Supergirl Annual #2 Easter Eggs

Supergirl Annual #2 re-imagined and re-created the Supergirl/Brainiac 5 relationship which is such an important part of both of the characters' histories. One thing that I really liked about this issue was that it looked forward, bringing the current Supergirl and Legion together for the first time and adding romance with Brainy to the current Kara's life.

But as a Supergirl fan and amateur comic historian, I loved how it also looked back at the older adventures of Supergirl and the Legion, acknowledging them with some Easter Eggs sprinkled through the issue. Heck, there were even some more modern homages in there as well. It just showed how much Sterling Gates knows about and appreciates the character's history when the small things are included. It many ways, it reminded me how Landry Walker had historical flourishes throughout Supergirl Cosmic Adventures in the Eighth Grade.

Of course, one giant Easter Egg was a new version of Satan Girl and her Crimson plague vexing the Legion. I just reviewed her original appearance in Adventure Comics #313. Here are the Easter Eggs I found in Supergirl Annual #2. Let me know if I missed any!

When we first hear about Supergirl joining the Legion and having adventures with them, we see some snapshots of what she has been doing. The first is 'finding ancient artifacts'. I love Supergirl flying from underground, wielding Excalibur.

That was a nice nod to Action Comics #276 - written by Jerry Siegel and drawn by Jim Mooney. I review that issue here: http://comicboxcommentary.blogspot.com/2010/04/back-issue-box-action-comics-276.html

In that issue, Supergirl first joins the Legion in the Silver Age. One of her challenges includes finding Exaclibur, which she does in this panel.

In the Annual, we also see Supergirl wearing one of Brainiac 5's force field belts while she shatters incoming Kryptonite asteroids.

It mirrors, in many ways, an occurrence in Action #276 again, where Brainiac 5 risks his life by giving Supergirl his belt so she can shatter a massive Kryptonite meteor about to strike Earth.

And we see Supergirl leading a flock of ghostly doves against an ethereal menace.

I love the Gandalf-ian 'You shall not pass' as she faces this threat. And the flock behind her really makes this a special panel.

It clearly is an homage to Action Comics #287 story 'Supergirl's Greatest Challenge', also by the creative team of Siegel and Mooney.

In that issue, Supergirl has to somehow defeat 'The Positive Man', a bitter scientist whose warped experiments made him into an energy creature.

Supergirl realizes that to defeat a 'Positive Man' she needs a 'negative' creature. When the scientist's home world was destroyed by the experiment that made him The Positive Man, it also made a negative bird of some sort. Supergirl is able to lure the negative bird into The Positive Man, destroying them both.

It is sort of silly and incredibly, that is only the beginning of that story which really deals with a doppelganger Legion taking the place of the real Legion and putting Supergirl into the Phantom Zone. In fact, she is only able to escape and turn the tables because Streaky's descendant Whizzy has telepathic powers. He has been put into the zone as well but is able to use his telepathy to get someone to save them. What a wild story!

In a panel, I am sure will be discussed for some time, the animatronic Jimmy Olsen tour guide talks about Supergirl's adventures in the past including her tragic death saving the world from a great threat.

I guess it isn't really an Easter Egg ... more like a big old egg farm. But that description sure sounds like Kara's death in Crisis on Infinite Earths #7, written by Marv Wolfman and drawn by George Perez.

As Supergirl flies through the museum's wing dedicated to her, she flies past her Rogue's Gallery. We see the Insect Queen and Silver Banshee and Superwoman. And then a couple of other villains we haven't seen in her title yet.

The woman next to Superwoman is Blackstar, or at least the Blackstar as seen in Action Comics #850, written by Geoff Johns and drawn by Renato Guedes. In that issue, Supergirl is in the 31st century with the Waid reboot Legion and looking back in time to 'potential' historical events. In part of the story we see her and Superman squaring off against that version of Blackstar.

We've seen other versions of Blackstar battling Supergirl as well. I have always hoped we'd get another version of her into continuity.

And the statue next to Blackstar in the museum in Ms. Mesmer. She was one of The Gang, a group of villains from the Daring New Adventures that I have talked about before here: http://comicboxcommentary.blogspot.com/2010/06/poll-results-gang-back-issue-box.html

Ms. Mesmer had pretty powerful hypnotic powers, even being able to place a post-hypnotic suggestion into Supergirl at one point. How interesting to see her there. I think at some point Sterling Gates talked about liking her character a lot so maybe he had some plans for her.

