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.
Showing posts with label Mark Millar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mark Millar. Show all posts
2008-08-05
The Good and the Bad
Hello readers,
I hope you enjoyed the last entry. I want to make these a habit. Of course if you want to know the moment that I post, I urge you all to subscribe. It will make your life easier. Really. Okay enough plugging myself, onward!
Reviews
Starman Omnibus Vol. 1
Boy did I love this book. I had to force myself to slow down because I never wanted it to end. This series was written by James Robinson, who is currently writing Superman, beginning in 1994. The series centers around Jack Knight who is forced into becoming Starman, protector of Opal City, after the murder of his brother David. David had taken up the superhero mantle from their father Ted, who is the retired Starman. The twist here is that Jack doesn't really want to be Starman. Robinson expertly portrays the emotional conflict between father and son. It isn't what they say to each other it is what they don't say. Tony Harris art is also amazing. I love the way that he portrays the Mist. I also love the use of black and white and color in the issue where Jack talks to a ghostly David. Check this out.
Ultimates Vol. 1
While entertaining I found that this series fell apart in the end. In this series Bruce Banner, Tony Stark, and Nick Fury team together to try to develop a super team like the Avengers. I enjoyed the beginning which focused on Captain America in WW2 and then when he's reinstated in the modern world. There was a poignancy between Cap and his displacement in 90s America. Millar seeks to bring the entire Marvel universe into the modern world, and I get that. But the pop cuture references are horribly dated. This slowly kills the middle half as the world starts piling onto Bruce Banner like he's Peter Parker. It doesn't work and then the ending gets lost in melodrama.
What's In My Bag
Graphic Novel
Animal Man Vol. 1
Book
Love is a Mix Tape
Comic
Pax Romana
Magazine
Four Four Two
Comic Pull List:Buffy The Vampire Slayer #17, Criminal 2 #4, Detective Comics #847, Final Crisis #3, Nightwing #147, Robin #176, Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane Season 2 #1, Terry Moores Echo #5, Tor #4, Trinity #10
Check Out Count: Absurd.
Enjoy your week folks. Book Slave.
I hope you enjoyed the last entry. I want to make these a habit. Of course if you want to know the moment that I post, I urge you all to subscribe. It will make your life easier. Really. Okay enough plugging myself, onward!
Reviews
Starman Omnibus Vol. 1
Boy did I love this book. I had to force myself to slow down because I never wanted it to end. This series was written by James Robinson, who is currently writing Superman, beginning in 1994. The series centers around Jack Knight who is forced into becoming Starman, protector of Opal City, after the murder of his brother David. David had taken up the superhero mantle from their father Ted, who is the retired Starman. The twist here is that Jack doesn't really want to be Starman. Robinson expertly portrays the emotional conflict between father and son. It isn't what they say to each other it is what they don't say. Tony Harris art is also amazing. I love the way that he portrays the Mist. I also love the use of black and white and color in the issue where Jack talks to a ghostly David. Check this out.
Ultimates Vol. 1
While entertaining I found that this series fell apart in the end. In this series Bruce Banner, Tony Stark, and Nick Fury team together to try to develop a super team like the Avengers. I enjoyed the beginning which focused on Captain America in WW2 and then when he's reinstated in the modern world. There was a poignancy between Cap and his displacement in 90s America. Millar seeks to bring the entire Marvel universe into the modern world, and I get that. But the pop cuture references are horribly dated. This slowly kills the middle half as the world starts piling onto Bruce Banner like he's Peter Parker. It doesn't work and then the ending gets lost in melodrama.
What's In My Bag
Graphic Novel
Animal Man Vol. 1
Book
Love is a Mix Tape
Comic
Pax Romana
Magazine
Four Four Two
Comic Pull List:Buffy The Vampire Slayer #17, Criminal 2 #4, Detective Comics #847, Final Crisis #3, Nightwing #147, Robin #176, Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane Season 2 #1, Terry Moores Echo #5, Tor #4, Trinity #10
Check Out Count: Absurd.
Enjoy your week folks. Book Slave.
2008-06-24
Bad Words and Villians
Hello all those out there!
Yes the summer continues on. Yesterday was my birthday...and I am old. However my family knows me well and nearly half of my gifts were books. There was one particular title that I think deserved special attention. That title is The Librarian's Passionate Knight and here is the cover:
Awesome eh? Oh it gets better. When one opens this classic they will discover that someone has scratched out all the "hells" "Gods" etc. Here's an example:
Now mind you all the sex and romance are firmly intact. Thank god someone has saved me from those "bad" words. Somewhere I hope George Carlin is laughing.
