CBR: Grant Morrison's Superman Saga, Part I

[CBR News]

CBR's Timothy Callahan looks at the chronology of Superman as told by Grant
Morrison in the pages of "All Star Superman," Animal Man," "Doom Patrol" and
more, sorting all the writer's tales of the Man of Steel into a linear continuity.


Full article here.

[Dan M]

Great feature - loving this a LOT. It's also got me scouring ebay for old British Superman annuals...!

[David Walton]

Interesting. Would the gold Superman mentioned in All-Star #6 be Kal-El from the conclusion of D.C. 1 Million?

[Mat001]

Interesting. Would the gold Superman mentioned in All-Star #6 be Kal-El from the conclusion of D.C. 1 Million?

It is. Throughout the series, Morrison was setting up the connections to his earlier work.

[David Walton]

It is. Throughout the series, Morrison was setting up the connections to his earlier work.

So is the implication that All-Star #12 wasn't the end?

[666MasterOfPuppets]

Supposedly, Grant Morrison had a few other stories for All Star Superman. I don't know what happened, though.

[Smakk9]

I'm not a big Quitely fan but I thoroughly enjoyed his work on All-Star Superman. If Grant Morrison has more stories to tell, I'd like to see him continue with Quitely on art.

[David Walton]

Supposedly, Grant Morrison had a few other stories for All Star Superman. I don't know what happened, though.

I thought I read those might have been set in the past, though. Can't be sure.

I was wondering Superman 1 Million was a divergent timeline, since his Pa Kent didn't die of a heart attack.

[666MasterOfPuppets]

I thought I read those might have been set in the past, though. Can't be sure.

Yup, pretty much that's the case, IIRC.

I was wondering Superman 1 Million was a divergent timeline, since his Pa Kent didn't die of a heart attack.

Well, as far as I can tell, when it was released, DC One Million didn't have any "Elseworlds" or "Hypertime story" warnings. Also, keep in mind that was long before Geoff Johns came aboard.

Now, if only DC made Morrison the next mainstream books lead writer after Robinson and Johns are gone, I'd die happy.

[David Walton]

Yup, pretty much that's the case, IIRC.

Thanks. I thought so but wasn't sure.

Well, as far as I can tell, when it was released, DC One Million didn't have any "Elseworlds" or "Hypertime story" warnings. Also, keep in mind that was long before Geoff Johns came aboard.

Are you arguing that it was or wasn't a divergent timeline?

Actually with Morrison I'm not sure he'd approve of the word "divergent timeline." It's probably a lot more Marvel-esque term now. Morrison has a less...linear approach to time, which is great IMO. I think he treats multiple interpretations as things that can co-exist without the need to articulate that co-existence in the "Marvel Handbook" fashion.

Now, if only DC made Morrison the next mainstream books lead writer after Robinson and Johns are gone, I'd die happy.

I'm kind of fascinated by the fact that Waid and Morrison have never been the main writers on a Superman title. If you look at their original "Superman 2000" pitch and the things that have come to fruition in some form or another from that pitch, it's just mind-blowing that these men haven't been granted an opportunity to fully claim the fruits of their labor.

I don't read Superman now. If Waid took the title, I'd give it a shot. It just seems like one of those things he was born for...worth a shot, at least!

[666MasterOfPuppets]

Thanks. I thought so but wasn't sure.

You're welcome.

Are you arguing that it was or wasn't a divergent timeline?

That it wasn't. I Actually, I think that's what will happen in the long future. According to Morrison, at least.

Actually with Morrison I'm not sure he'd approve of the word "divergent timeline." It's probably a lot more Marvel-esque term now. Morrison has a less...linear approach to time, which is great IMO. I think he treats multiple interpretations as things that can co-exist without the need to articulate that co-existence in the "Marvel Handbook" fashion.

I concur. Sometimes trying to establish links with past events without screwing what's happening now is a pain in the ass. It's better to approach things this way. Especially with a universe with so much history like the DCU.

I'm kind of fascinated by the fact that Waid and Morrison have never been the main writers on a Superman title. If you look at their original "Superman 2000" pitch and the things that have come to fruition in some form or another from that pitch, it's just mind-blowing that these men haven't been granted an opportunity to fully claim the fruits of their labor.

I don't read Superman now. If Waid took the title, I'd give it a shot. It just seems like one of those things he was born for...worth a shot, at least!

Agreed. I loved Birthright (you read this, Waid???? I freakin' LOVED Birthright), and I would love to see Mark Waid writing at least one of the books. Also, Morrison has the kind of stories that Superman needs. Things that only Superman can do, an ultra-powerful Superman, etc. (I beg you, DC and Morrison: PLEASE write the mainstream books after Johns and Robinson are gone).

BTW, if only they made Superman less dependent on the sun...

[David Walton]

That it wasn't. I Actually, I think that's what will happen in the long future. According to Morrison, at least.

Makes sense, and that's my preference. I thought DC 1 Million was the most fitting end to Superman's story--analagous to the second coming of Christ.

