Review: Action Comics #1091

Action Comics #1091 came out last week, bringing a close to Mark Waid and Skylar Patridge’s first Superboy arc in the book. This is an extremely early adventure in our hero's career. I guess is it's his first adventure! And it comes with the 'is he a bad guy' Captain Comet angle as well.

The Captain Comet angle comes to an interesting end here with another lesson imparted on Superboy. But I have some questions about it. We'll get there. Waid continues to add some depth to the 'new' Smallville. This is the first time we have had a Superboy timeline in a while. So seeing Lana, Pete Ross, and Kenny Braverman interact feels fresh. Waid understands the character so seeing Clark figure it all out feels right.

Skylar Patridge remains on art and continues to bring a completely fresh, clean feel to the book. It perfectly fits these 'simpler' younger days for the character. I have said it before and I will say it now. The high school pages by Patridge are incredible. 

I think Waid has said that he had at least a year of Superboy stories in his head. So it will be fun to see the next arc and how it picks up.

On to the book.

Review: Action Comics #1090

Action Comics #1090 came out last week, the next chapter in Mark Waid and Skylar Patridge's look at the earliest adventures of Superboy. It is the big picture for sure. Clark is testing the limits of his powers, trying to reconcile having a secret identity, having a first love, discovering he has a weakness, and trying to understand the motivations of Captain Comet. Because we are looking at a teen boy exploring his boundaries and learning about life, it really resonates with this old man. 

Waid is having a blast with the work, weaving in humor, the trials and tribulations of being a teenager, all while bringing us super-heroics. It is a sort of 'Superman Year One' now that Superboy is back in the continuity. But if I have to be honest, it is the Smallville High stuff that I am loving most. Especially the Lana stuff. 

And speaking of Lana, Skylar Patridge's art, especially the Smallville High stuff. Patridge seems to know all the things that would drive young Clark into fits and she infuses Lana with all of it. The action stuff is fun too, including some cool looking robots throwing hands.

I am really getting a kick out of this, partly because I can see a little of myself in poor Clark pining for Lana. On to the book.

Review: Action Comics #1089

Action Comics #1089 came out last week, the next chapter in the Superboy story weaving through the title. And, not surprising given the quality of the earlier issues, it is a very good book. 

Writer Mark Waid is showing us Superboy at his earliest. What I like about this issue is that it shows that Clark was, by no means, perfect. With his powers manifest and a second identity to use them and soak up the adulation of others, we see a more confident Superboy. But that means it might be a little harder to accept being the 'normal' Clark Kent. Suddenly he is acting sullen to his parents, standing up to bullies a bit too much, and ready to smash the landscape to cut loose. Most adolescents rebel a little. I guess a super-adolescent might super-rebel.

On top of that, Waid introduces Captain Comet as a former super-hero perhaps trying to warn Clark not to lose control, not to get a god complex. But there is more to this Comet than meets the eye. There is something nefarious.

It makes for a good read and humanizes our hero. He is human in many ways and he shows it. Waid just seems to understand Superman.

Skylar Patridge remains on art and gives us a very nostalgic, very sweet appearing, very polished look. In particular, her Clark and Lana pages just sing. But there is one page that again showed me why I love this medium, a mix of art and words that perfectly captures the moment.

On to the book.

Review: Supergirl #37

Supergirl #37, the second issue by new writing tandem of K. Perkins and Mike Johnson, was released this week and was a blast. Supergirl #36 was a great launchpoint for this new direction for Supergirl, finally establishing her as a hero on Earth and then sending her into deep space. That inaugural issue was a great issue, building on Tony Bedard's redemption of the character and showing us a strong, independent Kara still trying to find her way but moving forward confidently.

This issue takes place entirely off Earth as Perkins and Johnson uses the issue to showcase Crucible Academy, showing us the classes, having us meet the teachers, and giving us more information on the new supporting cast members. What impresses me the most about this issue is that it shows us these things without necessarily telling us this. We don't get bogged down in exposition.

And, more importantly, the pacing of the issue is impressive. We have action sequences. We have several plots introduced and moved forward. And ... amid all that ... we have those small quiet character moments that deepen characters.

