Review: Supergirl #15

Supergirl #15 came out this week, ending the Reign of the Superboys story as well as the Lesla Lar/Black Flame Kandor story at the same time. 

There is a lot to like about this issue as writer/artist shows once again that she understands the character of Supergirl. She is hopeful. She has compassion. She doesn't kill. But if she needs to knock some sense into you to defend the helpless, she will. There is a 3 page face-to-face with Black Flame that should be printed out and given to future creators as a sort of distillation of Kara's ethics. 

On top of that, we get some interesting development in ThunderGirl and Lesla too. The Argo City plot thread is intriguing. On top of that, we even get a beautiful finale of the arc with Kara sort of looking to her own future and declaring herself the heir of the House of El. That is amazing.

Campbell's art really explodes off the page this issue as well. There are more solid battles sequences and even a little bit of body horror. 

That doesn't mean there aren't some things to quibble about. Lesla, as has been the case for much of this series, gets to skate a little despite her past. And her being named the hero of Kandor so quickly after being one of the instigators of its near-destruction is a little strange. 

Still, I really liked this issue.

Review: My Adventures With Superman S3 E4 - Guess Who's Slammin' to Dinner

My Adventures with Superman S3 E4 'Guess Who's Slammin' to Dinner' came out this week and propelled the storyline for this season forward in a fast way. New character, emergence of the main villain, and a cliffhanger that seems to preview the dystopian future we saw last episode. 

I was a little surprised at how fast this moved along until I realized that this season is only 10 episodes long. Turns out every season has been that long and I forgot. Perhaps because these episodes pack so much inside them that they feel longer or meatier than just 10 episodes.

This episode brings in Jon Kent, the future son of Lois and Clark who looks very suspiciously like Conner Kent from the comics. When I saw the previews, I figured it was Conner given the cloning side of this season. But bringing Jon to another medium is just as cool, even if everything about him - clothes and personality - scream The Metropolis Kid.

In fact, Jon is outright fun here, saying everything is "slmmin'" and he is enjoying himself perhaps a bit too much for a kid sent from a world on fire. I suppose meeting your young parents and eating pound cake might make you forget your terrible present makes sense.

I will also say that I appreciate all the Silver Age riffs and comic homages the show is dropping into the show. And I love this sort of brash Kara learning and loving her new world. After saying goodbye to Brainiac early this season, we haven't seen much overwhelming trauma in her.

Loving this season so far. On to details.

Review: Adventures Of Superman: Book Of El #10

Adventures of Superman Book of El #10 came out last week and that means we are but 2 months away from the end of the story. Knowing that, creative team of writer Philip Kennedy Johnson and artist Scotty Godlewski (with some pinch hitting by Vicente Cifuentes) don't have time for more world building and move towards the finale. 

Kryl-Ux is finally getting to gathering the aspects of Olgrun in hopes of resurrecting his family. But now that we actually see what Kryl-Ux looks like after absorbing old god energy makes me wonder if his family will even recognize him. As for the Els, we also get them together at long last. 

One thing that has troubled me a bit in this series has been the depth of world-building and my trying to keep up with the new knowledge. I wish there was a little index on the title page listing the aspects of Olgrun - passion, wrath, etc - and where they are. I am struggling remember what is where and even how many. It also is interesting to see how monstrous Kryl-Ux looks like in the contrast to the aspect-bearing Els who remain normal appearing. Is it a demonstration of the host's motivations and ethics?

Scotty Godlewski and Vicente Cifuentes art is excellent, continuing to bring a smooth look to the troubled future. There is some horror in this and it is brought to bear.

We have two big issues left here. Kryl-Ux being defeated and Superman going back in time to stop this timeline from happening. We also need the fate of the twins decided. Two issues left with a lot of story to cover.

On to the book.

Review: Supergirl Survive #2

Supergirl Survive #2 came out this last week, continuing the story of a young Kara caring for a young Kal after Krypton was 'destroyed' in a complete nuclear war. I do like the overall concept of Kara and Kal rocketed off together (as opposed to separately in the current continuity) and seeing this young Kara use her wits to remain alive.

