If it was actually communism, he would have never had that kind of power.
However the folk who rose to the top realised that if they wanted to stay on top, they had to keep the struggle bit going indefinitely.
It's about as stupid as saying that every person killed in other wars was killed by capitalism.
Communism was merely a convenient way to distract the masses while the fat cats were making off with the loot.
edit - even Stalin had something of the lovable rogue about him, back when he was a 2-bit gangster and before he commanded the deaths of millions.
Someone could easily do a kawaii cartoon version of the adventures of young Stalin. - http://spartacus-educational.com/RUSstalin1.jpg
http://i1.cpcache.com/product/199796497/follow_chairman_meow...