All Star is an imprint of ongoing comic book titles published by DC Comics that began in 2005. DC has so far published two titles under the All Star banner, featuring Batman and Superman.
The premise of the imprint is to partner DC Comics' top tier characters with the most popular and acclaimed writers and artists. The creators have access to all elements in the characters' histories and to present their interpretation for a modern audience that have not read these DC characters' comics previously, or had not seen them lately. The creative teams are not beholden to any previous and present continuities, and will tell stories that feature "the most iconic versions of these characters".
The project has been compared to the Ultimate line of Marvel Comics, which was a successful attempt to re-introduce Marvel's most popular characters to younger readers by presenting new, updated versions unburdened by decades of plotlines.[1] There are several differences between the two imprints, though. While the Ultimate titles have closely interrelated storylines, of the two All Star series so far released, there has been no effort to make them conform to each other or indicate they exist in the same continuity. Another is that All Star does not seek to introduce brand new versions of the characters so much as to present them in unhindered continuity. Although Robin's origin is rebooted in this imprint, this will not necessarily be the case for other All Star titles.
Some observers, and DC themselves, have pointed to the return of DC's major film franchises as an impetus for All Star. "No one can doubt that some kind of continuity shedding is necessary with Superman and Batman coming to the big screens," the website Comicon.com wrote. "Moviegoers entertained by these films would find the current comics storylines impenetrable[2]".
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All Star titles
At this time, only two All Star titles have been released. The original intent was for the creators to present versions of the DC characters the public could identify with but has since evolved with the creators' sensibilities and story direction. In that regard, DC Comics has decided that each of the series would end when the creators decide they are done rather than continue with a new creative team.[3]
- All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder is the first title to come out of the All Star imprint. It premiered on September 2005. The first story arc featured artist Jim Lee and writer Frank Miller. This series features stories set in the early stages of the career of Batman, beginning with his recruitment of Dick Grayson as his sidekick Robin. Vicki Vale, Black Canary, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Plastic Man, and Batgirl also appear. Miller and Lee's run is to be for 22 issues.[citation needed]
- All Star Superman premiered on November 2005. The creative team of writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely finished their twelve-issue run in 2008. There are discussions with Morrison on a spin-off limited series or special possibly featuring the Super-Sons and Men of Tomorrow.[4]
Planned titles
There are several titles announced that would have added to the All Star lineup but due to the busy schedule of the creators and the evolving concept of the imprint, they are currently on indefinite hold.
- All Star Wonder Woman was confirmed at the San Diego Comic Con 2006,[5] with Adam Hughes announced as both artist and writer. What is known is that it will be a take on her origin story, starting with Steve Trevor crashing on Paradise Island and focusing on Diana coming to America for the first time. Hughes describes this series as an "iconic interpretation" of the character and her more than 60 years long history.[6]
- All Star Batgirl was announced at the Toronto Comic Book Expo in 2006. Geoff Johns and J. G. Jones will work on the first six issues. What is known about this series is that the story will present a connection between Barbara Gordon and Arkham Asylum, and a mystery to Batman on Batgirl, in John's words, like Batman: The Long Halloween.[7]
- All Star Green Lantern was confirmed at the 2006 Chicago Wizard World,[8] but as of 2009, the project has never been mentioned again.
All Star continuity
The All Star titles are self-contained, despite sharing a label. Each story within each book has the option of also having its own continuity, without ties to previous stories.
All Star Batman & Robin the Boy Wonder
All Star Batman & Robin the Boy Wonder is in a spin-off continuity opposed to the other storylines in Frank Miller's "Dark Knight Universe" which consists of Batman: Year One (also in the mainstream DC universe), Spawn/Batman, The Dark Knight Returns, and The Dark Knight Strikes Again.[9]
All Star Superman
All Star Superman has not been stated to be tied down to a specific continuity like All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder. Grant Morrison has, however, described it as the Silver Age Superman.
All Star Batgirl
The upcoming All Star Batgirl title is confirmed not to take place in the continuity of All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder.[10] It is currently on hold until enough issues are made to be released. Though Dan Didio recently stated the book is no longer on the immediate schedule.[11]
All Star Wonder Woman
In the upcoming series by Adam Hughes, neither the character nor the entire series will be connected to the Wonder Woman seen in All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder and the universe it is set in.
See also
- Ultimate Marvel - a Marvel Comics imprint preceding All Star with a similar purpose.
- DC Comics
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Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: All Star DC Comics |
References
- ^ www.popmatters.com
- ^ www.comicon.com
- ^ Newsarama: Dan DiDio - 20 Answers, 1 Question - November 26, 2008
- ^ Grant Morrison: All-Star Superman, and much, much more - May 3, 2008
- ^ forum.newsarama.com
- ^ forum.newsarama.com
- ^ forum.newsarama.com
- ^ www.comicon.com
- ^ Sanderson, Peter; "Comics in Context #119: All-Star Bats: The goddamned Batman according to Frank Miller. Can redemption be found for the widely-despised All-Star title?"; comics.ign.com; February 6, 2006
- ^ Johns on "All Star Batgirl"
- ^ http://www.newsarama.com/comics/120810-DiDio-20.html
External links
- "DC Takes the Ultimate Chance on All-Stars", Comicon.com, December 21, 2004; a report on the announcement of the All Star imprint
- "All Star Superman #1", by Neil Kenyon, PopMatters, January 6 2006; review that compares and contrasts All Star and Ultimate lines
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