Share

Have one to sell?

Sell on Amazon

Flip to back Flip to front

Listen Playing... Paused You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition.
Learn more

See all 2 images

Follow the Author

Mark Millar

Superman: Red Son (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) Library Binding – April 8, 2014

by Mark Millar (Author), Dave Johnson (Illustrator)

1,597 ratings

See all formats and editions

Price

New from

Used from

Kindle & Comixology

"Please retry"

$12.99

—

Library Binding

"Please retry"

—

Paperback

"Please retry"

$15.94

$11.94

$8.50

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. The critically acclaimed Superman: Red Son now collected in a brand new edition! In this vivid tale of Cold War paranoia, the ship carrying the infant who would grow up to become Superman lands in the midst of the 1950s Soviet Union, where he is raised on a collective. As he becomes a symbol to the Soviet people, the world changes drastically from what we know -- bringing Superman into conflict with Batman, Lex Luthor and others.

Print length

168 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Turtleback
Publication date

April 8, 2014
Dimensions

6.75 x 0.5 x 10.5 inches
ISBN-10

0606352287
ISBN-13

978-0606352284
See all details

Mark Waid
1,322
Paperback
35 offers from $9.99
Frank Miller
2,852
Paperback
48 offers from $6.37
Grant Morrison
79
Hardcover
50 offers from $22.52
Mark Millar
435
Paperback
24 offers from $7.70
Grant Morrison
766
Paperback
36 offers from $16.37
Jeph Loeb
5,167
Paperback
49 offers from $16.85

Scott Snyder
3,219
Hardcover
36 offers from $11.69
Jim Krueger
196
Hardcover
30 offers from $29.24
Mark Waid
356
Hardcover
19 offers from $61.61
Alan Moore
3,451
Hardcover
36 offers from $8.85
Scott Snyder
4,476
Hardcover
29 offers from $14.09
Grant Morrison
678
Hardcover
17 offers from $59.98

Start reading Superman: Red Son: New Edition on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Turtleback; Reprint edition (April 8, 2014)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Library Binding ‏ : ‎ 168 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0606352287
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0606352284
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.75 x 0.5 x 10.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,352,265 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #21,607 in Superhero Comics & Graphic Novels

Customer Reviews:
1,597 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Mark Millar

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Along with Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Millar has been one of the key writers for Marvel Comics in the 21st century. After proving himself in the ’90s as a talent to watch while writing for DC Comics and the UK comic 2000AD, his arrival to Marvel came at a time when Ultimate Spider-Man had just shot up the sales charts. It was in this environment that Millar made his first major contribution to Marvel with Ultimate X-Men, as Millar integrated forty years’ worth of X-Men history, characters and lore into a solid two-year run, making the companion title to Ultimate Spider-Man every bit the creative and commercial success. Next up was The Ultimates, a new rendering of the Avengers that was to continue building on the success of the Ultimate line. He and artist Bryan Hitch pulled it all off in spades: The Ultimates and its sequel, Ultimates 2, were ensconced at the top of the sales charts every month; what’s more, they were critical successes, as well. Meanwhile, Millar was invited to enter the regular Marvel Universe to take a stab at two of its most iconic characters: Spider-Man and Wolverine. Paired with industry heavyweights to draw his stories — Terry Dodson on Marvel Knights Spider-Man and John Romita Jr. on Wolverine — Millar brought the same fast-paced and cleverly constructed plots with which his Ultimate fans were already familiar. Amid building a small library of Millarworld indie comic books — including the titles Chosen and Wanted, the latter of which was turned into a Hollywood blockbuster starring Angelina Jolie — he managed to write Civil War, the epic seven-issue miniseries that definitively reshaped the landscape of Marvel’s heroes. Kick-A**, a Marvel Icon project done in tandem with John Romita Jr., made an impressive impact on the sales chart before also being adapted for a major motion picture. In addition, Millar has reunited with Civil War artist Steve McNiven in both the pages of Wolverine and their creator-owned book Nemesis.

