Review: World Of Krypton #6

Work and life in general has been hectic here so I am just catching up on comic reviews. 

Today I'll look at World of Krypton #6 by Robert Venditti and Michael Avon Oeming, an issue which came out 2 weeks ago.

This is the last issue of this mini-series. And let's admit it, as readers we all knew where this was going. There ends with the destruction of Krypton. That's the origin.

And yet, the creators do something interesting, at least for me. I assumed we would be ending this mini-series with a classic shot of Jor-El and Lara looking up as a rocket streaks away from the exploding planet. After all, I just said that is where this story ends. Instead, Venditti ends this mini-series a bit more open-ended. Yes, the planet will explode. But there is still some time left, some stories unsaid. As I have enjoyed this mini-series, it left me clamoring a bit for more. Always a good sign.

I also think that Venditti has done a good job mining the past, picking up pieces of the established history that work, and then crafting this fresh take on things. The mirrors into our own current world are there, no doubt, but not presented in a preachy way. This is more a parable of frankly where we are in the world today. 

Oeming's art is an acquired taste but it has grown on me throughout the series. The use of electronic panel borders still works for me, giving this a feel for some discovered found footage file by Kal on Earth. His sassy young Kara continues to amaze me. And the action sequences, and there are many in this violent filled finale, flow well with palpable strikes.

I am sad to see this series end and wouldn't mind seeing these creators hook up again. Maybe for an old-fashioned 'Tales from Krypton' back-up in one of the Superman books?

I'd be remiss if I didn't include a shot of the variant cover by Cat Staggs showing Kara holding baby Kal. I assumed we would see this sort of thing in the series as well but we just never get there.

I will point out that the outfit Kara is wearing is Staggs' design for the Smallville book. Just a great variant.

On to the story specifics.

Best Of 2016 - Top Ten Supergirl Moments In Comics; #10-#6

We are nearing the end of my Best of 2016 posts, looking at the back half of the Top Ten Supergirl Moments in Comics this year.

Unlike some years, there was plenty of great moments to pick from which means plenty of comics that Supergirl appeared in! In fact, looking at this list, there are moments from 7 different titles. That's pretty incredible.

And, as is typically the case, I had a very hard time picking the #1 moment. The top two moments flip-flopped in the top two slots in my mind so many times I thought I should label them 1a and 1b. But that felt like cheating. So I had to put my mind to it and just choose.

Lastly, I always ask that folks let me know what you think of the list. Is there a moment I completely missed? Is the order wrong? Should something else be number one? And what are your thoughts of the year in total for Supergirl.

I might rank this as one of the best years in her history given how much she has exploded in popularity. But that is really something to look at from a distance. Given how long one post covering the top ten would have been, and based on a fan poll result on Twitter, I split this into two days of coverage. So settle in for #10-#6 ...

Sterling Gates Interview - Adventures of Supergirl

I really loved the Adventures of Supergirl digital comic which came out over the spring and early summer this last year. Sterling Gates really delivered a solid story which built on the show's plots while still being a successful stand alone story.  With the release of the Adventures of Supergirl trade out this week, I tracked down Gates for one more interview about the series and Supergirl in general. Gates was kind enough to answer. Settle in!

Anj: The digital series has been done for a couple of months which means the scripts were probably finished well before that. Looking back at the series as a whole, did you accomplish what you intended? Was there anything you that didn’t make it into the story that you hoped to squeeze in?

Sterling Gates: I’m exceptionally proud of the story we told in Adventures of Supergirl. We set out to tell an original story set in the show’s continuity. We wanted to dust off and update some old Supergirl villains while introducing a powerful new villain to her mythos. I specifically wanted to create a villain who could only be done within the continuity of the show, someone who came from Fort Rozz and who knew Alura as a judge on Krypton. And that’s how Facet came to life.

I had a lot of questions while watching the pilot about how Fort Rozz was run as a prison, and the Master Jailer episode only got me more intrigued. Who runs that kind of place? How? How firm a hand does a place like that need? Is there a warden? Or are the Kryptonians acting as wardens and the master jailers are their guards? Facet came from me wanting to explore all of that.

Truthfully, I could’ve spent 25 more pages just exploring Facet’s life. She’s been cognizant for a thousand years...what kind of perspective does that give you? What has she endured?

And (SPOILERS) why was she so willing to be locked up under the D.E.O. at the end of the story? Is it a good thing that she’s down there? Time will tell!

As for everything else, the show approved our outline from the start, so everything I wanted to do in this story more or less made it in. My goal was to do story beats that they couldn’t necessarily do on the show, due to stuff like time or budget constraints. I’m not sure you could do that dream sequence with Supergirl fighting other versions of herself on the show. It would probably be confusing for a wide audience, but comic fans know who each of those Supergirls are...and hopefully they’re happy to see ‘em! [laughs]

And while we’re speaking about this, a huge thank you to Greg Berlanti, Ali Adler, and Andrew Kreisberg for asking me to write Adventures of Supergirl. I had a really great time playing in their world and continuity, and am constantly amazed at the wonderful things they’ve accomplished for Supergirl.

