Wanted review by Athena

This is the most violent graphic novel I have read yet and probably one of the most violent books I have read in a long time. I am curious about the upcoming movie adaptation, so I decided to read the graphic novel I never heard of. It was not worth it. It was violent, dark, depressing, and dystopic. Funnily enough, I do not think it was intended as nihilistic as other modern graphic novels tend to be, but that message is not clear. I think Millar intended it to be a hero's journey for villains, and it has been described as "The Watchmen for villains." I do not know if we are suppose to feel for the amoral protagonist Wesley. I considered him too immoral to actually care about. It was just too dark for me. I would not recommend this graphic novel.

Having said that, I am looking forward to the movie (it's a good movie year I think). It is going to be a lot different from the movie in terms of plot. I will probably like the movie a lot more than the books. Fox in the comic books is modelled after Halle Berry (due to Fox's similarity to Catwoman), but I'm glad it's not Halle Berry. Similarly, Wesley was modelled after rapper Eminem. It was a bit creepy reading the comics with him as Wesley. According to this behind the scenes featurette, the first 40 pages of the book are copied fairly accurately into the movie. The movie is going to be violent and R-rated. I am not into violent movies per se, but I am into humor/mindless action flicks once in awhile. I won't mind the violence in the movie as much as the comics which always tend to be more violent than the movies. Actually, If they kept the plot of the comics as it is, I highly doubt anyone would want to see the film. This comics plot really does not have a wide appeal. So, this is one of those rare cases where I will probably like the film more the original and want them to change as much as they can from it.

Superman: Red Son - Reviewed by Chainletters

Superman: Red Son by Mark Millar.
Original Review here.

This novel takes place in the realm of “what ifs.” What if Superman’s ship had landed 12 hours later? Well, then the All American boy we know and love would become something else. Something raised on a commune in the Ukraine and clad in Communist Red.

As the cold war rages, the Soviets leak news of a new superpower to bring an absolute end to the arms race. That superpower is Superman, and his astonishing abilities leave Americans grovelling in their lead-lined basements. Only Lex Luthor, the genius of Star Labs and husband to star-reporter Louis Lane, is unworried by the threat of Superman. Instead, Luthor finds himself excited by the challenge Superman poses, and begins his scheme to take down the Son of Communism.

In Moscow, Superman finds himself the adopted son of Stalin and a man of the people, spending his time between various disasters and dancing with Wonder Woman. And while Superman does not wish to be involved politically, Stalin’s sudden death throes the USSR into chaos. Something Luthor is more than willing to take advantage of with the unveiling of his Superman-clone. Finding himself in a pinch, Superman takes over the party reins and Stalin’s place as The Man of Iron. And this is how the world begins to change. But a few twists and turns remain, and by the end, you will see Superman in a whole new light.

Millar’s vision of Red Superman offers a cunning parallel to the classic Man of Steel. With appearances by other DC heroes, Red Son offers a compelling alternative that gazes deeply into the motivations of each character. Even with the sides flipped, each character remains essentially the same at the core, providing the reader with an amazing story of love, conflict, and error that is all too human. The art, stark and dark, is reminiscent of a few Batman novels, and provides an interesting mirror of the emotions playing through each scene.