Status
Available
Call number
Publication
DC Comics (2004), Edition: unknown, 160 pages
Description
Imagine a reality where the world's most powerful super-being does not grow up in Smallville, Kansas - or even America, for that matter... : RED SON is a vivid tale of Cold War paranoia, that reveals how the ship carrying the infant who would later be known as Superman lands in the midst of the 1950s Soviet Union. Raised on a collective, the infant grows up and becomes a symbol to the Soviet people, and the world changes drastically from what we know - bringing Superman into conflict with Batman, Lex Luthor and many others. From the mind of Mark Millar, the best-selling writer of THE AUTHORITY and Wanted, comes this strangely different take on the Superman mythos. Featuring art by Dave Johnson, Kilian Plunkett, Andrew Robinson, and Walden Wong, with an introduction by film producer Tom DeSanto (X-Men, X2: X-Men United, Transformers), this edition also features an extensive sketch gallery by Johnson, Plunkett and Alex Ross.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member TomWaitsTables
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's . . . Deus ex machina!. The god in the machine comes down from the skies and saves us from ourselves. Except Millar calls him "Superman" and leaves out God. And did I mention he's a Communist Superman raised in the USSR instead of Smallville?
All in all, brilliant
In short, Millar's Red Son is worth reading, especially for any Superman fan. But even though there is a delightfully circuitous twist to the ending, I didn't care. Without Clark Kent, the Man of Steel can be summed in one word: Meh.
I guess there are times when you can begin to appreciate the influence of something only by imagining its absence.
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An addendum: I gave the book 2 1/2 stars because Millar told more than he showed. Upon seeing the cover, I was enthralled, my mind swirling with the possibilities. And upon reading it, I was thoroughly disappointed. Plus, Red Son had the ill luck of coming upon the heels of David Nordley's Democritus' Violin which skewed my standard for a cleverly told "What if" thought experiment.
And if I'm really honest, I'd admit that the pannel of Superman's statue being pulled down in Red Square(?) stirred up too many unpleasant memories of Lucas's heavy-handed meddling in the Star Wars Trilogy: Special Edition. :)
All in all, brilliant
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idea. Execution was lacking, however. I found myself rather indifferent towards the characters (except Wonder Woman, unhinged by unrequited love). Superman was rather bland and boring without Clark Kent. Without Kent, Superman was more like Mongul than the Superman who inspires by embodying those "boy scout qualities" that offers firmly rooted values in the everyday changing world (farmboy moving to Metropolis; I can't believe I've only just realized that).In short, Millar's Red Son is worth reading, especially for any Superman fan. But even though there is a delightfully circuitous twist to the ending, I didn't care. Without Clark Kent, the Man of Steel can be summed in one word: Meh.
I guess there are times when you can begin to appreciate the influence of something only by imagining its absence.
+++
An addendum: I gave the book 2 1/2 stars because Millar told more than he showed. Upon seeing the cover, I was enthralled, my mind swirling with the possibilities. And upon reading it, I was thoroughly disappointed. Plus, Red Son had the ill luck of coming upon the heels of David Nordley's Democritus' Violin which skewed my standard for a cleverly told "What if" thought experiment.
And if I'm really honest, I'd admit that the pannel of Superman's statue being pulled down in Red Square(?) stirred up too many unpleasant memories of Lucas's heavy-handed meddling in the Star Wars Trilogy: Special Edition. :)
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LibraryThing member wealhtheowwylfing
An alternate tale of Superman. What if, instead of landing in the US, his spaceship had landed in the Soviet Union? I loved the questions raised and the changes made to history by this small difference, but upon rereading I found the story less satisfying. There are three female characters, and the
That said, the original idea really is a great one, and the art is good.
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roles of each are primarily to hopelessly love either Lex Luthor or Superman. Lois Luthor (nee Lane) and Wonder Woman chafe at their hopeless loves, but they never *do* anything, and Wonder Woman is depowered. Sorry, but I have absolutely no patience for taking away the powers of literally the only woman with any power whatsoever, whilst simultaneously authorial fiat gives Luthor and Superman far more power than they ordinarily have in the comics. Lois Lane/Luthor, meanwhile, makes a little noise about her reporter job but in terms of story, her only purpose is to carry a letter from Luthor to Superman and to stare longingly up at the clouds. Ridiculousness! The dialog isn't arresting, and the story is mostly carried by the power of the original what-if and by a cute plot twist right at the end. There's very little about any differences between capitalism, communism, dictatorships, democracy--the author seems confused about economics and pays very little attention to anything that isn't the two Great Men (Luthor and Superman). This is mostly a tale of Luthor and Superman slugging it out, instead of being a story about ideologies, power dynamics or anything remotely sophisticated or new.That said, the original idea really is a great one, and the art is good.
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LibraryThing member Bellenuitoeil
Alternate universe DC! Russian superman! Batman wearing a furry Russian hat! Pure awesomesauce!