Boston Comic Con Recap #1: Con And Terry Dodson

Welcome to the first of multiple posts covering my time at this last weekend's Boston Comic Con. This is *my* show, a huge con right up the road that have attended since its inception. This show has gone from being held in an insurance building basement to selling out the Seaport Convention Center. I consider myself lucky that such a great show is in my back yard.

I went to the con with hopes of getting commissions from Terry Dodson, Jae Lee, Tana Ford, and Daniel Govar. I was lucky enough to grab them all.

I have been a fan of Terry Dodson for a long time. He is a really nice personable creator who was fun to meet. He takes a long list of potential commissions on the first day and by the end of Friday he had narrowed down the selections to which commissions he thought he could get to. I decided that the 70s costume would be fun and interesting for Dodson to draw and so asked for that Kara. Luckily, I won the lottery and Sunday morning I picked up the above piece ... just stunning!

This is pure Dodson. But I love how with just copic markers he makes the sleeves seem translucent. And the salute is a nice patriotic touch. I am just thrilled with this piece. I'll be posting the other commissions over the next three weeks on Thursday. But the rest of this post covers the rest of the con.

Review: Adventures of Supergirl #11

Adventures of Supergirl Chapter 11 came out yesterday and continued to move this story forward at an incredible pace. While there have been great cliffhangers in this series so far, this one takes the cake. Seriously, I wish the next chapter was coming out tomorrow.

One of the things that has been bubbling throughout this series has been how family is such an important part of Supergirl's life. Her relationship to her sister is important. Her relationship with her mother Alura is changing, even after Alura's death. The relationship of Rampage and her sister is an interesting contrast. In this chapter, we add Eliza Danvers to the mix. And that is great given last issue's confrontation with the Alura A.I. That foundation of family is so key to the show so it should be key here.

Writer Sterling Gates continues to give us these important relationships. He also continues to build up Kara Danvers' history. And he continues to link this book to Supergirl's comic history. It really all works.

The art in this chapter is done by Emma Vieceli and is great. In particular, I love the panel edges and background art which add to the tone of the book. The cover is another action cover by Cat Staggs. Brilliant.

I really feel lucky, as a Supergirl fan, to have had this book, complete with a writer who obviously cares about the character and a line of great artists.

Review: Adventures Of Supergirl #10

Adventures of Supergirl Chapter 10 came out this week and continued to mine the show's universe in a very entertaining way. As readers, we have seen a mystery slowly unwind before our eyes. What seemed to be a 'escaped inmate of the month' first few chapters has become a villainous riddle involving Fort Rozz and the mysterious Facet. Each chapter has brought us deeper down the rabbit hole leading to this issue where we finally get some answers.

No surprise, writer Sterling Gates has really done a wonderful job on the story. From the villains' motives to the interaction between Kara and her supporting cast to the homages to Supergirl/DC history, this whole book has been a treat. But for fans of Gates' initial run on the character, this chapter will really resonate as we get to see Kara interact with Alura. There was a lot of friction between the two back then. And even if this Alura is AI, we see some of that here as well.

This chapter we also get the treat of Cat Staggs on both the cover and the internal art. Staggs' art has an inky weight to it. It feels like a cousin to Sean Phillips or Alex Maleev. And that weight works here given the story here. I also like the cover here. This moment with Alura was the defining one for Kara for a while, a moment of heroic self-sacrifice from her mother. Given the slow humanizing of Alura, the cover strikes a nice contrast.

On to the book.

June 2016 Solicits

The recent #Rebirth announcements shook up the landscape of DC Comics, bringing in new creative teams and new directions to just about all the DC titles. The transition to the new universe will occur over the early summer months. So June is sort of an odd month as some titles receive a Rebirth special while others wrap up their New 52 runs.

As a result, there will be just a few books for me to cover on this post. To look at all the solicits head to Newsarama here:http://www.newsarama.com/28585-dc-comics-full-june-2016-solicitations.html

Now there are a lot of titles in this month which I am probably going to sample that I am not covering in this post. But, amazingly, Rebirth is a jumping on point for me. This sounds like a more organized revamp of the universe than the New 52. I'm probably going to be checking out Flash, Titans, and Green Lantern. And I haven't read those properties in years. I'm probably back on board with Wonder Woman. So check out the whole solicits.

On to the super-stuff.

Adventures Of Supergirl Heading To Print!

When Adventures of Supergirl was announced, I was puzzled that it wasn't going to be solicited in print form. After all, Smallville, Flash Season One, Bombshells, and all other 'digital first' books get issues on the rack as well as the eventual trade collection.

