Customer Reviews
Pretty subtle and sparse - By: P.Vineaux, 28 Dec 2006 
This is unlike usual Superman comics because it lacks intense plotting, heavyset morality, & striking iconography. Instead, it's a pretty gentle read for people who already like Superman & just want to baskin a subtle homage.
There's very little plot, & even the dialogue is very simple. The whole story is toldin a reflective, almost wistful, tone. It's pretty much a portrait of Clark Kent, without spelling everything out for you. The dialogue isn't the sort of thing that will immediately grab you, but it creates a nice sense of character.
The real center of this comic is the art though. Tim Sale tries to capture a distinct mood with his drawing. The panels are big & open, there are loads of panoramic views of landscapes, large, empty fields & rooms, scenes are often drawn from a distance, & even Clark Kent is drawn as quite introverted & passive. Hansen's colours are also really beautiful, he gives the book warmth & a natural sort of look.
Although this is a great comic, I would recommend reading a bitin a bookshop before getting it. It's pretty different, & there's not much to it. But if you like it's gentle, atmospheric style then it's a good comic to havein your collection
Loeb and Sale at their best - By: D. Laurikietis, 09 Feb 2006 
I became a huge fan of Loeb & Sale since reading their wonderful noiresque work on Batmanin The Long Haloween & it's sequel Dark Victory & upon hearing about this book was intrigued to find out their take on Krypton's last son.
Those seeking wall to wall action may be disappointed but make no mistake the depth of character, masterful storytelling & sumptuous artwork is guaranteed to keep you turning the pages.
Loeb & Sale succeedin doing what very few writers who tackle the character are able to do. Make Superman vulnerable & someone a reader can really relate to. It does this by helping us share Clark's growing pains & apprehensions about his powers & their implications (like Smallville but better).
The supporting cast are superbly fleshed out with Lex Luthor, Lois Lane, Lana lang & ol' Pa Jonathan Kent providing narratives for the corresponding seasons.
Despite the book's character driven montage there are some superb set pieces & action sequences & the artwork provides a silver age style nostalgia to a timeless Superman story.
And for this price whether or not to buy this book should not be an issue.
Great for what it is. - By: , 04 Dec 2005 
I bought this book due to great reviews & recomendations from fellow comic geeks.This book is very slowpaced & good for a quick read.I enjoyed it even though i thought it was a little bit lackingin plot.Personally i enjoy comic books with capturing plots & fast paced action.This is a must have for any Superman superfan just for the great artwork by Tim Sale.
A great book. no question! - By: , 07 Sep 2004 As a lifelong superman fan, this was great.Slightly different from the usual book & its a refreshing change. BUY IT & enjoy. Well worth the moola.
The definitive version of a classic., - By: saurav, 24 Oct 2003 I should say here that I am not a comic book reader on a regular basis. This book took me by surprise. It made me realize what I loved about the Man of Steel when I was six years old & spent every penny I could beg from my dad on buying Superman comics. It made me realize, also, what Superman means to me now, thirty some-odd years later, & how there is still resonance & life for this great literary creation (and I'll back that up with detailed arguments if I have to) all these years since his creation.
Superman, here, is a man, & a man of conscience. His greatest power has never been his strength or his speed or his invulnerability. It has always been his conscience, his need to set things right, to save lives, to basically "do the right thing." In "Superman for All Seasons," his humanity & his
conscience are brought out & emphasized. It is easy to lose sight of those two attributes, & even DC has lost sight of them before. Not here. They are front & center, for your attention. And you should pay attention.
Loeb, Sale & Hanson put Superman/Clark Kent backin his roots, showing his life on the farm, his first love, & the tragedies & triumphs that make him who he is. He is not simply a "big blue boy scout" here. He is a man of conscience, & someone who broods a lot, & someone who doesn't have all the answers. But what he does have, he gives freely, & he does his absolute best at all times. Other readers have commented on the differences between Batman & Superman, but they all come down to this: Batman is motivated by vengeance. Superman is motivated by responsibility.Responsibility is underrated. Vengeance is more sexy, but what quality would you rather havein a fireman?
This is a "corny" story. It's about responsibility, & caring for people, & doing the right thing. And yes, there's even a dog. I hate to use the word "values," since it has been co-opted by people who have no interestin the true matters of the heart, but this story has them. It's worth reading if you're six or if you're forty-six, regardless of whether you care about comics or not, simply because it finds the heart - the essence - of this hero, & it reflects the heart of what is good about Superman. And by extension it shows what is good about the society that created Superman as a literary figure.
I cannot recommend "Superman for All Seasons" more highly; it is essential for students of American culture, for people who still dream, & for people who want a good story well told.
