All-Star Superman

An abbreviated zip through Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's modern masterpiece. Incident and idea detailing in this All-Star Superman may be trimmed and lightly clodded in service to an action plot, but Morrison's super-engaged Man of Steel is otherwise beautifully accounted for. In applying, and emphasising, Superman's intellectual and emotional spectrum, Morrison arrived at a fresh, credible take on a character usually hamstrung by a goody-goody otherness. This Kal-El is curious and motivated, using his powers less as a reactive counter-balance, more as a means to explore and document. Despite a few bum notes on key beats - the Superman 2 tease in particular plays creepy - Sam Liu and the late Dwayne McDuffie's adaptation moves on the same keen toil as Morrison and Quitely's wonderful comic.

Yes please! Batman and Robin

Promo image for Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's forthcoming Batman and Robin. The All Star Superman duo are reclaiming that phrase! Due June, the series will feature the Battle for the Cowl winner as the Dark Knight Detective; as well as, what appears to be, Damian Wayne as a scowling, rumble ready Robin. Morrison has indicated that the team-up will be a role reversal piece with this new Batman taking a lighter approach, whilst this bad-ass Boy Wonder seethes. Count me in! Damian Wayne is a wonderfully wonky addition to the Bat-Family. Born of a techno tryst between Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul, Damian is a pampered pre-teen nutter, who thought nothing of sucker-punching current Robin: Tim Drake off a stuffed dinosaur. Meaning to impress, this attempt on Drake's life was Damian's bid to claim his rightful position as Son of Batman. Can't have strays muddling up his heir apparent dynamic, can he? It's the assassin's way! Quite unconcerned with any issues of morality or restraint, Damian is an adorable little vandal.

Sketch Sunday: Kalibak the Cruel

Kalibak is Darkseid's first son. Unfortunately, despite his obvious excellence, Kalibak is usually mired in a endless round of complete incompetence portrayals. Poor Kalibak; dimwitted and brutal. Always an obstacle, never a summit. It's all very sad. I have hope of him gaining some currency in any plain of the DC multiverse. Perhaps replacing his overexposed father as a frequent super-menace for goody two-shoes team-ups - Darkseid should be an omega threat, not some nattering jobsworth. Ho-hum. Created by King Comic Jack Kirby, Kalibak was first glimpsed in New Gods #1, the compliant shade to Orion's rebellious astro-zip. Kalibak currently enjoys full Kamandi tiger-drag in Grant Morrison's Fourth World mash-up Final Crisis.

Here he is in his original body duds, getting his solemn on.