LibraryThing member brianfstevenson
The concept behind alternative history is deceptively easy. Change something from the past (in this case, the wellknown, but still imaginary past) and carry it forward to a logical conclusion. Here, the rocket carrying the infant Superman from Krypton hits Earth 12 hours earlier (or later?) and
The American Superman that we all know is a pretty conservative, mainstream fellow, imbued with some old fashioned, if not quaint, Norman Rockwell type values. The constant is that he always thinks he is doing the right thing. So, it is logical to suppose that if he was raised in the good old USSR during the time of Comrade Uncle Joe Stalin, he would assume the values of that place and time, accompanied, once more, with a strong belief that he was doing the right thing.
Out of this premise, Mark Millar has fashioned a morality tale, which covers, among other issues, the danger of totalitarianism, even if it is benevolent, the value of individuality, and the premise that even the most omnipotent individual can fail. All told in a cinematic noir style, and with an absolutely killer conclusion. Read it.
(Special note: and a big thank you to my beloved son-in-law for giving this as a present. Love you, man.)
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instead of landing in Kansas, USA, lands in the Ukraine, then part of the USSR. The American Superman that we all know is a pretty conservative, mainstream fellow, imbued with some old fashioned, if not quaint, Norman Rockwell type values. The constant is that he always thinks he is doing the right thing. So, it is logical to suppose that if he was raised in the good old USSR during the time of Comrade Uncle Joe Stalin, he would assume the values of that place and time, accompanied, once more, with a strong belief that he was doing the right thing.
Out of this premise, Mark Millar has fashioned a morality tale, which covers, among other issues, the danger of totalitarianism, even if it is benevolent, the value of individuality, and the premise that even the most omnipotent individual can fail. All told in a cinematic noir style, and with an absolutely killer conclusion. Read it.
(Special note: and a big thank you to my beloved son-in-law for giving this as a present. Love you, man.)
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LibraryThing member Stevil2001
Imagine that when the rocket carrying a little baby Kal-El crash-landed on Earth, it hadn't landed in Kansas, but in Ukraine... at the height of the Cold War. That's the premise behind Red Son, which gives us a Superman raised not with good old American values, but Soviet communist ones. A Superman
My friend James posits that what makes Superman Superman is Clark Kent, and cites Superman For All Seasons as proof, with this story as the inverse. What would Superman be like if he wasn't Clark Kent? The answer is somewhat chilling: upon Stalin's death, Superman takes over as leader of the U.S.S.R., doing his absolute best to eliminate crime, disease, war, famine, even bad weather. Superman rules the world. But it doesn't quite answer the question, because we never see Superman when he's not being Superman. That's probably the point-- he has no alter ego, but he should have had an ante ego. We're told he grew up on a collective farm, but we never see his adoptive parents or even learn his pre-Superman name. Who was he? Where did he come from? We see Ma Kent in a brief scene in Smallville at the beginning, but never his "real" mother. Does he even have a real mother? Or was he raised by the collective? Without that information, it's hard to fully buy him as a character. All we know is that there was a girl named Lana Lazarenko who he was sweet on, and who stays by his side into his adult life, but we rarely see her actually interacting with Superman.
Lana brings up my one big problem with the book: some of the alternate versions are just weird or contrived. Why should there be a Lana Lang equivalent, complete with red hair, in Ukraine? Why does a Russian boy who sees his parents gunned down adopt the moniker of "Batman"-- and why doesn't Bruce Wayne, who should still exist in this world? Oliver Queen is no Green Arrow in this world, but a reporter for the Daily Planet, which is pretty pointless as the characters have nothing in common except a name and facial hair. And I cannot envision any possible world where Jimmy Olsen can ascend to the top spot in the CIA.
But the biggest alternate figure here, aside from Superman of course, is Lex Luthor. Long-time readers of my reviews will know of my great affection for Lex Luthor. I don't think Millar gets Luthor quite right: though he's a bit of a jerkface, he doesn't become an outright villain until Superman shows up on the scene, and I think that misconceives the character somewhat. Though Superman seems to bring out Luthor's worst tendencies, we should still be better off for having Superman around; Luthor should be up to no good with no one to stop him without Superman. But that's quibble, because once Superman shows up, Luthor is spot-on. This is the scientist version of Luthor, but he's every bit as egotistical and intelligent as Lex Luthor should be. I enjoyed his constant games of chess-- and the fact that it was being beat by a clone of Superman at one of those games that really set him off.
Superman remarks of him: "What was the point of Lex Luthor? A human being who dared to challenge a god, he was surely the greatest of his kind. I often look back upon those days and wonder what he might have accomplished without me. The triumphs he might have achieved in the name of his species." But the great thing about Lex Luthor is that every triumph he achieves, he achieves for only one reason: to beat Superman. When the entire world has fallen under Soviet control, America is the only hold-out-- and in total chaos. Until Lex Luthor steps in, and in a year reengineers the entire economy and saves the country from perpetual civil war. Why? Just to prove he's better than Superman. And it's bigger than that-- Luthor triumphs in the end, and you realize that everything that's been going on is a very, very long chess game... and in the end, Superman was actually just another one of his pawns. A pawn in a scheme to dominate the world with "Luthorism". But without Superman, would Luthor have ever been spurred to the ultimate good? Probably not.
But even in a world where Luthor is "good"... he's still not. There are two twists to the ending. One, someone who's been paying attention to the narration will pick up on, and it shows that Luthor isn't as smart as he thinks. The other, is quite a shocker. I was initially undecided on it, but once I realized what kind of light it threw on Luthor's supposed utopia, I decided I really liked it.
