Recently, someone told me the new Absolute Superman was more of a working-class hero, which like a movie flashback triggered an old memory of being recommended Superman: Red Son, a comic which I've still never read but I remember was highly regarded. Of course, I have a feeling I should've read it then, way before I had any communist leanings, and now I'd only see all the American brain worms in it lol.

But I've also heard it's a nuanced take on Superman and communism, so I'm wondering what do people here think? Is it still worth reading in this day and age with my current political readings?

For those not familiar, Superman: Red Son is about Superman landing in the USSR instead of Kansas. I tried an internet search for what actual communists think of it and couldn't find any such opinions, so I'm asking here.

  • FlakesBongler [they/them]
    ·
    17 days ago

    Comic book is good, one of the better takes on alternative Superman's

    But it does fall into the category of the USSR as misguided, with things only getting better after Stalin dies and Superman taking over

    What does set it apart is the United States is portrayed as psychotically determined to bring down the USSR as humanly possible, even launching a nuke to try and kill Superman when he's fighting Bizarro in London

    They and by extension Lex Luthor (since he ends up de facto dictator of the USA) eventually end up doing central planning and a nationalized economy anyway to try and keep up with the USSR

    So the comic basically ends with everyone doing a Communism anyway