Ukraine, 1938. A rocket sécrase in the countryside: on board, a baby will be quickly adopted by a couple of farmers. Years later, the child grew up in the Stalinist regime. He became the hero of workers and the pride of Soviet Letat. His name? Superman! But when Joseph Stalin died, this is the man that he iron responsibility to manage and grow an empire to the abandonment
And if Superman had landed in the Soviet Union? That's the premise of Mark Millar's story. How could he have changed? Would he have acted differently? Would it have served the cause of good? And what would become Lois Lane, Lex Luthor and Jimmy Olsen else? All Millar story builds from this simple basic question. And the first good thing that this is Millar does not fall into the trap of a Manichean narrative with a bias for "the kind America" against "the evil Soviet Union." No, Millar offers a clever story or each side with its good and bad points, its qualities and defects. To say that this is because it is a British artist there are no quun. This story is built, very intelligently, in three parts. LAscension, power and fall.
From an early age, and once its effective powers, Superman is noticed by the Communist Party and became a very close right arm of Comrade Stalin. It nest initially, consciously or not, a USSR propaganda tool! The more he saves the world, the USSR and outside border, more sembellir USSR sees his image. But Stalin is old and ended up spending a tear left. First of against the idea, Superman will eventually lead the communist party and work towards a single goal, rallying all countries under its aegis and make our world a paradise! And that only through dialogue, not force. Only the United States will sopposer this hegemony, and the government will put all its hopes into a single person, the scientific genius Lex Luthor! A gifted, passionate déchec, shrinking from no challenge, kneaded dambition and married to Lois Lane !!
The idealistic work Superman will not happen without hindrance, besides Lex Luthor and the various plans that he put in his way, one can also note that will put Brainiac Stalingrad bottled or violent anarchist Batman Superman sopposant the totalitarian regime.
The excellent work of Millar this is giving us the origins reinvented fully credible, rich in references and where all the characters are processed. With extreme finesse, Mark Millar reinvents us Superman, Wonder Woman (dear and loving what Superman Red Son), Batman, Lex Luthor, Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane and more casual or characters like Bizarro Brainiac (just excellent idea there). Also in the just spot on. This version of Superman is credible is this is the strong point of this story: we believe in it.
As I have said above, we nassistons not a conflict between the USA and USSR, between good guys and bad guys. Not at all. If Superman is guilty dune certain totalitarian drift, it does quen being in loptique to successfully make the world better by being animated than good intentions. As Lex Luthor that precludes the him that nest tear US to counter communism. Afterwards, if Luthor takes a real pleasure unhealthy to this opposition, this is a spirit of competition.
Which is a shame against this is by seeing what it is capable Superman Red Son, but why can not he do it in his classic version specifications, appearance and communist totalitarian less? I mean, it is just as intelligent, just as strong, and naurait not need the strength to advance his ideas. But it true that it would make a real god, and the stories are quite insipid after. On a elseworld this is simpler, it has not been passed in the long term.
The end is a success, a Dantesque fight, one last déchec unforgettable party and lamusement realizing that Luthor is the starting point of the original loop! Nice shot by Mark Millar!
The little flat this is the presence of two artists. Even sils are gifted, styles are different and see two designers on this is a miniseries damage. However, as I have said, the designs are really good, one is permeated by the USSR and above all by the different eras. One feels evolution in clothing, architecture, the looks. Nothing is left to chance.
In short, a great read, not a leader Doeuvre because there still has some shortcuts taken by Millar (Superman super-economist, the recovery in the US in a nod). However, British author offers us a powerful and intelligent story starting with a simple idea, however simple yet devilishly. We are carried away in this elseworld and one can not help but raise references, noting the differences, every smile surprise. Millar control everything from a to z and is tremendously aided by Dave Johnson and Kilian Plunkett giving more credit to his imagination! A must read.
