Reddit reviews Superman: Red Son (New Edition)

I personally don't think All-Star Superman is the best place to start for the character. I've seen new readers pick it up and enjoy it, but it probably won't live up to the praise due to unfamiliarity vs the book being a celebration of decades of Superman comics.

Going forward, here are some Superman modern essentials:

• The Man of Steel | #1-6 | 1986 | Byrne
  
• Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?, For the Man Who Has Everything | Superman #423, Annual 11; Action Comics #583 | 1984-1986 | Moore
  
• The Death and Return of Superman | Death, Return | 1992-1993 | Jurgens, Stern, et al.
  
• Kingdom Come | #1-4 | 1996 | Waid
  
• For All Seasons | #1-4 | 1998 | Loeb
  
• What's so Funny About Truth, Justice & the American Way? | Action Comics #775 | 2001 | Kelly
  
• Red Son | #1-3 | 2003 | Millar
  
• Birthright | #1-12 | 2003-2004 | Waid
  
• Secret Identity | #1-4 | 2004 | Busiek
  
• All-Star Superman | #1-12 | 2005-2008 | Morrison
  
• Kryptonite | Superman Confidential #1-5, 11 | 2006-2008 | Cooke
  
• Up, Up, and Away! | Superman #650-653; Action Comics #837-840 | 2006 | Busiek, Johns
  
• Last Son, Brainiac | Action Comics #844-847, 851, Annual 11, 866-870 | 2006-2008 | Johns
  
• Superman and the Legion of Superheroes | Action Comics #858-863 | 2007-2008 | Johns
  
• Secret Origin | #1-6 | 2009-2010 | Johns
  
• Action Comics (New 52) | #1-18 | 2011-2013 | Morrison
  
• American Alien | #1-7 | 2015-2016 | Landis
  
• Action Comics (Rebirth) | #957-ongoing | 2016-2019 | Jurgens
  
• Superman (Rebirth) | #1-45 | 2016-2018 | Tomasi
  
  When you're done with all that, revisit All-Star Superman. I'd be willing to bet you have a different opinion on it then.

Did anyone else actually read the article? 'Telos', 'Night Force' or 'Blue and Gold' would not count.

>Before fans get too excited about finally pitching their untold stories about Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, they should know that DC Universe is NOT asking for narratives. It appears that they are not looking for fans to redefine a character’s origins, à la Batman: Year One, or for fans to provide alternate takes on a character, à la Superman: Red Son. Instead, they are looking for “non-narrative ideas inspired by the world of DC.” This could range from reality shows, game shows, travel shows, documentaries, or any other non-narrative category fans can think of.

A new edition of Red Son will be out on April 8, 2014 for $11.91 and collects all 3 parts. I'm definitely picking that up!

http://www.amazon.com/Superman-Red-Son-Mark-Millar/dp/1401247113/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393967964&sr=1-2&keywords=Red+Son

Superman: Red Son, Batman: Gotham by Gaslight, Flashpoint (and the world of, especially Batman ) are three obvious and good ones

edit: also, Batman: Year 100

edit 2: I can't believe I forgot one of the most important examples! Definitely check out DC:The New Frontier

I am a big superman fan (so much so that my golf towel is a superman logo), and the way I got into him wasn't much like everyone did on here from what I can see. Normally before then I batted an eye at things superman since he seemed like a very generic character to me at the time, muscle bound men with capes who wear tights is a tad generic to the casual observer but then I found that Supes was more complex than that. I never really picked up a superman book, let alone read one, until I finished reading Superman: The High-Flying history of America's most enduring hero. Although not a graphic novel liker someone who wanted to get into the comics initially would do, it's basically a character bio depicting the events of what happened to the character, how DC comics was formed, and the lives of those that created him (Jerry Seigal and Joe Schuster). After finishing this book I was hooked, I wanted to know more about superman. I know it's not cannon but I got hooked on smallville, believing that it was canon for a short time given it's consistency starting out with the entire superman mythos in other media (grew up on farm, wasn't told he was an alien until well into his childhood etc). Now without further ado, I am going to run through some of the best superman stories and some of the worst (or comically amusing if you're looking for a laugh).

The Good

• Superman: Secret Origin : If you are looking for an origin story, and this one is considered to be the most modern and maybe the official origin story for the man of steel (although I could be wrong, somebody challenge me on this if I am) and frankly I am quite enjoying it. It has elements from the Smallville TV show even though the creative team that made it wanted it to stand alone from the TV show, even though there are some key elements that deviates it from the TV show. My only problem, The time in which the events transpired from issue to issue skip, one issue he could be in his pre-teens, the next he is a young adult working at the planet. If you are looking for such an origin story this one is for you.
  
