In this review of Superman Red and Blue 2025 Special #1, we examine what makes Superman so super. Spoilers: it’s more than just superpowers.
SUPERMAN RED AND BLUE 2025 SPECIAL #1
Written by PAUL DINI, DAN ABNETT, MICHAEL WALSH, RAINBOW ROWELL
Art by CAITLIN YARSKY, MICHAEL WALSH, CIAN TORMEY, MIRKA ANDOLFO
Main Cover: CHRIS SAMNEE
Variant Cover: MICHAEL WALSH
Page Count: 48 pages
Release Date: 10/29/25
This review contains spoilers
In the Superman Red and Blue 2025 Special #1, we are treated to four different stories that focus on different aspects of Superman’s daily life. In the first story (“Priceless”), he has to help Kara pay off a debt when she gets in trouble on an alien world. To do so, he has to collect a rare crystal that is part of a living creature, all while demonstrating his care, compassion, and respect for other living beings. It turns out that the troublemaker was actually Krypto, but Kara took the blame so that Krypto wouldn’t be harmed. After the debt is paid, she’s sentenced to community service and Superman helps out, showing his desire to do anything for family.
The second story (“All the Time in the World”) is a day in the life of Superman, starting with an early wake up call from baby Jon. Through various trials – from saving kids on a wrecked school bus to showing up late for work at the Daily Planet to sitting with an old man in a hospital in his last moments of life – we get to see the struggles Clark goes through each day. They aren’t much different than what we all have to go through on a day-to-day basis, other than having the benefits of superpowers.
In the third story (“Out of the Ordinary”), Superman has to fight off giant alien robots to save a town. After doing so, he gives an interview to a local reporter in which he relates just how human he actually is. He shares information about his double life without giving up too many details, identifying that his Superman persona is actually his secret identity, while his regular life is his real one.
In the final story (“Red Letter Days”), we get to take a closer look at his relationship with Lois. This story is more focused on her point of view and how she handles being with someone who serves as a protector to the planet. Lois is a strong character and knows how important Clark is to everyone. We get to see how she handles him not being there at night and missing their anniversary, all while taking care of her duties at the Daily Planet. When Clark returns, we get several pages of the duo working in unison in a great demonstration of what makes them so good together.
Analysis
Superman Red and Blue 2025 Special #1 is meant to wrap up a year that has been heavily focused on Superman in various DC titles, as well as the movie. The combination of writers do a good job of highlighting key points of Superman’s character, giving us a more personal look into his life than we might usually get in his regular books. These stories are driven by emotion and character makeup. While there’s some action, it is secondary to the story. This makes the overall issue more successful. It’s not supposed to be a big event in a bigger storyline, such as DC KO. This is an issue that any comic reader can pick up and get a good understanding of Superman’s character.
While all of the stories in Superman Red and Blue 2025 Special #1 are good, the second one, “All the Time in the World”, really stands out. Michael Walsh does triple duty, serving as writer, artist, and letterer. He manages to pack a lot into ten pages. Walsh depicts the Man of Steel as a busy father going through the course of a tough day. The emotion that Superman displays, especially in the second half of this entry, is touching. For a character with almost unlimited power, this show of feeling makes him far more relatable and the story more memorable.
“Red Letter Days” from Rainbow Rowell is a close second in terms of quality. If “All the Time in the World” is 1A, this is 1B, although either could be argued as the best of the bunch. This quick look at Lois and Clark’s relationship wraps up the issue by showcasing the special bond these two characters have together. It’s a strong finish to the issue.
You might say, “What about the other two stories? Are they any good?” The answer to that is a definite yes! “Priceless” and “Out of the Ordinary” are both good stories for Superman, but just notch below the other two. The first one has a little more action and humor to it, whereas the second does well with explaining how Clark views his two identities. Both will leave you with a smile.
The art style varies between the stories ranging from a more manga / anime style in “Priceless”, courtesy of artist Mirka Andolfo, to heavier linework by Cian Tormey in “Red Letter Days”. The entire issue is colored only in shades of red and blue (although there are some purples in spots, blending the two colors) and it works well for these more subdued stories. The variety of styles helps to ensure that every reader can come away with something to enjoy.
Final Thoughts
Superman Red and Blue 2025 Special #1 is an excellent collection of tales that show the true character of Superman. This one will naturally appeal to fans of Superman, but if you’ve ever thought that Superman is boring because he’s too powerful, give this one a try. There’s way more to the character than just flying and x-ray vision. Have fun, comic lovers!