But Adventures of Supergirl was going to be digital only until the trade. It was so odd that it made me, a 'digital never' reader, set up a Comixology account and get the book electronically.

Well, probably because sales have been brisk, DC has reversed course. They announced last week that the book will be released in print form. Here is a link:
http://www.comicosity.com/dc-to-publish-six-issue-periodical-of-the-adventures-of-supergirl/

And a blurb:
Due to popular demand, DC Entertainment will now be offering The Adventures of Supergirl as a limited-run six-issue periodical, prior to the collected edition release this fall. The Adventures of Supergirl will now ship twice monthly for three months, beginning with The Adventures of Supergirl #1 (collecting Digital First chapters 1-3) on May 11th, 2016.

The Adventures of Supergirl is a fun, accessible, exciting comic featuring an optimistic and positive heroine going up against some huge threats,” Gates told Newsarama in a recent interview. “There are so few books like that in the current comics marketplace, in my opinion, and given the show’s popularity, Supergirl should be leading that charge.”

The words 'popular demand' linked to a Supergirl book? And a digital Supergirl book? These are great days my friends! And a Supergirl book being shipped twice monthly?? Incredible.

 More from the article:

Paralleling but not duplicating storylines from the Monday night TV show, The Adventures of Supergirl introduces fans to Kara Zor-El, who is determined to grow into the super-hero her powers promise. But are dark forces pushing her to improve faster than is safe? As Supergirl faces classic DCU villains like Rampage, Vril Dox and Psi, she’s got no reason to suspect that their attacks have been coordinated, but when the final battle comes to a head, she’ll need to use all of her training, her DEO contacts, her friends’ talents and her sister’s love and support to get through it all!

We see the covers of the first four issues including the one above.
 
My guess is this issue (the cover above is for Adventures of Supergirl #3) is where Kara fights Psi. The glowing eyes in the background are very Psi-like. But the rest of the cover is a mystery. The left side looks like the Kryptonian armor Kara wore in the Crucible arc. But the right side? White pants? Is that an Iron Munro version of Supergirl?

And what's up with the cowled cat? Is that an updated Streaky?
And the screaming DEO agent? Is that an evil Alex? She looks sort of like Domino in the X-Force.

 And this is the cover for Adventures of Supergirl #4.

This is clearly a reflection of Supergirl in the face of someone crystalline. I don't think it can be Bizarro as this story takes place before that episode (in this Kara's timeline). So this one makes me very intrigued. Is this the 'dark force' pushing her?

Anyways, given that Cat Staggs is coming to Boston Comic Con this year, I'll probably get the floppies so I can get them signed. I going to have these books in digital, print, and trade?

Regardless, this is great news showing how popular Supergirl has become. 

Review: Adventures of Supergirl #1

Well the wait is finally over.

With the cancellation of the main title and the onset of the television show, plenty of fans (myself included) were wondering when DC would pull the trigger on a new Supergirl book.

Finally, DC announced a digital first book, Adventures of Supergirl, written by Sterling Gates with a bevy of great artists, and Cat Staggs on covers. What a complete win!

Now, after waiting what has felt like an eternity, Adventures of Supergirl Chapter 1 was digitally sent to my computer. And thankfully, it lived up to my high expectations.

Gates immediately shows that he still has a sense of Kara's voice, even if this is a different version of Supergirl than the one he wrote years ago. He drops us right into the middle of a battle which also is a nice hook to keep the reader turning the pages ... umm ... scrolling the screen. We get exposition and back story all while a tremendous super-powered brawl is happening. It is the best of all worlds.

Bengal's art is brilliant here. The action sequences are well done with blurring or movement lines to really add to the impact of the brawls. But the quiet panels of a smiling Kara, her body language, really adds a lot to the feel of the story.

Lastly, Staggs' cover is poster worthy and tremendous.

One thing I always like in comics is when creators take some risks.

In this case, I love that the first panel is Supergirl getting her face pushed into a wall. You barely get the sense it is Supergirl, just the clue of that blue eye between the fingers of the opponent that let me figure out what is happening here.

So for me that is a fun risk, opening up this comic with the image of your hero being crushed.

There is some nice internal monologue cluing in the reader that Supergirl was raised with the belief that violence is a last resort. That communication should always be tried first to defuse a situation. And we have seen this in the show with Kara trying to talk to all her opponents, offering them help, before battling.

But this beginning ... I almost expected her to say 'this is my life', the tag line of Gates' prior run.

The villain is Rampage. In the comics, this is a sort of Hulk character. Kitty Faulkner, a STAR scientist, becomes this super-strong, enraged monster when upset. So this is a nice match-up for an opening battle. I do love how Rampage only seems to be able to say her name 'Rampage'. Sort of silly. Rampage has a sort of Dragon Ball Z feel to here (Android 16 maybe?). But this page, with this angle, plays up the size differential here.

