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theheartbrekker1's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
amyeewing's review against another edition
5.0
This was a truly awesome graphic novel. It had a bit of a slow start but quickly picked up. I loved the perspective of communism working and capitalism not working without villianizing or overselling either one. I also liked that Superman is still good but has a different perspective of what good entails. John and Martha Kent raised Superman to believe in an American way that doesn't really match up with reality so it makes sense that the Ukranian farmers would do the same for Communism pointing out that the ideas are good. It's the implementation that gets in the way.
Stepping away from political ideologies, the ending was perfect and brought the novel to a wonderful and fulfilling conclusion.
Stepping away from political ideologies, the ending was perfect and brought the novel to a wonderful and fulfilling conclusion.
rgag86's review against another edition
4.0
A kid with MS is granted his wish to become the living embodiment of his favorite superhero...but what will it cost him?
viera's review against another edition
2.0
Superman’s a commie and Batman has a sense of humor. That’s it. That’s the book.
pakebrokenshire's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
codyisreading's review against another edition
4.0
4.5/5
Everyone knows Superman landed in Smallville and was raised by good, honest Americans Ma and Pa Kent. *Eli Cash voice* What this comic presupposes is...maybe he didn't.
After his spaceship lands in the Ukraine, Mark Millar reimagines Superman as a Soviet hero instead of the champion of the American way. Other heroes get reimagined in red as well, with appearances by Batman, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern.
I think what I loved about this Elseworld book is how much the question of nature vs. nurture was present over everything. Is Superman's moral code instilled in him by his Earth parents, or is it baked in deeper than that?
And it would've been easy enough for Millar to paint the Cold War as a simple black-and-white, us vs. them conflict. Yet Millar offers no easy answers, as Superman begins to question both ideologies and whether or not (as an alien) *he* can even offer any answers to humanity's problems.
Bonus points for the book's ending taking me completely by surprise. I'm not sure it totally works, but I definitely enjoyed how out of left field it is. I've never been a big Supes fan but this book was more than worth the read.
Everyone knows Superman landed in Smallville and was raised by good, honest Americans Ma and Pa Kent. *Eli Cash voice* What this comic presupposes is...maybe he didn't.
After his spaceship lands in the Ukraine, Mark Millar reimagines Superman as a Soviet hero instead of the champion of the American way. Other heroes get reimagined in red as well, with appearances by Batman, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern.
I think what I loved about this Elseworld book is how much the question of nature vs. nurture was present over everything. Is Superman's moral code instilled in him by his Earth parents, or is it baked in deeper than that?
And it would've been easy enough for Millar to paint the Cold War as a simple black-and-white, us vs. them conflict. Yet Millar offers no easy answers, as Superman begins to question both ideologies and whether or not (as an alien) *he* can even offer any answers to humanity's problems.
Bonus points for the book's ending taking me completely by surprise. I'm not sure it totally works, but I definitely enjoyed how out of left field it is. I've never been a big Supes fan but this book was more than worth the read.
unladylike's review against another edition
2.0
I don't know how many years it's been since I first read this beloved Elseworlds tale, but my opinion of it has dropped significantly. I could've sworn this would be the *one* good Mark Millar comic, but nope, it's almost nothing but one-dimensional characters in a one-dimensional world. All the interesting developments happen off-page, in between scenes, because Millar has no way of explaining how they worked out.
The idea that Superman tries sticking to a more Batman-esque murder-free rule and refuses to invade the two remaining capitalist countries, but says nothing about his enforcers doing all the heavy-handed-oppressive-regime-secret-police shenanigans was not believable. The portrayal of U.S. capitalism vs. Soviet communism seems to be informed more by propaganda and action films more than any understanding of political theories and praxis.
Lex Luthor is the one barely-interesting character in the whole book, and the surprise ending in the final few pages was cute, but the rest of this one-off is a snooooozerrrrr.
The idea that Superman tries sticking to a more Batman-esque murder-free rule and refuses to invade the two remaining capitalist countries, but says nothing about his enforcers doing all the heavy-handed-oppressive-regime-secret-police shenanigans was not believable. The portrayal of U.S. capitalism vs. Soviet communism seems to be informed more by propaganda and action films more than any understanding of political theories and praxis.
Lex Luthor is the one barely-interesting character in the whole book, and the surprise ending in the final few pages was cute, but the rest of this one-off is a snooooozerrrrr.
ericthec's review against another edition
4.0
Very clever. I'm not a huge fan of the silly villain stuff but the writing and art are top notch and has a great ending
tinynavajo's review against another edition
5.0
A superman comic that I actually enjoyed. What if Superman's space pod had landed in Ukraine instead of Kansas? How would the world change?