Review: Superman: Red Son
Overview:
The traditional tale of Superman has been completely retold in this DC Elseworlds tale. The last son of Krypton has descended on Earth, not in midwestern America, but in the heart of the USSR. The most powerful being on the planet has dedicated himself to the state and their communist beliefs. We follow his rise to power as the DC Universe is altered by the changing of this singular event.
Our Take:
When it comes to DC’s Elseworlds, Superman: Red Son is considered one of the most excellent additions. Elseworlds are comics featuring DC’s most celebrated characters in events that do not fit into the canonical storylines.
The DC animated universe started diving into these unique plots in 2018 with the release of Batman: Gotham by Gaslight. However, if fans could have chosen any of the Elseworlds stories to tell in a full-length animated feature, you could guarantee Red Son would have been at the top of the list.
The basis of Red Son is enough to garner interest from the most novice of comic book fans. Originally published in three issues, the story alters the complete timeline of humanity through the Cold War Era. Written by Mark Millar (Kick-Ass, Kingsman, Civil War), the books were an instant success. Now, after announcing the animated film early last year, we finally get our first look at Superman: Red Son.
The story doesn’t focus on one moment in time; instead, it spans decades. We get to witness Superman rise into the most powerful person on the planet. From being bullied by the other kids in the fields of the USSR to him murdering his own mentor, Joseph Stalin. Yes, that Stalin. There are a lot of ties to our world from the changing US presidents to the Viet Nam War.
The only difference is, Superman has all of the power, and he uses it to spread communism across the world. He almost succeeds, if it weren’t for the hero of the USA. None other than Lex Luthor. Who also happens to be betrothed to Lois Lane.
The movie doesn’t fail to give us a look at some of the other DC heroes affected by Superman’s missed landing. Wonder Woman is the most impacted as her goal of uniting her world with the world of man is skewed by the power Superman holds. The two have always shared a connection in the comic books, but his communist ideals cause things to go differently this time around.
To make things even better, we get some Batman. Russian Batman that is. For some reason, the last son of Krypton landing in the Soviet also causes the Bat to grow up there as well. Not sure how that works. But fans love Batman. The more Batman you can get in these movies, the better. And, we’re not complaining. The Russian version of the Dark Knight is just as badass as the original. Against everything that Superman has done, Batman builds a resistance from within the country. The enemy of the state almost manages to singlehandedly dismantle Superman and everything he has worked towards. The showdown between these two can go down in history as one of the best battles between the two popular heroes.
It would have been exciting to see some other Justice League members involved in this story, but there is already a lot jammed into the film. A platoon of Green Lanterns make an appearance. In fact, they give Superman a run for his money. Though, the rest of DC’s most popular are absent, including Aquaman, Shazam, and Martian Manhunter. All of which could have changed the tides of Superman’s war one way or another.
As far as book to movie adaptations go, this as good as it gets. To be fair, the original content is limited. As much as they managed to pack into the 3-issue miniseries, there really wasn’t enough to build a full-length film. So, instead of cutting out critical moments, Red Son had the freedom to fill in some of the gaps. The best part is everything works together to keep the story harmonious and enjoyable. And, as fans of the DC Animated Universe know, these movies always stay close to the source material. Really, they are built and designed to keep us comic nerds happy.
There are so many entertaining parts of this movie; it’s hard to keep track of them all. The whole thing leads up to a massive finale that pays off many of the themes throughout. And, even that is not necessary. Honestly, I could watch ten hours of communist Superman dealing with everything from Doomsday to Apokolips. It’s all pure fun and entertainment. If they were to include any classic Superman villain, I am glad it was Brainiac. The machine ends up being an integral part of Superman’s socialist economy and plays a massive role in the conclusion. Always underutilized, you have to enjoy a good Brainiac story.
Superman: Red Son manages to squeeze decades of stories and history into one neat little package. I have yet to watch a DC animated film that I haven’t liked. Especially in recent years as they have genuinely been pumping up their game. But, Superman: Red Son is some next-level stuff.
While I want to see some more films following classic superhero tales, Elseworlds make for great entertainment. Everything that you need is organized into one film, and you can drink it down like a cold drink of water. Out of all the DCEU movies in recent years, Red Son may be the first one that I am ready to re-watch again and again.
I hope this turns out to be another Gravity Falls-type show with an overarching storyline.