The last Easter Egg I found in the issue was Brainiac's ramblings as he is being tended to by Supergirl. They are almost direct quotes from their first interaction, again in Action Comics #276.

Here is the 'sacrifice' line, when he had risked his own life by giving her his force field belt.

And here is the 'please remain and be my girl' line.

As a card-carrying old-timer, I like when homages are done right. I don't necessarily like simple retellings of older stories. And I don't think they should be so crucial that if you don't recognize it as an Easter Egg that it lessens the story or makes it more difficult to understand. So these were just right. They were there to be appreciated if you could but not necessary elements to the story.

I always think the inclusions of these bits of continuity add to the depth of stories as well. DC is filled with legacy characters so when I see flourishes like this I know the creator is aware of where this character is coming from, thus they know where the character should be going.

As I said when reviewing the Annual, I am glad that Brainy and the Legion are in this Supergirl's mythology again. Thanks to Sterling Gates and Matt Camp for throwing these extra goodies in the issue on top of that.

Back Issue Box: Adventure Comics #313 And Satan Girl

With Satan Girl acting as the main antagonist in Supergirl Annual #2, I thought it was time to thumb through the back issue box and review Adventure Comics #313 and Satan Girl's first appearance. Satan Girl is just one of many homages and Easter Eggs sprinkled throughout the Annual, but I felt she deserved a full story review. 'The Condemned Legionnaires' is a classic story by writer Ed Hamilton and artist Curt Swan. I have to say I was pretty surprised at the ending the first time that I read this.

Who is Satan Girl? And what does she have to do with the 'Crimson Virus' that is mysteriously afflicting the female Legion members?

From the opening panel, the stage is set. Supergirl is going to need to square off against Satan Girl who is 'killing the girls of the Legion'.

What is that withering red ray she is bathing the Legionnaires with. I have to say, Swan does a very good job showing the agony the ray is delivering. Some are fatigued. Others are holding their hands up, pained expressions on their faces.

The story opens up with quick vignettes showing the female Legionnaires out on missions and succumbing to a 'strange, crimson virus'. The symptoms appear to be fatigue, dizziness, weakness, malaise, and that crimson color to their skin.

It is enough to worry Superboy and Mon-El enough to have them pause before leaving on their urgent mission. Two planets on the far side of the universe are on a collision course and the two super-heroes need to prevent them from crashing into each other.

Even Night Girl, of the then secret Legion of Substitute Heroes is suddenly overcome with the symptoms. The male Legionnaires have no choice but to send their stricken allies to Quarantine World where they can be isolated.

With that, Superboy and Mon-El streak away, vowing to hurry and finish their mission so they can help with the Crimson Virus mystery.

Suddenly Satan Girl arrives at the LSH headquarters. She tells the remaining Legionnaires that she is there to replace their sick comrades because she is better than all of them combined. When Sun Boy says that the ill Legion women will rejoin the team once they are cured of their malady.

In a quick change in tone, Satan Girl states that a cure will never happen because she has released the crimson virus which will be their doom. And since the Legion has rejected her by not letting her replace their friends, she will go to Quarantine World and kill the members there. She is incredibly powerful and fast and invulnerable as well. She wrecks the Legion cruiser so the Legion can't follow as she flies off.

Luckily, Supergirl was already in the 30th century as she had been planning to visit around this time. With Mon-El and Superboy called away, Supergirl will need to battle Satan Girl. Only Supergirl has the power necessary to fight such a foe.

Just like that, Supergirl is named honorary leader of the Legion, in charge of this mission to stop Satan Girl.

At super-speed, she fixes the cruiser and the team is off to Quarantine World.

And it's a good thing the Legion is able to get there so quickly. Satan Girl has driven off the medical staff, turned off the 'curative rays', and is bathing the female Legionnaires with a 'Crimson virus ray', worsening their symptoms.

Supergirl flies into the fray and confronts Satan Girl. The crafty Satan Girl has made a lead-lined mask, thus her identity remains hidden.

In an interesting turn, Satan Girl declares that Supergirl is her 'greatest enemy'. Why is that? Isn't this the first time the two have met?

The two begin to brawl across the planet but are too evenly matched for either to get an advantage. Even if she can't defeat Satan Girl, Supergirl thinks she could at least unmask her. But Satan Girl isn't ready for that reveal yet. With her super-strength, she breaks free from Supergirl's hold and vows to 'bring doom' to Supergirl and the Legion.