Gates riffs back to his first issue, Supergirl #34, by putting the fight in a sports arena. In that prior issue, Supergirl is lambasted by the fans as a bad hero. Here, she seems to be recognized more as a force of good.

 While the battle rages on, Kara thinks back to her 'origin'. These pages really lean heavily on the television show, which I think probably works nicely for people who are fans of the show and don't usually read comics. It sort of tightly links the book to the show.

So we see Kara say goodbye to Alura. We see the rocket. And we see Kara's plane rescue which leads her to become Supergirl, the protector of National City.

You get a sense of Bengal's style here. Kara's mouth is exaggerated as she saves the plane, but it works to convey the effort behind this rescue.

 The battle rages on, ending up in the parking lot. Away from cameras, Hank Henshaw calls in saying he is sending in DEO troops. But Kara doesn't want those men endangered, so she asks Hank to hold back.

And then we get this nice sequence where the fight picks up. The use of small panels, with the perspective getting tighter and tighter, the colors getting darker and darker, adds to the energy of the sequence.

But the thing I really liked about this was that last panel, the close up of a smile, the second such panel in the book. This is a Supergirl who is happy ... happy to be doing good, happy with her life.

She thinks she ends the fight with the 'surprise uppercut', the signature move of Belinda, the bully from Midvale High. That has to be a call out to Belinda Z, the 'bully' of Landry Walker and Eric Jones Supergirl Cosmic Adventures. And a Midvale High reference? Awesome.

Again, Bengal really gives us a great panel. The energy circles do have a sort of anime feel to them, a Goku vs. Vegata flavor. The angle, really looking up through the punch, adds some power as well. This whole fight sequence has been very kinetic.

With the battle over, the DEO chopper begins to descend to grab Rampage. (Hmmm, is Rampage a Fort Rozz prisoner or an Earth supervillain?) We finally get a shot of Alex! Hurrah!

I think my favorite panel of the story is Supergirl standing triumphantly over Rampage, looking up to her sister, beaming a big smile! That just screams 'Supergirl' to me.

But the fight isn't truly over. Rampage is awake and throws Supergirl through the tail of the helicopter. It is going to crash.

Nice cliffhanger.

Great book.

I felt this was akin to the opening scene of a James Bond movie. We are dropped into a conflict which may or may not have anything to do with the big plot. We get a chance to see what Supergirl can do. Plus we get her origin and some supporting cast. All beautifully rendered.

I suppose I am biased but this was all win for me.

Looking forward to the next chapter already!

Overall grade: A+

Adventures Of Supergirl #1 Cover

In a week when the Supergirl show dropped a lot of news, we got some news about the upcoming digital comic Adventures of Supergirl over on CBR. Here is the link:
http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/kara-zor-el-soars-on-adventures-of-supergirl-1-cover-art

To start off, we got a look at the cover of issue one with an absolutely stunning cover by Cat Staggs. There is a ton to love about this image. It is a nice heroic pose, Supergirl streaking from the sky and flying between the buildings of National City and Catco.  I love that smile on her face! A happy, bright Supergirl is always appreciated. I wouldn't mind a poster of that!

And here is a quote from Sterling Gates from the article:
"Fans of the show can expect to see all their favorite Supergirl characters play a role in our massively action-packed thirteen-part story exploring the various facets of Supergirl's life," promises Gates. "My editors have assembled a wildly talented group of artists -- including Bengal, Jonboy Meyers, Emanuela Lupacchino, Emma Viscelli, and the brilliant cover artist, Cat Staggs -- and our goal is to knock your super-socks off every two weeks across 2016."

The lineup of artists is just impressive! 

We are 10 days away from the release of the premiere issue! 

Review: Smallville Continuity #4

Smallville Continuity #4 came out this week, the final episode of this arc and this book and probably this continuity. I have been both eager for this issue and dreading its arrival.

I have absolutely loved this book as writer Bryan Q. Miller has created a deep, complex, and frankly classic version of a DC Universe. We had a heroic Superman with a strong Lois who was very much in love and involved in the adventures here. There was a League of super-heroes that  liked each other and enjoyed working together. There was a determined Supergirl. And there was Steph Brown Babs Gordon as Batgirl.  So I have been wanting to read this conclusion, knowing it would be great. But I also knew that its arrival meant the end of the book.

Miller has done a great job with pacing the last couple of arcs. The Crisis event at the center of this arc was basically ended last issue. That means all that is left is the wrap-up. And Miller does a great job looking around at this universe he has created and giving us an ending/new beginning for many of them. I was hoping for a nice coda to the book/continuity and Miller gave it to me. (Although, I was sort of miffed that Kara doesn't get much notice here.)

