Key Comics Vault

All-Star Superman (DC Comics), written by Grant Morrison and illustrated by Frank Quitely, is considered to be one of the greatest Superman stories ever written. It follows the story of Superman confronting challenges and foes, while at the same time facing down his own mortality.

Across the twelve issues are twelve tasks, like the mythological twelve labours of Hercules, that Superman must complete. It is not immediately obvious what the tasks are, even Superman has trouble working it out in the story, so this list is here to help you answer the question: what are Superman’s twelve labours?

The twelve labours of Superman

1. Superman saves the first manned mission to the sun

In All-Star Superman 1, genius Quintum was leading a small team on the first manned mission to the sun, when it goes disastrously wrong. The engines fail and the crew start to fall into the sun, dragged in by its mass. At the same time, one of the crew transforms into a living bomb as part of a scheme cooked up by Lex Luthor. Luckily, Superman is on hand to save the day, rescuing Quintum and the others.

2. Superman brews the Super–Elixir

In the second issue of All-Star Superman, Lois Lane is visiting the Fortress of Solitude, as Superman tries to convince her that Clark Kent is really the Man of Steel. Superman has a surprise for her as he has created a Super-Elixir that will grant her the powers of Superman for one day. 

3. Superman answers the Unanswerable Question

Again in All-Star Superman #2, there is another task. This time, Superman is confronted by the rather annoying Samson and Atlas. They had tricked Superman into confronting the Ultra-Sphinx. What they had not planned on was Lois being put into danger. Facing up to the Ultra-Sphinx, Superman is asked “what happens when the unstoppable force meets the immovable object?“

“Ha! How about this? They surrender.”

Superman

4. Superman chains the Chronovore

In issue #6, Superman teams up with three generations of Superman to chain the Chronovore. The three Supermen he joins forces with to defeat the 4D monster are Kal Kent, the Unknown Superman, and Klyzyzk Klzntplkz. Unfortunately, while managing the dangerous foe, Pa Kent’s heart gives out.

5. Superman saves Earth from Bizarro–Home

In the seventh issue, Earth is invaded by the Bizarro-Home; a strange, cube-shaped planet that appears in the sky. The Bizarros infect people through touch, turning them into fellow Bizarros.  Superman manages to defeat the invading force and the planet by reflecting sunlight from one of the Bizarro-Home’s oceans, bathing the Bizarros in yellow sunlight; their weakness.

6. Superman returns from the Underverse

Having defeated the Bizarros, Superman finds himself stuck on the Bizarro’s planet, unable to leave. Here, his powers weaken, leaving him at the end of the issue barely able to lift his head. Working with the locals, sometimes with a bit of persuasion, he was able to leave the planet, strapped to rocket, before the planet slipped back into the Underverse.

7. Superman creates life

In issue 10, Neverending, we encounter another task. Superman is contemplating a world without him and the way to study what might happen is to create that world. He finds a suitable spot on the cubed Universe of Qwewg, applies an infusion of solar energy, and creates life – Earth-Q.

8. Superman liberates Kandor & cures cancer

One of Superman’s greatest failures was never being able to free the inhabitants of the city of Kandor, shrunk by Brainiac, and bring them back to their original size. However a change in approach helps liberate them. Superman releases them on Mars, still small, but where they could start a new life. Some stay behind on Earth, treating sick people; their advanced medicine cures cancer.

9. Superman defeats Solaris

In issue 11, Superman faces the terrible Solaris, a sentient ball of fire that threatens to kill the sun. It bathes Earth in a red light, Superman’s weakness. However, with support from his robots, and the previously released Sun-eater, Superman is able to bring down the tyrant sun, completing another of his tasks.

10. Superman conquers Death

Weakened by the radiation poisoning he had been living with since issue 1, the fight with Solaris pushes Superman to the limit. He manages to just about make it to the Daily Planet as Clark Kent, before his body gives out, and Superman dies. In an afterlife of sorts, his father, Jor-El gives Superman the chance to join the field of living consciousness, or face down evil one last time. Superman tells his father “no” and returns to the land of the living.

11. Superman builds an artificial heart for the Sun

Before its defeat in issue 11, Solaris, the tyrant sun, had turned the Earth’s sun blue. After he defeats Lex Luthor, Superman turns his attention to the sun, flying straight into, the impact turning the blue star back to yellow. A year later, at a memorial for the Man of Steel, Lois hypothesises that Superman was still up there, building an artificial heart to save the sun.

12. Superman leaves the formula to make another Superman

Quintum had been left frustrated over the years as he was unable to read Superman’s genetic code. In issue 10, Superman finally manages to complete his genetic code sequence, giving it to Quintum, along with instructions on how to merge human and Kryptonian strands. Superman secures a future for Supermen after him.

Buy All-Star Superman Deluxe Edition – Forbidden Planet UK (I earn a commission)

Buy All-Star Superman Compact Comics Edition – Bookshop.org UK (I earn a commission)

Buy All-Star Superman – Bookshop.org US (I earn a commission)