Now I love Supergirl accepting Earth. Last issue we saw her working as a barista and telling Superman she was going to continue to defend the planet. We needed this issue to lay down the foundation of Crucible. But I hope Kara doesn't stay off-world too much.

I haven't even mentioned the art yet!

Emanuela Lupacchino is really shining on this book right now. Her Supergirl really hits the right notes, mixing youth, enthusiasm, and strength. The characters' expressions are wonderful, feeding the tone of the scene. And the action sequences show a powerful Supergirl.

And I had to include a look at this Darwyn Cooke cover. I want this as a poster! Just a great reminder of Supergirl's long history! Streaky!!

 So we start out with Kara starting out at the school, designed to teach the future champions of worlds. She is pegged as a champion of Earth, a nice way to show that Supergirl has accepted Earth as her homeworld (even if she still feels a little uncomfortable with that designation). Once again, it shows her growth, not only internally but externally. The galaxy considers her a Earth hero. (Far cry from the Supergirl how rode a space motorcycle out into space under Nelson.)

And we also meet the classmates in her study group. It is a nice little group shot, reminding me of Bevery Hills 90210 or Saved by the Bell. More importantly for this moment, we get to hear Kara's early perceptions of the group. Maxima is smart and cold and a quick fighter. (She could be a foil for Supergirl or maybe a reminder of who she was.) Tsavo is an overly emotion fighter. And Comet is the popular guy, something of a preener.

The descriptions of the characters fit nicely into classic stereotypes of students and would be fine as such. But happily, we learn they are a bit more complex ...

And, as I have said almost too many times but still think it is worth repeating, I love that Perkins and Johnson are building on what has come before rather than simply wiping the slate clean. So last month we saw Kara thinking about Siobhan.

And here we see her talking about Michael! This makes me very happy. I like continuity although I am not a slave to it. But the 2014 character progression of Supergirl was wonderful. I am glad this new direction is acknowledging and building on it!

 And then we get a crash course on Crucible.

We see a snippet of 'Tactical' class, which sounds more like History as the teacher, Korstus, teaches about planetary diplomacy and takeovers. But there is a sense of 'history being written by the victors'. Korstus' lesson about a peaceful alliance between two worlds is disputed by Maxima who says her mother witnessed a bloody conquering.

There is something unsettling about Korstus.

 One thing I have loved about Supergirl in all her incarnations is that she is highly intelligent, always a student, and definitely something of a science geek. Whether it was the Otto Binder Linda Lee tinkering with a chemistry set in Midvale Orphanage or Paul Kupperberg's grad student, or Sterling Gates' Kara rebuilding a robot as a kid or joining the Science Guild or even this Supergirl showing some science when fighting Simon Tycho,  Supergirl has been a learner.

So I loved a page here of her being invested in her classes, especially this panel. I love the look of wonder on Kara's face as she throws herself into her studies!

I also enjoyed the scenes of Kara sparring or teaming up with her study group members in more Danger Room style 'missions'. In one we see her 'fighting herself' like in the cover (they turn out to be psychic projections by Comet).

In another we see her rise to be a leader when Tsavo can't pull it together to defuse a bomb under pressure.

This is probably my favorite scene in the issue for a couple of reasons. Just a year ago, Kara was a complete loner who probably would have watched this thing blow up in Tsavo's face. So I like how she rushes to help him.

But more importantly, I think it showcases the growth in Kara. She is learning to be a leader and to trust herself when to intervene.  I always like the idea that Supergirl will be the leader of the next generation of heroes just as Superman is with the current.

 The inner workings of Crucible turns out to be more than just a school. I wondered if it was something more like the battle training by the Warlords of Okaara (in the old DCU). Here it feels even a bit shadier.

Professors Amata and Korstus don't like each other much. Amata seems to have a higher ideal for the school, thinking it a place to make leaders ... not warriors. But Korstus' words make it feel more like a place where he can raise an army.

And the 'High Council' has the feel of the Science Council of the Donner Superman movies. The heads of the school talk about Crucible needing to be a peace-keeping institution, especially with the Green Lanterns busy. And Korstus thinks cloning warriors is the best way to accomplish that.

This whole thing sounds wrong. And it doesn't get better when Korstus says Kon-El is the focus of his cloning plan.

I think Korstus has his own agenda.

