Review: Absolute Superman #23

When the Absolute Universe was announced, I was unsure if it was going to be for me. The idea of a universe built on darkness and how our heroes would be impacted by that seemed to be a tough sell for me. Turns out that I am reading two of three main books in the imprint. Absolute Wonder Woman I read via trades and have enjoyed greatly. Absolute Superman I read monthly and, for the most part, I have found a very good read showing that even in a dark world Superman can rise above and inspire.

Absolute Superman #23 came out this week and was another good read showing how hard it must be to be Superman in this world. Superman is tracking down Brainiac and instead runs into Toyman and has to battle that villain instead. He is tempted to cross an ethical line, perhaps a bit out of character given the prior 22 issues. We also get shown that rich men have the capability to be evil as well. 

When read back to back with Superman The Stranger #1, I worry we might be heading into 'wealth is evil' and not 'some wealthy people can be evil'. Yes, Superman in this world feels like a populist hero making sure villages and individual people are cared for. Yes, Aaron doesn't say 'wealth equals evil'. So I'll have to see how this pans out. 

The Toyman here is truly scary showing how diabolical he can be. This isn't Schott in a striped suit with giant tops. This is a madman.

Juan Ferreyra's art remains top notch. Love his battle sequences. He amps up the terror in the scary stuff nicely. And we even get a Krypton flashback. Love his take on the landscape and Lara.

On to the book.

Review: Supergirl Survive #4

Supergirl Survive #4 came out this week and was, for me, the strongest issue of the story so far. As this story of a young Kara protecting a younger Kal while trying to stay ahead of kidnappers and evil scientists has unfolded, I have found myself more and more enamored of this young Supergirl. She exhibits all the things I love in the Supergirl character. Loving, loyal, and sweet when she needs to be. Determined, intelligent, and fierce when the time is right. All rolled together.

The beginning of the title seemed a little too fussy for me with nonlinear storytelling that didn't add much. But now that we are moving forward with the story, it has just clicked more.

Writers Ethan Parker and Griffin Sheridan show us this guardian Kara teaching Kal how to use his burgeoning powers on a yellow sun planet. She really is at times big sister and at times mother figure. It is completely sweet. 

But they keep the adventure and journey to Earth moving forward by introducing a new story element that made me smile, Brainiac 5. For long time Supergirl fans, Brainy is a huge part of her mythos and for many (like me) he is who she should be romantically linked to. Seeing this version of Brainy, a bit more cuddly version of the classic Querl, made this endearing. Add a few more Easter Eggs and you get a very good book.

Rod Reis continues to stun me on the book with his art. There is this sort of painterly/colored pencil feel to the book that soften it a bit, adding to the emotional tone here. He draws a young Kal perfectly, something which not all comic artists can do. 

We even get a solid cliffhanger to lead us into the next issue.

I am really enjoying this! On to the details.

DC Comics November 2026 Solicits

The November DC solicits were released recently and this seems like a bit of a quieter month. The Supergirl books sound intriguing albeit with the same sort of possible concerns I have had before. But overall the Super-books have really been clicking and this month sounds just as good, especially what Mark Waid is doing in Action. 

Here is a link to look at all the books coming out:
https://aiptcomics.com/2026/08/21/full-november-2026-dc-comics-solicitations/

And now onto the books.

SUPERGIRL #19
Written by SOPHIE CAMPBELL
Art and cover by SOPHIE CAMPBELL
Variant covers by MIGUEL MERCADO, KAREN S. DARBOE, and CHUMA HILL
Watchmen 40th Anniversary variant by GERALD PAREL

Kara Zor-El’s exposure to gold Kryptonite has left her without superpowers but not without super friends. The recently reborn Matrix and gloriously goth Nightflame get into a fight to prove themselves worthy of the Supergirl mantle, but another of Kara’s Super Force might surprise everyone. Meanwhile, Kara’s not just going to sit on the sidelines: She’s reenrolling at Stanhope! But will she make it past orientation with Reactron still on the loose?

One of my concerns with this book is how it is becoming a team book and not a Supergirl book. We have Super Force now and they are everywhere. Now in this solicit we find out that Kara is powerless in her own book. The cover shows Nightflame, Matrix, and ThunderGirl in prominent action poses. I'll have to see how all this pans out but I want Supergirl to be front and center.

As a fan of Matrix Supergirl I am excited to see what Sophie Campbell has in mind. And Kara going to Stanhope is cool. And Reactron! Yes! All that sounds great.

Review: Superman Father Of Tomorrow #4

Superman Father of Tomorrow #4 came out this week, pushing the plot forward and setting up an interesting final confrontation with Lex Luthor. 

We continue to learn about this world and this Jor-El. As lone survivor, he has been trying to protect Earth, not only through super-heroics but through science. He is trying to elevate towards his ideal, Krypton. What is interesting is that no one seems to be happy about it. Not his friends. Not the military. Not his enemies. That is an interesting take.

Writer Kenny Porter is showing us this sort of well-intentioned Jor-El who unfortunately seems to be opening Pandora's box with his technology. Moreover, Porter throws in a line that makes me wonder if Jor-El is even more flawed than we know right now. Porter does do a good job of broadening this Elseworld universe, giving us other versions of famous characters.

Danny Earls remains on art and continues to give us a sort of brutish look at the world. I think his art style amps up the nature of this world. This isn't a perfect utopia. His rougher style lends itself to this undercurrent that Jor-El isn't helping things.

I still don't know exactly how I feel about this book where there isn't someone to necessarily root for. 

On to details.