Man, I've been talking about Luthor a lot. Part of that is probably because, as I've alluded to, he's somewhat better developed as a character here than Superman. But Superman is still worth talking about-- more than worth it! Because this Superman isn't all that far off from the Superman we know and love. Both Superman want to help the world, to change it for the better, to enable it to rise above its petty and terrible ways. But the difference between the Superman man we know and this one is that the "normal" Superman believes in people... this Superman does not. The people of this Earth even stop wearing their seatbelts, knowing Superman will save them if something goes wrong. Somewhere I once read that the greatest desire of Superman would be a world that doesn't need him anymore, but this Superman would be completely unable to even envision such a scenario. It's that simple little humanistic faith that makes Superman the hero who he is. It's the lack of it that turns everyone-- everyone-- in this story into a villain.
Though I dug Millar's story and characters over all, there were some points where things didn't quite work. He's got some awkward dialogue, for example:
LANA: It's okay, Superman. It's not your fault. It's just the way the system works, you know. You can't take care of everyone's problems.
SUPERMAN: Actually, I can. Lana, I could take care of everyone's problems if I ran this place and, to tell you the truth, there's no good reason why I shouldn't.
But that's immediately followed by a glorious panel of Superman ascending over the starving crowds declaring that he's there to rescue them, so I can forgive it.
I thought the side-plot with the Green Lantern Corps was mostly irrelevant, and I was pretty so-so on the depiction of Wonder Woman in this reality. But, on the other hand, Stalingrad as a city put in a bottle by Brainiac is sheer genius. I also really liked the moment where Superman encounters his bizarro counterpart, grown by Lex Luthor as an American superweapon.
The art is solid throughout, and often fantastic. I don't know which of the credited artists did what, but sometimes I could notice multiple styles. Overall, it fits together, though-- and the coloring is great.
The story's not quite as emotionally engaging as it always should be, but in the third chapter I was gripped and carried all the way through. This story isn't so much What if Superman landed in the Soviet Union? as What if there was no Clark Kent? and the answer is very dark indeed. Great stuff.
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who is the right-hand man to Josef Stalin and champions the rights of the worker, battling the insidious forces of capitalism.My friend James posits that what makes Superman Superman is Clark Kent, and cites Superman For All Seasons as proof, with this story as the inverse. What would Superman be like if he wasn't Clark Kent? The answer is somewhat chilling: upon Stalin's death, Superman takes over as leader of the U.S.S.R., doing his absolute best to eliminate crime, disease, war, famine, even bad weather. Superman rules the world. But it doesn't quite answer the question, because we never see Superman when he's not being Superman. That's probably the point-- he has no alter ego, but he should have had an ante ego. We're told he grew up on a collective farm, but we never see his adoptive parents or even learn his pre-Superman name. Who was he? Where did he come from? We see Ma Kent in a brief scene in Smallville at the beginning, but never his "real" mother. Does he even have a real mother? Or was he raised by the collective? Without that information, it's hard to fully buy him as a character. All we know is that there was a girl named Lana Lazarenko who he was sweet on, and who stays by his side into his adult life, but we rarely see her actually interacting with Superman.
Lana brings up my one big problem with the book: some of the alternate versions are just weird or contrived. Why should there be a Lana Lang equivalent, complete with red hair, in Ukraine? Why does a Russian boy who sees his parents gunned down adopt the moniker of "Batman"-- and why doesn't Bruce Wayne, who should still exist in this world? Oliver Queen is no Green Arrow in this world, but a reporter for the Daily Planet, which is pretty pointless as the characters have nothing in common except a name and facial hair. And I cannot envision any possible world where Jimmy Olsen can ascend to the top spot in the CIA.
But the biggest alternate figure here, aside from Superman of course, is Lex Luthor. Long-time readers of my reviews will know of my great affection for Lex Luthor. I don't think Millar gets Luthor quite right: though he's a bit of a jerkface, he doesn't become an outright villain until Superman shows up on the scene, and I think that misconceives the character somewhat. Though Superman seems to bring out Luthor's worst tendencies, we should still be better off for having Superman around; Luthor should be up to no good with no one to stop him without Superman. But that's quibble, because once Superman shows up, Luthor is spot-on. This is the scientist version of Luthor, but he's every bit as egotistical and intelligent as Lex Luthor should be. I enjoyed his constant games of chess-- and the fact that it was being beat by a clone of Superman at one of those games that really set him off.
Superman remarks of him: "What was the point of Lex Luthor? A human being who dared to challenge a god, he was surely the greatest of his kind. I often look back upon those days and wonder what he might have accomplished without me. The triumphs he might have achieved in the name of his species." But the great thing about Lex Luthor is that every triumph he achieves, he achieves for only one reason: to beat Superman. When the entire world has fallen under Soviet control, America is the only hold-out-- and in total chaos. Until Lex Luthor steps in, and in a year reengineers the entire economy and saves the country from perpetual civil war. Why? Just to prove he's better than Superman. And it's bigger than that-- Luthor triumphs in the end, and you realize that everything that's been going on is a very, very long chess game... and in the end, Superman was actually just another one of his pawns. A pawn in a scheme to dominate the world with "Luthorism". But without Superman, would Luthor have ever been spurred to the ultimate good? Probably not.
