Superman: Red Son Paperback – 1 Feb. 2004

This is an alternate origin story of Superman, and builds the story up from the simple fact that his spaceship crash-landed in Russia instead of the USA. He is then raised as a communist, and ultimately becomes the leader of the party.The story starts with Lex Luthor (still and American) doing everything he can to stop Superman from rising to power, and we get a nice cameo from Bizarro here.Other cameos are Wonder Woman, who becomes a staunch supporter of his ideals, Hal Jordan (of Green Lantern fame) and a tiny snippet of Guy Gardiner (another member of the Green Lantern Corps.) Superman becomes the next Russian leader, and persuades more and more countries to convert to communism - and to a point, he succeeds; except that America does not convert. Luthor becomes President, and looks to rebuild the country as a capitalist ideal. In the meantime, Superman has his own problems as the leader of a vast empire.As ever, he is only trying to do what is best for everyone, but again we see his best intentions marred by his naivety. The people need to choose for themselves what they want to do with their lives. And this is personified by a Russian Batman, who creates havoc by blowing up Government buildings and spraying the Bat symbol in the cities.There are lots of twists and turns to this graphic novel, and i won't spoil the story for you. The twists are well thought out and have been given time to develop in the storyline, so you will be surprised when they happen, but at least on reflection, you can see WHY they happened.Good points to the graphic novel then, are ; a great plot, good twists, excellent cameos, a very clever ending (one of the better ones in Superman comic), good artwork and also - a good price. Too many graphic novels are quite pricey at the moment, but this is really good value for your money.The only slight niggle is the Russian Batman. It doesn't quite ring true in the plot, and more could have been made of the character and his plotline. It would have been nicer to have kept the Batman as an American so that Batman and Superman are different in so many ways. But, this is a minor gripe.The final thing i would say, is don't let the cover put you off. It put me off for quite a while, and that was because it looks a bit weak, a bit glum, and a bit un-Superman-ish, but that's the point! It isn't meant to be a typical Superman story.I would say if you are a Superman fan, you should definitely have this in your collection!

With its intruiging 'what if?' plot and great artwork, this had me lured in. I'm fairly new to graphic novels, but I knew I was looking for slightly more adult, slightly more subversive material than that offered by the usual lighter collections.This certainly lived up to my hopes. It's richly detailed with period information and character, with some nice little twists on real history and characters as well as a real flavour of being set in old 'Soviet' Russia.The reversal of characters is captivating, and as Superman's power and influence grows we get to see greater ripples as his normal friends and foes from the traditional mythos crop up in intruiging and inventively twisted ways. Lex Luthor is fascinating, Lois has depth, and Batman is utterly terrific, his redesigned costume a weird but eye-catching triumph. Ageing, rivalries, compromised morals, revenge, bitterness and warped ideals of the greater good all play a very serious part, and the story never failed to throw me a new and interesting curveball every time I thought it might run out of steam.Utterly standout.Highly recommended for those who grew up fascinated with the 'Russian Bear' like myself, and what went on in Russia before the fall of communism. And equally highly recommended for fans of superheroes and great storytelling - this really hits the mark.

This is the first Superman comic i've bought and it was brilliant. wonderfully brilliant.The character is shown as the same humble powerhouse as his american counterpart, truly believing that he is doing the right thing (and to an extent that the reader can agree with him on that, too). Lex and Lois' relationship is written well, with prevailing themes of arrogance, obsession and hunger throughout. Batman and Green Lantern are shown to come about in ways eerily similar to their real-world truths, but are not just thrown into the mix to sell more books, or even just because the writers 'can' - a batman terrorist and a green lantern crazy 'naam veteran make for characters equally awesome to the Lenin Superman or the JFK Luthor presented here.Oh, and world war 3 isn't bad either...

Okay so this is my first foray into the graphic novel genre, being a big fan of Smallville and the Superman movies, I decided "Wikipedia-ing" name drops after episodes wasn't good enough and I needed to delve into the original material...This probably wasn't the best choice to getting to the core mythology of Superman!! Given its an Elseworlds story, the story revolves around what would have happened if superman had landed in Soviet Union instead of the USA. However if your even mildly aware of the normal Superman characters and mythos this is a very enjoyable read and you can easily draw the parallel. The artwork is great and conveys great emotion. Im sure i'll enjoy this more once ive read a few more Superman/DC graphics novels and appreciate it a bit more. This has truly made me buy and read more though.Ive taken off one star because I wasn't the biggest fan of the ending. Granted its a "what if" story, but it wasn't for me.Overall a fantastic read cover to cover, and highly recommended.

I'll be honest, I bought this out of curiosity more than a genuine interest. Superman has never been a popular character with me; I've found him far too righteous and a little clichéd.This storyline has given me a different perspective. I understood Superman as a person, not just a character. The alternate storyline just told you so much about him that really changed my opinion on the character.The story itself is fascinating, giving fantastic, well-thought out alternate origins for the characters. This review certainly does not do it justice, but I certainly recommend it for ANY comic book fan, even if they don't particularly like Superman.

Superman Red Son is undoubtedly one of the greatest Superman stories ever written, drawn, or sold. This comic transcends expectations on every level, offering an awe-inspiring experience that captivates readers from start to finish. It stands as a testament to the creativity and brilliance of the creators involved.From the compelling narrative to the breathtaking artwork, every aspect of Superman Red Son shines with excellence. The story explores an incredible alternate universe where Superman's origin and upbringing take a radically different path. This fresh and unique twist on the iconic character opens up a world of possibilities and challenges our perceptions of the Man of Steel.The comic's ability to maintain a great constant read is a testament to its engaging storytelling and dynamic character development. It keeps readers hooked with its thought-provoking themes, unexpected plot twists, and emotionally charged moments. It's a testament to the impact and enduring appeal of Superman as a character.Superman Red Son is not just a remarkable comic; it is a masterpiece that deserves a place among the greatest superhero stories of all time. Whether you're a longtime Superman fan or new to the character, this comic is an absolute must-read. Prepare to be enthralled by its depth, creativity, and the incredible journey it takes you on.

An amazing red, Red Son is one of those comics that works for those who are both deeply entrenched in the DC mythos, but also for those who know nothing about it, and just want a good read.I'm using it as a text with a high school students and the kids are having a blast reading it, and I love teaching it. With a litter primer about the Cold War, the kids are making some really profound connections to the current political climates, particularly the chilling similarities with what is going on in Russia now. Excellent read

Lettura interessante per chi come me é appassionato di What If, allostoria, storia alternativa ed ucronia. Peccato che il tono della storia sia un pò più cupo della norma come per sottolineare che il Superman "giusto" (ossia quello che tutti noi conosciamo) sia solo quello cresciuto negli Stati Uniti.

Superman red son is nice book shows world of communist Superman.

Ich bin alles andere als ein Superman Fan. Superman steht auf meiner Liste der Comics / Comichelden doch eher irgendwo unten. Sehr weit unten. Meistens finde ich ihn unglaublich langweilig und einseitig. Aber Superman: Red Son hat mich doch überrascht.Positiv. Es ist eine alternative Geschichte, was wäre wenn, Superman nicht in den USA eine Bruchlandung gemacht hätte sondern in der Sowjetischen Union und dort aufgewachsen wäre.Irgendwie, ja ... ändert sich nicht viel, wenn wir ehrlich sind. Er bleibt der idealist der er ist, aber doch ... etwas anders. ;)Die Story ist sehr schön geschrieben und lässt einen in ein tolles alternatives Universum schauen.