History YMMV / SupermanRedSon

** Issue 1 ends with Superman resolving to solve the economic and societal problems of the USSR singlehandedly. In real life these problems, such as logistical failures leading to shortages or economic waste, were so systemic that attempts to solve them arguably caused the break up of the Soviet Union. A story that recognized this could have followed Superman realizing that even his powers and good intentions aren't cabable of making a bad system work and recognizing the practical and ethical importance of letting people make their own decisions. Instead the story has him create a utopia, abet at the expense of freewill, economic calculation problem ignored.

** Her saying this as a woman, to men, after being mislead or mistreated by few male characters, does more to separate her from them and add to this idea.
* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Amazons always use the term "Man" as a description of mankind as a whole, but the way Wonder Woman describes mankind gives off misandrist vibes. At the very least, she puts extra emphasis on the "Man" in mankind when she criticizes human nature, providing the implication that ''humanity'' isn't the problem, ''males'' are.

** Issue 1 ends with Superman resolving to solve the economic and societal problems of the USSR singlehandedly. In real life these problems, such as logistical failures leading to shortages or economic waste, were so systemic that attempts to solve them arguably caused the break up of the Soviet Union. A story that recognized this could have followed Superman realizing that even his powers and good intentions aren't cabable of a bad system work and recognizing the practical and ethical importance of letting people make their own decisions. Instead the story has him create a utopia, abet at the expense of freewill, economic calculation problem ignored.

** Wonder Woman's portrayal in the original comic was considered rather unflattering and one of the weakest elements of the series, so her AdaptationalHeroism in the film was considered an upgrade. Specifically, the WomanScorned aspect of her story is completely omitted; instead of being hopelessly in love with Superman and blaming him for her injury, Wonder Woman is instead is PlatonicLifePartners with him and their friendship slowly deteriorates as he comes more of an authoitarian.

* BrokenAesop: While the story is clearly intended as a TakeThat to Stalinist communism, a reader could easily conclude that communism and fascism are only superficially similar, because apparently fascism will create a utopia if the dictator is just really, really smart like Lex. Since all real-life tyrants claim to be geniuses (since none dare contradict them), this may not be the best idea to be tossing around.

* BrokenAesop: While the story is clearly intended as a TakeThat to Stalinist communism, a reader could easily conclude that Communism and Fascism are only superficially similar, because apparently Fascism is a utopia if the dictator is just really, really smart like Lex. Since all real-life tyrants claim to be geniuses (since none dare contradict them), this may not be the best idea to be tossing around.

** Wonder Woman's portrayal in the original comic was considered rather unflattering and one of the weakest elements of the series, so her AdaptationalHeroism in the film was considered an upgrade. Specifically, the WomanScorned aspect of her story is completely omitted; instead of being hopelessly in love with Superman and blaming him for her injury, Wonder Woman is instead is PlatonicLifePartners with him and their friendship slowly deteriorates as he comes more Authoritarian.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: Of all the negative things Superman had to say against America and capitalism, he's a bit too silent about the rampant Civil Rights protests in response to discrimination and genocides against Blacks, Native Americans, Asians, and "Foreign" whites that were just as bad as anything he's seen the USSR do.

* AuthorsSavingThrow: [[spoiler:Lex becoming horrified by what he's done and voluntarily giving up power nearly avoids the BrokenAesop]].
** Wonder Woman's depiction in this is considered in comparison to the original comic. Mainly that her one-sided attraction to Superman is tossed aside and is presented as a physical equal to Superman.

** Issue 1 ends with Superman resolving to solve the economic and societal problems of the USSR singlehandedly. In real life these problems, such as logistical failures leading to shortages or economic waste, were so systemic that attempts to solve arguably caused the break up of the Soviet Union. A story that recognized this could have followed Superman realizing that even his powers and good intentions aren't cabable of a bad system work and recognizing the practical and ethical importance of letting people make their own decisions. Instead the story has him create a utopia, abet at the expense of freewill, economic calculation problem ignored.

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Amazons always use the term "Man" as a description of mankind as a whole, but the way Wonder Woman describes mankind gives off misandrist vibes. At the very least, she puts extra emphasis on the "Man" in mankind when she criticizes human nature.