Customer reviews

5 star		85%
4 star		11%
3 star		3%
2 star		1%
1 star		1%

How customer reviews and ratings work

Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2017

Verified Purchase

This book checks all the boxes of not just a great Elseworlds story, but just a great graphic novel. Period. You get a very interesting idea with Superman's vessel landing in the middle of the Soviet Union and him growing up to become Stalin's right hand man at the heart of the Cold War, but said idea is executed and laid out for the reader in such an engaging and nuanced way (in both the writing and the art) that I wasn't able to put this book down! There's never a dull moment here, the story never drags and the art is excellent and so fitting for the concept and theme of the book (it's quite dark and grim, and yet every page is full of life and so captivating).

The story unfolds throughout decades and decades, yet the pacing never ever feels slow, and you can feel the stakes getting higher and higher with every turning page. The book is very "cinematic", both in the storytelling and the art itself, with the way everything is arranged in each panel and page. I can totally see Warner Brothers making this into an animated film and I cannot understand why they haven't yet.

You get very interesting character development here (especially from the main characters), you get a few subtle nods and throwbacks to other iconic moments in DC's history in some of the book's pages that literally made me go "Oh that's great!" or "That's clever!", you get great cameos and supporting appearances from other DC characters, but they don't feel forced or tacked on, they actually add something interesting to the plot. You just get so much good stuff all around here, I just can't recommend this book enough.

I took my time before reading this book, not only because I'm a little wary of Elseworlds stories after reading a few that really didn't hit the mark for me (e.g. Superman: Speeding Bullets), but also because, at face value, I expected the writing to be preachy or overly political (looking at you, post-1990 Frank Miller!). Well, I'm happy to say that I was completely wrong and this is one of the best graphic novels I've ever read and one of my new favorites!

21 people found this helpful

Helpful

John Walker

Delightful alternative universe take on the Superman legend

Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2020

Verified Purchase

On June 30th, 1908, a small asteroid or comet struck the Earth's atmosphere and exploded above the Tunguska river in Siberia. The impact is estimated to have released energy equivalent to 10 to 15 megatons of TNT; it is the largest impact event in recorded history. Had the impactor been so aligned as to hit the Earth three hours later, it would have exploded above the city of Saint Petersburg, completely destroying it.

In a fictional universe, an alien spaceship crashes in rural Kansas in the United States, carrying an orphan from the stars who, as he matures, discovers he has powers beyond those of inhabitants of Earth, and vows to use these gifts to promote and defend truth, justice, and the American way. Now, like Tunguska, imagine the spaceship arrived a few hours earlier. Then, the baby Kal-El would have landed in Stalin's Soviet Union and, presumably, imbibed its values and culture just as Superman did in the standard canon. That is the premise of this delightful alternative universe take on the Superman legend, produced by DC Comics and written and illustrated up the standards one expects from the publisher. The Soviet Superman becomes an extraterrestrial embodiment of the Stakhanovite ideal, and it is only natural that when the beloved Stalin dies, he is succeeded by another Man of Steel.

The Soviet system may have given lip service to the masses, but beneath it was the Russian tradition of authority, and what better authority than a genuine superman? A golden age ensues, with Soviet/Superman communism triumphant around the globe, apart from recalcitrant holdouts Chile and the United States. But all are not happy with this situation, which some see as subjugation to an alien ruler. In the Soviet Union Batman becomes the symbol and leader of an underground resistance. United States president and supergenius Lex Luthor hatches scheme after scheme to bring down his arch-enemy, enlisting other DC superheroes as well as his own creations in the effort. Finally, Superman is forced to make a profound choice about human destiny and his own role in it. The conclusion to the story is breathtaking.

This is a well-crafted and self-consistent alternative to the fictional universe with which we're well acquainted. It is not a parody like Tales of the Bizarro World , and in no way played for laughs. The Kindle edition is superbly produced, but you may have to zoom into some of the pages containing the introductory material to be able to read the small type. Sketches of characters under development by the artists are included in an appendix.