But even in a world where Luthor is "good"... he's still not. There are two twists to the ending. One, someone who's been paying attention to the narration will pick up on, and it shows that Luthor isn't as smart as he thinks. The other, is quite a shocker. I was initially undecided on it, but once I realized what kind of light it threw on Luthor's supposed utopia, I decided I really liked it.
Man, I've been talking about Luthor a lot. Part of that is probably because, as I've alluded to, he's somewhat better developed as a character here than Superman. But Superman is still worth talking about-- more than worth it! Because this Superman isn't all that far off from the Superman we know and love. Both Superman want to help the world, to change it for the better, to enable it to rise above its petty and terrible ways. But the difference between the Superman man we know and this one is that the "normal" Superman believes in people... this Superman does not. The people of this Earth even stop wearing their seatbelts, knowing Superman will save them if something goes wrong. Somewhere I once read that the greatest desire of Superman would be a world that doesn't need him anymore, but this Superman would be completely unable to even envision such a scenario. It's that simple little humanistic faith that makes Superman the hero who he is. It's the lack of it that turns everyone-- everyone-- in this story into a villain.
Though I dug Millar's story and characters over all, there were some points where things didn't quite work. He's got some awkward dialogue, for example:
LANA: It's okay, Superman. It's not your fault. It's just the way the system works, you know. You can't take care of everyone's problems.
SUPERMAN: Actually, I can. Lana, I could take care of everyone's problems if I ran this place and, to tell you the truth, there's no good reason why I shouldn't.
But that's immediately followed by a glorious panel of Superman ascending over the starving crowds declaring that he's there to rescue them, so I can forgive it.
I thought the side-plot with the Green Lantern Corps was mostly irrelevant, and I was pretty so-so on the depiction of Wonder Woman in this reality. But, on the other hand, Stalingrad as a city put in a bottle by Brainiac is sheer genius. I also really liked the moment where Superman encounters his bizarro counterpart, grown by Lex Luthor as an American superweapon.
The art is solid throughout, and often fantastic. I don't know which of the credited artists did what, but sometimes I could notice multiple styles. Overall, it fits together, though-- and the coloring is great.
The story's not quite as emotionally engaging as it always should be, but in the third chapter I was gripped and carried all the way through. This story isn't so much What if Superman landed in the Soviet Union? as What if there was no Clark Kent? and the answer is very dark indeed. Great stuff.
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LibraryThing member zzshupinga
I don't read many Superman comics (he's just not really one of my favorite heroes to be honest) but this book...is excellent. You don't have to have any knowledge of Superman or the mythos of any of the characters that show up, because Mark Millar takes everything and turn's it on its head.
Mark
The writing is superb and constantly keeps the reader on the edge wondering what will happen next. Millar expertly takes a question that in the hands of a lesser writer could have been a horrible work, but instead is something downright fantastic. He uses other DC heroes, such as Batman and Green Lantern, and reimagines their stories all because of this one event and weaves their tales in. And of course the two biggest Superman villains show up--Lex Luthor and Brainiac, each with their own twists on their tales. The artwork complements the story well and is a darker tone than what we normally see.
Even if you aren't a Superman fan read this book. It will challenge what you know about the DC universe, in a good way.
Mark
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asks the question...what if Superman's ship landed 12 hours later on planet Earth in Communist Russia? Where would the world be? What would happen to some of our old friends like Lois Lane and Lex Luthor? Or even Wonderwoman and Batman? The world is a vastly different place with Superman having been raised in Communist traditions, versus American. And yet...we can still recognize him as the one person that continually wants to do good, even if it doesn't always work out.The writing is superb and constantly keeps the reader on the edge wondering what will happen next. Millar expertly takes a question that in the hands of a lesser writer could have been a horrible work, but instead is something downright fantastic. He uses other DC heroes, such as Batman and Green Lantern, and reimagines their stories all because of this one event and weaves their tales in. And of course the two biggest Superman villains show up--Lex Luthor and Brainiac, each with their own twists on their tales. The artwork complements the story well and is a darker tone than what we normally see.
Even if you aren't a Superman fan read this book. It will challenge what you know about the DC universe, in a good way.
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LibraryThing member branimal
Could you imagine if Superman landed in Canada instead of the United States? What if Joe Shuster tried to persuade Jerry Siegel that Clark Kent should grow up on a farm in Alberta or the snowy terrain of northern Manitoba? Or God help us, Newfoundland? What kind of a hero would he be then? Far too
“It’s a bird! It’s a plane! Nah, that’s just Superman, eh.”
Fortunately for us, the readers, Mark Millar gives us a more interesting scenario. What if Superman landed in Ukraine and became a part of the USSR at the height of the Cold War?
Becoming the right hand man and the eventual successor to Joseph Stalin, Superman puts the power in the palm of Communist Russia. Unfortunately for the United States, the dramatic shift in power creates chaos at home. While they still have the brilliant scientist Lex Luthor to claim as their own, he becomes obsessed with figuring out how to defeat Superman rather than using his intellect to advance his own society.