Review: Superman #41

Superman #41 came out this week, the next chapter in the Kingdom of Zod crossover. This is a 9-parter and this is chapter 4 so we are basically at the halfway mark. And this is quite an issue as it takes a hard ... and I mean HARD ... left turn taking this story to two places I was not expecting.

I will say that this whole arc is building off of the  Kneel Before Zod mini-series from 2 years ago. (All those issues are reviewed here at that link so feel free to dive in!) I will remind you that mini-series was supposed to be 12 issues but was cut by DC to 9, so I wonder if some of this plot was supposed to be touched on or even begun there. Also, as pointed out by friend Mart Gray, the opening pages which fill in what happened in that mini are direct lifts from that book. (Hope writer Joe Casey and artist Dan McDaid are getting some compensation.) In that book, I was surprised by how beaten down Zod was initially and how domineering Ursa was. Suffice it to say, we see that play out here.

I will also say that one of my biggest peeves about this whole story is the 'Kryptonite everywhere' aspect when it seems to have little or no impact on the action. Our Kryptonian heroes seem more irritated by being surrounded by Green K than in agony. So I decided to read this issue ignoring the Green K conundrum and I found that it reads better that way. But it seems odd that I can ignore the driving plot element. And I wonder if we will ever learn how Zod got that massive Green K meteor, altered it, covered it in intertron, and sent it on its way.

But enough backstory, Joshua Williamson and Eddy Barrows give us the best chapter of this arc. We get decent action. We get some plot progression. We get to see Superman in action. And we get two ... no three ... major developments and plot twists. I don't know if those new threads will pay off but I am more interested in them than the growing Green K stuff. 

On to the details.

KFC Supergirl Figurine

It is a shame that the Supergirl movie wasn't a bigger hit. I have gone back and forth in my mind on, trying to let the hopeful ending outshine the more dismal and murderous stuff that came before. And I will again say that Milly Alcock was great.

So why not celebrate the movie a little?

There were actually some merchandise tie-ins including a Supergirl meal at KFC! 

While there are no KFC's near me (perhaps a good thing for my health!), someone who knows my love for the character did their duty, ate some fried chicken, and sent me the toy. It finally arrived!

Not a bad little figure of Kara in her costume and wearing her duster jacket.

Review: Batman/Superman World's Finest #54

Batman/Superman World's Finest #54 came out last week and was a perfect 'done-in-one' story that fit the feel of this title and it's 'elsewhen' Bronze Age feel. What could be more comic book-y than our superheroes playing a baseball game against demons to save the world. After slogging a bit through the early Kingdom of Zod issues, this was a wonderful palate cleanser.

Writer Mark Waid has been leaning into that warm nostalgic feel of the DC Universe since this book hit the stands. He has been looking into the dusty corners of continuity and giving us updated looks at classic themes and characters. As I said, this time it is our heroes playing a baseball game to save the world. Shades of DC Super Stars #10 !

What is truly awesome about this is the lineup that Waid gives us. Outside Superman and Batman, the roster is mostly C-listers. How great that the hero of the game is Elasti-Girl !! It is this sort of fun deep dive into the Who's Who of the universe that has made this book consistently great.

Bruno Frenda is on art and he is a new name for me. His style is in synch with the setting of Hell for sure. He shows us the heroes in a battered and tattered state. He also shows some depth here given the large cast of characters he has to draw. Too fun.

Loved this issue. On to the details!

Review: Superman Unlimited #16

Superman Unlimited #16 came out this week, chapter three in the Kingdom of Zod storyline. We are one third done and I don't know if I quite grasp this whole plotline. But this was a classic middle chapter, nudging the story along and making sure everyone knows what is going on. It does have a wonderful moment in the middle with Supergirl and Superboy. But otherwise, this felt a bit like treading water.

Most importantly for me, we at least heard that all this Kryptonite is affecting our Kryptonian characters. But I don't know if it is enough for me to be happy. We have seen Kryptonians buckle in pain when near a small piece of Kryptonite in the past. How can they be flying around a city made of Green K and just complain a little about how it feels. Sigh. I'll get past this ... maybe.

Dan Slott captures the voice of all the characters here. I like his Kara. I like his young Superboy. I like his Jon Kent. But he doesn't have too much to do here.

Rachael Stott is on art this issue and she brings a sort of breathy flair to the issue. I think the action sequences flow. But her art is perfect for that Supergirl/Superboy moment in the middle. I really liked that section, the highpoint of the book for me.

But I still don't quite understand what is going on in this story. Why would Zod think unleashing a Green K tsunami on Earth be good for him?

On to the book.

Review: My Adventures With Superman S3 E10 The Return

My Adventures With Superman S3 E10, 'The Return', aired this last weekend, the season finale for season 3 and possibly the show's final show. No season 4 has been announced yet. I can only hope that the we get more of this show because it (and this season in particular) has been astonishingly good.

This season has been a sort of mash-up of comic stories - The Reign of the Supermen for sure given the multiple versions of those comic characters we have seen. But I'd throw in something like Zero Hour given the time travel implications we have seen throughout. 

As I have said, the storyline of Superman and Lois meeting their future kids and trying to change their horrible future has been compelling enough. But through in Lois' doubts of her own future, Clark dealing with being depowered for half the season, and Kara's growth into a loving, optimistic, fierce Supergirl has all been fantastic as well.

It all comes down to this episode with the House of El fighting a highly evolved version of the Eradicator, a mix of Superman's powers, Doomsday's powers, and Lex's fears of alien conquerors. Without Superman, the team is frankly outmatched. But they show how determined they are by continuing the fight. 

But it really hinges on The Return of Superman and his true power, wanting to help people, wanting an ordinary life with ordinary happiness, and willing to sacrifice himself to help others.

