All-Star Superman #2 (2006)
Written by Grant Morrison
Artwork by Frank Quitely
Inks & Colors by Jamie Grant
Chef’s Note: What in the world is going on here? Firstly, why does Clark have the RMS Titanic casually docked in his Fortress of Solitude? That’s just weird.
Secondly, why does he think the Titanic is a good place for a romantic dinner with Lois? That’s just creepy.
He states his garments are “Traditional Kryptonian formal wear from the Fourth Age” – are we supposed to know what this means? Are we supposed to not notice that all he did was add a baggy hood to his usual costume?
So many questions!
What we do know with certainty is the menu. As Clark states it’s “the actual one from the Titanic” – so that’s helpfully specific. But only to a point. The Titanic was a large ship with thousands of passengers and had First, Second, and Third Class dining options, all with separate menus. Furthermore, they were at sea for more than a couple days, and each day featured different menus. So many menus!
All that said, from the looks of where they are sitting I think we can assume they are dining First Class.
And if you’re going to feature a menu from the Titanic I suppose it makes a kind of ghoulish logic to go with the last meal everyone had before they drowned or died of hypothermia? So, that would be dinner on April 14th, 1912.
Lastly, the most important question: where’s the food? As in, where is ALL THE FOOD?
Look at that menu – ten courses! TEN! Do we even get to see just one? We do not.
On top of this, Lois is swinging a fork around like she means business, but the plates all remain as clean as when they came out of the dishwasher. There’s not even anything in the champagne flutes! I cannot in all good scholarly conscience record or tag any of the menu items given that none of them actually appear or are consumed.
Very disappointing indeed.
Mr. Quitely, your sense of line and color are immaculate as always but I do think this is a promise left woefully unfulfilled. If you would care to explain yourself please feel free to contact me.
Or… you could just simply send the missing panels wherein we get to see Lois go into a food coma &/or Clark in the kitchen wearing a super toque and whipping up this ridiculous feast at super speed. That would work too. Thank you.