Anyway Onward!
Reviews
Wanted
I had heard about this series before but the upcoming movie release moved me to pick it up. This 6 issue miniseries was created by Mark Millar and drawn by JG Jones. The main character is a young man named Wesley Gibson. Gibson is an office drone who finds himself stymied by his mundane life. His mundanity is shattered when he discovers that he is part of a secret world of supervillains who are really running things behind the scenes. He is trained to become an amoral villain known as The Killer by The Fox and The Professor. The undercurrent of social commentary reminded me a lot of Fight Club, however I think that Millar is more intent on spinning around the classic Heroes Journey. In Wanted we are watching the development of a villain and Millar does not hold back. It is difficult to root for a protagonist who revels in murder and extreme violence. Gibson is set up as the lesser of two evils as he goes up against the inhuman Rictor. Although really I found myself questioning whether I cared about Gibson as a character and frankly I didn't. So what's left then? Well I will say that the art is amazing. The cover in which Gibson emerges in his Supervillain costume is just cool as hell. I also enjoyed the clever satire that Millar has thrown, whereas many characters are represent comic icons. I do recommend this to those who are interested in a crazy, dark, messed up comics. Anyone else needs to watch out. This book is not for the weak.
Catwoman: Selina's Big Score
I absolutely adore Darwyn Cooke. As much as I may like realistic, dark, grim comics, a book like this is just a wonderful read. In this story Selina Kyle, also known as the burglar Catwoman, puts together a major heist. In order to pull it off she pulls together a team that includes former lover/mentor Stark whom she has a complicated past. This book is written with a 1950s-60s crime noir. It's funny and cool, reflecting Cooke's sensibilities. Even though the main protagonist is a thief I still found myself rooting for her which is to Cooke's credit. This is a fun read.
What's In My Bag
Books
Assassination Vacation
Then We Came to the End
Magazine
Entertainment Weekly
Comics
Amazing Spider-Man #560
Checkout Count: Under Control. I hope.
Have a great week! Book Slave.
Yes the summer continues on. Yesterday was my birthday...and I am old. However my family knows me well and nearly half of my gifts were books. There was one particular title that I think deserved special attention. That title is The Librarian's Passionate Knight and here is the cover:
Awesome eh? Oh it gets better. When one opens this classic they will discover that someone has scratched out all the "hells" "Gods" etc. Here's an example:
Now mind you all the sex and romance are firmly intact. Thank god someone has saved me from those "bad" words. Somewhere I hope George Carlin is laughing.
Anyway Onward!
Reviews
Wanted
I had heard about this series before but the upcoming movie release moved me to pick it up. This 6 issue miniseries was created by Mark Millar and drawn by JG Jones. The main character is a young man named Wesley Gibson. Gibson is an office drone who finds himself stymied by his mundane life. His mundanity is shattered when he discovers that he is part of a secret world of supervillains who are really running things behind the scenes. He is trained to become an amoral villain known as The Killer by The Fox and The Professor. The undercurrent of social commentary reminded me a lot of Fight Club, however I think that Millar is more intent on spinning around the classic Heroes Journey. In Wanted we are watching the development of a villain and Millar does not hold back. It is difficult to root for a protagonist who revels in murder and extreme violence. Gibson is set up as the lesser of two evils as he goes up against the inhuman Rictor. Although really I found myself questioning whether I cared about Gibson as a character and frankly I didn't. So what's left then? Well I will say that the art is amazing. The cover in which Gibson emerges in his Supervillain costume is just cool as hell. I also enjoyed the clever satire that Millar has thrown, whereas many characters are represent comic icons. I do recommend this to those who are interested in a crazy, dark, messed up comics. Anyone else needs to watch out. This book is not for the weak.
Catwoman: Selina's Big Score
I absolutely adore Darwyn Cooke. As much as I may like realistic, dark, grim comics, a book like this is just a wonderful read. In this story Selina Kyle, also known as the burglar Catwoman, puts together a major heist. In order to pull it off she pulls together a team that includes former lover/mentor Stark whom she has a complicated past. This book is written with a 1950s-60s crime noir. It's funny and cool, reflecting Cooke's sensibilities. Even though the main protagonist is a thief I still found myself rooting for her which is to Cooke's credit. This is a fun read.
What's In My Bag
Books
Assassination Vacation
Then We Came to the End
Magazine
Entertainment Weekly
Comics
Amazing Spider-Man #560
Checkout Count: Under Control. I hope.
Have a great week! Book Slave.
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