The Justice League is on a new recruitment drive in DC Comics, and some of the multiverse's most famous faces are joining the fight. And as has just been revealed in Justice League #34, that includes the Soviet Superman of the Red Son reality.
He's just one of the League's latest additions in the fight against Lex Luthor and the Legion of Doom. The issue sees a bevy of guest stars join the more recognizable team as they go to war with Brainiac One Million, the far future's incarnation of the classic villain. Newfound friend Kamandi (from DC's future) has spread out across the Multiverse in search of assistance, bringing with him characters like the Kingdom Come Superman and more. Though he's easy to miss, the Superman of Red Son can be seen flying headlong into the fray. But if fans don't know the version of Superman being referenced, they're sure to wonder: why is this cameo such a crowd-pleaser?
Superman: Red Son is one of DC's most iconic Elseworlds stories (effectively stories set on alternate worlds, before the 52 Earths of DC's Multiverse returned). Written by Mark Millar with pencils from Dave Johnson among others, the 2003 miniseries asks an intriguing question: what if instead of landing in America's heartland, Superman's rocket crashed in the Soviet Union? The story blended alternative takes on established DC heroes--yes, that means a Russian version of Batman, too--and real world figures like Josef Stalin. It garnered critical praise and landed an Eisner nomination in 2004, so it's no surprise there is an animated an animated Red Son movie on the way, as well.
The Superman of Red Son isn't the Kal-El readers already know. Though still a force for good, saving the world from dangers like Brainiac and facing down the American clone "Superman 2" (the story's version of Bizarro), this Superman represented the Soviet way. He wrestles with ethics throughout the story, reluctantly taking charge of the Soviet Union after Stalin's death. Wonder Woman becomes an ally, and the aforementioned Batman becomes a mortal foe. Still, one thing never changes: Lex Luthor's undying hatred for Superman.
Justice League #34 isn't the first time Red Son's Superman has crossed universes from his home of Earth-30. He clashed with another Cold War-era Superman, from Earth-31 (better known as the Dark Knight Returns universe) in 2007's Countdown: Arena. During Countdown to Final Crisis: Search for Ray Palmer, he encountered Jason Todd's multiverse-hopping team of searchers. Earth-30 battled the heroes of Earth-2 during DC's Convergence event, and the Colonel Sanders of Earth-30 joined the Colonel Corps (yes, really) in a promotional tie-in for KFC. So his arrival is strange... but it could be a whole lot stranger.
Justice League #34 is available now from your local comic book shop, or direct from DC Comics. Superman: Red Son does not have a release date yet, but it will be the first DC Universe movie of 2020.