It ends with a crazy cliffhanger. It would be a fine final shot if this show does end here. But I need more. 

And as usual, the whole thing has the feel of Dragon Ball Z, Neon Genesis, and other comic classics smushed into Superman lore and I am here for it.

On to the show.

Terrificon 2026 Recap

Earlier this month I attended Terrificon, the Connecticut based comic book convention that I consider my go-to comic con and the main event for me each summer. I have been attending the con since 2017 and I have always been impressed with it. From the venue to the guest list to Mitch Hallock, the con promoter, it never fails to be a great time.

This year boasted some legendary creator names (including Jim Lee) and some newer creators as well which meant I was pretty busy the three days I attended. Before I get to my adventures, a few global comments.

First off, the venue is unparalleled. The con is in the Expo center at the Mohegan Sun casino, a massive hall which is filled with celebrities, comic creators, and vendors. There's free parking. There are more than enough places to eat in the place from the concession stand in the hall to every level of restaurant in the casino - food court to high end steak house - to make the non-convention part of attending easy.

Second, as I mention each year, the vexing conundrum around signature and commission prices remains ... well ... vexing. It is hard to anticipate how much creators will charge for autographs and sketches and as such, it is hard to anticipate how many books/how much money to bring. When one legendary creator says 'no charge' and another says 'two free then $5 each after' and another says '$2' and yet another says '$40 per sig', there isn't an internal formula I can anticipate in my mind. More puzzling is when new creators, mostly cover artists, who haven't been doing comics for more than a year charge $20 a sig, it becomes a difficult problem to solve.

I want to go up to creators and tell them how much I love their work and talk about stories/covers I love. But to go up without purchasing something, especially if you have to wait in a long line, feels off. For the first time, there were some tables I didn't go to because the price tag was too high. And I understand that these folks need to make a living. I am not begrudging them charging. But I get books signed because I love them, not because I am flipping them. And I'm not sure that even if I was flipping them if the sig adds the value they think. To put differently, I might approach someone and get 6 books signed for $30. But I avoided a $30/1 book table. It is a calculation I need to make on the fly and one I cannot predict until I get in the doors. Thankfully, each creator had a sign on their table listing their prices. 

Okay enough math talk. On to the fun stuff.

Review: Adventures Of Superman Book Of El #11

With the number of books and ancillary stuff coming out, I am quite delinquent in some reviews. I suppose better late than never.

Adventures of Superman Book Of El #11 came out recently, the penultimate chapter of this epic tale and, unfortunately, the penultimate Superman book for Phillip Kennedy Johnson. It was way back in 2021 when PKJ was announced as the new writer on Action Comics. At the time I said 'who?' But he showed me quite quickly that he understood Superman and the Super-Family. He will be missed on these books.

This title has had the usual wide-spread world-building that PKJ is known for. But we are approaching the end. The Els are united ... truly united as you'll see ... and are ready to fight Kryl-Ux and his made quest for power. The aspects of Olgrun are finally all near each other. And the battle is about to come to an end.

But, being true to his understanding of Superman, even when things look most dire, when it looks like the only answer is violence, Johnson has our hero offer peace and help. 

The art is a conglomeration of Scotty Godlewski, Cian Tormey, and Vasco Georgiev. It flows smoothly with, I believe, Godlewski doing most of the pages, They make Kryl-Ux appropriately horrific and give the right degree of emotion to the scenes that require it.

The mythology of the book has been a bit hard to follow at times but this issue felt like one of the strongest, finally bringing all the pieces together on the chessboard. On to the book.

Review: Action Comics #1101

The first two parts of the Kingdom of Zod event came out last week. Action Comics #1101 is the second chapter and picks up where Action Comics #1100 ended with the return of Superman while sliding into the Zod arc.

Last week I reviewed Supergirl #16 and talked about how I find the Zod plot confusing right now. And I don't know if this chapter makes any of it clearer. Zod has a Green K variant that is expanding over the Earth. It is causing a plague that is harming humans. It is still deadly to Kryptonians. Why would Zod want any of this? Why is he not ill from the effects of the Green K in some way? How did he get this huge Green K meteor, cover it in inertron, and move forward? So far I have too many questions.

We do get great scenes in this book where Lois is using her journalism skills to get Zod to reveal his inner thoughts. I love the Lois in this book. But I don't know if the answers he gives make much sense either. No surprise that writer Mark Waid writes a great Lois and Superman Family. But I am still confused.

The art is by Montos who is relatively new to me. I have seen his stuff in Green Lantern and I like his work here. It has a breathy sort of style. He uses shadows incredibly well. The fight sequences are rendered well. 

But we are two chapters in and I am confused. On to the book. 

Review: Supergirl #16

Supergirl #16 came out this week, the first chapter in the Kingdom of Zod crossover. While I am thrilled that the opening chapter is in the Supergirl book, perhaps bringing more eyes to the title, I have to say this story starts off a bit rushed and confusing. 

I don't know if I quite understand what Zod is trying to accomplish here. I don't know why he isn't impacted by a ton of Green K around him. But that is more a commentary on the overall story. Let's concentrate on this issue. 

Sophie Campbell does a solid job showing how Kara is trying to grow into her role of Heir to the House of El. How Kara is trying to be a leader for the El family in Superman's absence. But it isn't going to be an easy transition so seeing Kara doing her best to keep the team together on a dangerous mission into El Caldero is great characterization for our title hero. This is a Super-event so there are plenty of other characters here but Campbell really has Supergirl in the spotlight.

