Review: Superman World Of New Krypton #11

Superman: World of New Krypton #11 came out yesterday. While Rucka, Robinson, Woods, and Randal continue to do move the "assassination plot" forward, several other subplots were not mentioned. Furthermore, some new plots were added to the overall story. This just didn't feel like a penultimate issue.

And frankly it isn't.

This series ends in March. Superman:Last Stand of Krypton starts in April. And that after that 3 issue miniseries, we will jump right into War of the Supermen.

I have to stop thinking that there is an 'ending' coming in #12. I have to realize that this is the eleventh issue of two year huge story. But it is hard for me to do so. As I read this issue I kept wondering, how will everything be wrapped up next month?

It is that problem of expectations as a reader. I have enjoyed this series but know I feel a bit let down that it looks like many of the things started here are not going to end here.

Let's move on to the issue.


The issue starts a the exact moment that last issue ended, with an assassin training his weapon onto Alura. The opening conversation between her and her assistant Lyra Kam-Par again shows how complicated a character Alura is. While Lyra is dealing with the emotions of Mar-Li's murder, Alura is somewhat coldly already planning how they will replace him on the council.

At times we have seen Alura being completely dispassionate almost emotionless and at times we've seen her overwhelmed by her feelings. She's so complex that I really look forward to seeing her in these titles. At first I hoped she would simply go away because of the cruelty that she showed Supergirl. But she's far too compelling now.

But before the conversation can go any further, the assassin strikes. Unfortunately he misses his target shooting Lyra through the chest.

It's too bad. I thought that Lyra could be an interesting character in Kara's future. She could have become an adversary or rival given that she seems to have more of a relationship with Alura than Kara did. I guess we'll never see those stories I had in my head. I thought she might end up as the next Lesla Lar.


The Military Guild investigates the crime scene. Unlike the first murder where the weapon was an exfoliation device specific to the Labor Guild, the weapon here appears to be a military style rifle. Lieut.Nar finds the weapon quickly and that there is genetic residue consistent with Labor Guild leader Tam-Or.

It seems out of character for him to become an assassin. But that said, Kal feel somewhat responsible for the two victims. Remember, Kal was the one who convinced Alura to free Tam-Or despite his kidnapping attempt earlier in the series.

I do like that this feeling crops up early in Kal's mind. It is classic Superman... an utter respect for life and a sense of responsibility for your actions.


The ruling council on New Krypton is in taking these assassination attempts lying down. They want to be proactive. But they are definitely conflicted. While they are convinced that Tam-Or is responsible for the shootings, they aren't sure if he's acting alone or in conjunction with allies from Earth. As a result, they feel that the Labor Guild should be squeezed for information about Tam-Or's whereabouts. It makes sense that they would respond like that given it were representatives from their guilds that were attacked.

Surprisingly, Alura is a voice of reason here. Understanding that the Labor Guild is responsible for the day-to-day running of New Krypton, she realizes that they cannot be held accountable for the actions of one man. After all, the Military Guild were not judged in their entirety due to the actions of Ral-Dar in Codename:Patriot. And once again, Alura fascinates me. You would think she would be more enraged since she was one of the targets. And she has talked to about laborers poorly in the past. And yet here, she is defending them as a group.

Councilor Zo, the Military Guild representative, shows his prejudice against the Laborers during this argument. He even insinuates that Superman might be aiding or abetting Tam-Or since Lara was a laborer. After all, how could Tam-Or be evading the Military for as long as he has?

This tension about the Labor Guild and its place in Kryptonian society has been one of the better elements in this miniseries.


With Adam Strange at his side, Kal flies to the medical facility to talk to Tyr-Van again.

While there, Kal notices that In General Zod is almost completely recovered. In fact, news of the murders have reached him. Initially I thought that Zod would champion the idea of putting the Labor Guild under the thumb of the military. But much like Alura, he surprises me. He doesn't think that Tam-Or is capable of these assassinations. Moreover, Zod finds it strange that Tam-Or would be so meticulous in the first murder and so sloppy in the second leaving behind a incriminating weapon. It doesn't make any sense.

