Books : Superman: Red Son (Elseworlds)

In association with Amazon.com

Rating:

- Who ever would have thought you would be rooting for Lex Luthor?
This self contained alternate history of Superman and the DC universe is exactly the sort of great storytelling that the graphic novel format was invented for. Not only is it entertaining in a spot-the-reference kind of way but it also manages to reinforce one of the more relevant historical lessons of our time: however well intentioned a dictator starts out, eventually power becomes its own end.

What makes this graphic novel especially brilliant is that it delivers this lesson without changing the essential nature of the main characters. Superman lands on the steppes of Soviet Russia and is raised on a farm collective where he internalizes the dream of socialist utopia. The result is a man whose bearing and morality are identical to the American icon we know and love, but whose political philosophy is diametrically opposed. Lex Luthor, with no one to stop him, grows to unparalleled power in America which he duly abuses. He is the same megalomaniac we know and loathe, prone to casual murder, constant pontificating, and spousal abuse (of Lois Lane, no less!) And yet, as the story progresses it is clear that for all his faults Lex is only a would be petty tyrant, while Superman is a dictator in the terrifying mold of Stalin himself. There are even a few jokes about the two "men of steel" sprinkled into the early chapters.

Unfortunately, Lex seems to have no better luck stopping Superman here than he does in the regular series, and soon America is the only country in the world not under Soviet control. I won't spoil the resolution here, but suffice it to say that it plays on Superman's essentially moral nature to very good effect. There's also a virtual post-script that introduces a twist to the whole story, but I found it a little weak, and I decided to ignore it.

Rating:

- Amazing Idea, Story, and Art
To begin with I'm not the biggest superman fan. I believe he has a tendency to be written a little flat and not very dynamic personality wise. Which is ironic given his physical abilities. Which is one of the reasons this comic blew my mind and just when i thought i put all the pieces back in my skull it blew it again.

Superman is given a whole new dimension (personality wise) here and his character is so rich and the artwork beautiful the pages might as well ooze beauty. The alternative histories for other major DC heroes, Green Lantern and Batman most notably, collide with Superman's and changed the way I viewed those characters could be written.

My few complaints fall under an umbrella of "realism" that is embedded in the comic. In short no one can stand up to Superman effectively. Some of the DC's most prestigious members go up against this guy and fall drastically short. That is realistically what would happen if Superman would have to fight these in the conditions set by the comic. That is why the comic is so great even my complaint fits in with something good about this comic.

If you like alternative histories. Or often think about what would happen if characters were put in different situations and how they would react in character and development read this comic like its the answer to all your problems. Even though its not. But it could be...

Rating:

- My Favorite Superman Story
I've never really like Superman as a character. Superman never really had appeal to me. Mark Millar however wrote this interesting twist on Superman and his world. I loved it.

Rating:

- Really Interesting Take On the Man of Steel
One of my friends told me to read this, saying it was awesome and I would definately like it. He was not wrong. I didn't really know what to expect when I heard that the premise was Superman being a Soviet, but I certainly was not disappointed. I would call this a must read.

Rating:

- truth, justice... and the American way:?
Wow, Mark Millar ( a 'name' in the comic book world) created a story about Superman. What if he arrived a few hours later? What if he landed in the Soviet Union, and what is it about his arrival there that makes the heroes we know born in Russia. Even though there are some wierd inconsitencies, it is still a great alternate story. It stands alone. ANd it is good.

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