Category Archives: Supergirl Reviews

Review: Supergirl #65

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This is Not My Life: Part 1 of 3

This was a super fun issue and helped to cheer me up after all the recent news. I’d been looking forward to this story ever since reading the CBR interview with Kelly Sue DeConnick, and I wasn’t disappointed. I became quite invested in the characters and their peril over the course of the story, and was firmly on the edge of my seat when I reached the last page.

The art features some different character designs from what we’ve seen before on Supergirl, and some of the early pages seemed a bit rough. I’m not sure if that was the pencils or the inks. The art started to smooth out over the course of the book and I got used to the characters’ facial structures. Hopefully artist ChrisCross will have found his bearings by the next issue. Lois and her flaily hands are funny :)

This issue convinced me that setting Supergirl on a college campus could be really fun. I’m glad we got a chance to see that, at least for a brief time. Kara got to show off her smarts in both poetry and the scientific method. One character notes that she “can see the patterns” and is “full of science magic”. I always enjoy when writers remember that Kara is smart.

Kara’s relationship with Lois is much more fractious than it was in James Peaty’s story; I explained that away for myself as a sort of “two steps forward, one step back” as Lois tries to figure out her relationship with Kara in her Linda Lang persona. Kara seemed to be thrown off guard by the students of the “Silk Pajama Society” more than I think is likely for her at this stage (the art was a bit overdramatic in those panels.) On the other hand, I can’t remember the last time Kara’s had to deal with a bunch of obnoxious youths as just Linda Lang. She couldn’t pull out the “scary alien who might do anything” threat this time.

Kara’s talkative roommate Shirley amused me :) I wasn’t familiar with the version of Starman (Mikaal Tomas) who makes an appearance at the beginning, but he was fun and had a great little speech for Kara that summed up his character quickly.

I like that Kelly Sue DeConnick chose to tell a story set in its own self-contained world which didn’t require prior knowledge of any other characters (unlike the Dubbilex “surprise reveal” a few issues back). Dr. Ivo is an existing villain, but everything you need to know about him is on the page. This makes the story welcoming to new readers, which was a conscious choice by DeConnick:

I kind of wanted to keep the DCU out of it as much as I could. I was afraid of it getting continuity-hamstrung, you know? When I was doing my research I was having to hop around a bunch of different titles to get caught up and it was frustrating, confusing—and expensive! It left me wanting to section off my little arc and make it as self-contained as possible so that it would be accessible to, you know, people like me.

Source: Supergirl Comic Box Commentary: Kelly Sue DeConnick Interview

Having seen Amy Reeder’s cover to the final issue in this story, I’m more curious than ever as to where this is going. It has a beautiful sci-fi romantic feel to it that I love.

I tried to write a gift for her, a story that’s fun and romantic and playful and dances with themes and images from childhood and adolescence. And now, knowing what this story is in the larger context, I’m doubly happy with it. I got to put the period on the end of that sentence and I did it in a love letter.

I can’t think of a better way to end the series.

I’m looking forward to reading the next 2 issues, and recommend getting them now just in case they aren’t collected in a trade paperback.

Review: Supergirl and “The Bloodsucker’s Moxie” in Superman 80-Page Giant 2011

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This year’s Superman 80-page Giant focused on the super family members rather than Superman himself, which is great because we get seven different 10-page stories focusing on Lois Lane, Jimmy Olson, Bizarro, Supergirl, and other characters in the super family. When I saw the way Supergirl was drawn in this story I almost decided not to get this, but the Bizarro, Lois and Jimmy stories intrigued me enough to give it a chance, and I’m glad I picked this up.

Since I’m a Supergirl fan, I’m a more critical of any story featuring her, and I have to say this one has some serious problems that keep it from being as enjoyable as it could have been.

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Supergirl #60 Quick Thoughts

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My decision to drop the book didn’t last very long :) I love the character too much, and I was extremely curious about what would happen next.

Quick thoughts: I’m hoping that the bits I disliked (dialogue like “didn’t ask, don’t tell”, 2-D spoiled rich kid villains/flunkies, unsavory male POV of female characters) will disappear along with Nick Spencer after this issue. The vibe was strongly reminiscent of Spencer’s Morning Glories.

The art was quite nice for the most part, better even than Supergirl #58. Very striking faces. Still, Chang has real issues with body proportions and an inability to draw adult woman who look older than 25. The elongated torso is back. *sigh*

The story’s compelling, but dark.

I’m intrigued by how much the story ties into what’s happening in JSA/Generation Lost/Power Girl. I read Power Girl immediately before this, and was surprised as heck that Cadmus is going to be part of the storyline here too. There’s even a reference to a “supertown” outside Washington, D.C., which I only know from reading this week’s Comic Shop News is a thing happening in JSA. It’s unheard of for Supergirl to tie into JSA. It’s neat but kind of weird!

