Superman Red/Superman Blue

"Superman Red/Superman Blue" refers to two comic book storylines published by DC Comics featuring Superman.

"The Amazing Story of Superman-Red and Superman-Blue!" "Superman Red/Superman Blue"
Cover of Superman Red/Superman Blue #1 (February 1998), art by Dan Jurgens.
Publisher	DC Comics
Publication date	(original) July 1963 (adaptation) February–June 1998
Genre	Superhero Crossover
Title(s) (original) Superman #162 (adaptation) Action Comics #742-744 The Adventures of Superman #555-557 Aquaman (vol. 4) #43 Challengers of the Unknown (vol. 5) #15 Steel (vol. 2) #50 Supergirl (vol. 4) #20 Superman (vol. 2) #132-135 Superman: The Man of Steel #77-79 Superman: The Man of Tomorrow #10 Superman Red/Superman Blue #1 Teen Titans (vol. 2) #19
Main character(s)	Superman

Silver Age

Supergirl is introduced to Superman-Red and Superman-Blue, art by Curt Swan.

The original Superman-Red/Superman-Blue tale, "The Amazing Story of Superman-Red and Superman-Blue!", is an Elseworlds tale that first appeared in Superman #162 (July 1963).^[1] The script was written by Leo Dorfman, with art by Curt Swan.

In the story, Superman is compelled to finish a list of unaccomplished goals, including returning Kandor to its original size and eliminating evil from Earth. To this end, he creates a kryptonite-powered machine that will increase his intelligence. The machine works, increasing Superman's intelligence a hundredfold, but splits him into two beings with red and blue costumes.^[2]

Using their intellect, the Supermen restore Krypton, enlarge Kandor, eliminate kryptonite, and create an "anti-evil ray" that cures supervillains such as Lex Luthor, Mister Mxyzptlk, and the Phantom Zone inmates, and convinces Nikita Khrushchev and Fidel Castro to renounce their communist ways.

Afterwards, Superman-Red and Superman-Blue marry Lois Lane and Lana Lang respectively. Red renounces his powers and moves to Krypton, while Blue remains on Earth, retires, and becomes a scientist.

Bronze

The concept of Superman-Red and Superman-Blue is revisited in Superman Spectacular, where Superman is temporarily split by red kryptonite. These Supermen also make a brief appearance in Infinite Crisis #5.

Modern Age

Superman-Red and Superman-Blue appear in a 1998 storyline where Superman is split by a trap created by Cyborg Superman and Toyman. The two Supermen eventually reunite following a battle with the Millennium Giants.^[3][4][5]

Superman-Red and Superman-Blue also make minor appearances in Superman/Batman #25 and JLA/Avengers #4 respectively.^[6]

DC Rebirth

A version of Superman-Blue from the Dark Multiverse appears in Dark Nights: Metal.^[7] In Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent, Jon Kent develops electric powers similar to those of the Supermen.^[8]

In other media

• Superman-Red and Superman-Blue appear in the Superman 75th Year Anniversary short.
• Superman-Red and Superman-Blue serve as inspiration for the Justice League Action episode "Superman Red vs Superman Blue", where Lex Luthor accidentally splits Superman using a kryptonite weapon.^[9]
• Superman-Red and Superman-Blue is referenced in the My Adventures with Superman episode "My Adventures with Supergirl". After charging up to the Sun's core, Superman and Supergirl use their new found power, with Superman cancelling blue energy and Supergirl cancelling red, to defeat Brainiac.