I do love this visual though, the giant holograms of the Board surrounding some cosmic tree. What is the tree?  Yggdrasil??

But we don't get to learn more of  Korstus' plans.

Instead we get backstory for Kara's study group which show they are much more than stereotypes.

Maxima planet is dying from underpopulation. Maxima's family doesn't care for her potential as a leader. They want her to breed!

I can only imagine the incredible pressure there is on her to be something of a planetary Eve. I also wonder about how constricting that role might be. Maybe Maxima wants to be something more. That is a very interesting wrinkle to this character and a decent homage to her prior incarnation's desire to mate with Superman.

 And Tsavo's backstory is deeper than him being the animalistic brawler of the group.

His planet Ngo is being torn apart by a civil war. It must be difficult for him to be away.

Outside of the revelations about Maxima and Tsavo, I also liked that Kara was being a good friend, visiting these two and simply talking to them. That also is about as far from a 'disaffected loner' that you can get. She even can empathize with Tsavo and his fear of losing everything.

Just great character moments for all three.

And again, you get the sense of Supergirl being a leader here.

This heart-to-heart is interrupted by Amata who says that the Civil War on Ngo has reached a crisis and Crucible is going to send forces to try to bring about some peace. And that includes Supergirl and her study group!

This felt maybe a little bit forced ... maybe. Would you send Freshmen into war? Maybe Tsavo was felt to be needed given his understanding of the planet? But is Crucible a school? What about graduates? Did they get a call? I think I need to learn more. But it felt off that Crucible would send the potential future leaders of worlds into the fray. I would think they would send the fully-trained alumni.

On the planet we learn that Tsavo is a prince! And the royal family is being attacked by rebels led by Tsavo's older brother! Talk about a dysfunctional family! Nice cliffhanger!

So overall, this issue continues the solid work that started last issue. We get action. We start to peel away the layers of Crucible. (There is more to this place than simple classes.) We learn more about the new supporting cast and their complex personal back stories. And we really get to see Kara shine in all her roles - student, friend, hero.

And it is all so beautifully rendered by Emanuela Lupacchino, inker Ray McCarthy, with colors by Hi-Fi.

This is a great way to wrap up 2014, showing just how far Supergirl has come over this year.

Overall grade: A

Review: Supergirl #36

Let's see ... over three years, Supergirl has had the following writers.

First Michael Green and Mike Johnson.
Then Mike Johnson.
Then Frank Hannah.
Then Michael Alan Nelson.
Then  Scott Lobdell, Justin Jordan, and Nelson.
Then Tony Bedard.

Over that time, this book and the New 52 Supergirl has had her ups and down. There were times in the first two years ... a time when she was 'angry, disaffected, a loner' ... a time when she was 'Hell on Wheels, as likely to fight her friends as her enemies', someone with no love of Earth ... that a glimmer of heroism shone through. Then H'el on Earth made her bitter and willing to sacrifice billions of people to get home a story where she fell in love too soon and was dupe. Then she was actually killed and disintegrated by her father. And then she reverted to being chilly and angry in Krypton Returns. And then, in the biggest shock, she was made a Red Lantern of rage and had her character actually rehabilitated and redeemed by Charles Soule and Tony Bedard.

I give all of this primer on the DCnU Supergirl to show just how tumultuous the life of our poor Kara has been. And here we begin yet another 'bold new direction' under the writing of K. Perkins and Mike Johnson.

When first announced, I was dismayed that things were changing yet again, especially when Tony Bedard had actually made Supergirl a likable hero once more, bringing her closer to the 'classic' Supergirl, a hero looking to help and learning on the way. How could DC derail this title yet again??

Then I began reading the publicity, listening to interviews, and hearing the plans the new writers had. And things seemed better. It felt like both Perkins and Johnson understood who Supergirl was. They were building on what came before, not blowing things up yet again. And there wasn't a mention of 'angry' or 'loner' or 'bitter' or 'Hell on Wheels'. Suddenly, I was optimistic!

Well, this week, Supergirl #36, written by Perkins and Johnson with art by Emanuela Lupacchino came out.

And I have to applaud it for being a great first issue, setting up the new direction of the book while acknowledging and respecting what came before. In that way it is akin to the setup for Daring New Adventures of Supergirl that we saw in Superman #376 and saw in Supergirl #34 by Sterling Gates and Jamal Igle. That is high praise.

