Red Son is Mark Miller’s “What If?” interpretation of what if Superman/Kal-El had landed in Mother Russia instead of the good ol’ U.S.ofA.
Instead of landing to Ma and Pa kent, he lands to a family of Ukrainians in the Eurals of Eastern Europe. He is raised by nurturing parents of the Eastern European Regime during the Cold War. As an adult, he is mentored by Stalin.
What’s interesting about Miller’s writing is that the story upholds the thought that a person’s ideals are inherent, and while the final actions are a biproduct of their environment… their intentions and ideologies are based on their “genetic” makeup… inherited by their family and combined with early childhood infusions. The Superman of Russia is still kind hearted, peaceful, and gentle.
He is not a warrior, he is a worker. for the people. For the party. for the better of mankind. but… somehow infused with the thoughts of Communism. he believes wholeheartedly in everyone must share, all people must follow all the rules, there are no exceptions. No one should have more than anyone else… yet, he still does not kill, and he would rather turn a criminal into a mindless robot by putting him through a lobotomy instead of ending his life. While the traditional American Supes’ would NOT kill, either… he wouldn’t let a man be turned into a vegetable without free will. The Communist Superman does not see “free will” as part of the equation. To him, it’s a luxury some people can have… but not at the cost of the greater community.
It’s an interesting take. Miller’s Superman is still loved by the world. He still embodies “Superman”. People still believe that when there is trouble… he will come at the last minute to save the day. yet, it’s obvious he is not the american red white and blue hero.
In general,I felt this book was wonderful. Well written, good story telling, and how they integrated the rest of the DC universe worked very well. There were a few moments when the lines came through as cheezy/ forced. The Batman of this world is born from his parents being killed by the KGB. While he is written in a manner that fits with the whole “another world but still same personalities”… somehow… he seems to have been mutated into something that may resemble the Bruce Wayne of Gotham… but with a renegade twist. While he still upholds Justice, and refuses to kill… he’s not wealthy (no one can own property in communism)… so he steals. He supports anarchy in the name of justice, and does whatever he can in order to bring down the “system”… in this case… the system is the criminal element (embodying corruption and the perverse nature of man that killed his parents). While I can believe a man who’s parents are killed by a government might lash out, why would he specifically call himself BATMAN? Why push the story to make this character resemble Gotham’s Bruce Wayne? Just to make fans happy? The story, I believe would be better served if he was simply a different character.
There are other examples… Wonder woman is basically googoo eyed for Superman and practically his little bitch.
Well written, good mood, good tone. But a few aspects felt rushed. I found the story to be moving and inspirational in its own right. deep in many ways, and thought invoking. What if….
