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A review by terprubin
Superman: Red Son by Mark Millar
4.0
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