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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
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
I haven't read a lot of Superman stories, but this is the best of the ones I have read. Millar is fantastic as always. He transplants the whole Superman mythos to the Eastern Bloc, but keep the essence of him (and all of his friends and foes) intact. Really great!
adventurous
Exceptional, extraordinary and mind numbingly good! Mark Millar creates a world whose social and geo political narrative echoes the inevitable prospective worst of times and best of times. To think and re imagine an ever-present icon in such drastic yet narratively simplistic way, ends proving the potential of a great mind who has absorbed the world in the most immersive way possible. And to top it all, one of the most gorgeous looking graphic novels since The Dark Knight Returns.
Listen, I love some of Mark's stuff.
I hate some of it.
But a lot of it is just in the middle. This is one of them.
So I won't explain the plot in detail, because you can just read that anywhere. Something I loved was the very nature of Superman is still the same. He is a symbol of Hope. This isn't Injustice Superman (Which I love) he has different views but he's still the good hearted Superman we all know and love. I also liked the idea of Lex being basically the ruler of America while Russia falls into Superman's domain. Also Bats vs Supes was very fun.
What didn't I like? Talk about wordy. Some moments, or whole issues, could have been cut down. It's just a lot of talking with very little meaning. We get the ideas with the pictures, that's why it's a comic, so you don't have to spell out everything...Duh! Also the whole middle felt a bit dragged out and boring.
However the ending was a nice wrap up and brought a smile to my face. I wasn't inlove with this story but I did enjoy it enough to give it a solid 3 stars. Good.
I hate some of it.
But a lot of it is just in the middle. This is one of them.
So I won't explain the plot in detail, because you can just read that anywhere. Something I loved was the very nature of Superman is still the same. He is a symbol of Hope. This isn't Injustice Superman (Which I love) he has different views but he's still the good hearted Superman we all know and love. I also liked the idea of Lex being basically the ruler of America while Russia falls into Superman's domain. Also Bats vs Supes was very fun.
What didn't I like? Talk about wordy. Some moments, or whole issues, could have been cut down. It's just a lot of talking with very little meaning. We get the ideas with the pictures, that's why it's a comic, so you don't have to spell out everything...Duh! Also the whole middle felt a bit dragged out and boring.
However the ending was a nice wrap up and brought a smile to my face. I wasn't inlove with this story but I did enjoy it enough to give it a solid 3 stars. Good.
I wish more comics were like this.
The premise is simple: What if Superman had crashed into a pre-WWII farming collective in the Ukraine, instead of the crashing in the U.S.? What does that mean for the world he lives in, and for Superman himself?
Simple premises often have complex and nuanced conclusions, and this one hits both notes. This isn't a good guys/bad guys comic; it examines how good intentions play out in all sorts of scenarios, even in a totalitarian dictatorship, and it packs much more thought into this slim volume than some comics pack into several volumes. Add in some great art and you've got a wonderful package that I would definitely, definitely recommend.
The premise is simple: What if Superman had crashed into a pre-WWII farming collective in the Ukraine, instead of the crashing in the U.S.? What does that mean for the world he lives in, and for Superman himself?
Simple premises often have complex and nuanced conclusions, and this one hits both notes. This isn't a good guys/bad guys comic; it examines how good intentions play out in all sorts of scenarios, even in a totalitarian dictatorship, and it packs much more thought into this slim volume than some comics pack into several volumes. Add in some great art and you've got a wonderful package that I would definitely, definitely recommend.
What if, when Superman landed on Earth, he landed in Siberia during the early decades of the Communist movement instead of the Kent farm? What if he became indoctrinated in Communist mantra instead of the “American way of life”? What if he became a force behind Communism instead of Democracy? Ask no more and read one potential take on what might have happened in Mark Millar’s Superman: Red Son.
I really enjoyed the what-ifs presented in this book. Just seeing how the legend could have so easily been upended is pretty amazing. However, I feel like it skipped around almost too much through the decades and I found myself scraping to figure out all the changes that happened between the pages. Still a very enjoyable read and that ending. Oh, that ending!
I really enjoyed the what-ifs presented in this book. Just seeing how the legend could have so easily been upended is pretty amazing. However, I feel like it skipped around almost too much through the decades and I found myself scraping to figure out all the changes that happened between the pages. Still a very enjoyable read and that ending. Oh, that ending!
This book has such a wonderful concept. If Superman's ship arrives 12 hours earlier or later, he might end up in Soviet Russia. The Man of Steel ends up in Josef Stalin's Russia (another Man of Steel). How can Soviets par an egalitarian mindset with a creature so far and beyond human capabilities? It's a fun twist on a character that often is synonymous with America.
So, as most people do, I'd heard a lot about this story and how it is one of Superman's best stories of all time.
It definitely was an interesting read. There's no denying how fascinating the concept was, but after a certain point it loses its novelty. At the time it was probably a lot more unique, but now it's too similar to what is being built in Injustice and Earth 2 and all these other tired "Superman as an evil dictator" stories. What is unique about this one is how Superman grew into it instead of being thrust into it by some outside force.
Also similar to how a lot of these stories play out, it's hard to empathize with the "good guys" in the story. Luthor and Batman and the others just seem like they're fighting for the sake of being right. These geniuses are ignoring logic. Sure some stuff that Superman does crosses the line, but maybe I'm just a pragmatist.
Anyway, it's a really interesting read. My only issue is that it goes a little fast. There are only 3 issues so there's not as much buildup or subsequent payoff. The flip side, though, is that the actual ending is excellent. I love a story that does its job and then goes far into the future for the wrap up. It literally left my jaw dropped.
As for the art, it's a mixed bag of exceptional and average. It starts very strong with a unique look and feel. As it goes on, though, it becomes more of an average look that doesn't stand out too much. The colors are great, I loved how muddy everything was. It showed a big contrast to the typical bright primary colors of Superman's world.
This is definitely a great story for Superman fans. That said, I enjoyed some of the other classics a little better. Check it out to see what may have been the original dictator Superman story, handled just how it should be.
It definitely was an interesting read. There's no denying how fascinating the concept was, but after a certain point it loses its novelty. At the time it was probably a lot more unique, but now it's too similar to what is being built in Injustice and Earth 2 and all these other tired "Superman as an evil dictator" stories. What is unique about this one is how Superman grew into it instead of being thrust into it by some outside force.
Also similar to how a lot of these stories play out, it's hard to empathize with the "good guys" in the story. Luthor and Batman and the others just seem like they're fighting for the sake of being right. These geniuses are ignoring logic. Sure some stuff that Superman does crosses the line, but maybe I'm just a pragmatist.
Anyway, it's a really interesting read. My only issue is that it goes a little fast. There are only 3 issues so there's not as much buildup or subsequent payoff. The flip side, though, is that the actual ending is excellent. I love a story that does its job and then goes far into the future for the wrap up. It literally left my jaw dropped.
As for the art, it's a mixed bag of exceptional and average. It starts very strong with a unique look and feel. As it goes on, though, it becomes more of an average look that doesn't stand out too much. The colors are great, I loved how muddy everything was. It showed a big contrast to the typical bright primary colors of Superman's world.
This is definitely a great story for Superman fans. That said, I enjoyed some of the other classics a little better. Check it out to see what may have been the original dictator Superman story, handled just how it should be.