I’m working on reviews of the last three issues of Supergirl right now, so I hope to have those up before posting a proper review of this issue. It’s…interesting, I’ll give it that. I’d be a lot more worried if this were the permanent creative team.

Review: Supergirl #56

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I continue to enjoy the Bizarro story tremendously. It’s got bizarro humor, poignant moments between super cousins, giant space insects, and an exploding cubic planet only our hero can save!*

*Although she doesn’t seem to realize it.

Story

The trip to Bizarro World gives Kara a chance to unpack all the feelings that BizarroGirl’s appearance has brought up. We know all this, but I enjoyed seeing Kara unburden herself to the unconscious BizarroGirl as she pilots the ship using that crazy unlabelled crystal technology that Kryptonians are so fond of. (I’m not entirely sure why Kara has gagged BizarroGirl again, though. Seems unnecessary.)

Metropolis is probably not the best place to hide out if you’re hoping to avoid crazy weird shit in the DC universe.

I really liked this page where Kara admits that she see herself reflected back in BizarroGirl, which is why she couldn’t let Dr. Light have her way with her. It’s more than just the parallel with Alura and Reactron. Her experience with her mother has made her less automatically trusting that the adults in her life will do “what’s best”. I’d like to see more DC heroes thinking critically about the treatment of prisoners before they hand them over to authorities.

On the other hand, I’m a little concerned that Kara has lost two of her role models, and both are the scientists.

Surprise! The bizarro knockout gas works on Supergirl too!

I love that Kara is willing to take on the defense of an entire planet all on her own. That’s the Supergirl I remember :) But she probably shouldn’t put too much faith in a Bizarro trial: I’ve seen their justice system in action :)

Heehee. Bubbles. Kara’s stoned.

Ahahahaha! “Bizarro me, watching your driving!” was my first laugh-out-loud moment.

Crash landing, bizarro style! Ohmygod ohmygod we’re all gonna diiiieee!

BizarroGirl is so happy to be back home. Aww :)

Naturally the fickle bizarros try to kill her. Poor BizarroGirl :( This is pretty typical behavior for bizarros, but also familiar territory for Kara, which is why she springs to BizarroGirl’s defense so fiercely. Yay!

BizarroGirl fangirling over BizarroLex because “Him am bald, and bald men am sexiest” cracks me up.

Annnnd…there goes BG’s other boot. It’s like Gates is writing this stuff for me :)

You just had to call down a big scary space bug that devours everyone, didn’t you Lex?

LOVE the creepy alien space insects. Very, very cool.

The reunion between the Bizarro cousins, and the parallel with Kara and Kal-El after the loss of their planet, was very poignant. Really tugged at my heartstrings. I really don’t want to see the same tragedy happen to Bizarro World.

I really like that BizarroGirl’s origin story is that Bizarro tried to create a “super-powered backup” and instead he gained a cousin to love. She’s so happy and excited to announce herself, like Silver Age Kara!

Bizarro’s love for his cousin – “For all her perfections, me hate her, so me decide to take her to Earth and live with public identities” – is even more touching because bizarros traditionally have had the same dysfunctional, antagonistic relationships as Silver Age Superman.

Kara is really, really cute in this panel :) Especially because she’s so sure she understands the rules of Bizarro World, and she doesn’t. It’s a mistake everyone makes.

OOPS.

That’s no ship, that’s the mother of all scary green space aliens. I would so love to see this two-page splash filmed, with some eerie 2001 music in the background as the camera pans up to reveal the true scale of the awakened alien “godship”.

After being thrown through the planet, Kara announces that she can’t do this on her own: she needs Superman help if she’s going to save the bizarros. Kara’s never said that before, and I’m pretty sure Superman won’t be making an appearance next issue – and not just because Superman isn’t making appearances in the other super family books during “Grounded”. Supergirl’s going to find that she can save this world, where she couldn’t save hers. She has to.

Art

Cover: Another instant-classic by Amy Reeder Hadley. Yin and yang Supergirls grappling over a bright and shiny Metropolis juxtaposed against a decaying, crumbing Bizarro version of the same. This would make a beautiful entry in an artbook collection.

Interior art: phenomenal. Nei Ruffino isn’t back yet, I’m not sure why, but I’m very happy with the colours by “Blond” (I’m starting to notice colouring a bit more). Every panel has so much going on; I kept flipping through the pages during the review to try to pick out my favourites, and there’s just so many panels I love. The double-page splash is the big eyecatcher, the follow-up to the petrified Supergirl in last issue. But my favourite spread is actually pages 2 and 3. Then there’s the great scenes of Bizarro World, the giant alien insects, the ever changing emotions of BizarroGirl and Bizarro Superman, and Kara herself looking cuter than ever.