What develops over the years is very interesting and Mark Millar guides us through an alternate timeline in world history. Just what would happen if “President Superman” ruled over Russia? Would he retain his values or would absolute power corrupt absolutely? The answers may surprise you.
This experiment had a multitude of ways it could fall flat on its face and only a select few that would cause it to succeed. Fortunately for DC, Millar knew the right road to take. While this is the only core Superman series I’ve yet read, I have a hard time believing it can be topped (at least in my opinion). I knew enough about the character and the DC universe to keep my head above water, so you don’t need to be a comics historian to catch the jokes and changes in certain superheroes and supervillains.
The only real problem I have is the ending. I don’t think it really needed to go quite as far as it did. It was interesting to see where everything ended up after the core conflict was settled but it seemed to go on and on and on. In the end, it’s merely a small complaint - I loved the hell out of this book.
Cross Posted @ Every Read Thing
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polite to get physical.“It’s a bird! It’s a plane! Nah, that’s just Superman, eh.”
Fortunately for us, the readers, Mark Millar gives us a more interesting scenario. What if Superman landed in Ukraine and became a part of the USSR at the height of the Cold War?
Becoming the right hand man and the eventual successor to Joseph Stalin, Superman puts the power in the palm of Communist Russia. Unfortunately for the United States, the dramatic shift in power creates chaos at home. While they still have the brilliant scientist Lex Luthor to claim as their own, he becomes obsessed with figuring out how to defeat Superman rather than using his intellect to advance his own society.
What develops over the years is very interesting and Mark Millar guides us through an alternate timeline in world history. Just what would happen if “President Superman” ruled over Russia? Would he retain his values or would absolute power corrupt absolutely? The answers may surprise you.
This experiment had a multitude of ways it could fall flat on its face and only a select few that would cause it to succeed. Fortunately for DC, Millar knew the right road to take. While this is the only core Superman series I’ve yet read, I have a hard time believing it can be topped (at least in my opinion). I knew enough about the character and the DC universe to keep my head above water, so you don’t need to be a comics historian to catch the jokes and changes in certain superheroes and supervillains.
The only real problem I have is the ending. I don’t think it really needed to go quite as far as it did. It was interesting to see where everything ended up after the core conflict was settled but it seemed to go on and on and on. In the end, it’s merely a small complaint - I loved the hell out of this book.
Cross Posted @ Every Read Thing
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LibraryThing member DarthDeverell
An interesting twist in this Elseworlds tale lands Superman in the Ukraine in 1938, where he comes to stand for truth, justice, and the Soviet way. Millar more than succeeds in recasting Superman's friends and rogues gallery as well as several DC regulars. The story, in a manner similar to "World
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War Z," examines hypothetical geopolitical scenarios after introducing an x-factor to history. Without giving away any spoilers, the ending sells the whole concept and allows this Elseworlds story to rise above the general "what if" plots to become a truly transcendent tale. Show Less
LibraryThing member melmore
I missed this when it came out in 2003; it is very good, and quite thought-provoking, in the way I find reboots and alternative histories often are. Would a Superman raised in the Soviet Union have a conscience any less attuned to justice and helping those in need than the one we are familiar with?
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Would he become a tool of the Soviet state? (Frank Miller already explored, in a really smart fashion, the question of whom Superman serves in The Dark Knight Returns, and the consequences of his allegiance to “legitimate authority”.) I highly recommend it. Show Less
LibraryThing member ragwaine
This was excellent and tons of fun. All the characters were spot on, the art was great, the story was pure genius. Definitely recommended reading for anyone into DC comics.
LibraryThing member rodhilton
There are a lot of Superman stories that ask the question "what if Kal-El's ship had landed somewhere other than Kansas?" Elseworlds stories have landed him in Gotham, on Apokalips, in the 1800's, Switzerland, England, and others. One thing that's true in most (but not all) of these stories is that
Red Son, however, does not take this approach. The story sees Kal crashland in the Soviet Union, where he is eventually discovered by Stalin and shaped into the central figure of Communism. The book starts out in the same direction as so many others, with Superman trying to help humans, even Americans, often against the wishes of Stalin. But after Stalin dies, things take a hard right turn.
Superman eventually decides he's superior to humanity and decides he can do more as a benevolent dictator. He completely takes over the Soviet Union, managing nearly every aspect of its government and day-to-day operation. With the help of Braniac (!), he installs computers into the brains of his comrades to pacify them, and eventually the Soviet Union becomes so powerful that every country on Earth other than the United States joins them.
So who can save humanity from this dictator? Who is going to the champion of human rights and liberty? Who else but Lex Luthor, painted as the hero of the story for trying to bring down Supes. He's not alone though; within Superman's borders, a terrorist/protestor calling himself Batman attempts to bring down Superman as well. Luthor creates a series of creatures meant to stop Superman including Metallo, Bizarro, and Doomsday among others, and after discovering a powerful green ring creates an army of Green Lanterns. Wonder Woman also plays an interesting role, which I won't spoil here.
