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The Multiversity #7
Mastermen #1
Imagine a world where the Nazis not only won World War II but went on to direct world culture for the next 60 years with the help of an orphaned, alien super-weapon known as Overman! But hope is not lost! Rising from the ashes of oppression is a diverse band of heroes raging against the fascist regime--a band of heroes known as THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS!
40 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2015
About the author
Grant Morrison
1,790 books4,608 followersGrant Morrison has been working with DC Comics for twenty five years, after beginning their American comics career with acclaimed runs on ANIMAL MAN and DOOM PATROL. Since then they have written such best-selling series as JLA, BATMAN and New X-Men, as well as such creator-owned works as THE INVISIBLES, SEAGUY, THE FILTH, WE3 and JOE THE BARBARIAN. In addition to expanding the DC Universe through titles ranging from the Eisner Award-winning SEVEN SOLDIERS and ALL-STAR SUPERMAN to the reality-shattering epic of FINAL CRISIS, they have also reinvented the worlds of the Dark Knight Detective in BATMAN AND ROBIN and BATMAN, INCORPORATED and the Man of Steel in The New 52 ACTION COMICS.
In their secret identity, Morrison is a "counterculture" spokesperson, a musician, an award-winning playwright and a chaos magician. They are also the author of the New York Times bestseller Supergods, a groundbreaking psycho-historic mapping of the superhero as a cultural organism. They divide their time between their homes in Los Angeles and Scotland.
In their secret identity, Morrison is a "counterculture" spokesperson, a musician, an award-winning playwright and a chaos magician. They are also the author of the New York Times bestseller Supergods, a groundbreaking psycho-historic mapping of the superhero as a cultural organism. They divide their time between their homes in Los Angeles and Scotland.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 22, 2016
Sturm und Drang! an operatic epic in miniature. what if Krypton's Last Son was raised by Hitler and so the Nazis easily won? the Freedom Fighters shall eventually rise, to take down the Overman! there was an exciting frisson seeing Quality Comics' classic World War II heroes re-imagined as terrorists and revolutionaries, stopping at nothing to overthrow the now complacently peaceful post-Hitler Nazi regime. the lengths they go to to achieve their goals was a shocker. I loved the focus on my favorite Freedom Fighter, the Human Bomb.
I was impressed by how Morrison, in just a handful of panels, so easily conveys the Nazi Justice League's history of mixed motivations, regret, complacency, and uneasy alliances. his subtlety and finesse as a writer are often overshadowed by his big, surreal ideas. I particularly appreciated how his take on a Nazi Superman functioned as an exploration of nature vs. nurture. "Karl" is a man broken by guilt, his fundamental decency at war with the regime that shaped him.
the art by Jim Lee was, well, very Jim Lee. I've rarely enjoyed his style, but I suppose he can be effective.
I was impressed by how Morrison, in just a handful of panels, so easily conveys the Nazi Justice League's history of mixed motivations, regret, complacency, and uneasy alliances. his subtlety and finesse as a writer are often overshadowed by his big, surreal ideas. I particularly appreciated how his take on a Nazi Superman functioned as an exploration of nature vs. nurture. "Karl" is a man broken by guilt, his fundamental decency at war with the regime that shaped him.
the art by Jim Lee was, well, very Jim Lee. I've rarely enjoyed his style, but I suppose he can be effective.
July 31, 2024
Again a standalone story that doesn't even have the potential to tie into everything we read about so far.
I also learned that the numbers in the side of the cover of each issue actually tell which Earth the story is about, which is a little late lol
I am at 326/450 of the volume now half way into the next story, I expect this one to tie somehow into everything else, since we already read about the cursed comic on many stories before it, and even saw teaser art inside the art.
This story was about an Earth where the Nazis won because Superman dropped inside their land.
And how the resistance eventually won, but oh! Now I remember there is potential for this to tie to the rest since there is doctor Sivana, who actually helped the resistance win in the first place, we still don't know what was his reason for helping them.
Also reading all of this makes the potential in dark nights metal huge, if it's half as good as the Multiversity it would be worth the read.
I also learned that the numbers in the side of the cover of each issue actually tell which Earth the story is about, which is a little late lol
I am at 326/450 of the volume now half way into the next story, I expect this one to tie somehow into everything else, since we already read about the cursed comic on many stories before it, and even saw teaser art inside the art.