I concur. Sometimes trying to establish links with past events without screwing what's happening now is a pain in the ass. It's better to approach things this way. Especially with a universe with so much history like the DCU.

I particuarly liked Hypertime because I thought it was an innovative way to incorporate everything that's ever happened in a DC Comic into the DC Universe. So I love that approach and I'm pleased that even if it didn't pan out as Waid and Morrision originally envisioned, Morrison was able to eventually get an more inclusive approach officially recognized.

Agreed. I loved Birthright (you read this, Waid???? I freakin' LOVED Birthright), and I would love to see Mark Waid writing at least one of the books. Also, Morrison has the kind of stories that Superman needs. Things that only Superman can do, an ultra-powerful Superman, etc. (I beg you, DC and Morrison: PLEASE write the mainstream books after Johns and Robinson are gone).

I think Morrison and Waid would be particularly innovative at dealing with a character who is essentially a god. It seems like they are some of the only writers I would trust to tell stories about Superman without limiting his powers or making him seem...less than super.

BTW, if only they made Superman less dependent on the sun...

I liked the 2000 idea that Superman's sense became ultra-heightened as he reached the next stage in his development--as well as the KC concept where Supes became impervious to kryptonite.

But it would take someone like Waid or Morrison to know where to take a character that powerful...

[Ontir]

It's very interesting. Of course reading "All-Star Superman" you pick up pieces from the JLA run, but to see the other pieces put into order is really fascinating.

[666MasterOfPuppets]

Makes sense, and that's my preference. I thought DC 1 Million was the most fitting end to Superman's story--analagous to the second coming of Christ.

Yeah. I still have to read that story (I've just read a few snippets here and there), but I agree.

I particuarly liked Hypertime because I thought it was an innovative way to incorporate everything that's ever happened in a DC Comic into the DC Universe. So I love that approach and I'm pleased that even if it didn't pan out as Waid and Morrision originally envisioned, Morrison was able to eventually get an more inclusive approach officially recognized.

That is true. Now with the Multiverse back (well, as far as I know, haven't read FC yet. Or Superman Beyond for that matter), we'll have to see what happens. At least Didio said that the only one he feels capable of handling the Multiverse properly (or something like that) is Morrison.

I think Morrison and Waid would be particularly innovative at dealing with a character who is essentially a god. It seems like they are some of the only writers I would trust to tell stories about Superman without limiting his powers or making him seem...less than super.

Which is what should be done with the character. These attempts at "humanizing" him have made him look like just another regular Joe with powers. And the truth is exactly that: Superman is, essentially, a god (and for those who are about to say that he's not a god, I understand. But you know what I mean).

I liked the 2000 idea that Superman's sense became ultra-heightened as he reached the next stage in his development--as well as the KC concept where Supes became impervious to kryptonite.

But it would take someone like Waid or Morrison to know where to take a character that powerful...

Yeah. But it pisses me off that things like his invulnerability and strength depend on the sun. Where are things like "his particularly dense molecular structure" and stuff like that? It just doesn't make sense to me. Like when he *immediately* lost his invulnerability the moment he got to the future, when the sun was red.

[David Walton]

Yeah. I still have to read that story (I've just read a few snippets here and there), but I agree.

I read it when it first come out and it's been a while but it left an impression. Good stuff. Love the Golden Superman wink!

That is true. Now with the Multiverse back (well, as far as I know, haven't read FC yet. Or Superman Beyond for that matter), we'll have to see what happens. At least Didio said that the only one he feels capable of handling the Multiverse properly (or something like that) is Morrison.

That's not promising. The whole point of Morrison's vision is a diversity of voices. As I understand it, Morrison's vision is a loosely structured expanse in which every comic ever written falls...giving us a core DC Universe but opening the possibilties of visions past and present acting on that core universe without getting tied down in pseudo-scientific, instead of literary and spiritual, explanations.

Which is what should be done with the character. These attempts at "humanizing" him have made him look like just another regular Joe with powers. And the truth is exactly that: Superman is, essentially, a god (and for those who are about to say that he's not a god, I understand. But you know what I mean).

I agree. Superman should be much, much more powerful. The problem is that an ultra-powerful Superman doesn't fall within the parameters of writers who only see crude physical applications of that power. If it's all about fistfights then yeah, Superman can't be all powerful because he just wipes the floor with everybody.

But I think what Waid and Morrison have illustrated is that Superman works better as a character who pushes the limits of our imagination, and part of that process is by realizing that he doesn't just punch stuff. In fact, I'm perfectly cool with the idea that Superman wouldn't even get in a fist fight very often if ever--that he would always seek imaginative ways to avoid violence.

Yeah. But it pisses me off that things like his invulnerability and strength depend on the sun. Where are things like "his particularly dense molecular structure" and stuff like that? It just doesn't make sense to me. Like when he *immediately* lost his invulnerability the moment he got to the future, when the sun was red.

I'm not a big fan of breaking Superman down into stuff like rules about molecular density and all that. That's a form I think works much better for the Marvel universe.

The tagline is "you'll believe a man can fly," after all, not "you'll believe a man can have particularly dense molecular structure"!