The art is a mix between Joe Quinones and Paolo Villanelli. The styles are quite different with Quinones being a more smooth style and Villanelli being more thin-lined, angular, and a bit rougher. The result can feel a bit jarring and I don't know if that is the best way to start an event either.

I honestly hope I understand Zod's plan at some point. But I don't yet. On to the issue.

Review: My Adventures With Superman S3 E8 'Vae Victis'

My Adventures With Superman, Season 3, Episode 9, titled 'Vae Victis' came out last weekend and was an incredible penultimate episode leading us into what surely will be a tremendous finale next week. From top to bottom, for me, this has been the best season of the show. It has been the blend of fun, whimsy, emotional growth, and character development that we have seen in the prior seasons. But this season has had more drama, more danger, and more action than the prior. Somehow all of those elements have been perfectly mixed.

Last episode, an unstoppable, ever evolving, Eradicator defeated our heroes and took off into the time stream. A powerless Clark went to the Fortress with Bizarro to try to regain his powers. Things look grim.

And so comes 'Vae Victis' which means "Woe to the Vanquished". What  heavy title.

It clearly can be the title for Lois, Lara, Jonathan, Jimmy, Kara, and even Lex. They have been beaten badly by the Eradicator. They are about to face him again, knowing it wants to conquer them. They all have to handle their own insecurities to be prepared. Those insecurities have been building over the season. It is good to see some of them put behind our heroes as they are about to fight for their lives.

But it really has weight with the Superman half of this book. Superman has been cast into a virtual reality by his Fortress guards (led by a 'docile' Brainiac) and told to repeat Krypton's conquering past as a way to prove he deserves his power. Will Superman vanquish? And why did Brainiac give him this task? We find out in the end in an incredible revelation.

We end on two cliffhangers! Bring on the finale of this wonderful season. On to this episode.

DC Comics Solicitations - October 2026

The October solicits for DC Comics came out recently. Here is a link to see all of them. 
https://aiptcomics.com/2026/07/25/full-october-2026-dc-comics-solicitations/

DC does seem to be firing on all cylinders with a creative explosion that feels similar to the Legends-era explosion that came out of the Crisis on Infinite Earths era. This goes beyond the Absolute universe and includes things like the recent JSA, Firestorm, and even this Supergirl book. But we are seeing it build on itself with a next wave including Doom Patrol, Deadman, The Demon, and Vertigo books. There also feels like a true plan for the main universe building off of KO. A vision for the universe!!!!

Moreover, I feel like there is a reverance to DC's history in these books. Instead of saying 'we need to change', these creators seem to be saying 'we can use the past to innovate and update'.

I mean, the cover for Deadman #5 is a clear homage to a key page in the Alan Moore/Steve Bisette/John Totleben Swamp Thing Annual #2, a huge issue back then and part of a celebrated run. Old timers like me will recognize it immediately. But even more than this homage, the solicit seems to say this issue of Deadman is a sort of riff on that book with Deadman journeying through the DC afterlife. This grabbed me and made me think that maybe I should check this title out, something I wasn't planning on doing. 

But on to the super-books.

SUPERGIRL #18
WRITTEN AND ART BY: SOPHIE CAMPBELL
THE HEIR OF EL! After the battles in Kandor and El Caldero, Supergirl has now achieved a reputation as the Heir of the House of El. Granted access to a Fortress all her own, she and the Super Force are excited to move in and explore their new home base. But for weeks Supergirl's been hearing a mysterious voice calling out to her, and that being is now ready to make itself known.

I have always had a worry that Sophie Campbell was going to make a Supergirl book into a team book. And now the 'Super Force' has made me worry a little more. We are adding more characters. I like the idea of Kara being the Heir to El. I like the idea of a separate Fortress. And as a fan of the PAD Supergirl, I like the return of Matrix (even if it is another new character). I do like the cover mirroring that of Superman #21, a sort of arrival of that Matrix. There is that leaning into history.

Are more worries about this being a team book being felt by others?

On to the rest of the books.

Review: Absolute Superman #22

In what feels like a fast turnaround, Absolute Superman #22 came out this week, a mere 2 weeks after the last issue came out. It also starts a new arc for the book with Superman trying to track down Brainiac and, it seems, running into new villains on the way. 

The last arc with Superman fighting Black Adam alongside Hawkman and Steel was a beautiful brawl spanning the world and the moon. This issue, writer Jason Aaron continues to keep the action at a high level with Superman fighting Metallo, the mutated and tortured Christopher Smith Peacemaker. Indeed, the bulk of the issue are these two going at it, blood-soaked and brutal.

But much like the Black Adam story, throughout the brawl, Superman is hoping to make a connection, the de-escalate, and to help Metallo. I think that this is Absolute Superman's biggest strength. In this dark world where Metallo is a mentally addled young man tortured by Brainiac into being a weapon ... a sort of poster boy for the Absolute universe ... here is Superman trying to lift up, not punch down. 

Juan Ferreyra is back on art and brings it. Yes, the violence is gloriously rendered. But the character design is great too. And there is a page layout in the middle of the book that really reminded me of the power of comics, where words and images can mesh. Ferreyra is the perfect partner for a 1-2 punch art combo with Rafa Sandoval for this book. Sandolval does a great job on the cover with the looming Brainiac staring over the impending battle.

This almost felt like a rest issue rather than an opening chapter and was a bit of an exhale after the intensity of the Adam story. On to the book.

Review: Supergirl Survive #3

Supergirl Survive #3 came out this week and was another interesting chapter in this Elseworlds where Kara Zor-El has survived the nuclear destruction of Krypton and is trying to safely raise her baby cousin Kal-El.