* HarsherInHindsight: [[spoiler:In the "Lost Superman Cartoon" {{Creepypasta}}, Superman kills Stalin with his heat vision. Now we have such a sequence in a bona fide Superman cartoon as his horrific StartOfDarkness]].
* HilariousInHindsight:
** This is not the first time Creator/JasonIsaacs has played [[Film/TheDeathOfStalin one of Stalin's high-ranking followers]], though [[spoiler:he plays a far more direct role in Stalin's death this time around.]]
** Sticking with Jason Isaacs, he voiced Lex Luthor in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueGodsAndMonsters'', who [[spoiler: went through AdaptationalHeroism and became an ally to the heroes]] much like Lex Luthor in this movie. In addition, while Lex Luthor didn't like Superman, here he ''is'' Superman.

* CrazyAwesome: Lex Luthor's introduction. A top scientist at STAR Labs, he's taking a coffee break playing (and winning) [[SmartPeoplePlayChess fourteen simultaneous games of chess]] while reading Machiavelli's ''Literature/ThePrince'' and also listening to a teach-yourself-Urdu tape on a Walkman of his own invention "to keep my mind occupied". He designed and invented the walkman only a few hours earlier.
* EsotericHappyEnding: Downplayed. The only real difference between Luthor ruling the Earth at the end rather than Superman is that Lex is biologically human, even if Superman clearly cares deeply about humanity (even if incredibly misguided) who avoids violent tactics as much as possible, and Lex is a megalomanic sociopath that ends up using a lot of the very same technology and methods Superman used later on, but Luthor ruling instead of Superman is treated as being vastly superior in every way. And even in the very end, we find out that [[spoiler: Superman technically ''is'' human and came from Earth, even if a highly advanced far future human that travelled back in time.]]

* HilariousInHindsight:
** In the canon one-shot ''Superman: The Earth Stealers'', a cosmonaut commented that it's a "pity such a magnificent hero did not land in Mother Russia when he came to Earth!"
** There's this line from Lois Lane in ''Superman'' #84, dated 1993.
--->'''Lois''': Do you ever wonder what would have happened if the ship that brought you here from Krypton had landed somewhere other than Kansas? Like New York, or Italy... maybe the Soviet Union?
** After Pyotr kills Red Son!Batman's parents:
--->'''Pyotr''': Go on! Get out of my sight! '''[[MemeticMutation YOUR PARENTS ARE DEAD!!!]]'''

** [[spoiler:Superior Man's death: While he wasn't as nice as the comic's Bizarro Superman, he's reduced to impotently crawling and mumbling about truth, justice and the American way, completely ignorant of why is he dying and reduced to a childlike behavior and speech. However, in his last moments, he ''does'' noticed he's in a lot of pain and doesn't know why.]]

-->'''Lois''': Do you ever wonder what would have happened if the ship that brought you here from Krypton had landed somewhere other than Kansas? Like New York, or Italy... maybe the Soviet Union?

-->'''Pyotr''': Go on! Get out of my sight! '''[[MemeticMutation YOUR PARENTS ARE DEAD!!!]]'''

* * AccidentalAesop: Wonder Woman [[spoiler:deeming man's world beyond saving]] after witnessing the Soviet Union under Superman, and America's response to that, shows how quickly and irreversibly someone's opinion of an entire group can be cemented based on the actions of a few.

** TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: Of all the negative things Superman had to say against America and capitalism, he's a bit too silent about the rampant Civil Rights protests in response to discrimination and genocides against Blacks, Native Americans, Asians, and "Foreign" whites that were just as bad as anything he's seen the USSR do.

** [[spoiler: Wonder Woman cuts ties with Superman once and for all, after he rejects her peace offering and [[NoSell tries]] resorting to violence when she doesn't join his side. Not only does she make it clear their friendship is over, she also tells him they will never meet again, and that the world of man will be cut off from Themyscira for ''all eternity''. A continuity where our world and Superman fall so short in the eyes of Themyscira and Wonder Woman that they wash their hands of us for good is just tragic. [[DramaticIrony Now they'll never know that the conflict is over.]]]]

* NightmareFuel: [[MachineMonotone Brainiac's voice.]]

** [[spoiler:Superior Man's death: While he wasn't as nice as the comic's Bizarro Superman, he's reduced to impotently crawling and mumbling about truth, justice and the American way, completely ignorant of why is he dying and reduced to a childlike behavior and speech]].

** [[spoiler: Wonder Woman cuts ties with Superman once and for all, after he rejects her peace offering and [[NoSell tries]] resorting to violence when she doesn't join his side. Not only does she make it clear their friendship is over, she also tells him they will never meet again, and that the world of man will be cut off from Themyscira for ''all eternity''. A continuity where our world and Superman fall so short in the eyes of Themyscira and Wonder Woman that they wash their hands of us for good is just tragic]].