4 people found this helpful

Helpful

Kindle Customer

Una historia del intelecto contra poder

Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2019

Verified Purchase

La historia que fans habían pedido durante años desde la fenecida sección de cartas publicada en los cómics de antaño logra darnos más de lo que esperábamos al responder varias preguntas, entre ellas :

¿Es Superman inherentemente un ser que busca la verdad y la justicia?
¿Debe haber un Superman?

Entre muchas otras que giran alrededor de la búsqueda de un mundo mejor para todos a la vez que nos muestra sin mucha exposición que el camino al infierno está pavimemtado por buenas intenciones.

Esta es una historia que demuestra lo esencial que es tener un antagonista que ofrezca un reto real, coherente y consistente. Si la comparamos con All Star Superman de Grant Morrison, esta obra triunfa al mostrarnos un Lex Luthor que no sólo es malvado porque la historia necesita un antagonista. El Luthor de Red Son es un hombre con hambre de superar cualquier reto y que al lograr sus objetivos no cae presa de emociones banales como la ira.

A pesar de que el elemento más atractivo de esta historia es responder a la pregunta de la sección de cartas antes mencionada (¿Qué tal si el cohete de Superman hubiera caído en la Unión Soviética en 1938?) lo que termina haciendo que la historia funcione es el constante y consistente conflicto entre Superman y Lex Luthor.

La conclusión de esta historia es una sorpresa que dejaremos descubran en el cómic, pero logra responder de manera magistral a las 2 preguntas que mencionamos anteriormente:

¿Es Superman inherentemente un ser que busca la verdad y la justicia?
¿Debe haber un Superman?

Helpful

Translate review to English

Top reviews from other countries

Kieran

Great book!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 28, 2022

Verified Purchase

My original review for this was compaining about the quality of the e-comic itself, that review is below, along with the acompanying image.

Updated review:
In regards to the actual content of the book, it's great fun! A great thought experiment that puts into question some of the American exceptionalism that's built into the character of Superman. Would Superman still be a good guy if he was raised behind ""enemy"" lines?

Old Review:
Title: Don't buy the Kindle/Comixology version!

Content: The Kindle/Comixology version of this might not be authentic! The page formatting in the Kindle/Comixology version is completely wrong; all the pages have a big white border on the top and bottom, and the double page spreads are shrunk/cropped to fit inside a single page with black borders like shown above!

Do not buy!!

Big Al

Really interesting concept

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 13, 2021

Verified Purchase

A good way to analyse Superman by examining him through a different lens. Well written, good artwork, just maybe lacking a little emotion. A good clockwork puzzle rather than gripping emotionally for me.

Arka

A nice alternate history!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 30, 2016

Verified Purchase

I liked what they did with the character of Superman. I admit he has always been too much of a Boy Scout for me but this was interesting. Would have liked see more of Batman though, more of his deductive side, I mean. He was only there as a goon I felt, that's why the minus 1 (would have given 4 and a half but couldn't figure it out in my IPad). But my favourite was undoubtedly Lex Luthor. The main thing I liked about this book is that it raises so many philosophical questions. Mainly is it really worth it to have an Utopia? Would definitely recommend it!!!!! Great read!!!!!

RC

Excellent but too small

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 24, 2017

Verified Purchase

Here's a book you need to have in your Superman collection. The only problem I have with this edition is that the size is just too small for the wonderful art work to stand out. I came across a Dutch (!) edition that is the size of your average Absolute edition. Why, DC?

One person found this helpful

Terence Wilkinson

Damn good read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 18, 2017

Verified Purchase

Alternate histories have always been a favourite of mine and this one was great. Loved the ending and how the other members of the DC universe were involved.

See all reviews

Follow the Author

Superman: Red Son (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) Library Binding – April 8, 2014

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Customers who bought this item also bought

Product details

About the author

Mark Millar

Customer reviews

Reviews with images

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Top reviews from other countries