I can't help but feel that writers Ethan Park and Griffin Sheridan got the idea for this issue from the famous Swamp Thing #55 'My Blue Heaven' issue by Alan Moore and Rick Veitch. In that issue, as in this issue, the hero is lost in space, living on a blue world of their own design, trying to forget their emotional trauma, until someone lifts them out of their fugue. In Swamp Thing, it was a flower John Constantine. In this, it is Ms. Mxyzptlk.

But here, Kara is burying her own issues under the surface in hopes of giving Kal a better life. Mxy shows our hero that it isn't sustainable. Is Mxyzptlk a good catalyst for the story? Or the right one? We have to get Kara off this planet for her story to continue and there is no way she would leave on her own without a nudge. But this felt a little out of the blue ... pun intended.

Still, the story is showing how responsible Kara feels towards her legacy and her charge.

Rod Reis continues to impress me with his art on the book. Here he has to bring a sort of painterly approach to things given the sheer amount of blue in the book. 

On to the book.

Review: My Adventures With Superman S3E8 - It's Reigning (Super)Men

My Adventures With Superman Season 3 Episode 8, It's Reigning (Super) Men, came out last weekend and it was superb. It was jaw-dropping. It was gob-smacking. It was insane. It was perfect.

I am running out of superlatives for this show this season, walking a tight rope of silliness, comic homages, character growth, and epic action. How can it be all things and do them all well? How ?!? 

Three weeks ago, we had a brutal action episode, Superman and his allies fighting the Cyborg Superman. The action was huge in scope and destruction. I did not think it could be topped.

This week we have a similar high action episode but this one even bigger in scope and destruction and emotion. Our heroes and some new allies fight an all-powerful Eradicator, a mix of Superman' powers, Lex's evil mind, and (I assume) some Doomsday evolution powers. This Eradicator is like Doomsday in that he is seemingly unstoppable, violent, murderous, and always gaining new abilities. But it is also like Lex, devious in the end. Like episode 5, this is Dragon Ball Z meets Zach Snyder.

And yet, in all this brawling is intense character development. Lois worried about her future as a mother, wondering if she'll be any good at the role. Clark still suffering from his lack of powers and watching his family being injured, obviously pained by his helplessness. The future children of Lois and Clark are cold and focused, lacking any of the love their parents should give them and willing to kill.

The character that steals this episode is Supergirl. I bristled at her last season being a weapon for Brainiac. But her growth this season, loving Earth, loving Superman, realizing she can decide her future has been brilliant. Her fierceness and hope are pure classic Supergirl. And what she does in this episode, stepping up as a hero, defending her family and her future, and sacrificing herself is just perfect. This is Supergirl. 

Enough intro. On to some moments worth savoring.

Review: Batman/Superman World's Finest Annual 2026

Batman/Superman World's Finest Annual 2026 came out last week and was a fun sort of diversion issue. We have seen in this book a World's Finest duo of Supergirl and Robin. We saw Jimmy Olsen and Batgirl. So why not Pa Kent and Alfred.

Writer Mark Russell and artist Clayton Henry handle this main story where Pa and Alfred share their take on being a father to these heroes. In fact, part of this is story is Alfred wondering is he a butler or is he a father figure when he at times he feels like both. But what I like here is how these two have to save the World's Finest heroes. Funny.

Henry has such a polished look. I have enjoyed his stuff whenever he is on the super-books. But here, he sort of ratchets up the emotion and the humor.

There is a back-up story by Mark Waid and Tyrone Finch with art by Pat Boutin. In this short story, Superman is jealous of Batman when Bruce Wayne has to take Lois Lane out on date to keep an eye on her. It is silly, seeing Superman use super-breath to stymie Bruce's efforts to impress Lois at a carnival. And it is amusing to think of Batman as wanting to rile up Superman by play-flirting. The art by Boutin is close enough to Adrian Gutierrez to feel right at home.

Not a bad 5th week book, a summer annual of breezy fun.

Review: Superman Father Of Tomorrow #3

Superman Father of Tomorrow #3 came out last week, meaning we are halfway through this Elseworlds look at what would happen if Jor-El was the lone survivor who made it to Earth. 

This Jor-El is trying to be Superman combining his super-powers with his super-science to try make Earth a cleaner, safer place. And his heart seems to be in the right place. But the way this book is playing out, it seems like the people of the planet think he is more of a benevolent dictator.

Last issue, I complained a bit about the time jump between the first two issues and how it made some plot twists lack any power. I can't be surprised by Luthor's turn if I haven't seen him be an ally. This issue suffers from the same problem. We have clearly jumped some time ahead, an unclear amount but long, and so it is hard for me to be too invested in the plot. Last issue ended with Jor-El stating he was going to make free energy for everyone in the world to end conflicts. Did he do that? Who knows. 

As a result, I am just not immeresed in this story by Kenny Porter which I think has some decent ideas in it.

The art by Danny Earls is a sort of thick-lined, blocky style which doesn't really mirror the new future Jor-El has envisioned. Perhaps that is the point. I do like his take on the Elseworld's magical characters.

On to the issue.

Review: Superman Annual 2026

Last week in Action Comics #1100, we saw Superman drained of his King Omega power and rescued from the time stream by Superman. This week in the Superman Annual 2026, we get the story of what happened to him between the end of D.C.K.O. and the rescue.

I'll start out by saying I liked this annual a lot. Writer Joshua Williamson and artist Eddy Barrows give us a pretty wild story, bouncing from the time stream to a desolate future to a villain's headquarters. We get plenty of Legions, an old Legion villain, a hero I haven't seen in a long time, and a character I thought forever in the dustbin of DC's limbo.

