The latest DC Universe Animated Original Movie, Superman: Red Son, is a strong adaptation of the classic Elseworlds story that adds moral complexity to the tale by tweaking the original story in interesting ways. While the animation may not always be the most consistent, a strong cast of voice-actors help carry those segments and help deliver a stellar DC animated film.
Taking a place in a world where an infant Kal-L landed in the Soviet Union instead of the United States, the film tracks the growth of the boy into Superman (Jason Issacs) across the 20th century, including his rise to power in the USSR and his subsequent attempts to spread his power. The story covers decades of his life, showcasing the highs and lows of his control over the building Russian empire. While he finds some allies in the likes of the Thymiscaran ambassador Wonder Woman (Vanessa Marshall) and the reprogrammed Brainiac, he also comes up against major threats like the American scientist Lex Luthor (Diedrich Bader) and an anarchistic Batman (Roger Craig Smith). But ultimately, it might be the humanistic logic of Luthor's wife Lois Lane (Amy Acker) who can do the most damage to the Man of Steel.
Longtime DC Animation director Sam Liu helms the film with a strong eye for action when it arrives. While there aren't many full-blown fights in the film, Superman's action beats are all fluid, brutal and memorable. Each of the fights are full of character beats and sudden bursts of action that keep them kinetic and engaging. Outside of the fisticuffs, the film also has room for dramatic character moments, such as Superman learning the violent truth of Stalin's rule. However, some more minor moments of the film noticeably seem to reuse animation. It can be a distraction, especially when held up against the more flashy moments in the film
While the original comic by Mark Millar, Dave Johnson, Andrew Robinson, Walden Wong, Kilian Plunkett, Ken Lopez and Paul Mounts was a fun but disposable story about an unwittingly cruel Superman, the film tries to paint the premise in new shades of grey that complicate the moral quandaries Superman finds himself encountering. He's not as oblivious to the realities of the Soviet Union as he's portrayed in the comic, but he's still no less well-meaning. The film makes him more assertive and hopeful in his actions, which gives those actions and their consequences a harsher edge.
This Superman is a far more decisive and compelling character as a result, with his genuine optimism making him somewhat likable, even as his actions push him to the edge of morality. Even by the standards of this brutal version of the DC Universe, this Superman is dark. He kills, lobotomizes and does his best to take over the world around him, but he does all of this in a genuine attempt to bring peace to his adopted world. It's earnest in a way that makes his flaws and the destruction his mission causes seem all the more human, which ultimately creates an interesting version of the Man of Steel.
At its weaker moments, the film is still carried by a committed cast of DC animation veterans like Diedrich Bader, Amy Acker, Roger Craig Smith, Vanessa Marshall, Phil LaMarr and Phil Morris, who find a lot of interesting shades of their characters. Bader, in particular, is clearly having a blast as a haughty and ruthless but ultimately noble take on Luthor, who has a hammy confidence and sense of humor but also small flashes of real humanity that were missing in the original comic. Jason Issacs has previously appeared in DC animated films, but his take on Superman might be his best role within the franchise. Issacs gives Superman an ever-present humanity that the Man of Steel uses to justify his actions, and Issacs consistently finds a strong balance with the character.
As with any adaptation, changes have been made to the original story to help flesh out the world and make the narrative work in a new medium. In many cases, the animated film actually improves on the original. It gives Superman's relationships with Wonder Woman and Joseph Stalin more weight and even finds a way to make the anarchist version of Batman tragic in a surprising way. While some elements of the plot that feel rushed, those issues were also present in the source material. While it might not be perfect, Superman: Red Son is more morally ambiguous and ambitious than many of the past DC animated films, and makes for a compelling entry to the canon.
Directed by Sam Liu, Superman: Red Son stars Jason Isaacs as Kal-El, Amy Acker as Lois Lane, Diedrich Bader as Lex Luthor, Phil Morris as James Olsen, Phil LaMarr as John Stewart, Vanessa Marshall as Wonder Woman, Sasha Roiz as Hal Jordan, Roger Craig Smith as Batman, Paul Williams as Brainiac and William Salyers as Joseph Stalin. The film is now available digitally and will come to home video Mar. 17.