This entire time, I have felt that Zod was in the background pulling all the strings. But this conversation puzzles me. There is no advantage for him in saying this if he is behind the framing of Tam-Or.

So who else could be behind all of this? I wonder if it is Commander Gor - he would have a beef with both General Zod (for not choosing him to command the army in Zod's absence) and with Commander El (for running the Army in Zod's absence).


But Kal is there to talk to Tyr-Van to see if the Labor Guild member might know a place where Tam-Or could elude detection.

The conversation is short and bitter. It is also powerful. Tyr talks about how people trusted Kal to make things better for the people of New Krypton ... but things seem worse with him around. That is the last thing Superman would ever want to hear. But it is true that the overall tone of this book has swung from optimism to pessimism, from joy hope to sorrow and anger.

Still, Tyr knows a place and decides that he must continue to have faith in Superman.


I was glad to see some continuity here especially since it plugs R.E.B.E.L.S.

Tyr flies Kal and Strange to a hidden military facility which is lead-lined and soundproofed.

In this laboratory-appearing building, the Labor Guild members herd capture silver-skinned alien beasts. Some get sent to the Science Guild alive for evaluation and experimentation. Most simply get flayed of their skin. Their are hundreds of 'pelts' hanging here.

Kal knows nothing of the place. And Tyr wonders why the commander of the army doesn't know about a military facility.

I wonder what the pelts are capable of. Cloaking? Enhanced invulnerability? Since this is military, their must be a use for them in battle. This has to be the work of Zod ... maybe he is pulling the strings.

Still, the addition of a whole new wrinkle to this story with just one issue left seemed off. Then again, this isn't the second to last issue of this large story arc ... just the second to last issue of this mini-series.


Tyr was right though. Tam-Or was hiding out here given the buildings defenses against super-senses.

Initially, Tam-Or comes out threatening Kal. He says 'he warned me you'd be coming'. Who is he? Zod? Gor? Someone else?

Kal tells Tam-Or that he believes the Labor leader is innocent and they should work together. Despite the recent events, Tam shows faith in Kal and lowers his weapon. It is clear Tam is not a soldier.

So who is behind these killings? I still think it could be Zod who hopes all this instability gives him the opportunity to declare martial law, dissolve the Council, and invade Earth. But could he have set all these gears in motion before his assassination attempt? Or, as I conjectured a while back, could he have set up his own murder attempt to stay 'behind the scenes' and beyond reporach while he worked his evil?

But time seems to be running out on the investigation. Before Tam can say anything about who tipped him off, Councilor Zo, Commander Gor, and squad of troops breaks into the building.

Zod has resumed command and demands that all traitors be killed.



And that starts with Kal and this group.

I am really of two minds here. I thought this was a good issue in that it progressed this assassination and conspiracy plot forward nicely. And I am still guessing as to who is behind the whole thing. As a long time reader, I crave surprises and mysteries ... so this is all good.

Still I feel as though I have been sold something of a bill of goods here since all the storylines brought up in these first 11 issues (make up of the council, mysterious illnesses, Zod's background maneuvers, the role of the Religious Guild to name a few) can't all be resolved next month. And if they all are then the whole thing will feel like a rushed ending. On top of that, we know that the subsequent miniseries - Last Stand - will involve a fight with Brainiac, so a whole new major plot will be added to the mix.

Should this have been named a 15 issue mini-series so I wouldn't be so wrapped up in it ending too soon? Will the renumbering bring in new readers and prop up the lagging sales on this title and interest in the Superman titles? Will we ever learn all the things we want to? I hope so.

So as an individual issue, I would grade this a B+/B. As a penultimate issue, I would grade it a C/C-. So, I'll combine.