The art on the book is solid as done by Ig Guara and Marcelo Di Chiara, as they go walkabout to all the characters. I'll point out some of the panels that really struck me ... one in particular. And as usual, Cat Staggs gives us a great cover highlighting all these characters. I'll miss my monthly Smallville Staggs cover!

To wrap up this intro, there are enough open character plotlines here that make me think that Miller has more stories inside him. Maybe we'll get a one shot now and then?

The opening scene has Superman imprisoning the last of the Monitors. The Smallville Universe has been entirely recreated.  And Superman has imprisoned all of the remaining Monitors within a crystal matrix until the heroes can decide where and when and how they can be reconstituted and not be a threat.

As usual, there is a little metatext on Superman by Miller here. We hear how almost all Superman 'designates' never kill and those that do aren't here. We won't get a Goyer-like Superman willing to watch his father die, being taught to let a bus sink under the water, or snapping necks here. It's why I love this book.

I don't think Superman should kill either.

With the Monitor imprisoned, we get a tour of the major characters in the universe, a sort of wrap up to all the character plotlines we have loved reading these last years. All of these moments are superb. It shows how much Miller cares. It shows how three-dimensional they all have been in this book.

Steph Babs and Bruce have a final moment. After years of grimness, it was great to see Batman show some emotion. He admits that the joy that Steph Babs brought him actually saved him. He would have sunk deeper into darkness if not for her. How great a moment is this!! I loved it!

Steph Babs heads into space with the Green Lanterns. And Bruce finally meets Dick Grayson, the 'gymnast' we have heard about.

Both storylines come to a conclusion ... but open-ended.

Superman is able to overcome the fear of his alien heritage by those on Earth. He gives a speech at the White House about how he considers Earth his home and will always protect it.

We see Martha shedding some tears as she listens. She is a proud mother even if she can't admit it freely.

Tess Mercer became the electronic oracle in the book until she finally made a body for herself last issue, becoming the Red Tornado of the Smallville world.

Finally ... finally ... after all my years of reading comics ... a Red Tornado I would actually enjoy reading!

Here, Miller has her approach humanity even further. She has pseudo-skin. She eats and processes food for energy. And she loves. How great to see her and Emil begin a relationship!

With the Watchtower on Earth destroyed last issue, we see Tess head to the moon, the site of the new Watchtower, a true League HQ.

Great endings for these characters. But also with the sense that there are more stories here.

Chloe and Oliver join Diana in the DEO.

Oliver will train a bunch of new recruits the DEO have put together as a unit. Yep ... it's the Outsiders.

After all my worries that Oliver or Chloe or both were going to die, I was relieved to see them survive. And again, this is a logical ending for them. But also, the beginning of a new phase with possible new stories.

As for Lex, just when I think he is going to turn the corner in this book we see him literally eyeing the White House. Power corrupts. And there is a precedent for a Lex president.

What I love is how he misses Otis so much that he makes his new assistant adopt some of Otis' mannerisms.

And finally we have a blessed event. Chloe gives birth to a baby boy. And the gang all arrives to share in the happiness. This is Chloe's family now. And they decide to name the boy after a man they want their son to aspire to be like. They name him Jonathan ....

Hold on, it's dusty in this room. I need to wipe my eyes.

The one off note for me is the lack of a true ending scene for the Smallville Supergirl. There she is on the left (I'm assuming it's Kara).

I'll also miss the black body-suited, skull shirt wearing Diana!

And then my favorite scene and panel of the book. A scene of Lois and Clark alone and clearly in love.

I wondered if we might get the wedding here but I like this scene better. Lois asks Clark to fly here into the nighttime sky so she can parachute. (I love how she comments that you need great core strength to be carried along.)

But Clark says he will never let her go. And they kiss in the moonlight.

I can't help but look at this picture and 'feel' all the initial pictures of Superman and Wonder Woman kissing. It evokes that image. But it isn't Diana and Clark. It's Lois and Clark.

I hope it was intentional. I hope this was Miller saying that these are the characters that should be in that pose.

And I will miss my Lois and Clark moments that this book has provided me. 

I mean ... am I only seeing what I want to see? Am I transferring what I want the intent to be?

And then the ending ...

With Lois drifting to Earth, the 'Boy Scout' answers a call from Tess.

But from now on he wants his call sign to be changed.

"This looks like a job for Superman."

What an ending! I have talked a lot about how this book has been the place for me to go when I wanted a more classic take on Superman and his role in a DCU. Why not end it with one of the most classic line uttered by Superman!

I obviously loved this issue and this book and this universe. I don't think I need to belabor the point.

So all I have left to say is thank you to Bryan Q. Miller, Cat Staggs, and all the artists who worked on this book over these last years. I am sad to see this end. That's the biggest compliment I can give a comic.

