REVIEW: ‘Superman Treasury 2025: Hero for All Issue 1’ Issue 1

Superman Treasury 2025 Hero for All Issue 1 is published by DC Comics. Written by Dan Jurgens, with art by Bruno Redondo, ink assists by Caio Filipe, colors by Adriano Lucas and letters by Dave Sharpe.

Superman Treasury 2025 Hero for All Issue 1 is part of the Summer of Superman promotional event. As Earth is invaded by an alien race and the rest of the heroes fall, Superman has completely disappeared. This one-shot contains two parts of a bumper-sized story, one set in a world with Superman and the other without. It opens with something classic, Superman against a humongous robot, with Metropolis in danger. There are all the classic characters, from heroes to villains. But after that, the real threat comes, and Superman has vanished.

Superman Treasury 2025 Hero for All Issue 1 is exciting, and the sense of danger is high. There are also snapshots of Superman’s past, but something isn’t quite right with those memories. In this early stage, the story can be confusing. People are alive in the present but dead in the past.

As Superman Treasury 2025 Hero for All Issue 1 progresses, though, it becomes easier to figure out what’s happening. There is a huge, event-level scale to this one-shot, as the entire DC Universe appears to get involved in the defence of Earth and the fight against aliens. There’s an inclusive, expansive feel that shows how busy and active this world is.

There’s a rapid pace through the entire issue, moving from one scene to the next very quickly, even if the reader isn’t necessarily ready to move on. But heading into the third act, the issue clears and bursts out of the confusion, beginning to fight back with a satisfying conclusion.

For a comic so focused on Superman, it’s fascinating that much of Superman Treasury 2025 Hero for All Issue 1  didn’t feature the Man of Steel at all. That’s a clever idea by Jurgens, as his presence is huge. You see how glaring and noticeable his absence is, how vulnerable the world is without him. The full roster of the Justice League is present in the book, including the heaviest hitters. Martian Manhunter, Wonder Woman, and more do their best, but against these villains, there’s only one that has the sheer power to stop them.

Superman’s extreme power has often been criticized for its weakness in storytelling, but it’s a terrific strength as well. There is a timeless quality to Superman Treasury 2025 Hero for All Issue 1. It’s not built to fit a particular era. This isn’t the Justice League Unlimited, and Jon is still a young boy rather than an established hero in his own right. This makes the one-shot exist in its own time, meaning it can always be read and feel relevant.

The art is terrific. Redondo and Filipe illustrate the whole issue, which creates consistency throughout this substantial tome. There’s a phenomenal cleanliness to the art that presents Metropolis, Earth and its inhabitants in full majesty. The Superman costume is spacious, depicting Kal-El’s size and imposing stature. At first, there’s a perfect representation of all Superman is. There’s a tenderness with his family, with the dorky Clark Kent. Then comes the speed, strength and immense power.

Little details make all the difference, such as when he plants his feet, bracing himself like a sprinter about to launch. There’s an enormous selection of characters in Superman Treasury 2025 Hero for All Issue 1, all of which look spectacular. Even Lex Luthor, whose role in this one-shot is much more benevolent and protective than at first glance. The sprawling nature of the issue, with incredible, huge landscapes and spaceships, is mind-blowing at times.

The colors are stark and stunning. They are bold and vibrant, unleashing the best of the red, blue and gold that Superman had made so famous. The textures and the blending of shades increase the sense of space in this comic, magnifying the scale. Sometimes Lucas uses a lot of white in the panel or other lighter colors. There are primary and secondary colors in the background that make the foreground pop out. The lettering is small, but it’s precise and easy to read. The SFX has a fantastic application, often moving around the action in both the background and foreground.

Superman Treasury 2025 Hero for All Issue 1 shows what makes Superman special. Without him there, the rest of the heroes lack that focal point. They may have Batman and the others, but they’re not the same. He is the true figurehead of the DC Universe, instilling hope and power in his fellow superheroes and the world at large. The one-shot is a lengthy, impressive read that actually feels like a long event in one big book, capturing the essence of the Man of Steel that transcends any medium.

Superman Treasury 2025 Hero for All Issue 1 is available where comics are sold.