Really interesting, great art, great writing, almost too clever for its own good, with occasionally eyeroll-inducing cameos that just barely manage to work. The book is actually mostly dialogue and character development, it only occasionally devolves into page-after-page of people punching each other. And I appreciate that it takes the stance that the Kents and American values were essential to Superman's character; if Superman had been discovered by Communists, he'd have turned into an asshole.
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Superman eventually still emerges as a champion of right and general do-goodery, though the path is often long and complex. The message here is that, while John and Martha Kent's influence helped shape Kal-El into Superman, he's ultimately good at heart and would have more or less gotten there on his own.Red Son, however, does not take this approach. The story sees Kal crashland in the Soviet Union, where he is eventually discovered by Stalin and shaped into the central figure of Communism. The book starts out in the same direction as so many others, with Superman trying to help humans, even Americans, often against the wishes of Stalin. But after Stalin dies, things take a hard right turn.
Superman eventually decides he's superior to humanity and decides he can do more as a benevolent dictator. He completely takes over the Soviet Union, managing nearly every aspect of its government and day-to-day operation. With the help of Braniac (!), he installs computers into the brains of his comrades to pacify them, and eventually the Soviet Union becomes so powerful that every country on Earth other than the United States joins them.
So who can save humanity from this dictator? Who is going to the champion of human rights and liberty? Who else but Lex Luthor, painted as the hero of the story for trying to bring down Supes. He's not alone though; within Superman's borders, a terrorist/protestor calling himself Batman attempts to bring down Superman as well. Luthor creates a series of creatures meant to stop Superman including Metallo, Bizarro, and Doomsday among others, and after discovering a powerful green ring creates an army of Green Lanterns. Wonder Woman also plays an interesting role, which I won't spoil here.
Really interesting, great art, great writing, almost too clever for its own good, with occasionally eyeroll-inducing cameos that just barely manage to work. The book is actually mostly dialogue and character development, it only occasionally devolves into page-after-page of people punching each other. And I appreciate that it takes the stance that the Kents and American values were essential to Superman's character; if Superman had been discovered by Communists, he'd have turned into an asshole.
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LibraryThing member crystalcarroll
The premise is simple. What if Superman’s ship had landed in the 1930ish Ukraine rather than 1930s Kansas? What if this American symbol wasn’t? Exchange the S for a hammer and sickle. Further, make him really, truly, passionately believe. Have him go from his collective farm to serve some
This book works its way into your brain. Twists all the lore.
The end of this graphic novel had my brain ready to explode with cosmic, "I can't believe they just did that."
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Stalinist Russian five year plan. And the more he tries, the more the super acts to save, transform, create, the more he undermines.This book works its way into your brain. Twists all the lore.
The end of this graphic novel had my brain ready to explode with cosmic, "I can't believe they just did that."
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LibraryThing member ptdilloway
This was one of those interesting "what if" scenarios. What if Superman had crashed in the USSR instead of the USA? Though I was a little confused at first because they just throw you right into it and it talks about Sputnik satellites yet Stalin is still alive and then later we find out it's only
Anyway it did make for interesting reading with a fun twist at the end.
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1953. Another confusing thing is Soviet characters kept exclaiming God and Jesus but a true Soviet worker's paradise would be devoid of religion. I'm just saying. I also can't help but think it might have been better without working other superheroes like Batman, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern into it.Anyway it did make for interesting reading with a fun twist at the end.
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LibraryThing member silversurfer
From acclaimed writer Mark Millar (Ultimate X-Men), and artists Dave Johnson (100 Bullets) and Kilian Plunkett, comes a revolutionary alternate reality for Superman! It's an American nightmare! What if baby Superman had crashed on the wrong side of the Iron Curtain and grew up to become Stalin's
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right-hand man? And what if insane genius Lex Luthor was employed by the US government to develop their own countermeasure against the Man of Steel, turning the Cold War hot?! Alive with historical figures and starring a host of familiar superheroes, including Batman and Wonder Woman as you've never seen them before, this superb graphic novel takes the arms race and infuses it with the thrilling powers of Kryptonite! Show Less
LibraryThing member LoftyIslanders
Superman as the champion of socialism, and lex luthor as the only man that can stop him! This is an intriguing one shot that has the added bonus of Batman Vs Superman. My only complaint is that it could have used more batman.
LibraryThing member Robert.Zimmermann
We all know the story of Superman, at least in the most basic way. I thought flipping that completely around and placing him in Soviet Russia was a great idea. I won't begin to talk about what happens with a Soviet Superman because there's a lot to discuss, and discussing any of it would be
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spoiling the fun. I thoroughly enjoyed it and the end was such a welcomed shock. Show Less
LibraryThing member ljbwell
Imagine if Superman landed in 1938 in The Ukraine and Stalinist USSR instead of middle America. That is precisely what this take on Superman does. This is the compilation of 3 comics: Red Son Rising, Red Son Ascendant, and Red Son Setting.
The graphics are fantastic - bold, with strong nods to
The usual Superman regulars are present - Lex Luthor, Lois (but not Lane), and the Daily Planet - though having followed different paths. Batman, Wonder Woman, the Green Lantern and more also make appearances.
This is an alternate history that provides a new angle on a classic tale. It is risky to take something so iconically American and place it in the Soviet Union and introduce a gray moral area. On the whole, it worked quite well.
