I like how your post points to this precisely (and why I’m taking the time to respond to a blog, knowing that no one’ll probably respond to what i’m gonna say here). But was Superman Blue really that bad an idea? I mean, the “split” did have a unique twist that I enjoyed: it gave us a Supes who was all about REASON, and another Supes that was all about PASSION. Very reminiscent of the two modes of philosophical thought in Western Civilization. And placing a celebrating figure like Superman in philosophical symbolism is never a bad idea (unless it’s as poorly delivered as Superman Returns … which was just terrible. No matter how many Jesus-references you evoke). Of course, I completely agree with your dissent against the story itself; it was terribly delivered. But I’d like to hold that the move was bold and does have a way of redeeming itself had it been written/delivered properly.

Superman Blue ranks up there as one of the worst moments in comic-history, right along the lines of DK: Strikes Again (and this from a Frank Miller fanatic). But I think that the story could’ve been one of the most memorable, and best, if the editors had come up with it a few years prior to Y2K: i’m talking during the Reign of the Supermen crossover. Had Kal-El returned with this visage, the story MAY have been redeemed. I suppose we mustn’t ponder on ‘what could’ve beens’ but still…who knows? As for the design and powers themselves, they just reminded me of a toned-down version of Captain Atom, so that needed alteration as well.

What still keeps me hooked is… with Superman Blue, DC did what they dared not to in ages: they attempted to revise the REAL Superman. And through revision, they changed him completely. I like to think that that the Modern Age of Comic Books have 3 stages (of course, in retrospect): They are 1. The Retelling (DKR, Year One, Man of Steel etc.) 2. The Fall (Superman’s death, Batman’s spine shattering, Hal Jordan turning Parallax) and 3. The Rebirth (The NEW age-heroes like Jean-Paul, the 4 Supermen, Wally West and Kyle Rayner etc). Unfortunately, the latter two weren’t exactly great ideas, but they are nonetheless important ones.

With the Reign of the Supermen, we got the Rebirth quite well, thus making Superman Blue redundant, and yet we see an attempt being made. A failure, yes, but an attempt – an experimentation on a legendary character – nevertheless. And THAT’S why I’ll still have a place for Superman Blue in the continuity that I choose to follow.