Overall grade: B

David Finch Signs With DC

Over on the Source Blog, DC announced something of a coup in that they signed superstar artist David Finch to an exclusive contract. Here is the link and some blurbs:
http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2010/01/05/superstar-artist-david-finch-signs-exclusive-contract-with-dc/

Mega-popular artist David Finch, who’s made a name for himself working on every title under the sun for Marvel will be calling the DCU his home base for the foreseeable future — and we couldn’t be happier.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining the DC family! It feels too good to be true that I’m going to have the chance to draw some of the most dynamic, iconic, and fun characters in the business. I’ve been a DC comics fan for a very long time, so it’s a very big honor to finally have a part in their creation.”

Okay, I don't know how much this effects Supergirl or the Superman titles but it did give me an excuse to repost my Finch commission. This was one of the first commissions I obtained.

Obviously it impacts DC as Finch is a huge name. My guess is he won't be given a monthly and instead will work on some limited series or other such project to allow him the time he needs for his detailed art (a la Mauro Cascioli). But I also anticipate/hope that we will see Finch covers (standard or variant) on lots of titles so we can get a taste of his versions of the DC icons.

While his women can veer to the very cheesecakey (from his early work on Aphrodite IX to his very recent Psylocke covers) they aren't always over the top. I think his art is great. I initially bought New Avengers solely because he was artist on the book; same with Moon Knight. And I really had no interest in those characters. I think that is the mark of a great artist ... when their art can bring you to a project you would otherwise skip over.

So I hope we see a Finch Supergirl cover (maybe a variant so we keep getting a monthly dose of Josh Middleton goodness).

Best of 2009 #3 - The Fans' Thoughts

I figured one last look back at the great year of 2009 was warranted, this time looking at the moments that folks here listed as their best moment of the year for Supergirl. When I said I was preparing my 'best of' list, I asked if anyone knew theirs. I loved the responses I got.

I think they are all great moments and deserve their moment in the sun, so here are 4 more 'best of' Supergirl moments from 2009 with credit given to the posters.

John Feer picked another moment from Cosmic Adventures for his best moment:

I like action, so Kara casually bursting the kryptonite chains Mxyie had foisted on her from Cosmic Adventures is my mark-out Supergirl moment from 2009.

That is another great moment from Cosmic and is an homage to the classic Neal Adams' cover of Superman #233. It is a big moment as the near omnipotent Supergirl defeats Mr. Mxyzptlk and sets things to right in the universe.



Gene picked another great Lana moment as his best of 2009.

Aside from her team up with Batgirl in World's Finest #3, I would nominate the panel towards the end of #42 when Supergirl asks Lana to call her Linda from then on.

This scene occurs right after the 'strongest girl of two planets' scene between the two. I think many of us are looking forward to seeing more Linda in the book. I want to see 'Linda' become the identity. I wonder if I simply have to wait until New Krypton ends.



Nikki, like me, thought that Supergirl standing up to her zombie father showed a new found inner strength. She simply quoted the scene she loved:

'and if you were really my father, I'd give a damn' *punch* from Blackest Night:Superman.

Eddy Barrows really does a great job on the art here, accentuating the brutality of the fight. I mean, Kara evicerates Black Lantern Zor-El in the last panel. But what I really liked was the first two panels showing only 'will' as Supergirl's resolve let's her ignore his hateful words. The subsequent rage seems like a natural extension of facing off against this abomination.


Talos liked the fact that Supergirl is still gaining new allies with her new attitude.

Hmm how about when we see Supergirl selflessly save Inspector Henderson's very life which leads him to believe that she's equally trust worthy as well as her cousin? :)

Another improvement on the title since Gates/Igle has been the addition of a supporting cast. Adding Henderson was great, giving Supergirl an insider in the police, her own sort of Jim Gordon. In the Superwoman arc, Kara saves Henderson from Superwoman. In return, Henderson takes down Reactron. That mutual rescue, mutual respect has set them up to be allies. I was glad to see him again this last issue.

And with that we bid 2009 adieu and move onto 2010!