Overall grade: A

Boston Comic Con Recap #3: Cat Staggs Commission

I can't believe that Boston Comic Con was only a month ago because it feels like much longer!

Behold this most excellent commission I was able to grab from Smallville cover artist Cat Staggs.

As many know, I am a huge fan of the Smallville comic and Staggs covers are a big part of the feel of the book. So she was on the short list of commissions that I was hoping to grab and was thrilled to be able to get on her list.

My commissions are almost exclusively of Supergirl in the Matrix costume with full shirt and red skirt. But I have begun to stray a little bit from that, picking and choosing when to get something different.

I am a big fan of Staggs' design for the Smallville Kara and talked about it when I first saw it. At the con, I told her I was torn between getting the Matrix Supergirl or her design as a commission. Staggs said no one had ever commissioned her to do her Supergirl design. In my mind that sealed the deal.

There is a lot to like about this costume and commission. I like that this is a full shirt and pants. Somehow these being pants make the kneecap-less boots easier to tolerate for me. I love the duster style coat from the hips as opposed to a cape. And the shades of blue mirror Superman's costume in Smallville conveying some familial continuity. So .. beautiful.

But this commissions is wonderful as well with it's pensive Supergirl looking away. At times I think it is angelic. At times I think she is sad. Other times I think she is just basking in the sun in deep thought. Since it seems to invoke different feelings, I tend to look at this one more than most.

It is just fantastic! Thanks to Cat Staggs for letting me add this beautiful piece to my collection.

One more commission to share ... next week.

Boston Comic Con Quick Update

So I was at the Boston Comic Con yesterday and will be there today and tomorrow as well. So no major post today.

I will say that yesterday was a great day at the con, fun and productive.

First off, I love the convention site ... The Seaport in Boston. Right off the highway, cheap and plentiful parking, and multiple restaurants and pubs within walking distance, all right on the water.

I was able to meet the majority of creators I wanted to yesterday, having nice conversations with Amanda Conner, Marcio Takara, and Mark Waid in particular.

I was able to get the top three commissions I was hoping to get. So the sketch books landed in the hands of Chris Burnham, Cat Staggs, and Marcio Takara. Burnham finished early ... a remarkable piece ... so I was able to then hand the seltchbook over to Daniel Govar.

There is a chance I might be able to get a couple of more sketches today and tomorrow.

Unfortunately Amanda Conner was not sketching so the Grail escaped me once more.

Today I hope to actually shop a little bit for ... gasp ... comics. I spied plenty of $1 boxes to thumb through. I was able to score a great bargain. The hardcover Lois Lane 75 year celebration trade for a mere $5.

SDCC 2014 Supergirl News So Far (Or Lack Thereof)- Oh Yeah, And Wonder Woman

There has been a lot of news coming out of the San Diego Comic Con this year, a lot of it around Wonder Woman in Dawn of Justice as well as Batman comics and Marvel movies.

But I hdidn't much about about Supergirl. I wonder if I have missed some part of a crucial panel about the super-books. Geoff Johns did talk a little Superman at a general DC panel and there was a generic sounding Superman panel.

So I don't have much to report on Supergirl here outside of two pictures from the con, both of which make me jealous of whoever has them.

Jim Lee did 50 quick sketches and hid them around the convention site for people to find. Lee tweeted out both the sketch and the general area where it could be found. One of them was this New 52 Supergirl. That would be a pretty cool find while wandering around!

Now a couple of weeks ago I wrote how Smallville cover artist Cat Staggs was on my wish list for commissions at the Boston Comic-Con.

Staggs tweeted her first commission of the SDCC, this pre-New 52 Supergirl. It is stunning and shows exactly why I hope she is sketching in a couple of weeks.

Anyways, if anyone caught any Supergirl news from the convention please let me know or include a link!

I am probably burying the lead ... but this is a Supergirl blog.

We finally got a sneak peek at Gal Gadot in her Wonder Woman costume for the upcoming Batman v. Superman:Dawn of Justice movie.

So ...

I was absolutely worried that the Wonder Woman costume would be horrible. And so, going in with that fear, I saw this and was pleased. There is definitely a specific Greek feel to this look and Gadot looks strong and fierce.

Yes, I wish there was more color, more red and blue. This muted color thing by Snyder is terrible. Is this whole world brown and gray?

And yes, she is wearing heeled/wedged shoes. Seems foolish to me. But it isn't a deal breaker to me because this could have been much worse.

Now I know that response to this has been dramatic and somewhat heated and negative, especially from hard-core Wonder Woman people whose opinions I respect. But I thought this was fine.

But otherwise there isn't much to report about Superman. Johns' was in the Champions of Justice panel.
Here is what he had to say:

 "We sat down and read every Superman comic from the New 52 and plotted the course of who that character is and what he's been through." Johns said that the human side of Clark Kent had been taken out of the series, but their new take on the Daily Planet staff will help bridge that gap. Coming up is a big change for Jimmy Olsen, which Johns referred to saying, "Dare I say it, it's bigger than Turtle Boy."