Writers Ethan Parker and Griffin Sheridan grow this universe a bit in this issue. We see all the Lantern Corps, working together to police the universe. We see Lobo and (I assume) clones of him working as a criminal gang in a sort of Western environment. But most importantly, we see Kara taking her role as caretaker as her primary role and willing to get a little morally gray if she needs to in order to keep Kal safe. Overall, this was a solid second chapter.

The one thing I'll say is that we are still learning this universe. There is a nonlinear aspect to the story-telling here which didn't seem necessary not really adding much and instead confusing me. There is a story element from the past that we don't know that I hope will be revealed later. But not knowing it now also was a bit vexing.

Rod Reis' art continues to shine. It feels almost painterly. It continues to echo Phil Noto's work, always a good thing. And his take on the Lantern Corps is pretty cool as well, especially the Red Lantern. 

On to the book. 

Review: Superman Father Of Tomorrow #2

Superman Father of Tomorrow #2 came out last week, pushing the story forward quickly. Almost too quickly. I guess if this mini-series is going to tell us the life story of Jor-El on Earth, you can't dawdle. Last issue, Jor-El landed, befriended the Kents, spent years in hiding, and then revealed himself to the world. Looking on were grade schoolers Lois Lane and Lex Luthor.

Writer Kenny Porter pushes us forward at least 2 decades with Lois and Lex adults and friends/colleagues of Jor-El. Jor has allowed the use of Kryptonian tech around the world for good purposes. And between his super-powers and his super-science he is extremely powerful with few weaknesses. There are heroes and villains on this world. But we are dropped right into the action without know how these relationships or characters came about. 

Because we have no background, one of the characters betraying our hero doesn't seem to carry the weight it should. Still, perhaps the rest of the series sits in this time period and we'll learn more. If issue one was just the origin, setting the stage then maybe it will all even out.

Danny Earls brings a sort of rougher take on what could be a stream-lined tech-run world. But given the character interactions and the introduction of magic into the world, it feels right. I like seeing his take on classic villains and heroes in this new world.

Overall though, I felt a bit lost at sea and so I didn't like this issue as much as the last. On to details.

Reviews: My Adventures With Superman S3E3

My Adventures With Superman S3 E3, All's Fair in Love and W.O.R.M.S. ,came out this week and was another great episode. As I said last episode's review, somehow this show is able to balance plot progression, action, character growth, and humor. I mean in this episode we get dystopian future, 2 Silver Age homages, a musical number, and two super villains! Whew!

The axle the issue spins on is the will they/won't they Jimmy/Kara relationship. Kara took Jimmy's advice and has started dating other people but her knowledge of Earth and really of who she is herself is lacking. In comes Lois. Meanwhile, Jimmy is jealous from the outcome he asked for so has signed up for a new dating service W.O.R.M.S. Fun and mayhem and comic references ensue.

Amid that fun we have two more serious plots. First is character driven, Lois is worried that perhaps her relationship with Clark is moving too fast. She likes the idea of making the next step; she wants to. But she also likes how life is going now. How can she deal with those conflicting emotions.

Second, the Cyborg Superman reveals who he really is and shows himself to be a threat to everyone. 

Throw in an amazing cliffhanger and you have another winner. On to some details.

Review: Absolute Superman #20

Absolute Superman #20 came out last week, the next chapter in the pretty brutal King Shazam storyline. One thing for sure, there is a lot of action in this issue ... a lot. We see what happens when four immensely powerful beings battle across the globe. 

What I like about this issue is that we see, again, how writer Jason Aaron shows this young Superman is inspirational in a Darkseid-fueled world. We have seen him turn Ra's Al Ghul. In this issue, we see Hawkman, someone we have seen be a killer, soften in the face of Superman's actions. I think that Hawkman seeing Superman and King Shazam, so similar in powers, next to each is probably a bold contrast. 

That contrast is highlighted by the brawl that dominates the issue, a fight that goes King Shazam's way mostly. It shows what Superman could have been while Shazam slept. Watching Hawkman and Steel sort of be more like gnats in the face of this power shows what unchecked power can do. 

Rafa Sandoval is on art and brings the kinetic energy to the proceedings. The fight is huge in scope and power and you feel every punch and blast. I think he slightly tilts the panels and even word balloons in some place to give the whole thing an off-kilter feel. 

Throw in a new mini-mystery and a great cliffhanger and you have another solid issue in this book.

On to some details.