This story was about an Earth where the Nazis won because Superman dropped inside their land.
And how the resistance eventually won, but oh! Now I remember there is potential for this to tie to the rest since there is doctor Sivana, who actually helped the resistance win in the first place, we still don't know what was his reason for helping them.
Also reading all of this makes the potential in dark nights metal huge, if it's half as good as the Multiversity it would be worth the read.
March 28, 2015
The Multiversity: Mastermen #1 is a fine Elseworlds one-shot. I’m sure a lot of you have read Mark Millar’s exceptional Superman: Red Son where Millar writes about what would have happened if Kal-El’s pod had landed in Soviet Russia instead of Kansas. Mastermen #1 is basically that but for the Nazis.
A pod containing a baby invulnerable to bullets lands in Nazi Germany. The Fuhrer utilises his abilities to change the course of the war and, within 17 years, conquer the world. Decades later and the resistance, led by Uncle Sam, begins its fight back against Overman and the Nazi utopia.
We’re on Earth-10 for those keeping count, and there are references to The Multiversity as a whole in this issue, but mostly it’s a comic you can enjoy by itself without having read any of the series. References like Hitler sitting on the can (ho ho) reading an issue of Superman is a nod to this being another world where Superman is viewed as a comic rather than a reality; the house of eyeballs Overman dreams of is like the container of Multiverses; and a Sivana pops up to supply the rebels with parallel universe weapons to gain a level playing ground against Overman and co. Uncle Sam is also a real person here, a nod to the theme once again of printed art representing alternate realities.
Grant Morrison and Jim Lee have fun playing with DC history via the Nazi prism, so there’s a panel of Overman in the same pose as Lee’s famous drawing of Superman, there’s the panel referencing Superman holding a dead Supergirl in Crisis on Infinite Earths, and the Nazi-fied Justice League have distinctly practical (and silly) German names: Leatherwing (Batman), Underwaterman (guess who), The Martian (duh), and Brunnhilde (Wonder Woman).
Morrison does ensure that it all seems as non-evil as possible. He makes Overman off-world for three years during which time the Holocaust happened (implying he would’ve stopped it if he was there), and the general tone of society is of normality - this is the status quo and the heroes don’t fight against it, nor see it as something to be overthrown, because they were born within and are a part of it.
But mostly Mastermen #1 is a fine standalone comic that (and I’m sure Morrison would hate the comparison but it’s unavoidable) Millar already did, and did better, in Red Son. Besides the Multiversity references and the Lee art, it’s basically the same with Superman in charge and a small resistance fighting against him except with a smaller page count making it less effective a story. It’s a decent comic though nothing particularly standout or substantial from this top-tier creative team - but that essentially sums up Multiversity as a whole.
A pod containing a baby invulnerable to bullets lands in Nazi Germany. The Fuhrer utilises his abilities to change the course of the war and, within 17 years, conquer the world. Decades later and the resistance, led by Uncle Sam, begins its fight back against Overman and the Nazi utopia.
We’re on Earth-10 for those keeping count, and there are references to The Multiversity as a whole in this issue, but mostly it’s a comic you can enjoy by itself without having read any of the series. References like Hitler sitting on the can (ho ho) reading an issue of Superman is a nod to this being another world where Superman is viewed as a comic rather than a reality; the house of eyeballs Overman dreams of is like the container of Multiverses; and a Sivana pops up to supply the rebels with parallel universe weapons to gain a level playing ground against Overman and co. Uncle Sam is also a real person here, a nod to the theme once again of printed art representing alternate realities.
Grant Morrison and Jim Lee have fun playing with DC history via the Nazi prism, so there’s a panel of Overman in the same pose as Lee’s famous drawing of Superman, there’s the panel referencing Superman holding a dead Supergirl in Crisis on Infinite Earths, and the Nazi-fied Justice League have distinctly practical (and silly) German names: Leatherwing (Batman), Underwaterman (guess who), The Martian (duh), and Brunnhilde (Wonder Woman).
Morrison does ensure that it all seems as non-evil as possible. He makes Overman off-world for three years during which time the Holocaust happened (implying he would’ve stopped it if he was there), and the general tone of society is of normality - this is the status quo and the heroes don’t fight against it, nor see it as something to be overthrown, because they were born within and are a part of it.