The graphics are fantastic - bold, with strong nods to
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Soviet propaganda prints. The usual Superman regulars are present - Lex Luthor, Lois (but not Lane), and the Daily Planet - though having followed different paths. Batman, Wonder Woman, the Green Lantern and more also make appearances.
This is an alternate history that provides a new angle on a classic tale. It is risky to take something so iconically American and place it in the Soviet Union and introduce a gray moral area. On the whole, it worked quite well.
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LibraryThing member Yakatizma
Superman: Red Son is my favorite of all Mark Millar's works. In Superman: Red Son, Millar takes the classic Superman mythos and places it in the Soviet Union during the Lenin and Cold War eras. Millar's twists on Superman, Batman, Luthor, and Bizarro are compelling and brilliant, and his depiction
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of the grey morality and politics of the cold war era in the DC universe ties the piece together beautifully. Show Less
LibraryThing member TheCrow2
A great 'what-if' story about Superman landed in the Soviet Union. Terrific alternate DC universe, highly recommended for all fans.
LibraryThing member capewood
2021 book #55. 2003. Great alternate universe. What if Superman's baby spaceship landed in the Soviet Union instead of Kansas? Well drawn and entertaining. The story went to places I didn't expect which made it even better.
LibraryThing member wethewatched
Great concept here -- what if Superman's rocket landed in Stalin's Soviet Russia instead of America? Well, he's not quite fighting for truth, justice and the American way, that's for sure.
The "what if?" concept carries this book along from start to finish, though the actual story didn't blow me
In the end, I'd say it's worth a read if you're a Superman fan and looking for an intriguing twist on an old classic.
The "what if?" concept carries this book along from start to finish, though the actual story didn't blow me
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away. It sometimes feels like a bit of a superficial dive into the Cold War--Millar could have gone even further in my opinion. The artwork is also solid if not spectacular.In the end, I'd say it's worth a read if you're a Superman fan and looking for an intriguing twist on an old classic.
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LibraryThing member MickyFine
An alternate history arc in which Superman's pod crashed in Soviet Russia rather than Kansas, leaving Superman the ultimate weapon for the Soviet cause.
I always enjoy a good alternative spin on a universe that's well known and this take is particularly fun. Watching Superman fight for the Communist
I always enjoy a good alternative spin on a universe that's well known and this take is particularly fun. Watching Superman fight for the Communist
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cause, while still adhering to his central belief that saving people regardless of political alliance is what matters most, is a fascinating arc. It's also a delight to see what becomes of characters in this alternate universe. I got a particular kick out of Jimmy Olsen's career trajectory in this world. A solid thought experiment for what political context would do to Superman. Show Less
LibraryThing member ennuiprayer
For decades, Superman has been on his unending battle for truth and the American way. He's a household name, even amongst the non comic book readers. We've watched his movies and know his origins. His story is something of an American mythology now. America in the flesh, born on a distant,
That's until Mark Millar decided to go on the opposite direction. Much of Superman's American ideals comes from the fact that his ship crashed landed in a farm in fictional Smallville. He is raised by his foster parents Martha and Jonathan Kent, he attends school and goes off into the real world, just as any normal human being might do. He meets Lois Lane and falls in love with her. He feels a sense of responsibility to use his powers for the good of mankind, sparking jealousy from his arch nemesis, Lex Luthor.
That is the Superman we've come to know over the ages, but Mark Millar pondered the what if of our hero's origin. What if Superman's ship crash landed in a Ukrainian field, rather than Smallville? What if he was raised to believe in Communism, rather than Capitalism? What if Superman was an enemy of the state?
But Superman Red Son is more than just a tale of the what if; it's also a colorful depiction of the what is. From America's constant need to be on top of the world, demanding others to follow suit, insisting anyone against Capitalism as a dictator, a tyrant, a foe, a terrorist threat to our way of life. In this alternate world, Superman comes out from obscurity, promising to do what is right. He doesn't only save lives from within the USSR, but aids America as Sputnik 2 nearly crashes into Metropolis - as part of Lex Luthor's plan to figure Superman out. Lex Luthor is the evidence of a visionary gone awry. Unlike his "real world" counterpart, Lex Luthor does promise to fix the world and he does in the end. But much like the Lex we've come to know and hate, his goals can only be met by destroying Superman no matter who is killed or injured in the process. And in this sense, Lex Luthor is the embodiment of the American Way. As long as the consequence turns in favor of the American people, then things went as according to plan.
Red Son also gives us the origins of other well known DC Universe heroes. A young child who witness his parents slaying by a KGB operative vows revenge, becoming a masked terrorist who stands opposed to Superman. Wonder Woman falls in love with a blind-to-the-fact hero turned USSR leader, sacrificing her well being in the process. Green Lantern appears as a USA military force along with his marines with the same advantages. It seems a perfect example that despite the alteration of history, people still have a legacy to follow.
