they lost my willing suspension of disbelief. The man has the strength to change the course of tides and now has the brainpower to recreate life.

I like it when heroes are fallible, that's why I have a hard time reading any books pre-1980's. There's no excitement if you know that everything can be overcome.

No matter how you look at it, the characterization of Clark Kent as a whinny petulant teenager in his 20's is terrible. Going with your argument, even if he grew in to what he is destined to become in his late 20's. Season eight is the LAST season of the show. Which means he has 22 episodes to show the emotional growth that that particular version Clark needs to show.

I hear a lot of people saying though that this will be the definitive Superman, well on that we’ll have to agree to disagree.

If this book is going to go off and write its own continuity then it's far from being close to THE Superman title. This guy now has seventy plus years of history under his belt, but we’re going to let ten issues define a character? Hardly.

It’s a good book and I have enjoyed every damn page of it. Plus, I enjoy it immensely more than the “standard” Superman titles.

I’ve been saying for the past couple years that Astonishing X-men is THE X-men title. It’s apart from the other titles, but it still adheres to their continuity.

However, unlike say, Astonishing X-men, ASS does not try to blend into the existing continuity, but rather it rips portions out and redistributes them at will. Which is fine, it makes for a great story. I just think we’re a little too quick these days to redefine our heroes because it’s easier than remembering the past.

I still hold to my opinion that this will not change the tide of continuity, nor will the regular Superman universe be changed by this book.

The Dark Knight did not change Batman, Year One did. Why, because it was engrained into the regular continuity by DC.

If Morrison’s version of All Star became the regular Superman we would be where we were at before the first crisis.

I guess only time will truly tell.

I swear, I do LOVE this book. Pretty sure I said that in an earlier post (too lazy to check).

I just disagree with it being called the definitive Superman story or that it will change canon. That's not what it was ever intended to do.

Quite honestly I would like to see more All Star titles by different teams.

I'm one of the few people that enjoy Batdouche in ASB. I just like seeing an angry filthy Batman.

And Miller has the right to do that because these books are not part of the on-going DC continuity.

I remember someone saying continuity be damned. Well what the hell are we collecting comics for? Comic books are serial in nature, one story building off of another.

At least that's how I see it.

Really no need to flame me for ASB, I had more than enough when I defended the title back when Barking Frog did his opus to the book. Oh, what the hell, life is short, flame on.

And yes, the GL one has been my favorite by far.

This is Robin's book all the way. You identify waaaayyyyy more with him than Batdouche.

No answers, just pontificating.

Not to worry. As the unofficial connection to today's wild and wacky youth, I can generally say that ASBAR sucks when you're a young person as well. Even for future generations, ASBAR won't be an amazing stroke of insanity, it'll just be insane. And I also think that (because I can feel this thought crawling around in the back somewhere) we as a people are not in the decline of the comics age. I for one, would much rathere read a well written issue of Y The Last Man than "Lois Lane gets Murdered by Superman in some Imaginary Story." But I disgress. Carry on the previous discussion.

Yeah I have no doubt that Miller thinks this is Year 2...because he's insane.

Moving on...What All Stars Next? The Ultimate line has pretty much consumed the Marvel universe, what books do you think should bloat out the All Star Lineup?

Seaguy! It sounds awesome because it's already been done. Apparently, Morrison and Cameron Stewart are indeed working on a sequel. But yes, I know Seaguy is different. I would kill for an awesome Aquaman story. He's the king of Earth, surely that would make for a compelling yarn. Although, given how boring the book's been in, uh, forever, even a Frank Miller Goddamn Aquaman would be great.

All Star Justice League seems inevitable. I just hope it's not another Alex Ross project. Ugh.

I know you don't have to know continuity these days to write comics, that they pay you extra if you don't know anything about their comics, but I couldn't do it. I'd have to know all about their comics, which would mean forcing myself to read them.

Actually, I'd probably just ask what I'd be paid then b.s. something like everybody else at Marvel does.

Now, if I got a shot at directing, bay-bee, I'd be there with my little lense looped around my neck...

Off topic I know, but I had to throw that out there.

It's a character driven book, with the central character being the city it self.

Busiek also tells tales from the perspective of the everyman forced into extraordinary circumstances.

He gets you to identify with these people by taking you through some of their mundane tasks. Then when he hits you with the superhero, you really feel it.

I could see how some would find these two elements boring.

Meh, different strokes for different folks. definitely more character driven than other titles and of the central characters is the city it self the book does feel lik

Each run is slightly different in tone.

If you didn't like the one run you read, go back to the well later in the series and give it a try.