Review: Superman Red & Blue 2025 Special

Last week, Superman Red and Blue Special #1 came out, a sort of autumnal surprise in this summer of Superman. I was a big fan of the original Red and Blue series, a prestige anthology series that came out 4 years ago (!!). As with any anthology series, that one had hits and misses. 

But I am happy to say that this special has four stories, all of which are very good and very entertaining. Whether planned or not, the stories seem to focus more on the person of Superman is and less on fast and furious action. 

Moreover, unlike some holiday specials which seem like a type of New Talent Showcase, this one is filled with names of established crators whose work I standardly love - Paul Dini, Mirka Andolfo, Dan Abnett, Rainbow Rowell, Cian Tormey, and Chris Samnee. It also has some established creators that are new to me like Michael Walsh and Caitlin Yarsky.

And yes, Supergirl shows up in the issue and I have to say there was a sigh of relief on my part as the story unfolded. 

So if you are looking for a lot of punches this might not be for you. But if who Superman is at his core is one of the things that intrigues you, you should seek this out for sure.

On to the stories.

Review: Superman Red And Blue #6

Superman Red and Blue #6 came out this week and was a great send off for this mini-series. I have to say, each issue of this thing seemed to get better and better. I am glad DC gave Superman this chance to shine.

This issue finally gave us some Supergirl, albeit in a Streaky story. But the fact that we got a Streaky story made this worth the money. 

Outside that we get a story about the difficulties of being Clark Kent, unable to cover his own exploits as Superman. We get a story about the mainstay of Smallville and how she has witnessed Clark's life  through the years, impacting him more than our hero knew. We get some farm life wisdom seeping into big city life. And we get to see how Superman's revealing of his identity inspires a young man. 

There wasn't much action in this issue. But I don't mind. Many of my favorite stories are about Superman being an inspiration. Or how his Smallville life formed his morality. Or about Supergirl and her super cat. For me, this was the perfect last issue. 

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention this Doc Shaner cover. This should be a t-shirt, a poster, and a mug. This should be everywhere. I love how we get Supergirl, Power Girl, and Krypto right there. Heck, Comet and Streaky are there too. Doc Shaner can do no wrong. 

Review: Superman Red And Blue #5

Superman Red and Blue #5 came out last week and really was a great issue. This series has really grown on me as the stories have recently become much more Superman-centric and less about other characters or political issues du jour. Yes, Superman can be political but he still should be the hero in his own stories.

This issue also has a great array of creators. I mean, they sort of had me with Daniel Warren Johnson, the creator of the recent Black Label Wonder Woman Dead Earth book and the current Beta Ray Bill book, both worth reading. But through in Mark Buckingham, Chris Sprouse, Joshua Williamson, G. Willow Wilson, and others and this is a true smorgasbord of talent.

It also doesn't hurt that one of the stories echoes a moment in Action Comics #500 that I just love. And it happens to involve Krypto, currently suffering and maybe dead in Tom King's Supergirl Woman of Tomorrow book. Another is a perfect encapsulation of 'Pa Kent wisdom', another trope I love.

I also love this playful cover by Amanda Conner featuring the dog of steel as well. Looks like the pup is going to get a nice treat from Superman.

Probably just best to jump into it. But I think this would be the issue I would recommend to people if they wanted to try this series out.

Review: Superman Red And Blue #4

Superman Red And Blue #4 came out this week and was another fun issue in this mini-series. After the somewhat glum first issue, the series has turned it around giving us some excellent stories about Superman, his villains, and his influence on people.

In fact, this series seems to have few stories about Superman himself and more about how he has impacted or influenced other people. I think in this time of grim and gritty story-telling, where Supergirl is drunk and murderous, I need to hear that Superman still inspires.

This issue also includes a trope that I never get tired of even if others have. We get some Pa Kent wisdom told in flashback and still powerful in the present. I can't get enough of it!

And it was interesting to see two Bizarro stories make it into this one volume. You think they could have been spaced. The tone of the stories are very different so I suppose they are fine together.

Finally, it was nice to see Mark Waid get another shot at the Man of Steel. His story is my favorite of the book. Why hasn't this story been done before? And the ending is just pure perfection. Put Waid back on a DC monthly!

On to the book.