Christmas Wrap-Up: Trinity Volume 2

One of the more surprising gifts I got from Mrs. Anj this Christmas was the second trade volume of Trinity. She doesn't follow comics at all but understands my passion for them. So for Christmas I got several trade paperbacks from her that she thought looked interesting. This was one of them.

I have to admit that I did not get Trinity when it came out. After being displeased with Countdown and with a pull list that was saturated, I did not think I could afford a weekly comic especially if it wasn't any good. I had heard that Trinity was a decent comic but just stayed away. Even on this blog, I can remember someone recommending it to me given its portrayal of Supergirl.

So in some ways I feel there is a little serendipity going on here. I would not have picked up this trade otherwise. I have to say that I thought this volume was a decent read. Decent enough to make me look for the other trades when my local comic bookstore has a big sale.

From what I can gather Morgan Le Fay, Enigma (the antimatter universe Riddler) and Despero have formed an anti-trinity and realize that the symbols of the Tarot can be utilized to effect lasting change in the universe. This collection starts immediately after a battle during which Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman are branded with Tarot symbols and subsequently erased from history. With the Trinity no longer present in the DC Universe, history rewrites itself. It is a darker universe with a government controlled superhero army instead of a Justice League.Characters suddenly have new back stories and origins. One of those is Supergirl.


All of the major players seem to be at the site of this battle when reality shifts. So Supergirl is suddenly this visor-wearing aggressive government agent dressed in a sleek gray and white uniform.


She is now Interceptor!

And she is clearly a highly ranked, highly respected and feared, and unbelievably efficient agent for the military. We learn that she us a Colonel in the Army and is the lead on the dozens of important missions.


Unfortunately, the universe is constantly in flux because of the missing Trinity however. Without them, something isn't right in the universal fabric. History is constantly rewriting itself leaving the world in chaos.

Those closest to the Trinity realize that something isn't right ... that something is missing. There are half-memories that constantly bubble to the surface of their minds. The individuals form an alliance to try to bring back Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman and set things to right. The group consists of Alfred and Dick Grayson, Donna Troy and Nemesis, and Lois and Supergirl. (Thanks goodness Busiek ranked Kara as being that important a person in Superman's life.)

In this scene, Alfred uses some Kryptonite to weaken Interceptor and retell her other origin. He then tries to convince her to join their ranks. I love the dialogue from Supergirl here divulging a little of her new origin - her rocket was found by Navy Seals. Intriguing. Still, Supergirl agrees with the group's mission and joins them.

Their mission leads them to an alien world where the Trinity are worshipped as gods.



Here we see Interceptor as the responsible agent. Even as she is flying along, hoping to rewrite the fabric of reality and bring the Trinity back, she is wondering what mayhem is happening on Earth. Should she have left that upheaval knowing she definitely could be helping there as opposed to potentially doing something here?

I had to include this picture if only to commend Mark Bagley for his art. As someone pretty ignorant of his work prior to this trade, I think he is solid with great panel layout as well as slick finished art. DC did the right thing by having Bagley responsible for only half of each issue, drawing the 'main story' while other artists (Scott McDaniel and Tom Derenick) did background stories each month. As a result, fans could get a weekly dose of Bagley.

I like his design of Supergirl as Interceptor here. The visor is a nifty addition. But Kara looks lithe and athletic in the Government issue one piece. She is battle-hardened and confident. I like how she looks here as the big gun of this alliance, front and center and ready to attack. I'd love to see a commission of Supergirl in that position but in her regular uniform.



So I was also thrilled to see Busiek address a question that I was starting to think as I read the book. Would Interceptor, knowing her position in this history as established super-power, want to rewrite history and go back to being Supergirl who is still 'becoming'?

The trade ends with the alliance facing the Trinity in their 'alien god' mode.

This certainly wasn't an unbelievably great book but it certainly was very good. Given the weekly format and the resulting length of the story, I think Busiek should be commended. A very good weekly probably equals a fantastic monthly.

So did anyone read this when it came out? Should I buy the other trades?