Her powers are prestigious enough that Supergirl wonders if she could be a Phantom Zone villain who has escaped.

Figuring that Satan Girl must be a Kryptonian, Supergirl gathers some Green Kryptonite in a lead box to use against her.

But the Green K has no effect on Satan Girl. She mocks Supergirl and then runs into a cave on the asteroid she is hiding on. Satan Girl then escapes by flying through the asteroid and fleeing from the opposite side. We hear Satan Girl's thoughts that she has 48 hours to kill the female Legionnaires. Hmmm ....

But Supergirl is confused. Why does Satan Girl hate Supergirl so much?

Realizing that she cannot leave her girl comrades on Quarantine World, Supergirl takes them and the other Legionnaires to a hidden world in a dark cosmic cloud, a world only a few people are aware exists. The planet is populated by odd bouncing organisms and Supergirl had once saved them from extinction. The bouncing aliens feel so grateful to Kara that they will give the Legion refuge from Satan Girl.

In the meantime, Supergirl realizes that Satan Girl can't be a Kryptonian (apparently immune to Green K) or a Daxamite (apparently immune to Lead) so she must be a robot of some sort. Kara quickly cobbles together a gas gun which will shut down any android.

The secret world isn't so secret as Satan Girl arrives and again gives the female Legionnaires another dose of her virus ray. And Supergirl's gas gun is not effective. Satan Girl isn't a robot!

The grateful bouncing creatures of the planet help out, bouncing all around Satan Girl, distracting her long enough for the ill Legionnaires to be loaded on the cruiser. The Legion ship blasts off with Supergirl telling Sun Boy that there is a world Satan Girl cannot know about. The Legion can hide there as they try to get to the bottom of this.

But Satan Girl chuckles as they leave. She hates Supergirl ... but she also knows every secret in Supergirl's mind. Still, she needs to find the Legionniares before her 48 hour time limit ends. Another reference to a 48 hour window. Hmmm ....

In a brilliant piece of Silver Age wackiness, Supergirl brings the Legion to the 'Puppet Planetoid', a world where giant children from another dimension dangle and play with their marionettes. Why hasn't Grant Morrison used this before!

Supergirl is the only person who even knows the planetoid exists, so clearly Satan Girl cannot follow them there.

But Satan Girl does arrive carrying a armload of Green K which quickly incapacitates Supergirl. And she is too powerful for the other Legionnires to even slow down. Lightning Lad, Sun Boy, Bouncing Boy, they simply can't stop her.

Supergirl somehow realizes that Satan Girl's virus ray won't work on animals. So while some of the Legion goes to her to help her escape the Green K, others go back in time to get the Legion of Super-Pets.

With their powers, they are able to hold her down. And they cannot be weakened by her virus ray either. And her 48 hours are up. She collapses.

And with that, Supergirl unmasks Satan Girl. Satan Girl is Supergirl!!

Nice twist!

How else could she have all of Supergirl's powers and memories unless she was Supergirl. When Supergirl arrived in the 30th century, she sped past a Red Kryptonite meteor.

The newly Red-K created duplicate realizes that in 48 hours when the radiation wears off, she will disappear. Rather than simply allow herself to fade away, this Supergirl decides she wants to live. And the only way she can live longer than 48 hours is to use her scientific knowledge to create a device to siphon off Red K radiation and put it into another human - those energies are the Crimson Virus.

So it isn't simply a clone. It appears to be an evil clone, someone willing to make someone else suffer so she can live.

But this is the Silver Age so the villainous Super-girl comes up with a bizarre plan. Rather than simply living in the shadows, dumping the energy into random humans, she decides that she will pump it into the girl Legionnaires. She hopes that by making the female Legionnaires ill that the real Supergirl will stay away for fear of contracting the 'Crimson Virus' herself. And she hopes to empty herself of the Red K energy entirely thus allowing herself to live on.

She doesn't want to encounter Supergirl and she doesn't want her identity known. So she then crafted the identity of Satan Girl as a way to go about her evil deeds.

With the 48 hours up and Red K energy still in her, Satan Girl dissipates, absorbed back into Supergirl.

But wait, what about her immunity to Green K? Well, she had created a complete lead armor suit that protected her. With Satan Girl gone, the female Legionnaires quickly recuperate.