So one thing I have complained about is the lack of humanity and empathy in the New 52 Superman. So to actually hear Johns say that he is using the Planet staff to humanize Clark makes me happy.

At the same time, DC All Access came out with a video interview with Johns, John Romita Jr, and Klaus Janson. Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fGY9l2vIPk#t=365

It is interesting to see the three interact, especially the general lack of involvement by Romita. But it is here that again we hear that the villain I thought was a new Cleric with a second villain in Toyman in the arc is actually a new villain named the Machinist.

And, there was indeed a Superman panel, covered here by CBR here. But there really is nothing major revealed or discussed here. Worth reading for completeness sake I guess.

Boston Comic Con Preparation and Commission Wish List

One month from now I will be heading to the Boston Comic Con !!

This is the event of the summer for me and, as usual, it is about a month prior that true con preparation starts.

I have begun pulling books for signatures for the guests there, organizing them in interoffice envelopes for easy retrieval. I try to limit sigs to 6-8 per creator. There is nothing worse than being behind someone who brings 30 issues for signature. If I have more I will leave the line after 8 and return later with the rest. And while I succumb to pressure and bring first issues, and creator's first issues on a title, I will often bring my favorite issue of a creator to sign. I find that handing an issue they haven't signed a million times can spur a conversation. (For example, I remember handing Frank Quitely All-Star Superman #10, saying it was my favorite issue of the run. Turns out it was his too and this led to a nice chat.)

Anyways, the other half of con preparation is planning a commission strategy. Who do I want to get sketches from? Are they sketching? How much do they charge? Who is so popular I need to run to their table first? Who can I get in touch with pre-con to try to reserve a spot on the list? There is some prep work here.

For commissions, I have three sketch books I use, so I try to think of the top three with a secondary list if I don't get on the top three's list or if the initial commissions are done quickly enough for me to get more. I like to support the artists as much as possible.

Using sketch books limits how many commissions I can get in some ways but I love the portability of my collection. It also shows artists that I am not going to just flip my commission on EBay.

Here are the top artists I am hoping to get commissions from at the con, although one is a pipe dream.

Chris Burnham - I loved his work on Batman Incorporated. His treatment of Talia al Ghul was so spectacular that he vaults to the top of the list. His work on Batman Incorporated might make him a tough grab so I am hoping to get to him early.

Marcio Takara - I have seen enough of Takara's Supergirl commissions on-line (like the above pic) to know he draws exactly the sort of Supergirl I love. Add to that his recent energetic work on recent issues of Smallville, I am hoping to get on his list.

Clay Mann was a late addition to the convention roster. Mann is known mostly for work on X-Men books. I have always liked his style. A good friend of mine got an Elektra commission from him a couple of years ago which is breathtaking. So maybe I can nab a Supergirl from him.

Cat Staggs does the covers for Smallville and designed this interesting Supergirl costume. The commissions I have seen from her are unbelievable. I am hoping that Staggs will be sketching in Boston.

And now the pipe dream ...

Amanda Conner is one of my favorite artists in the business. I absolutely loved her Power Girl, Silk Spectre, and her Wednesday Comics Supergirl. I know she rarely does commissions these days but a Conner Supergirl is a like a grail piece for me. I can only hope that an earnest plea will be heard.

So those are the top artists on my wish list. There are plenty of other artists I would be thrilled to get sketches from so you never know. But wish me luck with these creators!

Review: Smallville Lantern #3

For some reason Smallville tends to be the last comic of the prior week that I review. I figured it was time to buck the trend.

Smallville Lantern #3 came out this week and was another fun and entertaining issue. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised anymore. Writer Bryan Q. Miller put together a stellar run on Batgirl with Steph. And so far his Smallville universe continues to grow, adding more of the DCU, and speeding to a Crisis.

This issue seemed to concentrate more on the Green Lantern side of the story with Superman taking something of a back seat. It's okay because this is a middle chapter. The plot needs to progress and we need to learn more about the yellow lanterns and set up a climax.

What surprises me the most is how Miller is able to weave in a number of smaller subplots into the issue while moving the main plot along. We see Oliver and Chloe continue to search for Prometheus. We check in on the Titans, and the JSA, and Batman and Nightwing. Even the sub-subplot of Steph's Barb's love life is touched upon. Great stuff.

I am a huge fan of Marcio Takara's art and he shines here. From quiet scenes of two people talking to intergalactic battles, he brings a great style. And the cover by Cat Staggs showing Batman surrounded by rings is great.

Last issue Parallax, angry at a perceived break of a truce, sent yellow rings to Earth. The rings will sow fear which would feed the monster.