But mostly Mastermen #1 is a fine standalone comic that (and I’m sure Morrison would hate the comparison but it’s unavoidable) Millar already did, and did better, in Red Son. Besides the Multiversity references and the Lee art, it’s basically the same with Superman in charge and a small resistance fighting against him except with a smaller page count making it less effective a story. It’s a decent comic though nothing particularly standout or substantial from this top-tier creative team - but that essentially sums up Multiversity as a whole.
September 4, 2017
This is an interesting issue with a lackluster story. Well, at least it is very entertaining to read a story about the Nazi Justice League with stories that parallel with the ones we know of.
February 16, 2018
I mean I was sold on this one from the opening page of Hitler struggling out a shit while reading Superman. Comics, everybody
May 16, 2023
The only thing I needed to get into this one-shot comic were two simple words: 'Nazi. Superman'. Nuff Said.
August 12, 2015
Wow, considering the pedigree of the team behind this and the mythos at their availability, they sure didn't bring much to the audience. I understand that this is part of a bigger story arc, but even the most tenuous connections were hard to find. Felt like they were going for an epic National Socialist take on Red Son, but realized they only had two pages left and felt like "If we wrap it up now, we can cop out on the audience and leave them hanging, but we'll call it an artistic decision." The book gets 3 stars mostly relying on my appreciation for Lee's art in this. In terms of story, feels like an engrossing and epic movie that draws you in, but suddenly the power is cut and you're left with nothing.
October 15, 2021
The bit with Hitler on the toilet was hilarious but I skipped the rest of the book, a Nazi DC universe? Hard pass, seeing the Justice League as fascist pigs is something my imagination can live without.
March 30, 2021
Probablemente de las principales razones por las que me gusta Superman.
¿Es Superman así por ser criado en USA? ¿Es Superman el pálido reflejo de las ambiciones y fracasos de los gringos? No. Tal vez lo haya sido en su día, pero ha pasado agua bajos los puentes, y hoy en día el super hombre es un símbolo de humanidad, pese a, curiosamente, su naturaleza alienígena.
El cómic roza la perfección. No la alcanza. No es necesario.
¿Es Superman así por ser criado en USA? ¿Es Superman el pálido reflejo de las ambiciones y fracasos de los gringos? No. Tal vez lo haya sido en su día, pero ha pasado agua bajos los puentes, y hoy en día el super hombre es un símbolo de humanidad, pese a, curiosamente, su naturaleza alienígena.
El cómic roza la perfección. No la alcanza. No es necesario.
October 23, 2024
Los nazis encuentran la nave de Kal-El, al cual nombran Karl, y lo entregan a Hitler, el cual lo llama Overman (en referencia al Superhombre o Ubermensch de Nietzsche) y lo declara como el pionero de la raza aria, alguien enviado probablemente del futuro para iniciar esa revolución étnica. Este Overman debe enfrentar, muchos años después de llegar a la Tierra y de que Hitler haya triunfado sobre Estados Unidos, al Tío Sam, heredero de las cenizas del difunto imperio norteamericano.
February 12, 2019
Another Great Entry in this series
Only two problems with it
No continuation And
again like the others in this series
great plot& characters
but no satisfying conclusion
Still a good read
Only two problems with it
No continuation And
again like the others in this series
great plot& characters
but no satisfying conclusion
Still a good read
December 26, 2020
Historia de un Superman nazi pero culposo, un Hitler patético y un Uncle Sam desaprovechado.
December 26, 2020
Una resistencia tácita contra un Supernazi penitente.
June 7, 2016
This book rose above expectations. What I expected was a bunch of postmodern mumbo jumbo, but instead got a straight story, which reminds me that Grant Morrison can write stuff without being nonsensical. Reading this gave me a Superman: Red Son vibe, but for what it's worth, I think this one is better, and in just a single issue!
So the rocket ship carrying Kal-El landed in Nazi Germany and raised as Hitler's living weapon against the Allied forces. Thankfully Grant Morrison understands Superman better than most writers. He knows that the core of the superhero's character is his unshakable moral fiber. Even when playing the role of the ubermensch, he's a good guy, or he tries his best. It's when he goes off to fight Hitler's war that the Holocaust occurs, and he doesn't find out until after the fact. It's here where he first questions his adopted homeland. However, the conquest has already begun, and Superman will use it as a tool for good.