  
• Superman: Birthright: Another origin story, it's not secret origin, and it has no familiar attributes like it either. Instead we are thrust into Clark's life as a journalist before he comes home to make the decision to help others and prepare his superman attire. I am still reading this one as well but I haven't had the time to finish anything. Anyway, be sure to give this one a try.
  
  
• Superman: Earth One: Another origin story, I am starting to set a pattern here. This Superman is a more complex and to many a much more satisfying take on the character since we get a version of Clark going through the motions of growing up and deciding what he wants to do with his life. Also some other things that revolve around the life of Clark Kent to become superman.
  
  
• Superman: Secret Identity: Last one, I promise. This book is neither in canon, nor does it strike any familiarity with other superman books. Instead we are thrust into a universe where Superman exists in comic books much like ours, and the book itself revolves around a kid named Clark Kent who is routinely picked on for sharing the secret identity for the man of steel. This book is interesting in the fact that it focuses more on Superman's secret identity as if it was given more focus and attention as his superhero career.
  
  
• Superman: Red Son: So, what would happen when Superman err Clark Kent was brought up and raised by the Soviet Union? Read this one to find out. The primary themes to this story are the topics of nature vs nurture, plus abuse of power.
  
  
• Superman: Peace on Earth: Alex Ross fan? Let's just say that whenever Superman decides to try to create peace on earth it doesn't always goes according to plan. This book explores superman's attempts to do just that but with resistance in his efforts. This book's primary message is that global issues are more complicated than they seem, much so that even a being like superman can't easily solve them.
  
  
• Superman: Kingdom Come: Superman and the rest of the justice league come out of retirement to stop the bad guys. Personally, I wasn't aware that superman aged until I was told about this issue.
  
  
• The Death of Superman: People are going to attack me in saying that this was only acclaimed and sold enormous amounts of copies because DC wanted to boost sales and that it occurred during an era where the comic book bubble was about to pop. From an investment standpoint the issues that make up this book might not be worth anything if you are a trader but many have found this one hard to put down
  
  The Bad
  
  
• Try reading the material for the flagship New 52 title, I dare you.
  
  
• DC Archives: Superman: I might be being cruel here but this book is a collection of the Golden age superman. It's definitely not the best thing you can read if you are getting into superman, but it's an amusing look into the character's publication past where he was a psychopath with Intermittent Explosive Disorder who always used violence to get his way. It carries very little narrative for an actual story but keep in mind that Joe and Jerry were highschool kids when they wrote and illustrated this.
  
  

There's also Superman: Red Son where he lands in the Soviet Union instead of Kansas.

Just read it recently - quite a good story.

Here you go.

Mark Millar(the guy who wrote kickass) has several series running right now, MPH with Duncan Fegredo, Jupiter's Legacy with Frank Quietly and Starlight with Goran Parlov. None of these have been collected in paperback or Hardback format yet.

Millar is a very criticized author, lots of people hate his work, but one series that usually gets recommended is his Supercrooks series.

Millar also did an out-of-continuity Superman mini-series called Superman: Red Son, which was good, not spectacular, but good.


Bryan Lee O'Malley has another Graphic Novel(an actual Graphic Novel) called Lost at Sea, haven't read it so I can't comment on it.

I wasn't a big fan of Supes but I grew to like him after reading Superman: Red Son and All Star Superman

Thanks for reminding me to add Hawkguy to my Marvel/DC list lol I only read the first few.

Do you know of any good solo Gambit stories?

I just put this one on my wish list confident that Jim Lee's artwork will be enough for me to enjoy the book, however, the plot sounds pretty intriguing as well. I really like that dynamic about comic books - obviously the ideal is great art and a great story, but sometimes one leans on the other and that's OK too as long as neither is totally absent.

Edit for next week vote: Since I don't suppose you guys and girls will wanna discuss this one again after I've read it, Ill vote Superman: Red Son as the new edition comes out on the 8th.

Superman: Red Son

All Star Superman

Superman: American Alien

Batman and Superman Number One

Throne of Atlantis from Justice League and Aquaman

If you haven't yet Watchmen is a must for any reader, comics or not

Anything Geoff Johns wrote for Green Lantern (Frankly anything he's written for DC). He has 3 Omnibuses (Very Large Collections with MANY stories). Particularly look for:

Green Lantern Rebirth

Flash Rebirth

Flashpoint


Blackest Night

In Brightest Day

Geoff Johns Omnibuses

Or always Peruse other Trades/Omnibuses to see what piques your interest

Also, I know it's a DC sub, but if you're okay with adult themes: Saga

Research ?

I mean Jesus fuck..This ain't some science presentation.

They could make Batman into an anti communist vigilante in Soviet Russia trying to take down a communist Superman and Wonder Woman and as long as it's good, I'll like it....

Oh wait...They did do that. It's called Red Son and it's fucking great.