Supergirl Show Ending With Season Six

 

The news broke yesterday on multiple sources (like Variety) that the Supergirl show is ending after the sixth season. 

This sounds like it was a mutual decision between The CW and Warner Brothers and Berlanti productions. 

And my guess is this is multifactorial. 

Certainly some of the stars contracts must be nearing an end. Melissa Benoist seems poised to be a mega-star everywhere and so now might be the time for her to get off the serial television schedule and rocketship herself to new endeavors.

Benoist on Instagram had a lovely statement where she discussed how much she has enjoyed playing Kara, the impact it has had on young girls, and how she was glad the show will end on its own terms. 

As you can imagine, I am processing this news.

The show has been a delight for me, bringing my favorite character to millions of eyes and introducing her to folks who didn't even know she exists. Melissa Benoist has been a supernove, embodying the core traits of Supergirl in a way I didn't think possible. The new characters of Alex, Nia, and Winn were revelations. And the show did its best to inject Supergirl mythos like Psi and Reactron into the mix. Heck, we got a live action Legion!

So I am very sad that the show is ending. I couldn't have asked for a better representation of Supergirl in regards to Benoist.

And it is sad because I know that from week to week I might think that Supergirl was lost in her own show, a part of the ensemble rather than the star. Some episodes it seemed we barely saw her. I know that all the CW superhero shows are ensembles but there is never any doubt that The Flash and Arrow were the stars.

 Also, I have to say that at times the stories weren't stellar. At times it felt like the agenda drove the story and not the other way around.

All that said, if you asked me 6 years ago if I ever thought that I would be a Supergirl live action show at all, let alone one with this quality, I would have said you were high. And if you said someone would embody Supergirl as much as Benoist has, I'd also say you weren't grounded in reality.

I really hope that this last season crushes it. I'd love to see this end on a spectacular high note. And, of course, there is an easy way for this thing to end without crippling the Arrowverse. She heads to the future and the Legion.

But I wonder if this is it for live action Supergirl. Will someone 10 years from now think the world needs a reboot?

Back Issue Box: Superman Family #201

Last week I reviewed Superman Family #197 in which Supergirl finds herself smitten with Peter Barton. 

So what became of Peter Barton? Just recall that Supergirl has never had much success with romance in the present. And in this story, you see that Barton isn't someone that Supergirl should be so enamored of. His views on women isn't exactly woke, even if this is a story from 1980. 

But she is, as seen on this beautiful cover by Ross Andru showing Supergirl gazing into the clouds and thinking of Barton while she also almost crashes into a plane. Lovesick Kara ... a classic trope for the character.

Let's jump right into the story!

"The Face on Cloud 9" was written by Jack C. Harris with art by Win Mortimer and Vince Colletta.

And the story matches the cover art! That doesn't always happen!

Sure enough, Supergirl is flying in the clouds and just thinking about Peter Barton. She can't shake him from her thoughts. But I love how Mortimer has her flight be a series of pirouettes. She is literally twirling in the clouds as she thinks of him. It shows how this is really more of a crush-like, almost adolescent infatuation more that a deep romance.

She is so caught up in her thoughts that she doesn't see the small airplane whose flight lane she has flown into. She has to actual rescue plane who has to swerve out of her way and nearly crashes. These invasive thoughts about Peter are almost dangerous.

Happy 61st Birthday, Supergirl

 

According to the DC Comics 1976 calendar, September 22nd is Supergirl's birthday.

It has been a weird year for the world.

It has been a weird year for Supergirl.

But at least for today, let's think only the best of our hero. My hope is we will see a great version of her in the comics soon enough.

As for me, 2020 can end any time it wants to.

Bullet Review: Detective Comics #1027

Detective Comics #1027 came out this week, a jumbo issue with a heavy $9.99 price tag, another major anniversary issue just 2 plus years after the mammoth Detective Comics #1000. Of course, this is the 1000th issue with Batman starring in Detective and so I suppose it deserves a bit of accolades.

I think the last Batman book that I collected monthly was Batman Incorporated. (Folks who come here know my love of Grant Morrison ... more on that later.)  I honestly don't know what is happening in the main Batman continuity and even when I hear snippets, I don't think I am missing out.

As a collector though, I love anniversary issues. And I find issues like this, a sort of anthology of short stories by terrific creative teams, to be joyous celebrations. Usually these stories are sort of touch points on themes of the character, a sort of primer on concepts and philosophies. And this issue was no different. 