Barrows' art is it's usual graceful beauty. When the stakes get big, his art get big as well. But lately I have found his quiet moments, Clark talking to Lois in their apartment, where his art really sings. Yasmine Putri is on art for the back end of the book, introducing us to a new villain and showcasing the upcoming LSH book.

But what is this annual? The epilogue of D.C.K.O.? A backdoor prologue to the new Legion of Super-Heroes? The beginning of Kingdom of Zod? All of those things?  One thing that I like is that DC, at least the super-books, seem to be going from mini-event from mini-event. And yet, there hasn't been any event fatigue because while there is a thread through all of them, each book has been able to stand alone.

Whatever this book is, it works. As an long long long time Legion fan, I was pretty thrilled with the end of the story. On to the details.

Review: My Adventures With Superman S3E7: The Ex Games

My Adventures With Superman S3E7, The Ex Games, was another fun diversion after the brutal Cyborg Superman episode back in E5. But this wasn't just about the humor and another breath of fresh air. This episode pushed forward the underlying theme of this season. Who are you and who can you become?

Clark is powerless and has been struggling greatly with who he is if he isn't Superman. Can he even like his life.

Kara has been trying to distance herself from the Brainiac trauma, wondering if she can ever put that violent past behind her, even if she has embraced Earth as a home, a place she loves.

Lois is trying to figure out her future and who she will be if she marries Clark. Will she still be able to be a Lois she is proud of, happy with. 

And Jimmy is Jimmy.

These storylines have been front and center for most of this season, just under the surface of the threat of the Cyborg Superman, the simmering evil of Lex, and the dystopian futures we have seen. It is that seamless mix of character growth and action plot that has made this Superman content one of the best I have seen recently. Toss in humor and deep cut comic references, and you have a winner.

So seeing our main characters in a Squid Game styles tournament against other versions of themselves is a good way to showcase differences. Of course, the tournament is a plot by Mr. Mxyzptlk so everything isn't as it seems.

On to some details that stood out. But seriously, I hope everyone is watching this.

Review: Absolute Superman #21

Absolute Superman #21 came out last week and was an all-out melee and very satisfying ending to the Black Adam storyline. If you wanted to see what it would look like for two super-powered beings just laying into each other, this is the issue for you. I think I have said it before but this is on Dragon Ball level. As someone who doesn't mind seeing superheroes brawling (one of the first reasons why I fell in love with comics as a kid) I drank this issue in. What makes this issue even more entertaining is that the brawl is just the front half of the book. The fallout from the brawl, and therefore the conclusion of this arc, is laid out afterwards.

Writer Jason Aaron continues to show us how this Superman is an inspiration for this Darkseid-fueled Absolute Universe. Last issue, we saw the murderous Hawkman, a field agent for the evil running the show on this Earth, see the light and help Superman. In this issue, we see Superman continue to reach out to Black Adam, trying to calm down the villain and remind Adam of his roots. That inspiration sort of bleeds out to Jimmy and Lois as well, although it seems like it impacts one more than the other.

I have said before, the first year plus of this title was a slow-burn reveal of the world and Superman. Since the Parasite story, this book has been going full throttle and Aaron shows he can write both of those styles. In truth, this arc 'feels' more like the Absolute-style of Batman and Wonder Woman. 

Rafa Sandoval is on art and his works just leaps off the page, especially in the combat sequences. You feel the punches, the hammers to the face, the environment-pulverizing blasts. I have always enjoyed Sandoval's work. But he has elevated his game here.

What is next for this book? Can't wait to find out. But first, this issue's events.

Review: Action Comics #1100

Action Comics #1100 came out last week and was a sort of turning point for all the Superman books. As a result, this jumbo issue has elements of all the Super-titles and therefore has a multiple stories from all the writers of the super-books. We are closing the book on the Reign of the Superboys and we are heading into the Kingdom of Zod.

The main story picks up the Superboy arc that Mark Waid and Skylar Patridge have been crafting, showing up how Clark became Superboy in Smallville. How he learned about his powers. How he fell in love with Lana. Waid uses this anniversary issue to basically give a quick primer on Superman's history and sort of closes the book on our Smallville arc.

The remaining stories set up the upcoming arc. Joshua Williamson and Daniel Sampere give us the return of present day Superman being found and heading back to the present with ... Superboy?? Sophie Campbell and Dan Mora show us Supergirl forming her super-team to head to El Caldero and the meeting between Superboy Prime and Conner Superboy (I've been waiting). Dan Slott and Lucas Meyer send us to El Caldero to show us what is going on there and revealing the super-villain of the next arc.

I love the fact that DC has used this issue to showcase all the Super-books and how they all are going to fold into this next event.

On to some particulars!

Review: Superman #40

I have been collecting comics for about 50 years now. Hard for me to wrap my head around that number. There have been times, looking at the long boxes in the comic room, that I have wondered if the time was right to stop collecting current comics, stop hitting the store on Wednesdays, and just relax and read all the old comics I own over again. Is it time to stop.

And then comics like Superman #40 come out and it reminds me all over why I love these characters, these books, and arcs like this Superboy Prime one. This whole arc has been jaw-dropping excellent for all sorts of reasons. Writer Josh Williamson has done the impossible making me like Prime. I have loved this redemption of his character. I have loved Prime's commentary on comic books in general. In this issue, Williamson shows he either is one of us fans or knows us well, commenting on comic book fandom as well. But on top of all that, there are speeches in this book that talk about an inspiring Superman, about hope springing eternal, and about being a hero. Pitch perfect.

