During the 1990s and early 2000s, DC’s forever-growing Elseworlds imprint was proving very popular, more so than most mainstream titles at the time. The imprint had the intentions of taking a character and shifting them into a different time, environment or world. Products of the imprint included stories like Batman: Gotham By Gaslight, Batman: Red Rain and Mark Waid’s Kingdom Come miniseries. All of these early Elseworlds stories proved very popular and the imprint was a huge success. By the time of 2003, the imprint was still going strong and new stories seemed to come out more frequently. Writer Mark Millar had slowly risen up the ranks and had become a favourite among fans, with his work on Swamp Thing (vol 2), JLA (both with Grant Morrison) and The Authority proving very popular. Millar’s idea for Superman: Red Son was very political and detailed, meaning that it took him years to plot out and finish the script. Although the politics of a story may bore some, all they need is the plot to Millar’s miniseries and it will certainly intrigue them. And the plot can be simply described as this: what if Superman landed in Russia during the Soviet Union, instead of America…
Superman: Red Son 1-3 was published monthly from June to August 2003 under DC’s Elseworld’s Imprint. It was written by Mark Millar and featured art by Dave Johnson,
Andrew Robinson, Kilian Plunkett and Walden Wong. Lastly, I have read the miniseries in the Superman: Red Son trade paperback.
THE STORY
Sometime during the 1950s, President Dwight D. Eisenhower broadcasts a message to the American people, telling them that the Soviet Union have a communist “Superman” which is more powerful than the hydrogen bomb and was found on a farm in the Ukraine. Afterwards, Lois Luthor, wife of Lex Luthor and Daily Planet editor Perry White report multiple sightings of Superman, with people on the street such as Martha Kent frightened. Later at S.T.A.R Labs in Metropolis, CIA Agent Olsen meets with Lex Luthor, a scientist hired by Eisenhower to fight against Superman. However, Olsen discovers that Luthor has appeared to make very little progress and that they may both lose their jobs because of it. Then, Luthor gives Olsen a formula which can balance the federal budget, surprising Olsen. Later at Luthor’s apartment, while watching a quiz show without the sound to learn how to lip-read, an idea appears in Luthor’s mind and he phones the President, telling him that he needs a hundred technicians, ten million dollars and permission to crash a Soviet Union satellite onto a populated area. Later in Russia, Superman hears that about how the Soviet satellite has changed trajectory and is headed towards Metropolis. Quickly, Superman rushes to America and saves the people of Metropolis by crashing the satellite into the sea. Then, after giving a child his balloon back, Superman and Lois watch each other, before he flies away, with Lex telling Olsen that the satellite must be raised again so they can gather information from it. Weeks later, Superman and Soviet Leader Stalin are cheered by crowds when a chemical plant nearby sets on fire. Once again, Superman saves the day, but angers Pyotr Roslov, who once believed he would succeed Stalin as leader, but Superman has now become the heir apparent. Some time later at a diplomatic party, Stalin tries to form an alliance with the women of Paradise Island. At the same time, Superman meets Wonder Woman and the two form a friendship. After the party, Superman notices that Roslov was missing and he searches for him. After finding him, Roslov confesses that he doesn’t like Superman that much and that he cannot represent the views of the Soviet Union since he is an alien and that he is living proof that all men aren’t created equal. Superman then explains that he wasn’t born with his powers and that they slowly developed from birth. Roslov then tells Superman about how last week, he killed a man and a woman protesting against Superman and the Soviets. Their child then glared at Roslov, sending chills down his spine. Roslov then shot the boy through the shoulder, telling him to leave. This made Roslov realise how horrible his job is. He then pulls out his gun and fires it at his own head. However, Superman quickly stops the bullet and saves him. Then, in the middle of talking, Superman leaves Roslov and heads home, discovering that Stalin has been poisoned and that he is now dead. In the next few days, Roslov hunted down Stalin’s killer and executed him. Later at S.T.A.R Labs, Lex presents his own creation, Superman Two, to Olsen. Weeks later, after America exploited Russia’s period of political instability, Superman refuses to become leader of the Soviet Union. However, later, Superman Two’s presence is detected by Superman, who tells him to leave. But he refuses and the two battle one another, ending in London, when Superman Two’s presence causes a nuclear missile launch. Superman Two then freezes Superman and sacrifices himself by throwing the missile into the sun. Some time later, after Stalin’s funeral, Roslov tells Superman that the Soviet Union may die without Starlin. Meanwhile, Lex speaks to Lois on the phone, telling her that he has resigned from S.T.A.R Labs to work full-time on a plan to defeat Superman and that their marriage is basically over. Later in Russia, Superman hears and meets Lana Lazarenko, an old childhood friend with two children, who are standing in line for food. However, when realising that the people of Russia are suffering and starving to death, he realises that he can take care of all of their problems…
