Scan barcode
nyrabloodreaver's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
dullshimmer's review against another edition
4.0
What would have happened if Superman had landed in the Soviet Union instead of the United States? That's the question that Superman: Red Son explores. It's an interesting thought experiment, but I'm a little mixed on the results. This is largely because Superman is still somewhat virtuous, but at the same time also winds up being a tyrannical leader.
Superman doesn't want to take over other nations by force, but why not? He was an underling of Stalin at one point, so why doesn't Superman become more violent himself here? It doesn't fully make sense to me. I think it would have been a bit more powerful to have Superman follow in those shoes rather than trying to keep him wholesome, but also a tyrannical leader of sorts.
Plus in the end you are really only presented with two choices the rule of Superman or the rule of Lex Luthor and its kind of hard to say which one was better. I also felt like the assorted cameos in the book were kind of overshadowed by the main conflict between Superman and Lex. Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, classic Superman villains (with the exception of Brainiac), and even Lois were all kind of passed over significantly here.
I know there is only so much you can do with a three comic series, but this just feel slightly short for me in the end. It also ends with what is probably my least favorite kind of ending so there is also that. It was a fun ride and interesting to read, but did have some shortcomings in my mind.
Superman doesn't want to take over other nations by force, but why not? He was an underling of Stalin at one point, so why doesn't Superman become more violent himself here? It doesn't fully make sense to me. I think it would have been a bit more powerful to have Superman follow in those shoes rather than trying to keep him wholesome, but also a tyrannical leader of sorts.
Plus in the end you are really only presented with two choices the rule of Superman or the rule of Lex Luthor and its kind of hard to say which one was better. I also felt like the assorted cameos in the book were kind of overshadowed by the main conflict between Superman and Lex. Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, classic Superman villains (with the exception of Brainiac), and even Lois were all kind of passed over significantly here.
I know there is only so much you can do with a three comic series, but this just feel slightly short for me in the end. It also ends with what is probably my least favorite kind of ending so there is also that. It was a fun ride and interesting to read, but did have some shortcomings in my mind.
davechua's review against another edition
4.0
Good concept but Millar didn't really take the concept very far. Great art nonetheless.
mastersal's review against another edition
4.0
An excellent what-if tale of Superman which is used to explore the adage - "the road to hell is paved with good intentions". I liked the story, especially the ending and the art. Despite the alternative take it maintained Superman's desire to "do good" which is a hallmark of his character IMHO.
However, the plot is now well worn - what if Superman takes over the world? What if he is not the all-American boy scout but something more sinister ? This type of AU has been seen time and time again - for example, in Injustice. This is a little more nuanced in that Superman is not necessarily evil here but misguided. However, the totalitarian impact is the same.
As a result, Superman is less a character here and more a political ideology. There is little humour here - some small glimpses and homage to the Lois Lane romance and a reference to Lana Lang. But nothing particular 'human' about this superman. And my favorite variants of the character explore his (and our) humanity.
The political commentary is also more on the simplistic "totalitarian is bad" scale. It doesn't explore nuance or joy. Yes, I get the whole "people who sacrifice freedom for safety" - but there is no exploration of why this choice is made. Sometimes the choice is not clear - here Superman's regime is clearly 'not good'.
Still the art, tight story and the clear vision carried the day here. Worth checking out
However, the plot is now well worn - what if Superman takes over the world? What if he is not the all-American boy scout but something more sinister ? This type of AU has been seen time and time again - for example, in Injustice. This is a little more nuanced in that Superman is not necessarily evil here but misguided. However, the totalitarian impact is the same.
As a result, Superman is less a character here and more a political ideology. There is little humour here - some small glimpses and homage to the Lois Lane romance and a reference to Lana Lang. But nothing particular 'human' about this superman. And my favorite variants of the character explore his (and our) humanity.
The political commentary is also more on the simplistic "totalitarian is bad" scale. It doesn't explore nuance or joy. Yes, I get the whole "people who sacrifice freedom for safety" - but there is no exploration of why this choice is made. Sometimes the choice is not clear - here Superman's regime is clearly 'not good'.
Still the art, tight story and the clear vision carried the day here. Worth checking out
pinetrees's review against another edition
5.0
a very very good read, however, I think there was a lack of examination at the end that the book suffers from. the idea that the world would be just fine under a new demagogue who had been shown to be power mad is fraught and I think a need to finish the book and have that twist end caused the final monologue to suffer for me. still excellent, pick up the book for sure. it manages to maintain all the things I like about superman with a fascinating what if?
soitis's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jdpellegrino99's review against another edition
5.0
This is such a well done look at an alternate history of Superman. I love how it stays true to the character but with a Soviet twist. The attention to classic Superman comics and villains adapted to this book is really cool to see.
dmcke013's review against another edition
3.0
"For Truth, Justice ... and the Soviet Way"
I must admit, this has an intriguing premise: what if the spacecraft carrying the infant Kal-L crash-landed in Russia, instead of in rural USA?
What if, in other words, Clark Kent had been brought up in a Communist society instead on in a Democratic one?
Reading that, you might think that Mark Millar would go down the route of making Superman and out-and-out villain, but that's not the route he chose. Instead, we still have a Superman who is doing what he believes to be the 'right thing': the only difference is in his view of just what that is.
You also might think that the story might concentrate on his upbringing. That, however, is barely touched upon with the story starting roughly 30 years after his arrival just as he comes onto the world scene. It also has Superman and other major characters interacting with actual historical characters such as Stalin or J.F.K., alongside showing his (Superman's) own-going battles with Lex Luthor, and also brings in other comic-book characters such as Wonder Woman, Batman, Brainiac and Hal Jordan.
I have to say, also, that I didn't see *that* link at the very end coming ...
I must admit, this has an intriguing premise: what if the spacecraft carrying the infant Kal-L crash-landed in Russia, instead of in rural USA?
What if, in other words, Clark Kent had been brought up in a Communist society instead on in a Democratic one?
Reading that, you might think that Mark Millar would go down the route of making Superman and out-and-out villain, but that's not the route he chose. Instead, we still have a Superman who is doing what he believes to be the 'right thing': the only difference is in his view of just what that is.
You also might think that the story might concentrate on his upbringing. That, however, is barely touched upon with the story starting roughly 30 years after his arrival just as he comes onto the world scene. It also has Superman and other major characters interacting with actual historical characters such as Stalin or J.F.K., alongside showing his (Superman's) own-going battles with Lex Luthor, and also brings in other comic-book characters such as Wonder Woman, Batman, Brainiac and Hal Jordan.
I have to say, also, that I didn't see *that* link at the very end coming ...