On top of all that, we have had Dan Mora on art the whole time, riffing different comic styles, bringing the action, and utilizing the fourth-wall-breaking to bring in old comics and covers. I have said in the past that Mora's art is so fantastic that every time he draws a character I want to see Mora on that character's title. Who knew I would want a Witchfire comic this bad.

So I can revisit it easily I might buy this arc when it comes out in trade format, something I haven't done in a long time. 

I loved a Superboy Prime story so much I am going to buy the trade. Give Josh Williamson all the awards right now. Let's dive in.

Review: My Adventures Of Superman S3E6: Party Animals

My Adventures of Superman S3E6, Party Animals is a sort of rest issue after the violence and catharsis of last episode. The action is a little bit more muted but the character focus is high in this episode. But it is the characterization and character interplay is really what I love about this show. 

Frankly, after last episode, I need a breather, a 'rest issue'. Not that this is nonsense. All our characters are dealing with things and we learn more and move forward. All of this is set in a Humanist Gala for Metropolis.Clark has no idea who he is without Superman. Lois and Jimmy are nominated for an award but Lois is still feeling like she is the shadow of Vicki Vale. Jimmy is still dealing with his feelings for Kara. Kara is dealing with her feelings for Jimmy while also being the main hero of Metropolis. More on all these in the review. 

This episode also leans into many characters we have met and who make up the supporting cast. Silver St. Cloud, Steve Lombard, Vicki Vale, and Bizarro all show up and add flavor.

All these character moments are shown through an action piece of Dr. Poison trying to turn humans into animals. This leads to another Silver Age Jimmy moment.

Love this episode mostly because you feel the pain that Clark is suffering, not knowing who he is now that he is powerless. He seems almost disgusted with life as Clark. Hmmm ...

This season continues to be incredible. On to details.

McFarlane Silver Age Figure

This has been a pretty crazy spring and early summer here with my moving into a new place and having a birthday within months of each other. 

With so much to celebrate and with the new shrine on display, I figured I deserved a new piece. 

A while back, McFarlane Toys came out with a Silver Age Supergirl figure and I was charmed. I have a bit of a soft spot for the earliest Supergirl stories with their earnest tales of Kara trying to help children and please her big cousin. 

The figure comes with multiple hands and an extra face so you can 'customize' how you'd like to display her. So many of these new, high-end figures come with these extras to make the figure truly yours to pose and play. 

It even comes with a card (upper right) with a snippet of the cover of Action Comics #252. 

Review: Batman/Superman World's Finest #53

Batman/Superman World's Finest #53 came out this last week, wrapping up the three part Warlord crossover story. As always with this book, there are a lot of fun moments. But this story never really grabbed me.

Writer Mark Waid continues to do a great job with characterization in these stories for sure. In this one, it is Robin who gets the bulk of the work with our title heroes under a sorceror's spell for most of the book. Not only to we get to see how smart and funny this young Dick Grayson is but we get to hear what he has been taught about by Superman and Batman. There is a sanctity to life even if the life lived has been one of evil. Waid always shines with that stuff.

But the villain  plot here about a pilot getting magical powers and then trying to augment them with Atlantean tech all seems to come out of nowhere as does his defeat. 

Clearly I don't know what I want. I don't want decompression. But I don't want super-compression either. I wonder if this was more Waid just wanting to play in the Skartaris sandbox for a bit.

The art is again split between Adrian Gutierrez and Vicente Cifuentes. Both artists seem to be enjoying this savage land setting and these characters. 

As I have said before, I expect unparalleled excellence from this book. When it merely entertains (which this issue did) I somehow feel let down. On to the details.

Review: Superman Unlimited #15

The Kingdom Of Zod is about to explode onto the Superman Family which means the Reign of the Superboy stories need to end. And so we get Superman Unlimited #15 which sprints to the ending of the Tomorrow Man story, bringing about events and changes and deus ex machinas to basically get us back to where we at the beginning of the story. 

Truly, a lot of stuff happens here. Somehow Kryptonite self-replicates! It has been weaponized by El Caldero for some reason! Lana is changed! Kryptonite is now harmful to humans! Txyz (remember him) does some tomfoolery! Batman has a one-time trick!  And Superboy ... that is Ultra Boy ... that is E3 Superboy is gone. It all felt a bit too fast. There are too many things that come out of nowhere. But here we are.

There are zero complaints about the art though. Lucas Meyer is thriving on this book. We get battles. We get the supermobile! We get energy crackles and brutal punches. It is all so beautiful. Glad he is here!

On to the book. Expect some nit-picking.

Review: My Adventures With Superman S3E5 - The Death of Superman

 My Adventures of Superman S3 E5, titled 'The Death of Superman', came out this week and was a high action, rather brutal episode for this series. If you are looking for the usual food jokes and whimsy the show is known for, look elsewhere. This is Zach Snyder meets Dragon Ball Z as the Super-family battles the Cyborg Superman to stop a dystopian future from unfolding.

With Bizarro, the Cyborg Superman, and a Conner-esque Superboy all here, the show has been leaning into the Death of Superman/Reign of Supermen famous comic storyline. We get a peek at another famous of those characters at the end of this episode. And what an ending, worth of Trunks time-traveling for sure.

But we have to get there first. And to get to that finale, we need a knock-down, level the city brawl between the threat of the Cyborg and his Kryptonian drone cronies vs the Supers. And it isn't easy. The Cyborg has all the powers of Superman, and the ability to link to technology (like in the comics), and a heart of Kryptonite.

While the buildings are toppling, the Cyborg is becoming more monstrous, and our heroes are turning green, we still get to see the best of our heroes character come through. Superman continues to look for the best in people. He levels up at the end. Kara shows she has come far from Brainiac's weapon. And Lois shows she is fearless. 

