All-Star Superman DVD review

The 12-issue comic-book series “All-Star Superman” by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely was one of the most critically acclaimed comic books of the recent past. The love letter to the Silver Age version of Superman highlights what was great about the Man of Steel while updating it for a modern audience. Clearly, screenwriter Dwayne McDuffie — who passed away last month — had his work cut out for him in adapting it to a 75-minute animated film.

However, McDuffie — known for his work on shows including “Justice League Unlimited” and “Static Shock,” as well as numerous comic-book credits — mostly succeeds.

Superman’s final days on Earth are explored as Lex Luthor has unleashed an ingenious plan to finally put an end to the Man of Steel. Luthor sabotages a spacecraft’s scientific mission to the sun. When Superman rescues the craft, he is oversaturated with radiation, accelerating his cell degeneration beyond even his super-metabolism’s ability to repair.