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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
Really cheeky and playful, which I didn’t expect at all. Reminds me why Superman is such a beloved character and what he’s meant to me over the years.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is just amazing and fascinating and all the things a good "elseworlds" book should be. It really embraces the idea of Superman being raised in Soviet Russia and shows how that one change ends up changing everything around it.
Great writing, great art, amazing concept and execution. There really isn't anything more you could ask for in a comic. Definitely a must read for comic fans, whether or not you like Superman.
Great writing, great art, amazing concept and execution. There really isn't anything more you could ask for in a comic. Definitely a must read for comic fans, whether or not you like Superman.
This book (and its two sequel volumes) tells an alternate history version of the Superman story, with the sole survivor of Krypton landing not in Smallville but near a collective farm in the Soviet Union. The main threads of the story are then developed in a different way, with Superman as the champion for the rights of the worker rather than for Truth, Justice, and the American way. We see alternate versions of several other DC heroes as well (Wonder Woman, Batman, Green Lantern). While I am no expert in such things I know enough of the backstory to enjoy seeing the changes rung on these different characters, and the artwork was delightful.
Superman: Red Son is an Elseworlds novel based in the Cold War era. It is based on the possibility of Superman crash landing in communist Russia rather than US. And for Lex Luthor fans, yes, it has Luthor at his obsessive best.
The novel begins with US being rocked by the news that Russia has an alien with super human abilities who makes all the firepower possessed by US seem irrelevant. In their desperation, they turn to the most intelligent man on the Earth: Lex Luthor. Luthor, running a very successful company and happily married to Lois Lane, takes it up as yet another intellectual challenge. And thus begins the tug o' war between two of the most famous rivals in fictional history. For Superman, who, as the book progresses, turns most of the world (including Themyscira, home of the Amazons) into one big communist society, Lex Luthor is the only hurdle standing between him and his dream of a perfect world. For Luthor, Superman is an extremely powered power-hungry egomaniac who should leave the fate of human beings to themselves.
Thus, entrenched in their own beliefs, the two try their best to overcome each other (or at least Luthor does). And while the communist Superman is shown to have the same ideals as the capitalist one, the former is much more willing to bend his own rules then the latter, all the time aided and abetted by Braniac.
All the characters from the original Superman storyline are incorporated, though in different capacities. And yes, those opposing Superman also include a Russian Batman (with a cowl designed from a Ushanka), Wonder Woman (though she starts out as a staunch supporter, and remains so for most of the book), and Hal Jordan as the Green Lantern. But, this story, and the supporting characters, revolve solely around Superman and Lex Luthor; both of them at their best.
Mark Millar has done a fantastic job with the writing and the art work is also very good. I must confess that I am becoming a fan of Mark Millar comics (or Millarworld as some of them are called); even though, I have read only 3: Kickass, Wanted, and Red Son. The storylines are quite innovative, and his writing is paced very nicely keeping you involved all the time. And the climax that he writes is quite breathtaking and totally unexpected.
I would definitely rank this novel as the best Superman book that I have read (even though I haven’t read many). While it might not have the resonating impact of ‘Death of Superman’, it definitely presents a fresh perspective on the ‘Man of Tomorrow’, and a fascinating one too. I would recommend this to all DC/Superman fans.
The novel begins with US being rocked by the news that Russia has an alien with super human abilities who makes all the firepower possessed by US seem irrelevant. In their desperation, they turn to the most intelligent man on the Earth: Lex Luthor. Luthor, running a very successful company and happily married to Lois Lane, takes it up as yet another intellectual challenge. And thus begins the tug o' war between two of the most famous rivals in fictional history. For Superman, who, as the book progresses, turns most of the world (including Themyscira, home of the Amazons) into one big communist society, Lex Luthor is the only hurdle standing between him and his dream of a perfect world. For Luthor, Superman is an extremely powered power-hungry egomaniac who should leave the fate of human beings to themselves.
Thus, entrenched in their own beliefs, the two try their best to overcome each other (or at least Luthor does). And while the communist Superman is shown to have the same ideals as the capitalist one, the former is much more willing to bend his own rules then the latter, all the time aided and abetted by Braniac.
All the characters from the original Superman storyline are incorporated, though in different capacities. And yes, those opposing Superman also include a Russian Batman (with a cowl designed from a Ushanka), Wonder Woman (though she starts out as a staunch supporter, and remains so for most of the book), and Hal Jordan as the Green Lantern. But, this story, and the supporting characters, revolve solely around Superman and Lex Luthor; both of them at their best.
Mark Millar has done a fantastic job with the writing and the art work is also very good. I must confess that I am becoming a fan of Mark Millar comics (or Millarworld as some of them are called); even though, I have read only 3: Kickass, Wanted, and Red Son. The storylines are quite innovative, and his writing is paced very nicely keeping you involved all the time. And the climax that he writes is quite breathtaking and totally unexpected.
I would definitely rank this novel as the best Superman book that I have read (even though I haven’t read many). While it might not have the resonating impact of ‘Death of Superman’, it definitely presents a fresh perspective on the ‘Man of Tomorrow’, and a fascinating one too. I would recommend this to all DC/Superman fans.
I haven't read a whole lot of Superman comics but I'm pretty into AU Socialist Soviet Superman.
I liked the terrorist Batman subplot and the alternate history aspect, but the whole thing seemed a bit rushed. If it had been given the Alan Moore treatment it could have been brilliant.
adventurous
dark
funny
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was INCREDIBLY harsh on this book a few years ago...and I honestly don't remember anything about it or why I rated it so low. I LOVED every moment of this alternate history take on Superman. A fun read through and through!