So Satan Girl was Supergirl! I thought that was a nice wrinkle in this Silver Age story. Does it mean that evil streak is inside Kara? Was that just the standard 'evil clone' that things some time create, not an aspect of Supergirl at all? Was this the first version of the Dark Supergirl seen in Loeb's early issues? I don't know.

But I thought the tone of this makes it a perfect microcosm of the DC Silver Age - a marionette world where you take your dying friends to get treatment? A Red K meteor flying by just as Supergirl flies into the 30th century? Wonderfully nostalgic.

And I liked that Satan Girl used Supergirl's scientific knowledge and secrets against her. It shows just how formidable Supergirl can be.

Curt Swan is a master and I love his art here.

From a Supergirl collection viewpoint, I would rank this of low-medium importance. Satan Girl is a silly but memorable part of her history and has now been reimagined twice (both in the current annual and in Peter David's run). The issue probably runs between $20-$50 depending on condition (although probably much more in high grade shape).

Overall grade: B+

Poll: Optimism Or Pessimism

For some time on this blog, I have been saying that this is a good time to be a Supergirl fan. In fact, I never felt more optimism over the character than I did during 2010. There was so much to be happy about.

And yet suddenly, now, I have this sort of nagging sense of dread. Why do I feel like we are approaching a cliff? Am I too pessimistic? So I figured that I would open up to a poll ... to get some sense from Supergirl's fans. Are you optimistic or pessimistic about where we are going? Is the glass half-full or half-empty?

I tried to delineate some of what is going through my mind below.

Why should I consider the glass half full?

1) 2 + years of Gates/Igle: Let's face it, this was probably the biggest reason for my earlier optimism. I know that their run wasn't universally loved. But I think most people felt that they brought a sense of maturity and respectability to the character. All the nonsensical and insulting stuff from before ... the crystal spikes, the Daddy issues, the high school shooting, the reluctance to be a hero, the overwhelming angst ... it all went away. And then we had a Supergirl trying to be a hero, learning and growing, striving and struggling. Those are the stories I want to read ... and they were done so well.

2) She is a star in JLA: It's almost like being promoted to the major leagues. Suddenly Supergirl was the muscle of the JLA, the S-shield representative on the biggest most important hero team in the DCU. On top of that, James Robinson seemed to have a better grasp of her character than he did in Cry For Justice. Here she was an eager hero, willing to throw herself into the fray.

3) Statues galore: Between October and January, 4 Supergirl statues were solicited: the DVD maquette, the Turner mini-statue, the Dynamic statue, and the Adam Hughes Cover Girl full sized statue. She is going to be a segment of the Superman Family multi-part statue in July. She is scheduled to have another Women Of DC bust statue. And that doesn't even count the Ame Comi stuff I don't like and the Superwoman action figure coming out next month. With all this merchandise coming out, DC must realize they have a star.

4) Smallville: Supergirl has had a decent showing on Smallville in the past. This season she showed up as an actualized hero, even sporting some quasi-uniforms. The Maiden of Might indeed ... maybe there is a spinoff in there somewhere.

5) Superman/Batman: Apocalypse: She stole the show in the movie, growing from a reluctant hero to someone who chose that path. She squared off against Darkseid and ended up being responsible for his defeat. The more squirrely parts of the actual comic book arc was smoothed out. The movie paid her the respect she deserves. An animated Supergirl movie! Who'd have ever thought it was possible?

6) Hot Nick Spencer on book: Even as I lament the loss of Sterling Gates, there should be some optimism that Nick Spencer is coming on board. The guy is everywhere and is being lauded for his work on Jimmy Olsen and Morning Glories. He brings a buzz to the book and maybe that means new readers.

Why should I consider the glass half-empty?

1) Gates/Igle leaving: Not everyone gets Supergirl. These guys did. There were clearly more stories percolating inside them. The preview page in Superman #700 talked into next summer. But suddenly they were gone. I know Igle asked off of the book (at least he said so on his blog). I don't know about Gates. But their stories were the type of Supergirl stories I want to read.

2) Dark Supergirl taking her spot on JLA: Just when it seemed like Supergirl was making her mark in the JLA, I read that she is off the team and 'Dark Supergirl' is taking her place. That would feel like being demoted from the majors and your spot being taken by someone with the same talent but is a jerk, clubhouse nuisance.