Sometime during the 1970s, Superman, now leader of the Soviet Union, defeats Lex Luthor and 12th level intellect Brainiac, who have shrunk Stalingrad into a bottle instead of Moscow. Meanwhile in Moscow, a mysterious man in a long coat and cap takes a tour in the Superman Museum, containing replicas of Superman’s many enemies over the years, such as Parasite, Metallo, Atomic Skull, and Bizarro. After leaving the museum, the man heads to a bar and tells the owner that the fireworks display is almost ready. Later, everyone in the Superman Museum is told that the museum will be destroyed in four minutes. The soldiers outside recognise the voice as Batman, a rebel fighting against Superman’s Soviet Union. Although the soldiers chase and hunt Batman, he manages to escape. Later, Roslov tells Superman that they could have used him in hunting down and killing Batman. However, Superman tells him that there must be no killing, angering Roslov. Superman then leaves and quickly prevents two trains from colliding. Sometime later, while Superman and Wonder Woman save some civilians from an exploding boat, Wonder Woman believes that America has been a failure since President Richard Nixon was killed in 1963 and John F. Kennedy became President. Meanwhile in Metropolis, the Daily Planet throws a retirement party for Perry White, who tells the paper’s new editor, Lois, that the Daily Planet may not be around for much longer as the country is on its knees. Later, Lois visits Lex at Lexcorp Industries as its their wedding anniversary. However, Lex is more interested that President Kennedy will be joining them for dinner and that he has told Lex that Superman and Brainiac aren’t the only aliens on the planet. Later in Moscow, Roslov is driven into a river by his driver, who then rescues his body and takes him into the sewers. When Roslov wakes up, he is confronted by Batman, who tells Roslov that he (continued)
is aware of his hatred of Superman and his political ambitions. After being told that there is no way that Superman could hear the two of them, Roslov explains that Lex Luthor and the CIA have a job for Batman, which is to kill Superman. Although distrustful of Luthor because of his multiple failed attempts to defeat Superman, Batman is told that they may have discovered Superman’s weakness from the ship that he first arrived in. Batman agrees, but warns Roslov that afterwards, he will come after him to avenge the murder of his parents. Days later, a birthday party is thrown for Superman, but he notices that Wonder Woman isn’t present. Suddenly, the fireworks go off and Superman recognises it as the bat-symbol. Flying out with speed, Superman finds Wonder Woman held captive by Batman, who had made Wonder Woman obedient to him, while he has also swallowed a grenade. Batman then activates a switch which turns on sun lamps. Batman then easily punches Superman, surprisingly injuring him. The two then fight, but it ends when Batman beats Superman and throws him in an underground shelter. Superman then pleads to Wonder Woman, telling her that if their friendship means anything, then she should break her lasso which she has been tied with. Wonder Woman does that and destroys the sun lamps, causing Superman to break out of the shelter. Batman then tells Superman that it was Roslov who betrayed him, before he presses another switch which detonates the grenade inside of him, killing him. As a result of her lasso being destroyed, Wonder Woman’s pride is destroyed. In New Mexico, Lex Luthor meets with President Kennedy, who is afraid that Texas and Detroit are thinking about independence from the USA. However, Luthor is surprised when the President presents a Green Lantern ship to him, telling him that they could destroy Superman with it. Inside the ship, Luthor is shown a dead alien (Abin Sur) and a strange green ring, which the President doesn’t know what to make of. However, Luthor tells them that the ring clearly is a weapon. In Moscow, Batman has been martyred as the resistance is growing. Wonder Woman has become hateful of Superman as she has lost all meaning, while Roslov has been converted into an obedient Superman Robot. At the same time, Superman is beginning to build some kind of fortress…
In the year 2000, there are six billion communists around the world and nearly every single person is happy. Superman enters his Fortress of Solitude, in which the followers of Batman are now being used as cleaners and Brainiac is now his assistant. Although the world is improving, America is still a warzone, but Superman hopes they will fall soon so they too can join the communist global society. By 2001, President Lex Luthor has managed to double the standard of living of every American citizen. While Lois Luthor quits as Daily Planet editor to focus on her duties as First Lady, President Luthor believes that Superman will try to invade America. Luthor and his Vice President, Olsen, then go to The Phantom Zone, where Luthor has managed to activate the Green Lantern ring, with Colonel Hal Jordan becoming Green Lantern. Luthor explains that in 1983, his plane crashed in Malaysia and he was captured by communists, who tortured him and fed him insects. However, because of his incredible willpower, he constructed a concentration camp in his head to torture the communists and mentally execute all of them. Meanwhile on Paradise Island, First Lady Lois Luthor