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the episode was written by Marguerite Bennett, a comic writer I liked best on DC Bombshells. Cool to see her name in the credits. On to the show.

Revamped Supergirl Shrine

For those who don't know, I recently moved into a new home. That means setting up a new office/comic book room/sanctum sanctorum. 

It also meant packing up the Supergirl collection and bringing it all back out. 

I was excited to get the display up to give me a sort of anchor amid the unpacked boxes and piles of stuff. 

With the new set up established, I thought I would share it here.

Rather packed shelves meaning, incredibly, I might need to think hard about either increasing the shelf space or being more selective in my merch purchases. But I think it looks pretty slick in total.

Keep reading for a sort of shelf-by-shelf breakdown.

DC Comics Solicits - September 2026

Nearly a month ago, DC released their September solicits. But the Summer of Supergirl, an increase in super-titles, and the My Adventures With Superman show have pushed this post back to mid-July. Champagne problems. When there is so much Supergirl content that I have to shuffle posts, it is a good thing.

Here is a link to the entire slate: https://aiptcomics.com/2026/06/18/september-2026-dc-comics-solicitations/

And it looks to be another great month for DC and another bad month for my wallet. Right out of the gate, I can tell you I am buying Gotham City General, a book about working in a hospital in Gotham City. I am very interested in reading it. But there is also a new Doom Patrol and as a fan of the Patrol I will surely give this new take a try. There is also a new Teen Titans, and another new book that I will discuss later. Lastly, there is a facsimile edition of V For Vendetta #1 coming out. I think DC is putting that out because I have been doing in-depth coverage of the series over on Billy D's Magazines and Monsters podcast. Everyone should be listening and reading along. 

But let's get to the Super books! First off, love Lucas Meyer is doing an interlocking cover collage on all the books!

SUPERGIRL #17
STORY: SOPHIE CAMPBELL
ART: JOE QUINONES
COVER A: LUCAS MEYER

After the shocking events of last month's crossover, Ursa and Supergirl are on a time-traveling battle to Krypton's past! They have beef with each other, but they must be careful not to get lost in time! Or, y'know … accidentally rewrite time again! The rest of Super-Force are either locked up in the Kryptonite Kingdom, injured, or fighting a losing battle to stop the spread of Zod's deadly K-Zone!
ON SALE 9/9/26

I am not the biggest fan of time travel stories back to Krypton. But it will be interesting to see Kara back on Krypton and will she try to somehow stop the planet being destroyed. I do think the idea of Ursa being a Supergirl arch-villain is an interesting wrinkle.

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.

Review: Superman #39

Superman #39 came out last week and was an absolute treat as writer Joshua Williamson and artist Dan Mora continue to redeem Superboy Prime and break the fourth wall to smithereens. I have been saying how great this whole run has been all along but this issue, which really embraces comic history, might be the best of all. 

Last issue, Manchester Black finally revealed himself to Prime, asking for a reality punch to bring the villain back to life. Here Black puts Prime through the wringer, making Prime relive some of his low points, then putting him through a tour of comic genres, until finally breaking him. The best part of all of it is seeing Prime trying to fight through it all while continuing to be good. It really seems like a redemption story. Williamson has done the impossible; he made Prime likeable. We end with a great cliffhanger that left me wanting more.

Mora is a genius. This book lets him stretch his muscles. From indy art to romance to horror to animated style to battles reminiscent of Prime's bloodiest past, Mora shines. 

What makes this run so fantastic is all the fourth wall comic riffs. For an old fan like me, this is like a trip down memory lane. And there is a panel in this book so pitch perfect, both truthful and hilarious at the same time. I promise I will share it. I may put it on a shirt.

On to the book.

Review: Supergirl Movie

I saw the movie on Saturday and I am going to do my best to wrap my head around my thoughts in a non-spoiler way (above the fold) and a little deeper once we get inside.

I will say, based on the source material and some stuff that I had heard before hand, I went into the movie with low, almost no expectations. And perhaps going in that way, I found that I liked it more than I expected. 

There is an underlying theme throughout almost all the movie that Kara is kind and good. Despite the self-destructive journey she is on during the majority of the movie, that continues to bubble up to the surface. So I felt in many ways, the core of Supergirl was present in the story. I was not expecting that.

But there is a Zach Snyder-esque event at the end of the movie that seems to completely unravel that message. An act that seems so out of character from what we have seen before that it comes as close to ruining the film as it can. And it is completely out of character for who I think Supergirl is.

I think Milly Alcock is solid in the role, showing the pain Kara is going through and then having her come out of it in the end. It is a tight rope of 'party girl', 'sad girl', and 'hero' that worked. Alcock is probably the best part of the film. I thought Lobo, played by Jason Momoa was fun to see and quite comic accurate. But he seemed to be sort of tacked on. I wonder if in one of the earlier versions of the movie (remember it had 10 pre-showings and therefore probably multiple edits) he had a bigger role in the finale. 

But the movie itself feels sort of episodic with Kara tracking Krem and luckily running into people who know where to point her next. The film is incredible dull looking with most of the planets and sets very dark, shadowed, and dull. There are plenty of things that happen in the movie that are hard to hand-wave away (non-powered Kara beating up an 8ft highly muscled brute, innocent Ruthye being combat ready in one scene and choking out a brigand with ankle fetters, overpowered Lobo somehow 'trapped' and stuck in a brigand prison).

Even those plot issues didn't seem important next to the 'be good' core.  But then that Snyder moment happened. So I guess it lands as a 3 out of 5.