Best of 2009 #2 - The Creators' Thoughts

Knowing I was going to be putting together *my* 'Best of 2009' list, I thought I would ask some of the professionals on the Supergirl creative teams if any particular moments stood out for them over the past year.

I want to wholeheartedly thank Jamal Igle and Landry Walker for responding. Here are their thoughts on 2009.

First up, here are Jamal Igle's thoughts:


Jamal Igle: The best moment of 2009 for Supergirl? Probably Supergirl #43(Guilding Day) I think it's probably as perfect a moment as she's had, when she finally confronts Alura about how she'd been treating her. One of my favorite issues to draw.

The Alura/Kara relationship has been tumultuous over the last year and therefore has made for some great reading. Alura has to be one of the most complicated and compelling characters in comics these days. She really is a roiling tempest of emotions ... from depression to rage ... confidence to self-loathing. And she really hasn't been the most loving and supportive mother to Supergirl.

In Guilding Day, Kara finally talks to Alura about their relationship and comes to the conclusion that she simply doesn't understand her mother. In the end, Kara picks the Science Guild to try to bridge that gap.

I do wonder what the fallout will be when Kara discovers her mother's plans with Reactron.

And now Landry Walker:


Landry Walker: Pinning down a specific "best of" moment in comics right now is difficult. We mostly see characters develop slowly over sweeping arcs. As a reader, I have really enjoyed what 2009 as a whole brought to mainstream Kara. A sense of maturity. In turn, I think that has cast some of the previous material on the mainstream title in a better light. You can't really have a sense of accomplishment for a character achieving said degree of maturity if it weren't for the previous struggle. Even with the art, how could anyone look at the current costume as a symbol of Kara maturing if her previous look had not been so controversial? This was underscored nicely in the flashback in issue #40 (as I recall) that showed Kara in a skimpier uniform. So 2009 was a good year for Supergirl, in part because Sterling has properly used the earlier creative direction as a stepping stone to get Kara to where he wants her to be. That's good comics writing.

I have to completely agree that one of the high points of the year has been the maturation of Supergirl's character to the more heroic and responsible character we have had throughout 2009.

And it was hammered home nicely in this flashback from Supergirl #40 where Kara is seen in the micro-costume she sported early in the title, an aggravated look on her face, her hands on her hips angrily ... all while Batman is trying to train her. We haven't seen that Supergirl in a while.

From the beginning I was happy that the Gates/Igle team completely acknowledged the early Supergirl adventures rather than just sweep them under the rug. I called it a 'soft reboot' back then. And Landry is right that as readers we can only see growth when comparing the character to her earlier history.

I'll again thank Jamal Igle and Landry Walker for commenting. As fans, we really appreciate hearing your thoughts on the characters you write.

Any other 'Supergirl best of moments' for 2009 we should revisit?

2009 In Review And the Top Ten Supergirl Comic Moments

Happy New Year to everyone! Welcome to 2010, my second full year of blogging. For everyone who stops by and comments on my musings, thanks so much. It is really great to talk to other fans of Supergirl and Superman.

Like last year, I thought I would do a' best of' review of Supergirl's comic book moments of the year. A year is a long time and Supergirl has been very busy so this is a very lengthy post.

Overall I would say that 2009 was an unbelievable year for Supergirl fans as the character really solidified her place as a premier character in the DC Universe.

First off, her own title stabilized under Sterling Gates and Jamal Igle. Critically praised with improved sales, Supergirl suddenly became a great and noticed title. She grew tremendously and really left behind the characterization that we had seen early on in the book. For a Supergirl fan, the quality of the main title has to be a high point of the year.

On top of that, Supergirl:Cosmic Adventures in the Eighth Grade was a truly spectacular Johnny DC mini-series, introducing the character to a whole new generation. Like the best all-ages books, Cosmic Adventures was stuffed with moments that appealed to the adult fan with more Easter eggs hidden in six issues than I could count.