Review: Supergirl #55

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Supergirl #55 was a super fun time! Silver Age zaniness, lessons learned from a twisted version of Supergirl, movement on the Cat Grant front, X-ray vision used as intended, impulse issues, character growth (recognizing aspects of Dr. Light’s character that may not be so savory/starting to see beyond the monster in BizarroGirl), and a parting shot of Supergirl commandeering a spaceship to travel to Bizarro World.

MORE SPACE HERO SUPERGIRL PLEASE.

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Review: Supergirl #54

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cover of Supergirl #54

When Jimmy “Turtle Boy” Olson is doing a better job at heroing than the star, things are bad! Also, I want to give BizarroGirl a hug. But she’d probably hate that.

Cover

A surprisingly chipper cover for such a dark issue. I’d have expected something more like Supergirl #9. Supergirl flying with jets is very nice, very Silver Age, but like last month’s cover it doesn’t fit the issue.

Story

I see Supergirl’s bio has changed:

Sent in a rocket from the remains of Krypton, seventeen year old Kara Zor-El arrived on Earth years after her cousin, Superman. Now living in Metropolis as Linda Lang, she fights for truth, justice, and the American way as SUPERGIRL.

I like it except for the obnoxious “American way” bit. It was cute when it was the “Kryptonian way” (even that was a bit silly). Interesting that they’ve officially aged her a year. I don’t know how I feel about that. If she must go to university, I’d like her to be a prodigy.

Jimmy as action hero doesn’t work for me at all so the opening sequence made me groan. “Jimmy Olson is cool!” No really, DC editorial, he’s not. I laughed out loud at Perry calling for the Science Police, “Olsen’s been kidnapped again!” Sorry Jimmy! I much prefer when bad things happen to you :)

I understood Kara’s reluctance to get involved in the fray in the last issue, but it was hard to have any sympathy for her upon realizing that she’d walked back to the apartment in the midst of the chaos to hide in her sound-proofed room. I felt Lana’s anger and frustration as she gave her that ultimatum: either wallow in self-pity over something she had no control over, or get out and save whoever she can. Get counselling later, this is no time to stop being Supergirl!

As Jess puts it:

Yeah, yeah, Spider-Man no more, can we just get on with it? This new direction for Supergirl does not seem very new. I do like that Lana is basically like “No, you can help, so you have a moral obligation to help. Now stop whining.” That fits in nicely with my personal interpretation of Superman (and the whole Superfamily). It’s not about Jesus, it’s not about being a superior being, it’s about each individual doing what he or she can to make the world a better place.

Yay, Lana doing Lois-duty at the Planet!

Why is a S.T.A.R. Labs janitor calling the Planet about BizarroGirl’s spaceship crashing through their offices? To remind us about what’s happening and set up Lucy’s escape, I guess.

Lucy recruiting the unpaid intern for the business section, just so she could keep the pictures of BizarroGirl secret, was amusing. Cribbing from Jess again, “the Daily Planet continues to not function like any newspaper in the entire damn world when it comes to staffing matters”.

Loved Cat overhearing Lana talking to Kara on the phone in the lady’s room. Uh-oh! (Although how stupid can Lana be not to notice the multiple stalls with closed doors?)

Faced with literally the dark image of herself, Kara goes to her Secret Superheroine Closet of Awesome and opens it with a Kryptonian passphrase. Cool.

I squeed like crazy over this splash page. I love the idea that Kara keeps all the Supergirl memorabilia that’s defined her over the years in this one room: the brown wig from her Claire Kent secret identity, the red headband she tried out for a couple issues, the two Daily Planet frontpages showing the extreme ends of her public relations, her Flamebird helmet (inexplicably coloured purple), a Superman doll (cute!), an Amazonian spear, and much more. (Anj identified some of the more obscure items on Supergirl Comic Box Commentary.)

Hanging from the ceiling in the centre of it all is her uniform, the gold edging glinting in the sunlight. Gorgeous.

Supergirl’s back.

And just in time: Jimmy, Dr. Light and everyone else from S.T.A.R. Labs have been captured by BizarroGirl and (somehow) shackled to the tunnel wall. Loved the scariness of BizarroGirl shushing Jimmy: I’d hate to see who she’s hiding from.

The cop abducting children for “dinner” was very creepy in a Terminator 2 way.

The Supergirl/BizarroGirl fight was awesome. Great job by Jamal Igle. (Also, a much smarter and more enjoyable take than Supergirl/Evil Supergirl from the beginning of the series.)

This BizarroGirl is far more of a serious threat than the usual bizarro, and a truly tragic figure. Can’t wait for this week’s issue!

Criticisms

Love the cracked skin, red eyed, scraggly-haired BizarroGirl on the final page laughing at a petrified Supergirl. But seriously, stone “solid vision”? What was that about? Science is sitting in a corner somewhere weeping, “The opposite of x-ray vision is infrared vision, not (more) solid vision!”

I missed Nei Ruffino’s colours on this issue. The fill-in colourist gave everything this awful orangey tint that made it seem like perpetual twilight and everyone had a bad fake tan.