Superman: Red Son by Mark MillarMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
One of the best graphic novels I've ever read, and I put this one up there with "Watchmen" as one of the best. "Red Son" is a great piece of alternate history, where Superman lands on Earth 12 hours earlier, in Russia, and eventually grows up and becomes Stalin's right hand man.
Eventually, Superman stops following orders and does what he does best...the right thing--even though his actions seem to conflict with his own government. Superman winds up being next in line to succeed Stalin, but politics aren't his thing. He just wants to live his life as a worker and supporter of humanity.
Throughout the book, Superman faces many enemies. The biggest one is Lex Luthor, who collaborates with the CIA in an effort to create an anti-Superman deterrent. Superman winds up becoming big-brother himself, and begins building robot spies and even Brainiac himself--who helps Superman run the world via various catalogs of stats and occasional advice. The result is essentially a Utopia, where everyone works, and no one starves. However, many pro-communists remain to stifle Superman's new social vision, and of course, Lex and his fascist supporters don't like the idea of a Superman running the world...so like always, Lex tries to step on his toes.
Eventually, Batman shows up...who is not the Batman we know. In this book, he's a terrorist, and he works for Lex. Other than Batman's revamping, writer Mark Millar throws another curveball with Green Lantern, who happens to have arrived via the 1947 Roswell Crash. After the ring chooses Hal, Lex Luthor employs Hal and his Green Lanter corps. to take down Superman...and the result is one big, wild climax, that pits 3 of DC's biggest heroes against each-other.
All in all, a 5/5 stars...the writing is excellent. This is writing that challenges you to think and may even change the way you think. And did I not mention the art? The style is beautiful...and sort of resembles "propaganda art" from the 1940s. If you don't read graphic novels, make this your first !
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