It starts out with a great majestic picture of Supergirl flying in the sunlight, determined look on her face, cape billowing. It is a beautiful panel.

But the words are as important. "The past is the hardest thing to escape from." From the first line, we know that this team isn't going to ignore the troubling past of this incarnation of Supergirl. She can't escape what has happened before in her continuity.

Like I did with Sterling Gates, I applaud the team for acknowledging that there are some skeletons in the closet here. We'll be dealing with the history of this Supergirl, warts and all.

But then things get even better. This image is Kara lost in thought. That 'let go' is Kara's boss at a coffeehouse yelling at her to let go of the cappuchino steamer. We are brought back to reality where Kara is a flustered and pestered barista! And just like that we know that Kara has finally embraced Earth as her home. I mean, she is getting yelled at while working a blue collar job ... and accepting it! This is a far cry from the girl who wanted to be alone in her Sanctuary at the bottom of the ocean!

In one page I got two things that were important to me. One, we acknowledge the past. This was no hard reboot. And two, we are moving away from the rough earlier characterization and are building on Tony Bedard's foundation.

Now my absolute favorite part of this issue is a scene where Kara and Clark have a heart-to-heart conversation, talking about both the past and the future. It is, by no means, warm and fuzzy. But it feels like the way family sometimes talk to each other. And it amazes me that Kara comes off as the more mature one here, trying to shake Superman from the post-Doomed doldrums.

And Kara standing up to Superman for trying to get her to not act or use her powers is fantastic. I love how she throws Super-Doom up to him when he comments on her turn as a Red Lantern. He did way more damage than Kara did in Red Daughter. In fact, she was her most heroic in that arc.

There was also a whiff of Silver Age here when Kal tried to hold Supergirl back until she 'learned her powers'. This isn't the 50s. She isn't going to tolerate that.

And it is so awesome that Kal is the one who no longer wants to act while Kara is the one who wants to protect people and live among the people!

This thin panel, with those piercing eyes is perfect. How could Superman forget that it is a NEVER-ENDING battle??

And to hear Kara say she wants to embrace a 'normal life' on Earth. Hurrah! Bedard set this up. But this is cementing it!

And the ending of this scene really reminded me of Superman #376. Sure, she is part of the Super-family. But Supergirl has to live her own life, make her own decisions, and not blindly listen to Kal, especially when he is trying to make her take steps backwards.

Sure, they aren't hugging. But there is respect and I would say some love between them, even if they don't agree.

As I have said before, even within this review, one of the things I was looking for in this new direction was for it to build on the plots that have gone before, both the good and the bad.

So I had to show this panel where Kara hears (from across the city) Siobhan playing a song. Siobhan was one of the best parts of this book. To see Kara recognize that she has wronged Siobhan by pushing her away, is wonderful. The Banshee needs to be part of this book. But I hope it is as a friend and not an enemy.

The quiet walk home ends abruptly when Supergirl is transported away, to alien worlds and environments, where she has to battle opponents to prove how 'worthy' she is.

These are pretty straightforward action sequences where Supergirl prevails over all. I had to showcase this fight just because the new Maxima looks great.  Kara also defeats a cat-man named Tsavo and Captain Comet.

These 'fights' were recruiting battles to see if Kara was worthy of Crucible. We knew all about this before the issue given the publicity. But it is great to finally hear about it from the characters.

This does sound a bit like the Warrior school on Okaara in a prior DC Universe. Supergirl will learn to better her skills to better defend her world.

I do wonder if Superman's sudden lack of interest in heroing as well as Supergirl deciding to have a life on Earth and protect people might be the impetus for Kara to agree to come here. Maybe she feels that she needs to insert herself into Superman's role if he continues this 'retirement'.

As if that wasn't enough, Perkins and Johnson throw in a delicious wrinkle.

Shay Veritas was a student at Crucible!

Now that is a great little hook. Maybe we will learn more about Shay, her origins, and what she did here.

And then, if all this great characterization wasn't enough, we get a killer cliffhanger.