What works here is how easy it is to understand. Superman is and will always be the ultimate good guy, but that doesn't change that he's now the leader of a Germany that took over the world. Nobody does that without making some uneasy choices, and those weigh heavy on him. He's also guilt-ridden over the sins of the Fatherland, leading to an uneasy rule. Standing opposite of him are the Freedom Fighters. Despite being pro-democracy revolutionaries, their actions are framed as acts of terrorism in what may be one of the most unsubtle real world sociopolitical commentaries I've ever read. It's a comparison to the 9-11 terrorist attacks, but instead of the Arab Al-Qaeda, it's the American Freedom Fighters! It's a bold statement to make, but it works. In the real world, the bombings of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were acts of revenge carried out by angry nationalists as a way to make Americans question why (a plan that failed, marking the absurdity of it all), while in the comics, the Freedom Fighters attacks are a way to get back at Germany for their atrocities on American soil and to send a message. I really hope that people get this, because as heavy-handed as it is, it does show that good and evil is all a matter of perspective.
This book was unexpected because of the context in which it is written in. Mastermen is part of Morrison's Multiversity series, a series of one-shots bookended by gobbeldy-gook, where the single issues are alternate universe tales featuring Morrison's writing at its most insufferable. Each issue is meant to stand on its own, while also providing possible starts to ongoing or limited series. So far, this is the only one I've really enjoyed, and I'd actually like to see more of. It shows a lot of promise. Unfortunately, it's nature as a Multiversity one-shot can probably account for its shortcomings. We don't get to see the whole picture. Morrison even expects you to have read Final Crisis, which isn't exactly fair to new readers. The multitude of alternate characters are single note because there isn't time to focus on them. Even the Freedom Fighters, who are a pivotal group, don't get that much characterization (which could be good or bad due to the parallel with Al-Qaeda). However, it did provide me with fifteen minutes of entertainment. Maybe with superstar fan-favorite comic book artist Jim Lee on the title, Mastermen could get some attention. Maybe.
So the rocket ship carrying Kal-El landed in Nazi Germany and raised as Hitler's living weapon against the Allied forces. Thankfully Grant Morrison understands Superman better than most writers. He knows that the core of the superhero's character is his unshakable moral fiber. Even when playing the role of the ubermensch, he's a good guy, or he tries his best. It's when he goes off to fight Hitler's war that the Holocaust occurs, and he doesn't find out until after the fact. It's here where he first questions his adopted homeland. However, the conquest has already begun, and Superman will use it as a tool for good.
What works here is how easy it is to understand. Superman is and will always be the ultimate good guy, but that doesn't change that he's now the leader of a Germany that took over the world. Nobody does that without making some uneasy choices, and those weigh heavy on him. He's also guilt-ridden over the sins of the Fatherland, leading to an uneasy rule. Standing opposite of him are the Freedom Fighters. Despite being pro-democracy revolutionaries, their actions are framed as acts of terrorism in what may be one of the most unsubtle real world sociopolitical commentaries I've ever read. It's a comparison to the 9-11 terrorist attacks, but instead of the Arab Al-Qaeda, it's the American Freedom Fighters! It's a bold statement to make, but it works. In the real world, the bombings of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were acts of revenge carried out by angry nationalists as a way to make Americans question why (a plan that failed, marking the absurdity of it all), while in the comics, the Freedom Fighters attacks are a way to get back at Germany for their atrocities on American soil and to send a message. I really hope that people get this, because as heavy-handed as it is, it does show that good and evil is all a matter of perspective.
This book was unexpected because of the context in which it is written in. Mastermen is part of Morrison's Multiversity series, a series of one-shots bookended by gobbeldy-gook, where the single issues are alternate universe tales featuring Morrison's writing at its most insufferable. Each issue is meant to stand on its own, while also providing possible starts to ongoing or limited series. So far, this is the only one I've really enjoyed, and I'd actually like to see more of. It shows a lot of promise. Unfortunately, it's nature as a Multiversity one-shot can probably account for its shortcomings. We don't get to see the whole picture. Morrison even expects you to have read Final Crisis, which isn't exactly fair to new readers. The multitude of alternate characters are single note because there isn't time to focus on them. Even the Freedom Fighters, who are a pivotal group, don't get that much characterization (which could be good or bad due to the parallel with Al-Qaeda). However, it did provide me with fifteen minutes of entertainment. Maybe with superstar fan-favorite comic book artist Jim Lee on the title, Mastermen could get some attention. Maybe.
