I’ll confess to not finding this to be revelatory—probably because I’ve known all of its major beats for so long, despite never reading the story itself front to back—but even with that caveat, this is such a flawless distillation of what makes Superman the best superhero to ever grace the pages of a book. Morrison’s plotting can be a little choppy, intentionally so, I’d wager, considering the anthology-like structure was likely crafted to better fit the staggered release schedule. But what it lacks in fluidity, it more than makes up for with big, emotional swings that all land as intended. It’s simultaneously a “greatest hits” for the hero and the medium, capturing all of the timeless allure and heart that makes both so enduring. 

Quitely’s pencils are all stunners, too, and take some already great scripts to new heights with gorgeous displays of emotionally charged visual storytelling. All of the iconic images are amazing, of course (that kiss on the moon belongs in a museum, probably), but there are dozens and dozens of panels with amazing details and flourishes, whether it be spectacle, character, comedy, or something else. I’m not always a fan of this style of digital coloring, admittedly, but Grant’s work was an exception to that, more often than not. The vibrancy of the pages is pitch-perfect and helps bring out all of the best bits in Morrison’s tone and Quitely’s storytelling.