Mild Mannered Reviews - Superman: Red & Blue Comic Books
Superman: Red & Blue #6 [of 6]
Scheduled to arrive in stores: August 17, 2021Cover date: October 2021
Cover: Evan "Doc" Shaner
Variant Covers: Gabrielle Dell'Otto and Kevin Eastman
Reviewed by: James Lantz
Click to enlarge
"Hissy Fit"
Writer: Sophie Campbell
Penciller: Sophie Campbell
Inker: Sophie Campbell
Streaky the Supercat does not want to get into the pet carrier while Superman and Supergirl move things out of the Fortress of Solitude. The superpowered feline leads Kal and Kara on a merry chase while creating chaos. He eventually returns to the Supercousins once he calms down.
Story - 5: As someone who has always lived with cats and dogs, I found this story absolutely delightful to read. I want Sophie Campbell to do more stories for Superman and his family and friends after reading this one.
Art - 5: Sophie Campbell's art complements her story perfectly. Anyone else drawing her story would do it a grave injustice.
"The Scoop"
Writer: Matt Wagner
Penciller: Matt Wagner
Inker: Matt Wagner
Fledgling reporter Clark Kent is looking for the scoop of the century. He finds that it's been staring him in the face the whole time, and it's the story of how he, as Superman, came to be a man of two worlds.
Story - 5: This is clearly influenced by the old Fleischer cartoons with a little of the 1940s radio show blended in to give readers a fun mix of the classic and the new.
Art - 5: While I've only seen Wagner's DC work, I love how he blends Golden Age with the modern eras to bring his story to the sequential art from of comics.
"The Special"
Writer: Tom King
Penciller: Paolo Rivera
Inker: Paolo Rivera
Key events in the lives of various members of the Kent family witnessed by diner waitress Annie over the years. Through happy times and sad ones, she has always been there to provide the Special, making everyone feel like they are family.
Story - 5: This is a very touching character piece that is too good to skip. It's fantastic.
Art - 5: Paolo Rivera really conveys the emotion of Tom King's story with every panel.
"Son of Farmers"
Writer: Darcie Little Badger
Penciller: Steve Pugh
Inker: Steve Pugh
The lessons learned on the Kent farm help Clark save a heart attack victim from certain death.
Story - 5: One thing about this entire series is that it features stories that the main comics may not focus upon too much. This is one of those, and I was thoroughly amazed by it.
Art - 5: The story really would not work without such lushly beautiful art. It elevates the story, this issue, and the comics medium as a whole.
"Ally"
Writer: Rex Ogle
Penciller: Mike Norton
Inker: Mike Norton
On the day Superman reveals that he is Clark Kent, a teenager comes home from school inspired to tell his family that he is gay. This makes the world feel more honest for him.
Story - 5: Such subjects can be executed extremely well or in a ham-fisted manner. This story belongs in the former category. I'm surprised it came across so well. In the hands of any other writer, it could feel forced into the book. Rex Ogle makes it feel like it fits perfectly in this issue.
Art - 5: The art is as brilliantly done as the story. I can't imagine anyone else drawing a Rex Ogle story now.
Cover Art - 5: This one shows the shape of things in Superman's multiverse excellently. Thanks, Doc.
Gabrielle Dell'Otto Variant Cover Art - 5: Dell'Otto's experimented with various styles in more recent covers like one he did for Marvel's first Savage Sword of Conan omnibus. His evolution as an artist shows in that and in this variant.
Kevin Eastman Variant Cover Art - 3: Eastman recently made a comeback in Marvel's King-Size Conan #1. His story and art weren't bad, but there was some serious need of improvements. The same could be said about his variant for this issue.