October 1, 2016
Le avventure del Superman di una terra parallela in cui i nazisti hanno vinto la seconda guerra mondiale e dominano il mondo continuano dopo le vicende di crisi finale, con un superman costretto a fare i conti con la morte di supergirl e i sensi di colpa per le azioni compiute dall'esercito nazista durante i quattro anni in cui era assente.
Una delle storie più complesse e moralmente ambigue di Morrison.
Una delle storie più complesse e moralmente ambigue di Morrison.
February 26, 2015
Another issue that I was looking forward to that just didn't click with me.
I wanted to see Grant's version of the Freedom Fighters, but instead he focused on the Nazi-JLA and the FF had a cameo.
Plus, it tried to cram too much into one issue and has to use a bunch of short cuts to get stuff across.
Good thing Grant didn't waste two pages on a bad gag about Hitler taking a dump. That would have taken away pages from a story that needed all the room it could get and would have been a huge waste.
Even better that they didn't get an artist that does huge panels that leave little room for the story and focus too much on looking nice while we show off the heroes/nazis poorly redesigned costumes.
and the enormous cop out to keep Superman from being 100% a nazi. They tricked him.
This series is a huge buffet of ideas, but I don't think Grant is doing a very good job juggling them all.
and since DC has shown no interest in doing more past these 12 issues, it's hard to feel too gung-ho about it.
I wanted to see Grant's version of the Freedom Fighters, but instead he focused on the Nazi-JLA and the FF had a cameo.
Plus, it tried to cram too much into one issue and has to use a bunch of short cuts to get stuff across.
Good thing Grant didn't waste two pages on a bad gag about Hitler taking a dump. That would have taken away pages from a story that needed all the room it could get and would have been a huge waste.
Even better that they didn't get an artist that does huge panels that leave little room for the story and focus too much on looking nice while we show off the heroes/nazis poorly redesigned costumes.
and the enormous cop out to keep Superman from being 100% a nazi. They tricked him.
This series is a huge buffet of ideas, but I don't think Grant is doing a very good job juggling them all.
and since DC has shown no interest in doing more past these 12 issues, it's hard to feel too gung-ho about it.
March 19, 2015
The cover says it all. Superman v. Uncle Sam. Imagine if Superman hadn't crashed in Kansas and instead landed in a field in Germany and was delivered to Hitler. The answer, obviously, would mean Superman would lead Germany and the 1000 year reign of the Third Reich would begin. But, what happens after this? This is where the book picks up.
The problem is this story has been done. Mark Miller and Dave Johnson produced the Red Son a few years ago and it was great. Granted, the Red Son had Superman landing in Russia at the height of the Cold War. Different, but only in time and place. The story line is essentially the same. This doesn't mean that the story isn't good, but if you have read the Red Son, it's repetitive.
Lee's artwork aides Morrison's work well. It is clean and polished and all together fun to see.
This is probably not a continue on for me, but if you haven't read Red Son it might be worth your time.
The problem is this story has been done. Mark Miller and Dave Johnson produced the Red Son a few years ago and it was great. Granted, the Red Son had Superman landing in Russia at the height of the Cold War. Different, but only in time and place. The story line is essentially the same. This doesn't mean that the story isn't good, but if you have read the Red Son, it's repetitive.
Lee's artwork aides Morrison's work well. It is clean and polished and all together fun to see.
This is probably not a continue on for me, but if you haven't read Red Son it might be worth your time.
December 27, 2015
De lo más desganado y/o apurado que le vi dibujar a Lee en mucho tiempo, y quizás lo que menos me enganchó de Multiversity hasta ahora. Aun así, disfruté de este Superman culposo y me preguntó qué papel jugará en el número final (único que me falta, si no contamos la guía que dejé a mitad de camino).
February 20, 2015
Me temo que al final la trama principal de multiversity no tenga sentido alguno, como suele ser el caso con Grant Morrison, cada número ha sido disfrutable por si solo. Los dibujantes a la medida, personajes y tramas que dan para más y muchas posibilidades.
March 10, 2015
The sheer magnitude of this stand alone issue is reason enough to give it a 5 Star rating. Grant Morrison knows storytelling.
Perhaps the single best issue so far of The Multiversity run.
Perhaps the single best issue so far of The Multiversity run.
March 3, 2016
An unappealing application of the Godwin's Law.
March 22, 2016
Have to concur that this is just too much like Superman: Red Son.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews