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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
This book is a solid 4.5 stars. I was excited to read this book because it had been touted as perhaps the greatest superhero novel ever, except maybe for Watchmen. And it was a totally awesome ride; I loved nearly every frame of the novel. It is a totally unique way to look at the life of Superman and wonder, "What if?" I love alternate history, and there are too few novels that take a popular character or world and give it the alternate history treatment. Sure, you get gritty retellings and reboots (which are often fun in their own right), but rarely do you get an alternate history of a well-known fictional character.
So why 4.5 stars and not 5? Simple.
But other than that one detail, it was near perfect. The inclusion of Wonder Woman and Batman (or at least "a" Batman), as well as Brainiac, firmly rooted the story as "everything stayed the same in the prime DC Universe except where Superman's capsule landed." Superman's inner struggle over his role in the world, Lex's existence as the foil for Supes, and even nods to Lois, Perry, and Jimmy (though some back story on Jimmy and why he ended up where he did would have been nice, considering how different his life must have been to make these choices) were necessary and believable consequences for how the world had changed.
In the end, I wanted to give the story 5 stars, and if I would have.
So why 4.5 stars and not 5? Simple.
Spoiler
The end. The whole time loop with Jor-L sending his son back in time to become Superman is just an unwelcome and unnecessary end. End the book with Lex's death, have one or two frames after talking about how he changed the world for the better, and fade to black. There is no need to build in a time loop for the sense of irony. Honestly, it was unnecessary, since it actually detracts from the amazing things Lex did at the end of the book.But other than that one detail, it was near perfect. The inclusion of Wonder Woman and Batman (or at least "a" Batman), as well as Brainiac, firmly rooted the story as "everything stayed the same in the prime DC Universe except where Superman's capsule landed." Superman's inner struggle over his role in the world, Lex's existence as the foil for Supes, and even nods to Lois, Perry, and Jimmy (though some back story on Jimmy and why he ended up where he did would have been nice, considering how different his life must have been to make these choices) were necessary and believable consequences for how the world had changed.
In the end, I wanted to give the story 5 stars, and if
Spoiler
it had ended a couple of pages earlier,
one of my few Superman blindspots for years and I finally read it, only to be disappointed. a very intresting concept with an abysmal execution from Millar.
This was a cool what-if, asking the question "What if Superman had landed in the Soviet Union."
Sadly, the question is better than the execution here as it rushes and even skips over much of how different Superman's development and upbringing would be. I wanted to see how a young Superman, named something other than Clark Kent, would be different, growing up in a Soviet Commune, instead of rural Kansas.
Many parts of the plot felt rushed, with threads rising up and discarded haphazardly along the way.
The themes and much of the potential feels unexplored, and much of the depth the story could have had with a Communist Man of Steel as the strongest being on Earth feels missed, instead being mostly a typical superhero story, just with the roles reversed.
Sadly, the question is better than the execution here as it rushes and even skips over much of how different Superman's development and upbringing would be. I wanted to see how a young Superman, named something other than Clark Kent, would be different, growing up in a Soviet Commune, instead of rural Kansas.
Many parts of the plot felt rushed, with threads rising up and discarded haphazardly along the way.
The themes and much of the potential feels unexplored, and much of the depth the story could have had with a Communist Man of Steel as the strongest being on Earth feels missed, instead being mostly a typical superhero story, just with the roles reversed.
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Bof. Je sais pas trop à quoi je m'attendais mais pas à ce que Superman soit un tyran totalitaire je pense. Les batanars étaient rigolo.
J'aimerai bien lire une take comme ça mais par des autrices...
J'aimerai bien lire une take comme ça mais par des autrices...
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
We start this from an American perspective, thus already failing at the premise of putting ourselves, through Superman, into the shoes of the other side.
...Millar, you have Superman grow up on a Ukrainian farm and have him like Stalin?? With Supes as an adult in the 1950s (his age isn't given, but I'd place him being in his 20s or 30s right when Stalin died, since we see that event from 1953 on page in this issue), it's very likely that he lived through the Holodomor. Or arrived right after it. Me thinks Millar didn't do any research on the Soviet Union. Especially since I don't see much exploration of how growing up with communist ideals would change Superman's own mindset. He doesn't feel any different from American Superman in issue 1.
Maybe that was the point.
In issue 2, Superman becomes a totalitarian leader. Somehow. Having him reflect some of the worst parts of the Soviet Union when he takes over, when right before this he was depicted as a man who does his best to help everyone, feels like it comes out of nowhere. I get that part of this is pure shock value. And I think the idea is that without the American ideals of freedom, Superman has become rigid in what his definition of "help" and "best for the people" means. But we don't get to see Superman become like this in the comic.
Campy, simultaneously-engaging-in-fifty-intellectual-activities Lex Luthor doesn't fit in with the more serious tone of Red Son.
None of the character changes make any sense. How would America being absent of Superman cause Lois and Lex to marry? Why does Soviet Superman fall in love with Lois after looking at her once? Why the fuck does Superman brainwash people?!
The core idea of Superman landing in the Soviet Union instead of America is incredibly interesting, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired.
...Millar, you have Superman grow up on a Ukrainian farm and have him like Stalin?? With Supes as an adult in the 1950s (his age isn't given, but I'd place him being in his 20s or 30s right when Stalin died, since we see that event from 1953 on page in this issue), it's very likely that he lived through the Holodomor. Or arrived right after it. Me thinks Millar didn't do any research on the Soviet Union. Especially since I don't see much exploration of how growing up with communist ideals would change Superman's own mindset. He doesn't feel any different from American Superman in issue 1.
Maybe that was the point.
In issue 2, Superman becomes a totalitarian leader. Somehow. Having him reflect some of the worst parts of the Soviet Union when he takes over, when right before this he was depicted as a man who does his best to help everyone, feels like it comes out of nowhere. I get that part of this is pure shock value. And I think the idea is that without the American ideals of freedom, Superman has become rigid in what his definition of "help" and "best for the people" means. But we don't get to see Superman become like this in the comic.
Campy, simultaneously-engaging-in-fifty-intellectual-activities Lex Luthor doesn't fit in with the more serious tone of Red Son.
None of the character changes make any sense. How would America being absent of Superman cause Lois and Lex to marry? Why does Soviet Superman fall in love with Lois after looking at her once? Why the fuck does Superman brainwash people?!
The core idea of Superman landing in the Soviet Union instead of America is incredibly interesting, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired.
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes