Review: Supergirl #8

I am on the back side of my forties and occasionally I still get the question 'why do you read comic books?'

I think the next time someone asks me that I am going to shove Supergirl #8 into their hands.

For Supergirl fans, the last dozen years have been an up and down affair. Kara Zor-El was back from being erased from continuity. But she was immature and angsty. But then Sterling Gates and Jamal Igle came along and she was a hero again, a part of the super-family. Then the New 52 happened and we took a step back. She was angry and angsty now. She hated the Earth and shunned her cousin. But then Tony Bedard, K. Perkins, and Mike Johnson came back and suddenly she was a likeable young hero again. Alas, nothing gold can stay and the book was canceled. Then the show hit the airwaves and Kara was in SuperheroGirls and DC realized she should have a book. And we got one with a young, eager hero who embraced her new home and was on a journey. And all seemed well again.

Except one thing ... where was Superman in all this?

Trust me, long time Supergirl fans know the big role Superman has played in Supergirl's life. In the Silver Age, he was like a shadow of doom, willing to hide her away and always ready to exile her from the Earth. But in later years, the two had a very good relationship ... as mentor and student or eventually super-partners.

Since the New 52, most Supergirl fans have been waiting for the two to get back to that sort of loving familial relationship. These two are the last survivors of their world and families. They should want to be part of each other's lives. They shouldn't be angrily avoiding each other. But storylines made it impossible. When Kara was heroic, Superman was Grounded, or powerless and angry, or aloof.

Thankfully writer Steve Orlando fixes all that baggage in one fell swoop. With Superman Reborn behind us, it is time to rewrite history a little and smooth over the rough patches. And so we get Supergirl #8, a book where the cousins hang out together, as family, and love it. But moreover, this isn't a Superman trying to guide Kara. It is a Kal appreciative and proud of all Supergirl has accomplished. She is an ally he will need to rely on. And Kara isn't put off by this. She is thrilled to have dinner, meet Jon, and play with her older cousin.

The art is by Matias Bergara. His style is very reminiscent of Brian Ching's so the book's overall feel remains intact. And some of his expressions and quiet scenes are done in a very charming way.
I can only show the highlights here but I honestly wanted to scan every page. On to the book.

Review: Supergirl #7

Supergirl #7 came out this week, the first issue since the opening Cyborg Superman arc ended. Written by Steve Orlando with art by Matias Bergara, the issue is a nice breather after the intensity of that opening storyline. If you want an episode to give someone to let them see who this #Rebirth Supergirl is, this is a fine primer.

From the very beginning, Orlando said that his take on Supergirl is of a young hero who will stop you from committing crime but then check in on you to make sure you are getting better. She is someone who will throw a punch but also someone who cares deeply. We have already seen it with her visiting a the crook she threw into jail. In this issue, Orlando gives us the follow-up to his Supergirl Rebirth #1 story of Lar-On. In that issue, Kara promised she would help Lar-On. Here she shows she meant it.

The story takes place in Lar-On's mind which means it is something of a fever dream. The landscape is chaotic, ever changing, and the frightening. But it also gives Kara the ability to look into Lar-On's psyche and try to help alleviate his troubles. Lar-On's issues resonate somewhat with Kara's life which gives the book an extra level of emotional weight.

And Orlando has clear respect for the DCU history as well. We get the usual dose of references and homages which just show how rich the mythos is.

The art in the issue is by Matias Bergara. His style is semi-similar to Brian Ching's so there is a nice sense of continuity in the proceedings. Bergara really gives a sense of movement with his work. There are plenty of panels where you can feel the action  play out.

On to the book.

Review: DC Bombshells #23

I've been collecting Marguerite Bennett's DC Comics Bombshells from the beginning and, for the most part, I have loved it. As I have said before, this is a comic based on cheesecake statues. I wasn't expecting much. But what we have been given is an engaging war story. The initial arcs, told in the style of film genres of the time was particularly brilliant. And, no surprise, it was the portrayal of Supergirl and Wonder Woman I found most intriguing.

It all came to a head when the Bombshells finally gathered together to fight a demon battering London. Stargirl sacrificed herself to bring about victory. That issue was so powerful that a Supergirl moment landed at #2 of my Top Ten Supergirl moments of 2016.

But with that victory over, at least for me, the book sort of lost its way. Suddenly it was all about Batwoman and Catwoman. We were away from the front and on side missions. Supergirl and Wonder Woman weren't in the book at all. And there was a subtle feeling that the book made the switch from a character driven book with an underlying agenda to an agenda driven book that has some characters in it. Those books usually don't succeed with me.

It felt like I was collecting the book out of habit, reluctantly. Never a good sign for longevity.

Bombshells #23 came out this week and finally brought back Supergirl and Wonder Woman. Their chapter was a deep dive into their characters, looking at how each looks at grief. It is drawn with some grit and some grandeur about Matias Bergara. And suddenly it felt like I was reading 'my' Bombshells book again. Thankfully.

The cover is a fun look at Diana and Kara relaxing on a beach. The omnipresent 'Keep Calm and Carry On' is emblazoned in the corner. It is a beautiful image by Marguerite Sauvage. But it hardly mirrors the tone of the book.

April 2016 Solicits

The April DC solicits came out recently and there are some great surprises in store for super-readers that month. I have to say, since Rebirth I actually look forward to the solicits knowing there is going to be something to pique my interest.

Here is a link to all the solicits for the month:
http://www.newsarama.com/32844-dc-comics-april-2017-solicitations.html

And now on to the super-books!

SUPERGIRL #8
Written by STEVE ORLANDO • Art by MATIAS BERGARA • Cover by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO and RAY McCARTHY • Variant cover by BENGAL
A “Superman Reborn Aftermath” tie-in! Superman and Supergirl meet again for the first time to face the evil of the Emerald Empress! Plus, what does it mean for the Girl of Tomorrow when tomorrow promises a Dark Knight? Shocking revelations, all-powerful sorceresses from the future, the Batgirl of Burnside and dinner in the Wild West—they’re all here in this amazing issue!

Sounds like a crazy issue with a lot of elements. I can understand the Superman, Batgirl, and Emerald Empress references but 'the Wild West'? Where the heck did that come from.

Look, I have been waiting for Superman and Supergirl to interact so this makes me happy. I think Batgirl and Supergirl should be friends in the DCU so that makes me happy. I have been waiting for the Legion to return so that makes me happy.

Suffice it to say I am down for this issue! This was the best thing I saw in the solicits.