But Supergirl also was a major player in all the Superman titles, starred in a well received strip in Wednesday Comics, played a key part in Final Crisis, wrapped up Superman/Supergirl Maelstrom, joined the Justice League: Cry For Justice team, helped set up the R.E.B.E.L.S. team, and continued to appear in Tiny Titans.

And so ... onto my favorite comic moments of 2009. Because there were so many noteworthy moments, I couldn't keep it to just ten.

Here are the three Honorable Mentions, the three moments that almost made the cut.

Honorable Mention 3: Action Comics #881 - 'Little Fortresses'

With the world's military chasing down the 'Metropolis Three' for their alleged role in the Metropolis Sewer system disaster, Supergirl takes Nightwing and Flamebird to an apartment she keeps in Paris. As Kara happily twirls around, she talks about how she keeps lots of little fortresses around the world.

This reminded me of the famous 'Supergirl's apartment' scene in Final Crisis last year, a little peek into what Supergirl would call home. I also thought it was such a stark contrast to Superman's fortress, a reminder of their differences. Kal probably doesn't have a happy face pillow in the Arctic.

Honorable Mention 2: Cry For Justice #2- "The Arrival"


While the Cry For Justice comic has had its ups and downs, there is no denying that Mauro Cascioli's art has been absolutely stunning. This panel really was jaw-dropping as Supergirl arrives on the scene of a League battle and swiftly eliminates the few remaining villains. This was a powerful almost goddess-like rendition of Supergirl. Wonderful.

Honorable Mention 1: Superman Secret Origins 2009 - "The Tinkerer"


This one was put in and removed from the top ten so many times, it really should be on the 'best of list' as number 11. This was a flashback story looking at the Kara/Thara friendship back on Krypton.

I thought this added to the back story of Supergirl as we really haven't seen much of what she was like in her early years on Krypton. So to see her wearing goggles, wielding an arc welder, and reprogramming a baby-sitting robot was fascinating. It helps explain her decision... her ability to join the Science Guild; she is sort of a tech-y.

This story also showcased Thara's religious faith nicely.

And now on to the Top Ten Best Supergirl Moments of 2009:

Number10: Supergirl Cosmic Adventures in the Eight Grade #2 - 'Belinda Zee'


I cannot put into words how great I thought Belinda Zee was as character. She was the perfect foil for the Cosmic Linda. She was as popular and confident as Linda was shy and awkward. As the title goes on you sense that Belinda actually has feelings and is tired of her empty life compared to Linda who has a true friend.

Here is the moment she first arrives, telling Linda she is an upgrade. This 'Bizarro Supergirl' stirred the drink of the Cosmic mini-series, adding action, humor, and emotion to the story. I loved Belinda so she had to be in the top ten.

Number 9: Supergirl #42 - 'Strongest Girl On Two Planets'


The events of the New Krypton storyline kept Supergirl busy and pushed the Lana/Linda relationship on to the back burner. I was hoping on seeing this relationship grow in this title.

So this small moment in the aftermath of the Superwoman story arc was really appreciated. It showed that Lana and Linda have a great rapport. With Kara heading home to investigate Lucy's presence on New Krypton, Lana tells her she is the strongest girl on the planet. Supergirl playfully responds 'two planets'. There is an easiness about the discussion and Jamal Igle's art really connotes the comfort the two women have with each other. These panels are followed with one where Kara tells Lana to call her Linda from now on, another great moment in their relationship.

Number 8: Superman:World of New Krypton #3 - 'Faster than a Speeding Bullet'



With the Labor Guild revolting, Commander El decides to try some negotiation as a way for the standoff to end peacefully. Knowing that Zod and his crew would try to end the impasse through violence, Kal gives Supergirl an important part in his plan, keep the Labor Guild leader safe. In this scene she stops Commander Gor's assassination attempt by being faster than a speeding bullet and plucking it from the air. It is great to see both Supergirl beaming with pride as well as Superman letting her know he is proud of her efforts as well.

Pete Woods draws a great Supergirl too!