Review: Superman Red And Blue #3

Superman Red and Blue #3 came out this week and was another fun little anthology with multiple solid stories about the Man of Steel. 

I suppose many creators have what they think is their 'Superman story' in their heads. What I am finding most interesting in this series is that every story seems to be focusing on his polite manners and helping hand. It is nice to see that these creators aren't treating those traits with derision, or making him seem old-fashioned, out of touch, or naive.

But after three issues, I am hoping there is one 'I'm nice until it's time not to be nice' throw down story. Show me how Superman unleashes when the time is right and the crime too big.

Still, I shouldn't complain. The parts that are being highlighted are what I love about Superman. I am glad this series is exploring them through the eyes of different writers and artists.

On to the book and brief looks at the stories.

DC Comics July Solicits

The July solicits for DC Comics came out last week and they were certainly interesting. Here is a link to all the books as posted on Newsarama: https://www.gamesradar.com/dc-july-2021-solicitations/

DC has decided to revamp and reinvigorate the Super-titles again and I am both fascinated and a little bit dismayed. You have to hand it to DC, they certainly know how to confuse and confound their fans.

But most of all, it seems like the '5G' reboot which was going to happen, then wasn't going to happen then sort of happened with Future State is actually slowly but surely going to happen, in some sense. 

Jon is Superman. Clark is on Warworld. it is all coming to together ... I guess?

Let's dive into the books, starting with Supergirl.

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #2
story by Tom King
art by Bilquis Evely
cover by Bilquis Evely
variant cover by Lee Weeks

After the shocking conclusion of last issue, Supergirl and her new friend Ruthye find themselves stranded with no way to pursue Krem, the murderous kingsagent. Each moment this fugitive roams free, the more beings become dangerously close to dying by his hand. There is no time to lose, so our heroes must now travel across the universe the old-fashioned way…by cosmic bus!
Little do they know, their journey will be a dark one filled with terrors that not even the Maid of Might is prepared to face! Can Kara Zor-El lie low long enough to ensure their safe passage?

A startling ending to the first issue? The name of the villain is Krem? Perhaps he will be the Creme de la Creme? A dark journey filled with terror? I keep trying to be hopeful. But will this end up being just another King deep look at pain and stress? I'm going to remain hopeful.

One thing I do know without a doubt, the art is going to be beautiful. Evely is going to kill it here.

Review: Superman Red And Blue #2

Superman Red and Blue #2 came out last week and overall was a better issue than the first issue of this mini-series. I know that is an awkward opening sentence for a review but I was basically let down by the first issue and worried that this mini-series wouldn't be a celebration of Superman but instead using our hero as a plot point to celebrate others.

That unfortunately continues in this book. We get a Ma Kent story. We get a Val-Zod story. We get a Lex Luthor story. And we get a story about Ava, the sweet heroic school girl. And we get a Cyborg Superman story. Of these, Superman is really only involved in the last two. And of those, he really only uses his powers in the last one.

These are all fine stories. They all have something to say. And they all give us their message very nicely. Unlike last issue, this doesn't feel like every story has an important social message to tell that a tangential Superman story is bolted on. But this felt more like a Superman family book than a Superman book and that isn't what I am hoping to get out of a six dollar prestige book titled Superman Red and Blue. 

Maybe the Bolland cover alone is worth the price. Love it!

On to the particulars.

Review: Superman Red And Blue #1

Superman Red and Blue #1 came out last week, the first issue of the prestige format mini. The anthology series sports interesting creative teams and each story will only sport hues of the titular colors.

When the series was announced, I was over the moon. There have been umpteen Batman Black and White series. Maybe it was time for the Man of Steel to get his own prestige book sporting big names and cool color schemes.

Maybe I went in with super high expectations. I so desperately wanted this to be a great book. Now hear me out, it isn't a bad book. But it felt like every story wanted so desperately to be so inspirational and so progressive. And when you pack a book with that much targeted story telling, one after the other, I couldn't help but feel preached to. 

Now I am all about Superman being a symbol of hope, an inspiration. He wants to help everyone. He sees the best in us. Perhaps one such story in each issue would have felt right.

And perhaps I am just a wee bit too cranky. Perhaps the best thing to do is not read the next issue in one sitting but instead read one story each night.

On to the book.