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.

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: 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: Supergirl Survive #1

The Summer of Supergirl started out with a bang this week with both Supergirl:The World and the Elseworlds Supergirl Survive #1 hitting the stands. With the movie around the corner, I am pretty thrilled to see DC pushing the character forward.

Supergirl has only headlined a couple of the old prestige Elseworlds in the past - Wings and Elseworld's Finest - so when Survive was announced, I was intrigued. I know really nothing of the writing partners Ethan Parker and Griffin Sheridan. I am familiar with Rod Reis.

One of the wrinkles added to the Supergirl origin when Jeph Loeb brought her back was the idea that she is older than Kal. That an errant path and suspended animation has her land long after Superman had grown up. Elseworlds are about mixing things up so why not have a story where Kara and Kal aren't separated and she truly has to raise him. That is a decent hook.

Parker and Sheridan definitely give this kick-off issue a political angle. Here, Krypton doesn't explode. It is destroyed in a world war brought on by a splintered culture, evident even in the relationship between Jor and Zor. 

But this is a Supergirl story. In this issue we get a sense of who this Kara is, a little shy, a little smart, completely loving. It will be interesting to see where this story leads here.

Rod Reis really has a soft touch here. He brings an almost Phil Noto feel to the art, a high compliment from me. I like his Kara a lot.

On to the book.

Supergirl: Survive

The Summer of Supergirl continues with an Elseworld that was recently announced, Supergirl:Survive. Here is a brief piece about it: https://aiptcomics.com/2026/03/17/dc-preview-supergirl-survive-1/

Supergirl:Survive will hit the shelves on June 3rd. It is written by Ethan S. Parker and Griffin Sheridan with art by Rod Reis.  The book is said to center on survival, family, and resilience in the face of overwhelming odds.

It is hard to know about what to think about the book from this brief blurb:

Supergirl: Survive drops readers into a harsh reality where Krypton is collapsing, and General Zod is tightening control. Teenage Kara Zor-El and baby Kal-El are sent off together in an experimental rocket, forced to navigate a universe that is anything but welcoming.

Having a young Supergirl armed with a gun front and center isn't exactly the most welcoming picture. But I suppose given the sword-wielding Woman of Tomorrow, I shouldn't be too surprised. I keep hoping to see a Supergirl as a fierce, optimistic, bright, and justice-seeking hero. I don't know if pistol-packing Kara necessarily will fit the bill.

And, of course, the universe is going to be anything but welcoming. Because we need a dark take on Supergirl ... again.

These are obviously first impressions on an Elseworlds book. This isn't canon. If Superman can fight for the Union Army in the Civil War and Batman can fight Jack The Ripper, why can't Supergirl shoot at people. For all I know, she is optimistic and justice-seeking. I will be buying for sure.

 

I haven't read anything by the Parker/Sheridan team. A brief look shows they are most known for a Green Goblin book, and titles Kill Your Darlings and Blink And You'll Miss It. In other interviews they talk how characters finding their identity is a sort of central theme. I'd love to hear from anyone who has read their stuff.

I am thrilled Supergirl is getting this push from DC. There haven't been many Supergirl-centric Elseworlds (Wings being the only one I really know of). They are giving her a good push and that makes me happy.

There are some sample pages in the link above.

I know Reis mostly as an inker so it will be interesting to see him as main artist.

The pages have a sort of water color feel and maybe a hint of Phil Noto. 

What do you think?