* FamilyUnfriendlyAesop: A reader could easily conclude that Communism and Fascism are only superficially similar, because apparently Fascism is a utopia if the dictator is really, really smart like Lex. Since all tyrants believe themselves to be geniuses (since none dare contradict them) and always present themselves as such, this probably isn't the best idea to be tossing around.

* AuthorsSavingThrow: [[spoiler:Lex becoming horrified by what he's done and voluntarily giving up power nearly avoids the FamilyUnfriendlyAesop above.]]

* CompleteMonster: ComicBook/{{Brainiac}} stands as a stark contrast to the [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans misguided intentions]] of this [[WellIntentionedExtremist Superman]], who grew up in the USSR. At first allied with ComicBook/LexLuthor to defeat Superman, Brainiac shrinks down the city of Stalingrad and puts it in a bottle. Superman easily defeats Brainiac and reprograms him, making him his servant. Brainiac becomes the USSR's chief scientist and comes up with a horrifying way to deal with people who threaten Superman's rule: turning them into lobotomized robots. Brainiac tries to push Superman into more extreme actions, like declaring war on the US in a preemptive strike, noting that if they attack now only 6.5 million people will die and the US will be conquered in a matter of hours. Lex Luthor confronts Superman and Brainiac, wanting to debate Superman, but Brainiac has him taken away to become a robot. Superman relents and agrees to invade the US. Superman is confronted by Lois Lane, [[ArmorPiercingQuestion who uses a letter from Lex Luthor]] to convince Superman what he is doing is wrong. After calling off the invasion, Superman is attacked by Brainiac, [[NotBrainwashed who was not really reprogrammed]], and [[ManipulativeBastard was simply pretending to be Superman's ally because it suited his own purposes]]. Brainiac plans to kill Superman, conquer the world and then conquer the galaxy. However, Lex Luthor escaped and manages to shut down Brainiac, but after his defeat, it is revealed that Brainiac has [[DeadMansSwitch rigged his ship]] to explode if he has ever defeated, [[TakingYouWithMe which would cause an explosion that would destroy the Earth and every thing in 15 million mile radius]], willing to kill the human race out of [[EvilIsPetty spite]].

* MagnificentBastard: ComicBook/LexLuthor is a brilliant scientist at S.T.A.R labs seeking to defeat [[Characters/SupermanTheCharacter Superman]], the "alien", to prove himself and humanity superior to all others. Having the satellite Sputnik plummet to Metropolis to trick Superman into saving the city, Luthor harvests his genetic material to create a clone he then unleashes for his plans, later assisting the Russian [[Characters/BatmanTheCharacter Batman]] against Superman from the shadows. Later becoming President and saving America from ruin, Luthor continues to plot against Superman, Luthor eventually breaks the would-be benevolent dictator with the phrase "Why don't you just put the whole WORLD in a BOTTLE, Superman?" Which triggers superman to give his life to stop ComicBook/{{Brainiac}} and Luthor's victory, allowing Luthor to craft a "Global United States" with an unparalleled era of peace and prosperity.

* MagnificentBastard: ComicBook/LexLuthor is a brilliant scientist at S.T.A.R labs seeking to defeat [[Characters/SupermanTheCharacter Superman]], the 'alien', to prove himself and humanity superior to all others. Having the satellite Sputnik plummet to Metropolis to trick Superman into saving the city, Luthor harvests his genetic material to create a clone he then unleashes for his plans, later assisting the Russian [[Characters/BatmanTheCharacter Batman]] against Superman from the shadows. Later becoming President and saving America from ruin, Luthor continues to plot against Superman, Luthor eventually breaks the would-be benevolent dictator with the phrase "Why don't you just put the whole WORLD in a BOTTLE, Superman?" Which triggers superman to give his life to stop ComicBook/{{Brainiac}} and Luthor's victory, allowing Luthor to craft a 'Global United States' with an unparalleled era of peace and prosperity.

* MythologyGag: The time travel ending is similar to one of Superman's co-creator Jerry Siegel's original concepts in 1934 where Superman comes from the future and sent by his father, the last man on Earth to the past. [[https://thoughtsandramblingsofhardwickebenthow.wordpress.com/man-of-tomorrow-siegel-and-keatons-superman/]] [[http://www.newsarama.com/825-superman-s-hidden-history-the-other-first-artist.html]]