3) Potential for Kara as the end villain on Smallville: I know she was great in the 'Supergirl' episode but I am absolutely convinced that she will be Darkseid's vessel on Smallville in the big finale. And until I see differently, I am going to believe this. There were too many hints. It just makes too much bad sense for Smallville not to do it.

4) While major character in Apocalypse, barely mentioned in ads: Yes, she was in many ways the star of the movie, but DC had such little confidence in her carrying the movie that her presence in the film was barely acknowledged in trade ads, previews, or the very cover of the movie. This was a Supergirl movie based on a story arc called Supergirl and it starred Supergirl. And yet, you would never know it if you picked this movie up off the rack.

5) Dwindling sales: Sales continue to suffer from a month to month basis. And now we have a new direction complete with a pink S-shield and no incentive covers. Is there going to be a point where DC thinks they should just pull the plug. I don't think Supergirl will get the same 'no worries' label that Jonah Hex and R.E.B.E.L.S. seem to enjoy.

6) A pink S-shield?

So how do you feel? Please vote!

Review: Superman #704

From the beginning, one of my problems with 'Grounded' has been the lack of Clark Kent and Lois Lane in the story. I mean the reasons why I think Superman is grounded is because he lives half his life as one of us, he loves one of us, and so he understands what it means to be us. In many ways, Superman is a just a guy trying to help people, albeit with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men.

Maybe this storyline isn't about his need to be grounded but about his need to atone for all the New Krypton mess, his disconnect from his adopted planet while he embraced his native one. But that walk seems to be at the expense of his loved ones who he has connected with.

Superman #704 was an interlude from the main 'Grounded' storyline and focused on Lois and how she is reacting to her husband's walk across America. Written by G. Willow Wilson and drawn by Leandro Oliveira, the book is basically Lois wondering what would have happened if she took a different path in life.

I have some problems with the issue mainly around the characterization of Lois who seems incredibly unsure of herself, a stark difference from the extremely confidant and happy Lois I have been reading since ... oh ... forever.

The issue starts with news that Superman's walk across the nation is taking him through Indiana and Lois' home town. Lois is on the scene to cover the 'action' and the tour through her old haunts seems to stir some nostalgia. She remembers her ambitions to leave those little town blues and see if she could make it in Metropolis.

At least here, in this early moment, she recognizes the immensity of her achievements. She has made her mark on the world. She has a proud half smile on her face and she should.

But things change a bit when she runs into her old beau Brian, complete with cute baby and successful career as well as some current members of her old sorority.

These interactions claw at what are apparently a couple of insecurities inside Lois. The first is whether or not she would be happier with a more traditional family, a home ... kids ... a loving husband who totes their cherubs around Main Street, Small Town USA.

The other is that despite all she does and reports, she is pigeon-holed as Superman's 'Girl Friday', a woman who is simply known as being an extension of a man.

I suppose we all have some questions inside of us ... the classic Talking Heads 'How did I get here?' question, wondering how life evolved to put us where we are. And of course, the follow-up thoughts of 'what if I had ...?'. It just seemed off coming from Lois.

Brian continues to be a charming and wonderful, inviting Lois to his home for dinner. There Lois meets what appears to be the absolute perfect family. Brian is the dashing, loving husband and father. His wife Huong is a successful architect, loving mother who can cook a mean lasagna and serve it up too.

They seem to have it all ... and are able to do it soooo effortlessly. It is enough to make Lois wonder how they ... and in particular Huong ... are able to swing it.

Of course, Brian can't help but ask if Lois is planning on a family. It is a cringe-worthy moment as Lois stammers about how she and Clark can't have children. Embarrassed, Brian drops the conversation.

I suppose the question caught Lois off guard but I don't recall her talking about this openly before.

And then, Lois continues to question everything about her life.

Maybe bringing news to the masses, winning Pulitzers, helping the world ... maybe that doesn't add up to much. Not when she sees this version of the 'idealized' American family. This just doesn't sound like Lois.

Worse, she buys into the 'Girl Friday' remark realizing she is 'standing behind a man' to achieve her goals. This is made worse when she realizes that people don't know her for anything other than her Superman stories, even if she has covered other important stories.

And yet she has shattered the glass ceiling, becoming a newspaper reporter who is known world-wide and easily recognized. Is this a fair self-assessment?

Left alone with her thoughts, Lois really bemoans her life. Her house is empty ... no kids ... husband off saving the world. Is she trapped in walls of her own making?