I wasn't sure if I was going to bullet review this but there is 'blink and you'll miss her' Supergirl sighting and since those aren't common these days I felt compelled. But almost every story in this book is fun. I'll cover just my favorites here but if you have an extra ten bucks, this book is worth it, thick enough to be on you trade shelf.

With a ton of covers to choose from, I picked the Jim Lee 'World's Finest' cover. Hey, in my mind, these two are good friends.

Back Issue Review: Superman #247

Last week I reviewed Superman #25, the first chapter in the Synmar plot which marks the end of the Brian Michael Bendis run on the character. In that pilot, we see a race of aliens called the Synmar who seem to live in judgment over the universe. In fact, there is a brief discussion about stopping Kal-El's rocket before the baby Kryptonian can become some sort of monster.

The idea of some alien race sitting in judgment over Kal-El certainly stirred up memories of 'The Trial of Superman' storyline from the diamond era. But it also made me pull out Superman #247 in which the Guardians of the Universe wonder if they should curtail Superman's actions. They sort of sit in judgment over him as they try to impart a hard lesson.

"Must there be a Superman?" is one of the more famous Superman stories and certainly is a 'must reprint' in any Bronze Age or Seventies Superman collection. And it is an interesting thought exercise. What should Superman do? And what shouldn't he do? 

 

Perhaps most interesting is that the Guardians of the Universe espouse a very Luthorian view of Superman in this book. Luthor always screams that Superman is holding humanity back. Here the Guardians say much the same thing.

 

And the narrative boxes are also somewhat novel told in the second person, as if you the reader is Superman. 

 

On to the book.

DC Comics Mug

It has been a while since I found something with Supergirl on it to buy for the Shrine or personal use.

Let's face it, 2020 hasn't been a lot of fun!

So imagine my surprise when I stumbled on this pretty sweet oversized DC mug in my travels, and for a mere $6 American!

There are a ton of tiny head shots of many characters including Supergirl so this was a no brainer.

I am of two minds with its usage though.

It is the perfect 'three cups of coffee in one' sized mug for those overwhelming caffeine needs. But I often find the coffee has gone cold by the time you reach the bottom.

It also is a nice size for portable cereal eating, for the couch or the balcony. I most likely will use it for that purpose.

But to be honest, they had me with the inclusion of Supergirl on the mug.

Every so often you need to spoil yourself. This mug made me happy. And I was glad to get something new with Supergirl on it.

I'll tweet a pic with it filled with Crunch Berries soon.

DC Comics December 2020 Solicits

The December 2020 solicits for DC Comics came out last week. Here is a link to the Newsarama (or GamesRadar) coverage: https://www.gamesradar.com/dc-december-solicitations-covers/

In the aftermath of a ton of firings at DC and a cut in titles, I was waiting for these to drop to see what DC had in mind. We still get the flagship books. But the bulk of solicits are either Dark Metal or a one month event called Endless Winter. It almost feels like the DCU is on pause a bit as they get their stuff together.

Of course when I read solicits for books like Dark Nights: Death Metal: The Last Stories of the DC Universe #1 which includes the line  'These are the stolen moments detailing the last stories of the DC Universe.' , I wonder if we are simply headed for another universal reboot. While JIm Lee recently said the 5G reboot isn't happening, I'll wait and see.

I am also sort of burying the lede for this month's solicits and this site in particular. Brian Michael Bendis' run on the Superman books ends here. Sure, we might be facing a new universe so why not bring in a new creative team. But I have enjoyed his works on these books and for the last 5 years or so between the Rebirth teams and Bendis, we have had great Superman books. Nothing gold can stay. I am sure I'll write a requiem for his run when it ends.

Here are the solicits.


ACTION COMICS #1028
written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
art and cover by JOHN ROMITA JR. and KLAUS JANSON
card stock variant cover by RAFAEL GRAMPÁ

The powerhouse creative team of Brian Michael Bendis, John Romita Jr., and Klaus Janson wrap up their run on Action Comics with “House of Kent: Epilogue”! With the final fate of Metropolis’s underworld revealed at last, it’s time for each member of the House of Kent to face their unknown futures head on, including Lois, Conner, Jon, Kara, Jimmy, and, of course, Clark Kent! This standalone Superman story connects threads from Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane, Superman, Justice League, Legion of Super-Heroes, and other unforgettable series in epic—and unexpected—ways!

An epilogue to the House Of Kent book. We get a one word mention of Kara and at least she is on the cover. 

Will this give these characters directions to follow in upcoming stories? Or is the 'unexpected' connection the reboot?

And I have to admit that ending this series with JRJR art is kind of a drag.

At least Supergirl is on the cover.