Kon-El didn't sacrifice himself in Krypton Returns. He is trying to lead a quiet life until he figures things out. He is living as a monk! Phenomenal. Remember, I had problems with the narcissistic bank-robbing Kon. And I didn't like the angry weapon Kon. This is a big step forward for the character. One that makes sense.

In case you didn't get the vibe, I thought this was a great issue. Sure there was some great action of a powerful Supergirl. And yes, the art is just stunning. But it is the characterization of Kara that I loved the most. She is on Earth and accepting it. She is working a job. We see her food shopping and washing clothes. This is her home. And she is suddenly an eager hero, willing to stand up to Superman and tell him he needs to do what's right. Wonderful ...

This issue is 2 days old and I already want to read more. So congratulations to this new creative team. Thanks for accepting the past, making Supergirl great and heroic, and moving things forward!  I couldn't ask for more from a 'bold new direction'.

Overall grade: A

Review: Action Comics #0 Back-Up Feature

I gushed about Action Comics #0's main story last week, thinking it a perfect sort of reflection on not only the origins of a young Superman but also the origin of the concept of Superman, someone here to help.

And I have applauded Sholly Fisch's back-up stories in Action Comics as well. If Morrison is laying the bricks of the foundation of this Superman, Fisch's stories are like the cement holding it together. They just add some of the finer details to key aspects to Superman's early years.

In Action Comics #0, Fisch and artist CAFU turn the concept of the 'zero issue' on its head. Instead of being an origin story for Superman, it is an origin of Eric Drekken, the evolution-powered supervillain in the little man's Anti-Superman Army. And even better, he tells it from a reverse point-of-view from Captain Comet's review from Action Comics #12. It is that sort of attention to details that makes this book so solid.

But I also worry. Way back in Action Comics #6 we saw the group shot of the Army of super-villains the gnome had gathered. Will we every learn about all of them? Sure we have touched upon Nimrod and met Suzie Hopkins. And we know a bit more about Drekken now. But the rest of them?

I have to stop worrying about what Morrison will do to end his run. Instead I need to roll with it.

The issue starts with a young Erik Drekken talking to his mentor Dr. Emery Zackro. Zackro had written a paper about evolution being spurred along by ambient radiation. In return for this paper, Zackro is ridiculed and ostracized from the scientific community.

But Drekken sees some potential in the study. He wants to talk to the subject of the paper - Adam Blake, Captain Comet.

There are a bunch of small things I liked here. First off, I did my best to try to anagram Dr. Emery Zackro into something with 'crazy' and failed. Second, it just hit me that the 'comet' that triggered Blake's transformation was probably Kal's rocket. But most of all, I liked the fact that Zackro seemed to pity Blake.

As I said, this story seems the reverse angle take on Comet's origin last issue. We saw Comet walking on this road in the rain then, but from the opposite way. I could post panels side-by side but trust me.

I also have learned not to believe in coincidences in comics. Isn't it a bit odd that Drekken happens to run into Comet just as the Oort-kind arrive?

And another thing I liked here was Drekken's personality here. He doesn't seem to be your typical bad guy. He seems more like a committed almost obsessed scientist, someone with a researcher's curiosity. Even here, he notes that the 'comet' went over thousands of people. Why is just Blake effected?

Of course, if it is Kal's rocket, it could be just Blake that was near the rocket as it crashed. (I assume his parents are too old and 'formed' for the radiation to effect them.)

And, like in last issue, we hear Blake talk about the upcoming threat to the planet. He might be isolated, alienated, studied like a science experiment here ... but it is his home. He will defend it.

Comet really is sort of Superman through a mirror darkly. This is what Superman would be if all this alienation overtones seen in the current DCnU wore him down.

And suddenly Drekken has more than just scientific curiosity to drive him. He now feels the need to help defend the world. You can imagine how someone as obsessive as Drekken seems about science suddenly has a cause. We know he is going to veer a bit to zealotry and fight Superman.

I have to say that I have enjoyed these back stories immensely. Looking back at Drekken's battle with Superman in Action Comics #6, he didn't seem like a mustache-twirling megalomaniac. Instead, he seemed pretty out of place. This origin story makes that scene more understandable.

As usual, CAFU supplies solid art here. This story is basically a conversation between 2 characters in the rain and yet I felt the art was dynamic enough to draw me into the story.

Overall grade: B+