Umm ... isn't she living the life she dreamed of? Should these questions be bubbling under the surface?

It really seems to be a pity party.

Of course, the grass is always greener. In what seems as unlikely a turn of events as Lois' questioning her achievements, Brian and Huong have an argument while Lois is in the kitchen. I mean ... wouldn't they just wait until after cake, when Lois has left, to have this discussion.

It shows Lois that no life is perfect. This idyllic small town existence ... this 'perfect' marriage is a mirage. These people have questions and problems of their own.

Lois leaves the house and takes the patented and somewhat hackneyed dramatic long slow walk alone, looking out at still water, and contemplating her thoughts. Maybe she doesn't have the white picket fence and the 2.5 kids and the mini-van ... but she has love!

Even she realizes that is a pretty cheesy line.

And then, swooping in, is her loving husband. The two talk a bit about missing each other. Lois, maybe unsure of Clark's love, asks if he needs her.

Of course, he needs her. In fact, he tells her that she is what keeps him grounded! Okay ... then why walk? Anyways, with love reaffirmed, they fly off to enjoy an evening together. And just like that, Lois' worries disappear.

As a forty-year old man, I am probably the worst person to review this issue ... maybe the least well-equipped. I don't personally know the pressures that women feel as they try to juggle all the aspects of their lives. Maybe what Lois is feeling is natural.

But as a comic reader, who has read Lois stories for three decades, I can say these questions and concerns didn't sound right coming from her. Maybe it was a perfect storm to whip up these feelings ... the return to her home town, the perfect ex-boyfriend and his perfect wife with their perfect 2 kids, the perfect family house with the perfect lasagna ... maybe all together it would make Lois wonder 'what if ...?' And then those questions are all swept away by the warm confines of Superman's brawny arms and a quick 'I love you'. Even that resolution seemed wrong ... too easy and too sweet to simply sweep away her worries.

I hope I am not sounding like a boor. I hope I am not missing something elegant here. But this didn't seem like Lois. I am willing to say that she was having a bad day like we all do. But I hope this line of thinking in Lois doesn't continue.

Leandro Oliveira seems to be a product of the Ed Benes' school of art. The facial expressions in particular look like Benes' work.

Overall grade: C+

Review: Action Comics #894

Action Comics #894 continued Lex Luthor's journey around the darker corners of the DCU as he tries to grasp some Black Lantern energy for himself. What has been interesting about this arc has been the varied tones of each issue. Last issue with Gorilla Grodd was downright comical. It feels as though one of the underlying themes of this whole arc has been an in-depth analysis of Luthor himself. And maybe the variety of feelings we have seen in each issue has been a way to show just how complex Lex is.

Now this issue has been highly highly publicized for guest starring Death from Neil Gaiman's Sandman. Her presence must be considered a boon for sales on the book as my local comic book store had a glut of this book on the shelves, taking up two slots on the racks. And writer Paul Cornell made sure he let everyone know that Gaiman was on board with the story idea and even approved of the dialogue.

I will freely admit ... and I am sure that I will suffer some slings and arrows here ... that I never really enjoyed Sandman that much. I never quite understood what all the fuss was about. And yet, I slavishly collected it wondering if maybe I was missing the point ... that maybe one day a bolt of enlightenment would shine on me and I would recognize Gaiman for the outright genius that he is. But the truth is I was much more interested in reading and rereading Shade The Changing Man, Doom Patrol, and Animal Man at that time. Sandman is in my long boxes, but I can't remember the last time I pulled them out and reread them. That said, I did enjoy Death as a character and did get her mini-series. And those I have occasionally thumbed through again.

Would the presence of Death elevate this book? And what would be the tone of this issue of Action?

Last issue, Lex was shot through the chest and fell from an airplane, purportedly to his death. And then, she appeared.

At first Lex isn't a believer. He thinks that maybe the body at his feet isn't him but some sort of android or replicant. But Death is able to convince him that she is who she says she is.

Throughout the book, Death certainly has some witty things to say. She has always been a charming character. She has, ironically, a sort of joie de vivre about her. Here I thought it was great that she said that while she didn't have a scythe or skis, she was Death. I thought it was a nice reference to the more classic Grim Reaper and the Kirby Black Racer concept of death incarnate.

