Absolute All-Star Superman by Grant Morrison, Frank Quitely, Jamie Grant

Absolute All-Star Superman... a great story and great art, what happens when Superman really disappears for good. The art by Frank Quitely is amazing managing to bring the different faces of emotion to life. His style is unique,  at times I feel like there's to many face lines but when you put all the panels together in a story it just flows. Grant Morrison great writing a master story teller as usual.

From the moment you open the book there's just so much colour and vibrance, the retro comic colouring the book really captures every era the Man of steel has lived through. Now what happens when Superman is truly about to die? That's what All-Star Superman is here for. The pages are thick and read great. There really is no better way to read comics then in the absolute.

I'm Sure you noticed with this absolute the I left the outside shrink wrap on. Why? Well I find with the plastic it keeps the book slipcase from getting scratched or worn out from staying on the bookshelf. Solves the issues of the bald patches on the slipcase. Tip to open it is at the end.

 Left to Right: Front (can you see the secret superman logo? No joke it really is on the front of it) and Back of All-Star Superman absolute edition dust jacket by Frank Quitely

All angles of the All-Star Superman Hardcover. A closer look will show you that there's a retro comic style to the art. I'm guessing an homage to the beginning of Superman to the the end of him.

Interior content is amazing with lots of bonus art extras. A collection of all the covers as well as unreleased secret covers.

 All-Star Superman Unused Secret Covers designed by Chip Kidd 

 Neil Adams Variant Cover All-Star Superman #1, All 12 covers from All-Star Superman Issue

What a way to make an ending. You'll have to read it to find out, great story. The last will and testament of Superman, that's what the book reads like. It's pretty epic.

This gets a 5 out of 5 for presentation and story.

Random: How to Take care of your Absolute Editions.
The trick to opening an absolute is to be careful (obvious isn't it?) you want to make an "I" shape on the spine where the book will slide out. First with a knife cut the top (short side) where the book and the slipcase meet. Do that on the top and bottom. Next lift the plastic at the spot where you just cut. With your knife gently cut across the center of the spine. Your cuts will make a "I" shape. Once finished cutting slide the absolute out tuck the 2 flaps into the opening and then slide the hardcover absolute back in. That's it and now the absolute will stay clean and new for it's whole life.

Absolute Batman Hush: Jeph Loeb, Jim lee, Scott Williams. DC Comics

Bet you didn't notice
the Smiley face in
Jokers eye

From the collection today, an absolute edition by the Korean, Wilstorem CEO and comic book superstar Jim Lee. That's right one of the first absolute editions to fully capture the art work of Jim Lee.
Absolute Batman Hush is the collected edition of Batman issues 608-619. By far some of the best looking art work and one of the best stories in the Batman series. Thanks to Jeph Loeb it's a great ride in to the depths of Batman with pretty much every Gotham villain showing up and even Superman all the way from Metropolis flying through the pages.  Scott Williams does an incredible job of making the pencils come to life. If you like art and a story this is one to read, now on to the product.

The Goods what you care about. 
The slipcase. Well I have to say the slip case isn't all to impressive. It's a matte finish with the words HUSH in a gloss finish on both sides of the slipcase. I was hopping for some different artwork on each side. It looks cool but not overly creative.

 As you can see the front and the back have the same image. Nothing to creative here.

The slipcover/dust jacket. One guess what the cover is....Yup the same image cover as the slipcase, only this time in color. The back has a small vertical bar of what looks like original art and that's it. So at the moment its hard to see whats so big about this and why I'm all excited. I realized the same thing once I looked closer at it.

I tried my best to keep the pictures interesting despite the lack of creativity. The front cover is still the same image.

The hardcover. Well another of what seems like lapse in creativity, the hardcover is wrapped in faux leather with the words HUSH embossed near the spine, also the spine has the credits embossed on it. Same style and font as seen on the dust jacket.

 The hardcover a lot of the same image ad concept just repeated. Good thing the insides are what make the book.

The inside. I have to say this is where they had kept all the good stuff. Getting to see Jim Lees art in 8x12 inches is awesome. There's just so much there that wasn't seen before. The back has added commentary and additional drawings and cover art for the variant issues. Just take a look at the pictures and you'll understand why this absolute is so great. This time the inside pages are what makes this book a real piece to own, and well worth adding to the collection. This is the best way to read comics especially with art as detailed as Jim Lee's. I also had a special treat from Jim when he came to the local Comic book show. I knew he was Korean and knew he had a Korean name (also he referenced it in the Hush absolute commentary) so as an extra I got him to sign my book with the usual signature....And then I asked him if he could sign his Korean name too. To my surprise no one had ever asked him to do that before. I think I started a trend and the next time I see him it'll be Korean name and Signature together. Looks awesome see below.

