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gpv 's review for:
Superman: Red Son
by Mark Millar
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.