This issue really is just a long conversation, reviewing Luthor's concepts about life, death, and the afterlife. Part of me always wonders about how certain issues will progress a story arc. I don't know exactly where this storyline is going. In the end, will an analysis of Lex's thoughts about these concepts be so crucial that they needed their own issue? Or will this simply have been a way to shoe-horn a proven guest star into the title? I am not saying that this isn't interesting ... it is.

The first part of Death's discussion with Luthor is to show him his life. One thing I thought was fascinating was that initially Luthor doesn't want to see his life flash before his eyes. Is he ashamed of his life? Does he not want to see the things he has done that he knows was wrong? Or does he always just want to look forward.

Anyways, his life is dominated by Superman and violence ... or as Death says it is filled with 'lots of people being clever.'

And I also really liked Death's response to Blackest Night. Luthor keeps hammering home the point that people always come back from being dead and references Blackest Night. She noticed it! She thought people looked like they were having a good time! That is clearly how someone in the Endless would look at the horrific events of Blackest Night. She has a distance from the actual events.

And she isn't a super-villain so he should stop talking to her like she is. Wonderful.

Once Luthor realizes that this is happening, he tries with all his might to figure out which string to pull to have Death bring him back.

First he tries anger. Then he tries sympathy. She recognizes these efforts ... she has heard them all before. But they don't change the outcome. He is going to move on. But to where?

Death brings Lex into a quiet parlor to talk about his ideas of the afterlife.

As with most things, Lex has some pretty ingrained beliefs. He doesn't think anyone has the right to judge him. No one can be objective. As a result, he considers his atheism an ethical choice. I love how he talks about Krona's actions as the 'big hand theory' of the universe ... not the 'big bang'.

Death continues to humor his rantings, wondering if Lex could just say he was sorry for all the things he has done. Of course, he has justifications for all his actions ... why would he apologize? And to whom? That is all classic Luthor. He doesn't think he's the bad guy. He thinks he's the good guy.

It's clear that Lex isn't quite grasping whatever she is trying to teach him here. So she decides to show him some of the options of the afterlife.

First, there is a hedonistic paradise. Even Death is intrigued by the inclusion of what I assume is the Lois-bot. When Lex calls the events he sees before him as mere diversions and not what he lives for, Death stammers a bit. She sees someone doing something with something that grabs her enough to be somewhat surprised that Lex would turn it down.

But I can't imagine that the backbone of Lex is hedonism so it made sense for him to reject that.

And how about lovely bliss instead of sweaty passion?

I love Luthor's response. He couldn't enjoy it because he'd be wondering what the catch was. He really has a pessimism about him. He really has trust issues.

And he is never going to bow to ... to apologize to ... to anyone.

In what has to be a sign of bravery or insanity or both, he tells Death he is done with her. She should send him wherever she is going to ... he'll figure it out from there.

Amazingly, Death tells him that, in fact, he isn't dead and this was a preliminary check on something. Suddenly Luthor is back in his body, on his jet being tended to.

I suppose that this is going to end up being crucial to the end of the book. Will Luthor somehow gain power over life and death and hearken back to this conversation before he wields it? I can only hope.

You know, in Alan Moore's Swamp Thing I knew that his conversation with the Parliament of Trees, that their cryptic 'Look to the Soil' comments would eventually have a payoff. I had faith that Moore wasn't simply spinning his wheels. I don't have that same sense here. I hope there will be a payoff.

Even Lex is wondering. What is going to happen that prompted Death to check in?

Of course, I am wondering how he survived a sniper shot to the chest and fall of hundreds of feet. Will that be explained?

The book ends with a decent hook. We see Vandal Savage in the past, building a city around some of the Black energy globes. We know these globes transcend time. How will this ancient city impact Lex?

So what about this issue?

Well I enjoyed this conversation between Death and Lex. It gave some insight into Lex's personality and beliefs. It certainly shows how ingrained his ideas are. He is even willing to stand up to Death herself before compromising.

But in some ways, I also thought this was much ado about nothing. Did we really learn anything new about Lex? Was it shocking to learn he is an atheist? Was this trip through Luthor's mind really necessary? Or was this Paul Cornell being clever? Was this just a stunt? If there is an eventual payoff to this encounter, I will certainly rethink this issue.

Pete Wood's art continues to shine here. I like that his Death looks like a normal person and not as ultra-petite/emaciated like others have portrayed her. His stuff is always solid.

Overall grade: B