speaks with Wonder Woman, who still holds a grudge against Superman. Lois asks Wonder Woman if she will support the President in his big attack against Superman. After Superman virtually enters the shrunken city of Stalingrad to defeat a strange crab creature, Brainiac tempts Superman by telling him if they strike first at America, they could complete their vision for the world in a matter of hours. Suddenly, President Luthor enters armoured up. Meanwhile, Hal Jordan and his army of Green Lantern’s prepare for battle. At the same time, President Luthor tells Superman that he wants to fight him on his own terms. However, Brainiac intervenes, and he takes Brainiac away to become a Superman Robot, seemingly ending the conflict. However, as the Green Lanterns begin to attack, Superman tells Brainiac to prepare for a full-scale assault. Outside, a huge battle ensues as Superman fights against the Green Lantern Corps. Then, Wonder Woman and her army begin to attack. Superman then heads to the White House, where he tells Lois to evacuate since he is going to destroy everything within a five-mile radius of the Pentagon. However, Superman reads a letter inside Lois’s coat, which asks Superman why he doesn’t put the whole world in a bottle. This causes Superman to realise what he has done and that he is just a bullying alien. Although Superman demands that Brainiac switch off his weapons system, he refuses and attacks Superman. However, Brainiac’s power then stops, and Lex Luthor reveals himself as managing to disable Brainiac’s power. Superman then enters Brainiac’s ship as Lex Luthor accidently activates the self-destruct sequence inside Brainiac’s hard drive. Superman then heads into deep space with Brainiac’s ship and it explodes, killing Brainiac and seemingly Superman. In 2004, President Luthor is re-elected with a landslide. The Soviet Empire descends into chaos, until the Batmen appeared and brought justice to the streets. Afterwards, Russia joined the Global United States. Over the coming years, a pill was created that effectively eradicated illnesses and by the time Luthor reached his 125th birthday, the whole solar system had been colonised. Luthor died nearing the fourth millennium. During his funeral, Lois notices Superman and millenniums afterwards, the descendants of Lex Luthor send their child into the past as scientists ignored claims that the Earth will one day be destroyed by the ever-expanding sun. The child escapes from Earth, arriving in 1938 Ukraine.
MY THOUGHTS
Most of, if not all, of my posts before this one has been very unpolitical. Sure, there have been political aspects, mentions and plots, such as Green Arrow: The Wonder Year 1-4. However, this one if the first one and possibly the only story I will ever review that I would say is more of a political story rather than a superhero one. But that isn’t a bad thing. In fact, not only does it make the story more unique, but it makes it much more realistic and better than your usual Elseworlds tale. Millar excellently creates somewhat of a balance between the gritty politics of the story and the incorporation of the superheroes, meaning that while the politics are important, the heroes do have a very important part to play. In my view, the greatest aspect of this story is that fundamentally, most of the DC characters that we all know, and love are nearly exactly the same. It would have been so easy for Millar to write this story
and make Superman into a Joseph Stalin clone, making him incredibly cold, evil and twisted, like Ultraman. However, that just isn’t Superman here, since he believes in fighting for the common worker and the people of Russia. He constantly reminds the Soviets that he doesn’t believe in killing and he decides to change Russia after Stalin’s death in the 1950s. Even when reaching his old age, Superman is still fundamentally the same character he has always been, and I think that really works well in this story. It is also very strange because at the time, America and Russia were political opposites, but more on that later. In terms of the other DC characters, Lex Luthor is still obsessed with Superman, not just trying to defeat him but also trying to research him. In many ways, he has a strong desire to be Superman himself, as he clearly loves power and knowledge. The third and last part of the story almost makes them equals, not in terms of physical strength but definitely in terms of influence and political power. Although he serves as Superman’s villain and the two clearly aren’t friends, they are very similar characters, as in the end of the third part, Superman realises that his invasion of America has very much made him into something he hates. Luthor also has Jimmy Olsen as an ally, who is a CIA Agent as opposed to the annoying brat he usually is. Wonder Woman’s character and the people she serves on Paradise Island are pretty much exactly the same as they normally are. As expected, they still hate men (except Stalin and Superman (until the third part anyway)) and they are very cautious of the other nations around the world, particularly America. Wonder Woman herself is very reliant on her lasso and when it is shattered during her fight against Batman, it completely breaks her. This part of the story is actually very good since it is a dramatic change in her character, since beforehand she was basically Superman but a woman. This explains her decision to help President Luthor fight against Superman and the Russians in 2001. By