So I think we have a new trend here. The Jim Lee Korean signature. (above)

Below a sample of the page with probably the 2 most favorite Jim Lee covers to date as well as the back cover.

The story. Well this was one of my favorites, and a must on my list to re-read. Every villain pretty much makes an appearance and is incorporated in a great plot. This is a must read and a must have for your collection. Whether it be in the single issue, trade or absolute format make sure you read this story. If you like the art then there is more incentive to read it, if you like the story read it still.

Final thoughts. At the original list price of $50USD this was a steal for 12 issues, a commentary section and a Jim Lee sketch book. Today the price still floats around $50-$80 so its still affordable. The absolute size does give you a better view of the art work and makes it a better read. Seeing the art up close brings all of Jim Lee's little Easter eggs to light. Take for instance Jim putting his Korean name on the head band of one of the sushi chefs, only known after reading the commentary and re-reading. This is a must get for all the content inside, and 12 issues for $50 in an over-sized format its an easy choice.

8 Batarangs out of 9 (due to the poor use of artistic creativity on the outside material, but who judges a book by it's cover anyways)

Absolute Green Lantern Rebirth: Geoff Johns & Ethan Van Sciver

Front Cover Slipcase

Back Cover Slipcase

With all the current hype about Green Lantern (Proof: Sinestro Corps. War, Blackest Night, New Green Lantern Movie (2011), etc) I thought it appropriate to cover the newest addition to my absolute collection. ABSOLUTE GREEN LANTERN: REBIRTH granted most absolutes are usually 12 collected comic book issues or more, this one seems to be the exception. At $75 (US Cover or $92 CDN) it seems a little pricey granted it does come with a nice slipcase, hardcover and slip cover. Actually all absolute editions come standard with that, except most others come with 12 issues instead of 6 and some have leather hardcovers. Barring that it looks really nice (not justifying the price just saying).

The Goods (What You care about):
The slipcase has a sort of matte finish with certain accents finished in high gloss.  Starting from right to left. Classic Green lantern pose with the power battery on the front. Back cover art is a green lantern fist, makes a strong powerful statement (it really embodies the rebirth aspect).
The slipcover has a high gloss finish with two very nice covers. One from the rebirth hardcover (front) and rebirth issue 6 on the back. The one thing that makes absolute editions so great are the over-sized pages, they really let you see the art for what it really is... AMAZING.

From left to right: front of slipcover, front of hardcover, back of slipcover, back of hardcover

Take the slipcover off and the hardcover has 2 more covers this time its finished in a matte finish. Here's a treat, I was at the local fan expo this year (2010) and I lined up to get a signature from Ethan Van Sciver. I asked him to sign my absolute edition and kindly asked if her would do a head sketch for me. It was funny he said "I dont know if it will turn out that good I don't have my good pens with me, would it be ok if i used this? (referring to a medium tip sharpie)" Here's the resulting... I guess mediocre drawing.

Ethan Van Sciver's Mediocre Green Lantern on the inside front page. Also thought to add the back inside back page.

The inside... WOW. Absolutes have the tendancy to make comics go to abother level, at a whooping 12 1/4 by 8 inches its huge. The art just pops out on the pages.

The absolute pages are on the left ad the comic book page is on the left.
The size difference really makes a case for why absolutes are the new way to read comics.

There is a commentary page by Brad Meltzer at the beginning. There's also a first flight story by Darwyn Cooke after the conclusion of the rebirth story arc. Then the usual appendix in the back with line by line scripts for issues and the original proposal for the arc. The only thing missing is a covers gallery which I would have liked to see. Overall the presentation of the book is pretty good.


The Story: well tt's all about the return of Hal Jordan the "original" green lantern (don't count Alan Scott or Abin Sur) of sector 2814 (Earth). Won't say much else just read it, it'll give you a better understand of Geoff Johns blackest night and brightest day and pretty much everything important in the DC universe right now.

Final Thoughts:
Read this story arc. READ IT, its good and well worth getting an overview of most things Green Lantern. If you can get your hands on the absolute get it and read it that way.
This would be considered a buy if the price tag wasn't $75, GET IT IF AND ONLY IF you can get it for a huge discount, its pricey but satisfying if you get it for a discount.

8 known Power Rings out of 9 known power rings