Number 7: World's Finest #3 - 'Hang In There, Catsy.'


This issue just came out but I liked how it re-envisioned a Supergirl/Batgirl friendship so much it warranted a spot on the 'end of year' list. The story shows just how easily Supergirl and Batgirl would become friends. In this early scene, I love how the 2 heroes look at each other and convey how they feel ... to leave Catwoman imprisoned. With that simple glance they know they are both in agreement. So much of that nuance - the expression and body language - is evoked from Jamal Igle's great art.

They both trained with Batman, they both wear the symbol of a legacy hero, they are both trying to figure things out for themselves. They should be friends.

This issue was the beginning of what I hope are many adventures together.

Number 6: Superman/Batman 62 - 'I Am Going To Destroy You ...'


This might win my favorite panel of the year as I loved everything about its composition. This scene takes place in Superman/Batman #62 in which Supergirl and the Tim Drake Robin are called upon to stop an inmate uprising in Arkham. As the story is a flashback, this is probably one of the first times Supergirl is exposed to the madness of Batman's rogues as she walks in to a room with the Joker eviscerating a staff member.

Her quick response ... her anger and actions ... are spot on here. She would (and some might say should) destroy a deviant murderer like him. And that depiction of her in the shadows as she contemplates dark deeds in this dark place is about as perfect as comics' art can get.

I can only hope that I get to see Rafael Alberquerque draw the Girl of Steel again.

Number 5: Wednesday Comics #2 - 'I'm Gonna Put A Stop To It'

I suppose I could have picked the whole Wednesday Comics strip as a moment. It lasted a brief 12 weeks but was a great, sweet, and fun story. This Supergirl seems just older than the Cosmic Supergirl with the same mix of innocence, exuberance, and awkwardness.

This scene from the second strip captures all of that. Here she works efficiently to save a news crew endangered by the maddened super-pets. At the same time she is embarrassed that she needs to do so, biting her lower lip and blushing slightly.

The Supergirl strip in Wednesday Comics was a joy to read. This was a young Supergirl as eager to pig out and watch TV as she is to fly to the sun and face aliens. Jimmy Palmiotti really captured that youthful energy. And Amanda Conner's art was simply adorable.

As an added bonus, Supergirl sported a 'Matrix' style costume here ... my favorite costume.

Number Four: Final Crisis #6 - ' Eat This Bus'

It is hard to believe that Final Crisis wrapped up within this year. It feels so long ago!

Grant Morrison had a very strong interpretation of Supergirl, describing her in some interviews as the sweetest girl in the universe. She was the exact opposite of the depraved, twisted, and perverted DeSaad-possessed Mary Marvel.

That clash of character and morality reached a fever pitch in Final Crisis #6 where the two go toe to toe in a shattered city. Kara more than holds her own, frying Marvel with heat vision and pummeling her. While the whole fight is really the 'best of' moment, my favorite in-battle moment is when Supergirl force feeds Mary a bus after Marvel calls her a slut. Buses as projectile weapons is one of my favorite things to see in comics.

Final Crisis had a lot of big moments hidden in its confusing plot. This was one of them.

Number 3: SupermanBlackest Night #2 - 'You're Not My Dad'



One of my concerns with the character of Supergirl is that her 'emotional vulnerability' can be overused as a plot point. I can remember comics in the 70s and 80s where Supergirl would break down and cry for mundane reasons like not getting a date. So when there is a prime opportunity for it to be overused and it isn't, I am very pleased.

In Superman:Blackest Night, Zor-El rises from the dead as a Black Lantern to threaten his wife and daughter. He unleashes a diatribe against Kara calling her a failure in every way. He probably is saying all the things Kara fears in her heart. It would have been very easy for James Robinson to have Kara crumple into a maudlin heap crying. And yet she overcomes that psychological assault.

Instead we see a strong determined Supergirl face this abomination of Zor-EL and lash out. That panel of her split between will and rage is fantastic. There is no fear or love or compassion here; she realizes this simply isn't her father and deserves none of those feelings. I think this scene also shows how much the character has grown over this last year.