While most of the rings head to Gotham, one heads to the Titans headquarters.

I thought this was a fantastic scene. One of the rings approaches M'Gann and seems to consider her as a Yellow Lantern. But after scanning, it moves on. I like the dynamic feel to Takara's art here. You almost see her twisting as she eyes the ring.

Given her actions in Smallville Effigy, it makes sense that she might be approached as a bringer of fear. And yet, it passing on her shows how much she has grown! Great little moment.

The bulk of Yellow Rings head to Arkham. That also makes sense.

For me, the Nightwing of Smallville  is the breakout character of the book. There is clearly a Steph-ness about her which is refreshing. Smart, strong, funny, emotional ... it's all there! Earlier in this scene, we see her take out a couple of punks clearly based on the Mutant gang of Miller's Dark Knight Returns.

Then with the rings screaming to Arkham, she has to break her date with the as yet unseen boyfriend ... named Richie. Hmm ... Richie, a gymnast, family owns a circus. When will we meet this Mr. Grayson?

As for Clark and Jon Stewart, they are still in deep space and clearly outmatched by Parallax. In order to give the Lanterns some time to retreat, Ganthet awakens from his slumber and tells Jon that the secret to defeat Parallax is to find out what Parallax fears.

The price for his telepathic information ... being ripped in half. Over the last 5 years I have seen more dismemberments and characters being torn in half than I have in the prior 3 plus decades. It has become routine and lost its emotional response.

And yet, this one shocked me a bit more just because these moments are few in Smallville. They still shock here and that's a good thing.

With rings all over Gotham, Jon facing off against Parallax, and Clark streaming back to Earth, Miller takes a step back giving me time to catch my breath. And in that space we catch up on the rest of the cast.

Chloe isn't too upset at Oliver despite his heading out on adventures. Mostly she is just thrilled he is alive.

What I love about this is how this has raised her ire. She wants Oliver to finish the job now and bring in Prometheus.

What I like about the art is Chloe existing outside the panel, bigger than life, determined expression. This is a big moment for her, to allow Oliver to head out and do his job, and it shows in the construction of the panel.

And we catch up with Lex who is still trying to learn about Green Lanterns by researching Alan Scott.

In the JSA headquarters, he tries to intimidate Ma Hunkel into giving out information. When she doesn't, he threatens her by saying he'll simply buy the building and force the JSA out.

Unbowed, Hunkel tells him how all bad guys think real estate is the answer to everything. I have to think it is a reference to Gene Hackman (and later Kevin Spacey) concentrating on a complex land deal as a way to grab worldly power.

As for the yellow rings, they find lots of easy recipients at Arkham.

But this small moment made me smile. Initially, Victor Fries is able to fight it off, love of his wife being the dominant emotion in him. But the power of the yellow ring seduces him.

I am a sucker for character moments. Much like M'Gann rejecting the ring and Babs calling Richie, this panel just adds depth to this book. Mr. Freeze is an afterthought in this book but he gets his moment to shine. I like a 3-dimensional comic world and this comic has that.

Like many of Batman's villains, Freeze dons the ring, creates a Yellow Lantern costume/armor and begins terrorizing the city.

Miller takes the opportunity of being in Arkham to add Harleen Quinzel to the Smallville universe.

Harley Quinn!

Surprisingly, Parallax begins to verbally attack Stewart, talking about corrupting Hal Jordan and defeating the Corps.  It is only a matter of time before Stewart gives in to fear.

Jon responds by showing how much he misses Hal by creating a massive Jordan construct and attacking. Much like Doomed is showing how much Superman means to the hero community, I thought this response showed how much Jon cares for and revered Jon.

But it isn't good enough ... Parallax continues to come on and attack both mind and body.

Despite the intergalactic catastrophe that is going on, the Prometheus problem is still out there. And it looks like he has something massive planned and will use the Ring attack as a cover/diversion.

And someone has to stop him. So why not Oliver in a quickly rigged set of armor.

Nifty design.

But Arrow against Prometheus? Seems like a mismatch.

Superman shakes off his green armor to better battle the Yellow Lantern Corps of Batman Rogues when things suddenly get worse.

Stewart has been worn down and dons the Yellow Ring as an agent of Parallax. And they're on Earth!

I don't know if quite understand why Stewart fell so quickly. But this certainly is a solid cliffhanger.

So let's start guessing. What is Parallax afraid of? Hal? Hope? Superman?

But will the combined might of Superman, Batman, and Nightwing last long enough to find out.

As much as this Lantern story is interesting, I have to say that I love the small character moments outside the arc even more. One thing I don't see too often these days is a solid, well developed, supporting cast. It makes a book so much more enjoyable. 

Add to those moments more DCU folks appearing (Freeze, Harley) and the solid Lantern main plot, and you have a great book.

Overall grade: A