All-Star Superman Saves a Life

Incredible Story

Bold story! I used comic books to help me quit smoking cigarettes and meth. True story.

and this is why no one should have payed attention to that bull crap about how comic books RUIN peoples lives instead of Saving them in like th 1950s or sometin.

Awesome! It's always amazing to hear stories like that =)

I was genuinely touched when I came across the story. I'm a guy who loves to wear Superman t-shirts when I'm not at work, and a few years ago my son and I were driving somewhere and we saw an elderly man manipulating a walker in one hand and shoveling snow with the other. I told my son we were going to offer to help, my son initially protested, but we did so anyway. The elderly man was resistant, but I convinced him to let us finish the job for him. As we were shoveling, and he gripped his walker with two hands, he said, "Thanks for helping. My neighbor is too sick to come out and do it himself."

When we finished we got back in the car and I said to my son, "THAT'S why we offer to help." A real lesson to him, and a reminder of why the Superman character touches me so deeply.

that is freaking AWESOME!!!
it's amazing that a fictional character has touched so many lives

I was really touched by this story! :)
I hope in the superman reboot they can give us the feeling of what it would be like to have A REAL SUPERMAN. One that seems impossible and what everyone wish a true hero is like with powers beyond our imagination.

Filmmakers take note: THIS is why Superman is super. Not the strength. Not the flying. Not being bulletproof. It's because he has all of that, and chooses to use it to help people. With great power must come great compassion.

Intruder, obviously I have no way of knowing if the story is fact or not. I do know that sometimes it just takes one event; one seemingly innocuous moment that can put someone on that edge. If that's the case, who's to say that something equally as innocuous can't "talk" them off of it again?

That's awesome! This should inspire us to be more like Superman.

Great story and it's great to hear. Really made my day. All Star Superman was an amazing comic, and one of the best I've ever read. Even people who don't like comics enjoy this one a lot.

EdGross, that was a good story about you and your son and that is what Superman is. He's a mythic symbol of strength, hope, and moral certintude. He inspires us to be great, and is the inspiration for all comicbook heroes, because he fells compasion. If we all do like EdGross did, helping someone in need out, we can all fell like Superman.

Again, a great story and wonderful to hear this.

Love the article.

I always wonder what if we truly had a Superman, perhaps half the bullshit that happens outside of this site would be different.

and this is why no one should have payed attention to that bull crap about how comic books RUIN peoples lives instead of Saving them in like th 1950s or sometin.

i think this is kinda ironic, what i mean is, does anyone remember that story last year, a man in California went to see Watchmen, in the middle of the film, he pulled a gun out and shot and killed himself. This is really Ironic.

Batman's alway been my hero but Superman is the one that I can relate to best. I've always had the inclination to do things that I knew were against my morals, to have fun and "sew my oats" the way my friends did. I have enough going in my favor that I could have a good run of it. But for better or worse I think it goes against my own value system. I can relate to the early episodes in Smallville where Clark is everyone's go to guy and always gets the short end of the stick. I don't know about anyone else, but sometimes I find it frustrating to always take the so-called "high road" while the bottom-feeders seem to always prosper and are never called to the carpet for being the way they are.

One of my favorite songs/videos is from my favorite CBM "Spider-Man 2". In the song "Ordinary" the character (supposed to be Spidey) is talking about this same frustration:

"And when the world is on its knees with me it's fine-And when I come to the rescue I get nothing but left behind-Everybody seems to be getting what they need where's MINE-Cause you're what I need so badly but I'm anything but ordinary"

I think most people who looks these books have similar perspectives to me. They can relate to characters who consistantly put others ahead of themsevles and are in turn stepped on. It's cathardic to see a character like Clark Kent with the power to move mountains confined so tightly by his own codes in the face of an immoral world.

Sorry to go all deep and sensative on everyone but I figured this is the appropriate forum. I'm sure some of you have felt the same way.

BTW Deadshot...who said that quote?

TheDurkinKnight, I hear what you're saying. I've lived what I think is a pretty moral life and been frustrated by those who take advantage of others and only look out for themselves prosper. I just know that, personally speaking, I couldn't really look myself in the mirror if I knew I was getting ahead by crushing or hurting others. That is NOT the way that I want to live.

@Ed...me neither. I like to tell myself that in the end it pays off. In some ways it has, because those who know me know my value system and I appreciate that. It's funny when you're a kid you think the vast majority of people or moraled and have values as well. Now that I'm almost 29 I look at the world quite often and just shake my head.

This is an amazing story. I think we all can connect with our favorite heroes on a similar level. It's nice to know that they're saving lives we don't get to read about in the pages. I have a similar connection to Spider-man, who has kept me strong throughout the years through his perseverance.

I have gone through some tough times this year. Stuff that is so hard I can't even explain. Not to sound corny, but All Star Superman gave me a little extra hope about things when I was down. It's a very special story. One for the ages.

THE BEST ONE IS WHEN ROBIN SAVES A LIFE... EPIC EPIC BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES.

@edgross- i am 37 and had my first child at 32. i was raised without a father in my life and was really raised by stan lee. i was out of comics for about 10 years because of a downward spiral of drugs and alcohol. i traded ALL of my comics and figuares(NOT DOLLS!!) for nothing! a good friend gave me all of his demon in a bottle run and it really saved my ass! i try and show my son thru cbm's (too young to read) the difference between right and wrong. here in the south(the deepsouth-lil' nicky) its all bible thumbing. but comics and cbm's are the best way i have found to show him how to be a good man. my boy logun vader!!!!

AMAZING STORY. WAY TO GO SUPES. : )~

I've always liked characters I could relate to. Characters I feel were, however fantastic their powers, more human. That's why Spider-Man is my fav and Marvel is my universe of choice. I never really cared for Superman because he seemed too "god-like", too pure and too...alien.

But I also know that there are points in my life when I don't want someone "like me" to come help me. Times when all I want is that infallible symbol of all that is good to swoop down and tell me it's going to be ok.

It's in those darkest of times that I wouldn't mind looking over my shoulder and seeing Superman staring back at me.

I'd rather like that actually...

Love this even if he's not real. comics still can change pepoles lifes for the better W.W.SM.D?

@ Dickel: You should start with "Peace On Earth", done by Paul Dini and Alex Ross. Then go right into the "Kingdom Come" series, which is done by Mark Waid and Alex Ross (who in my opinion, truly captures the look, feel and emotion of Superman). This will let you into the purest and simplest form of what Superman truly embodies. You'll walk away from both smiling and you won't be able to put either down - especially Kingdom Come, which is considered one of the greatest graphic novels of our time. I'm sure you'll get a ton of great suggestions from a lot of the awesome comic fans that we have on here....but trust me when I say....to start with these -- then you'll be able to enjoy all the others with a real understanding of Superman, his values and his utmost importance within the comic universe.