Number 2: Supergirl #40 - 'I Know First Level Klukor'

Reactron had a significant presence in the main title over this year, facing off against Supergirl multiple times. For some reason, this moment in Supergirl #40 stood out.

Depowered by Gold Kryptonite and battered, Supergirl still shows strength and resolve. She faces off against the super-villain with nothing but her training and a hunk of rebar. I thought it was great that the continuity of her Amazon training and her training with Batman are brought up. Those are huge reasons why she would be able to survive in this fight for the 15 seconds she needs before she repowers. (The first level Klukor comment is the cherry on the sundae for a Silver Age guy like me.) Supergirl not only stands her ground but is victorious in this fight, ripping the gold K from Reactron's chest.

And while I always vow never to bring up the bike shorts controversy again, it was this panel that seemed to set the internet on fire about the topic as they are so prominently displayed. I prefer them red with gold trim but I have seen them colored all red, all blue, and blue with gold.

And the number one Supergirl moment in 2009 ...

Number 1: Supergirl Cosmic Adventures In The Eighth Grade #6 - 'The Krona Hand'



I suppose I tipped my hat with my choice a couple of weeks ago when I said I was planning a 'best of' post. But this was the best Supergirl moment of the year for me. I actually said 'awesome' out loud when I was reading the book for the first time.

For an old school guy like me, I have seen the 'hand of creation cupping a galactic swirl' in DC Comics many times. It is best known (and most seen) as the beginning of creation as seen by renegade Oan Krona. But that scene has been replayed in many places. Heck, it is on the cover of Crisis on Infinite Earths #11.

So when I was reading Cosmic Adventures #6 and saw the hand emerging from that swirl, I knew just what Landry Walker and Eric Jones were referencing. I knew this was 'the hand that Krona saw', the hand of creation. And then we see that the hand belongs to Supergirl!! It was the best mix of DC history and Supergirl that this DC history/Supergirl fan could ask for. Perfect! Readers who don't know the Krona connection probably did not get as big a bang for this scene as I did. But I had a silly grin on my face for a while after reading it.

Well ... that is the year of Supergirl as I saw it. I would love to hear other people's favorite moments or any comments you have on my picks.

I have another 'best of' post coming up next week ...

Cosmic Adventures Trade

The Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the Eighth Grade trade paperback came out last week, just in time for the holidays. I decided to treat myself to a copy as a Christmas gift.

I also bought a copy to give to the eldest Supergirl at home for her birthday which is in a couple of weeks. This will be her first trade paperback. It makes me well a little bit just thinking about it.

And I don't think I need to go into details about how much I enjoyed this miniseries when it came out. It really was just a wonderful comic and so I was very glad to see that DC recognized that and collected it in the trade format. Kudos to Landry Walker and Eric Jones for putting out such a great book.


One thing I always look for in collections like this are any extras that are added to create a better product. For me, I don't think that trades should necessarily just be a collection of the individual issues. There should be more. I don't care if that's a foreword or a cover gallery that includes variant covers or even the raw script that is turned into the comic itself. So I was very happy to see some early design images tacked onto the end of this collection.

Many of these have been posted on Landry Walker’s blog but not everybody may have seen them. In particular, as a huge Belinda Zee fan, I enjoyed seeing early renditions of her. And Walker's comments add some depth to the design decisions.


And then there is this version of Supergirl which was not used for the book. This Supergirl looks like she is more in the second or third grade. That would've been a very different book.


There is also an early version of the cover for Cosmic Adventures #6. I certainly think that this image of Kara flying over a multiverse is a great image. I do think that Comet’s face is a little bit too happy for the seriousness of this mission and therefore think that the cover that was ultimately chosen for the issue (where Comet has a sterner look) was the right one.

I will continue to hope that DC will recognize the winner that they had in this book and get Walker and Jones to come on board for a sequel.