Mark Millar's story is seasoned with inside jokes that one can only understand if you're a fan of the Superman mythos - and even if you're not a fan of the comic books, TV shows or movies, I mean, it's pretty common sense things. Two memorable scenes that both made me snicker and groan both contained the probability how things would be if the ship had crashed in America. A scene with President Eisenhower remarks to Agent Jimmy Olsen, "Just think, Agent Olsen: if that rocket has landed twelve hours earlier, this Superman they're talking about would have been an American citizen." Later, Lex Luthor is speaking to Agent Olsen: " It's such a shame he works for the other side. I honestly believe that Superman and I would have been the best of friends if he'd popped up in America."
Altering more facts, Mark Millar allows us a glimpse into the future and leads us down the Superman bloodline. The ending is both cunning and probably the most original since Krypton exploded for the first time over half a century ago.
And let's not ignore the incredible art work. Had it not been for the artists involved, the concept of Superman as a member of the socialist party wouldn't have been as convincing. Nor would had the transfer of Batman as terrorist or Wonder Woman as part of the regime.
It's something worth reading and having upon your shelf for the times when you feel like seeing the world through a different lens.
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destructed planet. Sent here so that he might live while his planet was consumed by its own red sun. That's until Mark Millar decided to go on the opposite direction. Much of Superman's American ideals comes from the fact that his ship crashed landed in a farm in fictional Smallville. He is raised by his foster parents Martha and Jonathan Kent, he attends school and goes off into the real world, just as any normal human being might do. He meets Lois Lane and falls in love with her. He feels a sense of responsibility to use his powers for the good of mankind, sparking jealousy from his arch nemesis, Lex Luthor.
That is the Superman we've come to know over the ages, but Mark Millar pondered the what if of our hero's origin. What if Superman's ship crash landed in a Ukrainian field, rather than Smallville? What if he was raised to believe in Communism, rather than Capitalism? What if Superman was an enemy of the state?
But Superman Red Son is more than just a tale of the what if; it's also a colorful depiction of the what is. From America's constant need to be on top of the world, demanding others to follow suit, insisting anyone against Capitalism as a dictator, a tyrant, a foe, a terrorist threat to our way of life. In this alternate world, Superman comes out from obscurity, promising to do what is right. He doesn't only save lives from within the USSR, but aids America as Sputnik 2 nearly crashes into Metropolis - as part of Lex Luthor's plan to figure Superman out. Lex Luthor is the evidence of a visionary gone awry. Unlike his "real world" counterpart, Lex Luthor does promise to fix the world and he does in the end. But much like the Lex we've come to know and hate, his goals can only be met by destroying Superman no matter who is killed or injured in the process. And in this sense, Lex Luthor is the embodiment of the American Way. As long as the consequence turns in favor of the American people, then things went as according to plan.
Red Son also gives us the origins of other well known DC Universe heroes. A young child who witness his parents slaying by a KGB operative vows revenge, becoming a masked terrorist who stands opposed to Superman. Wonder Woman falls in love with a blind-to-the-fact hero turned USSR leader, sacrificing her well being in the process. Green Lantern appears as a USA military force along with his marines with the same advantages. It seems a perfect example that despite the alteration of history, people still have a legacy to follow.
Mark Millar's story is seasoned with inside jokes that one can only understand if you're a fan of the Superman mythos - and even if you're not a fan of the comic books, TV shows or movies, I mean, it's pretty common sense things. Two memorable scenes that both made me snicker and groan both contained the probability how things would be if the ship had crashed in America. A scene with President Eisenhower remarks to Agent Jimmy Olsen, "Just think, Agent Olsen: if that rocket has landed twelve hours earlier, this Superman they're talking about would have been an American citizen." Later, Lex Luthor is speaking to Agent Olsen: " It's such a shame he works for the other side. I honestly believe that Superman and I would have been the best of friends if he'd popped up in America."
Altering more facts, Mark Millar allows us a glimpse into the future and leads us down the Superman bloodline. The ending is both cunning and probably the most original since Krypton exploded for the first time over half a century ago.
And let's not ignore the incredible art work. Had it not been for the artists involved, the concept of Superman as a member of the socialist party wouldn't have been as convincing. Nor would had the transfer of Batman as terrorist or Wonder Woman as part of the regime.
It's something worth reading and having upon your shelf for the times when you feel like seeing the world through a different lens.
Show Less
LibraryThing member quinton.baran
A very interesting alternate take on Superman, with him landing in the Soviet Union of the 50's. I haven't really read any Superman before, but I really enjoyed this. Some interesting perspectives on communism and capitalism, with the lens of a perfect (or near perfect?) super-mind.
LibraryThing member ChuckNorton
In this graphic novel, written by Mark Millar and illustrated by Dave Johnson and Kilian Plunkett, the classic story of Superman as created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in 1938 is reimagined to tell a provocative parody of Cold War psychology and politics. Instead of landing in Kansas, the
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escape pod bearing the infant from Krypton lands in the Ukraine in 1938. Superman is lovingly raised by his parents, peasant farmers working on a state commune, and later by state institutions, to be a loyal and strong youth dedicated to the Soviet Union. On his uniform chest, he proudly wears the emblem of the Hammer and Sickle as he sets out to make the world safe for Truth, Justice and the Communist Way. His nemesis will be Dr. Lex Luthor, sinister chief scientist and weapons designer for the United States. Show Less
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2004
Physical description
160 p.; 6.63 inches
ISBN
1401201911 / 9781401201913
UPC
001401201911