Mild Mannered Reviews
2021
Note: Except for digital first releases, the month dates are from the issue covers, not the actual date when the comic went on sale.January 2021
- Superman #27
- Action Comics #1027
- Batman/Superman #14
- Justice League #56
- Justice League #57
- Young Justice #20
- Legion of Super-Heroes #11
- DCeased: Dead Planet #5
- Dark Nights: Death Metal #5
- Justice League: Endless Winter #1
- Superman: Endless Winter #1 [of 1]
- Superman #28
- Justice League #58
- Action Comics #1028
- Batman/Superman #15
- DCeased: Dead Planet #6 [of 6]
- Dark Nights: Death Metal #6 [of 6]
- Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Crisis on Infinite Earths #1
- DC's Very Merry Multiverse #1
- Challenge of the Super Sons #4
- Challenge of the Super Sons #5
- Justice League: Endless Winter #2
- Legion of Super-Heroes #12
- Future State: Superman of Metropolis #1
- Future State: Kara Zor-El, Superwoman #1
- Future State: Superman/Wonder Woman #1
- Future State: Justice League #1
- Future State: Superman: Worlds of War #1
- Future State: Legion of Super-Heroes #1
- Future State: Superman vs. Imperious Lex #1
- Future State: Batman/Superman #1
- Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Dark Nights - Metal #1
- DCeased: Dead Planet #7
- Dark Nights: Death Metal #7
- Challenge of the Super Sons #6
- Challenge of the Super Sons #7
- Challenge of the Super Sons #8
- Challenge of the Super Sons #9
- Truth & Justice #4
- Future State: Superman of Metropolis #2
- Future State: Kara Zor-El, Superwoman #2
- Future State: Superman/Wonder Woman #2
- Future State: Justice League #2
- Future State: Superman: Worlds of War #2
- Future State: Legion of Super-Heroes #2
- Future State: Superman vs. Imperious Lex #2
- Future State: Batman/Superman #2
- Future State: Superman: House of El #1
- Challenge of the Super Sons #10
- Challenge of the Super Sons #11
- Challenge of the Super Sons #12
- Challenge of the Super Sons #13
- Challenge of the Super Sons #14
- Truth & Justice #5
- Truth & Justice #6
- Infinite Frontier #0
- Crime Syndicate #1
- Superman #29
- Action Comics #1029
- Superman: Red and Blue #1 [of 6]
- Batman/Superman #16
- Justice League #59
- Future State: Superman vs. Imperious Lex #3
- Superman by Grant Morrison Omnibus HC
- Superman #30
- Action Comics #1030
- Superman: Red and Blue #2 [of 6]
- Batman/Superman #17
- Justice League #60
- Crime Syndicate #2
- Superman #31
- Action Comics #1031
- Superman: Red and Blue #3 [of 6]
- Batman/Superman #18
- Justice League #61
- Justice League: Last Ride #1
- Crime Syndicate #3
- Superman #32
- Action Comics #1032
- Superman: Red and Blue #4 [of 6]
- Batman/Superman #19
- Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #1 [of 8]
- Justice League #62
- Justice League #63
- Justice League: Last Ride #2
- Crime Syndicate #4
- Infinite Frontier #1
- Action Comics Annual 2021
- Action Comics #1033
- Superman: Son of Kal-El #1
- Superman: Red and Blue #5 [of 6]
- Batman/Superman #20
- Superman & The Authority #1 [of 4]
- Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #2 [of 8]
- Justice League #64
- Justice League #65
- Crime Syndicate #5
- Justice League: Last Ride #3
- Infinite Frontier #2
- Infinite Frontier #3
- Justice League Infinity #1
- Action Comics #1034
- Superman: Son of Kal-El #2
- Batman/Superman #21
- Batman/Superman 2021 Annual #1
- Superman: Red and Blue #6 [of 6]
- Superman & The Authority #2 [of 4]
- Superman '78 #1 [of 6]
- Superman vs. Lobo #1 [of 3]
- Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #3 [of 8]
- Justice League #66
- Justice League: Last Ride #4
- Justice League Infinity #2
- Crime Syndicate #6
- Infinite Frontier #4
- Infinite Frontier #5
- Action Comics #1035
- Superman: Son of Kal-El #3
- Batman/Superman #22
- Superman & The Authority #3 [of 4]
- Superman '78 #2 [of 6]
- Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #4 [of 8]
- Justice League #67
- Justice League #68
- Justice League: Last Ride #5
- Justice League Infinity #3
- Infinite Frontier #6
- Superman: Son of Kal-El #4
- Superman & The Authority #4 [of 4]
- Justice League: Last Ride #6
- Justice League Infinity #4
- DC vs. Vampires #1 [of 12]
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Check out the Comic Index Lists for the complete list of Superman-related comics published in 2021.