Hey,
Time for something crazy. It's Millar time baby!
Elseworlds: Re-envisioning Superman
Last weekend I finally read Mark Millar's mini-series Superman: Red Son. I've been waiting for it to get reprinted in a nice new format, so I was excited to get my grubby hands on the new hardcover Deluxe Edition. In typical Millar fashion he takes an icon and turns it on it's head in a shocking fashion. Superman: Red Son is an Elseworlds tale where Superman is born in the Ukraine, rather than Smallville. He grows up as a devout member of the communist party, is co-opted by Stalin, and becomes a totalitarian dictator.
In this alternate world we also get glimpses of Lois, Lex, and Jimmy. Millar has a great time playing around with characterizations. He does an amazing job in just 3 issues of hitting every part of the Superman mythology. The characterization I enjoyed the most was "Lex Luthor, obsessive mad scientist." It was fun to see Lex portrayed as a "Reed Richard"-type with Brainiac at his side. They even managed to get in Batman, Green Lantern, and Wonder Woman. And it all works together seamlessly. Millar understands the Superman mythos, and he loves the characters. There is no sign of Millar's signature shock moments like you see in Wanted and Kick Ass. He wouldn't dare soil these characters. Even when Superman becomes a dictator, his actions are still in character. He does what he thinks will be best for his people, even though slowly he's crossing the line into villainy.
Making him communist adds a philosophical edge that bends his relationship with Lex Luthor. In this world Luthor has the support of the American government in his vendetta against Superman. His hubris and intelligence are working to stop the enemy of the United States. Millar is able to subvert our expectations by turning the reader against Superman. In the Orwell-esque communist state that Superman rules, he is not universally loved. Of course Superman's idealism can be twisted and morphed into something evil if he is not put in check by other superheroes. In the Justice League Superman has to answer to Batman, Wonder Woman, and even the Flash.
Though in this scenario Superman is forced into unlimited political power and it's not where he should be. Superman protects the earth by doing good deeds, serving as a symbol, and then letting people alone. Superman does not force his will onto the people that he protects. Millar does a great job showing the consequences of when Superman is co-opted by a particular ideology. On a metatextual level Millar is showing his disdain for whenever that occurs amongst politicians, pundits, or idealogues.
I highly reccommend checking this out in the deluxe hardcover so you can enjoy the art from Dave Johnson. Johnson, who is known these days for the covers of 100 Bullets, draws amazing interior pages. I loved every rendering of these classic characters in a completely different context. It's just as good as the recent work of Gary Frank and Frank Quitely.
Check this out. You won't forget it. Book Slave.
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