EigenAnalysis

When I first read about the All Star Superman and All Star Batman titles, I wrote the following essay.

I read the other day about the upcoming DC All-Stars line. It is DC’s answer to Marvel’s Ultimate line. You knew it was inevitable.

But while I rant about all this excess continuity in a later essay, let me make an admission. This idea is kind of interesting. Despite not liking the idea of an entirely different continuity in the Marvel universe, I have liked most of the Ultimate titles I’ve read. So a similar idea in the DC universe might be successful. All-Stars will take Superman and Batman and their friends back to their original concepts. It will be in the contemporary world, but All-Stars hopes to get rid of the excess baggage. It sounds like what John Byrne did with Superman twenty years, but with the frontline cast of the entire DC universe.

For instance, Dick Grayson will be Robin…the one and only Robin. I imagine Superman and Wonder Woman will get the same treatment. Going back to square one can show us why we loved these characters in the first place. If the creative teams use a little imagination, seeing the old tales done in a new age won’t be stale. Seeing the old Clark/Lois/Superman triangle in a contemporary setting could be interesting. Seeing the old Lex Luthor could be, too. As for Wonder Woman, her title usually stunk until the last few years, so I will withhold comment until I see the All-Star Wonder Woman in print.

One thing I’ve heard makes me ponder where this is going. DC claims the All-Star line will be within the normal DC continuity. I would like to see how they will accomplish this. Perhaps it is time to add an Earth-2.

If you enjoyed this article, you might also enjoy some of my ideas about the best action movies.