far, Batman is the most radically changed character of the whole story. He has no problem with killing, he is much crueller, and he is a consistent rebel against the government. However, some aspects are relatively unchanged, showing that streaks of Batman’s normal character are still present. Sure, he has a Batcave of sorts and he is very knowledgeable, but he is certainly seen as an outsider and is very different from other heroes. This can apply to the regular DC continuity, since Batman often lurks in the shadows and is seen very differently by people than other members of the Justice League. His character works excellently in the story as he is the closest person to have nearly killed Superman, while also destroying Wonder Woman’s spirit for fighting. This makes him an excellent foe of the second part, while you can also have some sympathy for his views to rebel against the Soviet Union. Then we have Brainiac, the true power-hungry villain of the story who has accepted the communistic goal of Russia more than Superman ever did. His character may be just as smart as he normally is, but in many ways, he is the true brain behind the Soviet Union by 2000, since he tries to persuade Superman to invade America and once Superman does so and regrets it, it becomes clear to him that Brainiac is the real villain. Like always, he is very controlling and often has hidden goals and agendas. There is also the Green Lantern Corps, who are basically untouched and apart from the grittier origin of Hal Jordan, they are exactly the same. Some other characters turn up throughout the story, but usually play minor roles. Lois Lane, or Luthor, is an example, since she has (somehow) managed to stay with Lex Luthor from the 1950s to the 2000s, a time where his life was just dominated with a fascination of Superman. Millar also cleverly adds a moment between Superman and Lois, hinting that in another world, the two are lovers. Throughout the story, other characters often appear in scenes, such as Oliver Queen and Iris West, but they are only really there for a nice reference or two. Now, before I get into the more detailed political side of the story which Millar has excellently planned out, I have to say that all three plots in all three parts are all equally brilliant. The first part of the story not only reveals to the world that a Soviet Superman is real, but it also establishes that Superman isn’t evil and that he is too kind to simply let Americans die. Like I said, I love this because it shows that his character is fundamentally the same and he isn’t just Stalin with superpowers. The story also sets up Lex Luthor’s obsession with Superman. In fact, the first part of the story is basically present to detail what this world is really like, since a lot can change from Superman’s ship crashing in another country, particularly one which is very different to America. The second part focuses on rebellion, with Batman becoming the symbol of anti-communism. His origin is explained perfectly by Roslov in the first part and is very similar to Batman’s original origin, but just a tad darker (obviously). The second part somewhat presents the beginning of the end of the Soviet Union, as Wonder Woman’s view of Superman turns bitter and the Americans finally discover the Green Lantern Corps, which they can use as a weapon against Superman. Lastly, the third part the end of the long war between communism and capitalism, with Superman excellently realising that his goal of a communistic world can be bloody, causing him to destroy Brainiac and allow the Soviet Union to crumble. These individual stories are obviously linked, but they work so well because they take place at different times. Part one is in the fifties, part two is in the seventies and part three is in the two-thousands. This allows for multiple stories to take place and all link up brilliantly over the space of fifty years and beyond. Also, the ending of the story perfectly shows a future in which communism and capitalism can work together, with President Luthor recognising that Superman and Brainiac had some good ideas. The story also ends well, with a descendant of Lex Luthor being sent back in time to 1938, away from the world, which is about to end, linking the story the beginning of the story to the very end, and vice versa. The political side of the story is very crucial to not just understanding the story, but also the long relationship between America and Russia, both in the real world and in this tale. Essentially, the introduction in the Superman: Red Son tpb by Tom DeSanto perfectly sums up the story as an ongoing war between communism and capitalism and I believe that is true (this is going to get very political, so hold on for a sec). After the Second World War ended in 1945, America saw Russia as the next major threat as they not only worked with the Axis forces, but they also captured Nazi scientists. America became increasing wary of Russia and during the 1950s, President Eisenhower, who was a capitalist and conservative, continued the “cold war” against Joseph Stalin’s Soviet Union, who portrayed themselves as communists, despite their authoritarian tendencies. Now, this is where Red Son world and the real-world split, since Superman obviously doesn’t exist (yet at least). In the real world, the cold war continued well after the deaths of both Eisenhower and Stalin and it was only during the 1980s when President Ronald Reagan (also a conservative) and Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev (who was turning away from communism to more socialist and social democratic policies) wanted to ease the relationship between the two countries. By 1991, the Soviet Union had been dissolved and the relationship between America and Russia sharply improved (until recent years obviously). However, who cares about all of that when you have Superman? In the Red Son world, the relationship between the two countries grew worse and worse. During the 1970s, President Kennedy (who obviously died in 1963 in the real world) and his America saw homelessness rise and starvation go through the roof, which was the complete opposite of Russia. By the 2000s, Luthor became President and used capitalism to recover America from the depths that it fell into, finally becoming the nemesis of Russia that it once was. That is basically the two political ideologies throughout the story, but what Millar does excellently is point out the flaws of the two ideologies. Communism is often recognised as the dream world, where everybody helps each other, and the workers and people always come first. However, throughout the history of the world, successful communism has never really existed and when people claim it has, it is rarely ever communism, but fascism, since there is a dictator running the show. The great irony of Red Son is that Superman aims to create a world where everybody is equal, but how can it be? Pure communism is unachievable in a world such as ours, but with Superman, it can work, as seen here. However, as Roslov accurately states in the first part, communists believe that everybody is created equal and should be equal, but Superman clearly isn’t like the billions of other people on Earth. In many ways, what Superman is running with Russia is an introvert dictatorship, one which even Superman doesn’t realise until its too late. On the other hand, we get America, the country which has always embraced conservatism and if called yourself a communist, a socialist or a liberal, you’d instantly be called a commie pinko. What Millar does excellently here is to portray the cold truth of capitalism. It may be great for business, but it has no care of compassion for the people. Capitalism can be used in a caring way which benefits the people it serves, but in Red Son’s interpretation of America, it certainly doesn’t since another civil war breaks out. By the time of the 2000s and Luthor becomes President, he manages to use capitalism in a way that not only (continued)
improves the economy, but also improves the lives of Americans. Of course, there are still many flaws, the biggest being that Luthor doesn’t actually give a damn about the people he is serving, and he always puts business (and its link to his Superman obsession) above the people. That’s more than enough of the politics of the story, but I just love how Millar constructed this world by not only using the real world as a guide to build on the opposite of it, but by also cross-examining two political ideologies, both of which are not only very different from each other, but are similar in the fact that they both have numerous flaws…
Despite being done by quite a few people, the art throughout this story looks and is very consistent, but that isn’t a bad thing. In fact, I think the art throughout the story looks very good and it works well with Millar’s political story. Not only is the storytelling by the likes of Dave Johnson and Kilian Plunkett done excellently well, taking drama into full account, but the inks by Andrew Robinson and Walden Wong can look incredibly smooth and fine, something which also works to the story’s benefit, as a more scratchy Sienkiewicz-type art style would not have suited the story. The scenes featuring the communistic Superman are often imposing and dramatic, presenting to us the exceptional power that he holds over the world. Batman is often shown in dark lighting, suggesting that his rebellious tactics work best in the dark. Both sides of the political spectrum in this story are depicted differently, with the Russians looking up to Superman and his power, while the Americans work together to try and defeat what they see as the communist menace known as Superman. It can sometimes look slightly minimalistic to me but isn’t too much of a problem because the art just works so well with this excellent plot.
VERDICT
Overall, Superman: Red Son has a flawless story which has been excellently written and planned out by Mark Millar. It took him years to write this epic of a tale and it doesn’t disappoint. What makes it great apart from the excellent story is that most of the main DC character are fundamentally the same, fighting for justice against the villains. The story also brilliantly explores two political ideologies which are the complete opposite. The tale is filled with ironies, particularly to do with Superman and it is incredibly difficult to actually find one concrete flaw. The art may look a little-underdone every now and then, but it just works so well with Millar’s story. I haven’t yet watched DC’s recent animated version of this Elseworlds classic and when I do, I hope its just as good as the original (even though I doubt it after seeing their Batman: The Killing Joke adaptation).
Story: 10/10
Art: 9.5/10
Next Week: OMAC By Jack Kirby (OMAC (vol 1) 1-8). Written and pencilled by Jack Kirby with inks by Mike Royer and D. Bruce Berry. Expected to be published by 07/06/2020.
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