Ever since James Gunn's Superman was announced back in 2022, it's been linked to a specific run of DC comics. We're talking about Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's 12-issue All-Star Superman (which we talk about more here). That series, which exists outside of the mainstream DC comics continuity, is a gorgeous encapsulation of everything that is great about the Man of Steel. It's a big, bold, colorful comic that has a lot of fun with the gentle madness of Superman's world, while also telling an emotional story that's focused on the character's inherent kindness and compassion.
You could say the same about the new film. Now that we've seen it, it's clear that the debt Gunn's movie owes to All-Star Superman is less direct and more tonal. The plots are different, but in terms of character, structure, aesthetics, and overall vibes, there's a clear lineage between the two projects.
