Superman Batman Annual Preview Art

 This is relatively old news but last week Comic Book Resources posted the second part of an interview with Super-editor Eddie Berganza regarding the Reign of Doomsday storyline. Here is the link:
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=31061

The whole article is very good, worth reading, and includes a discussion of continuing the story from Justice League #55 into Superman/Batman Annual #5. But this blurb stuck out.

CBR:In that sense, what is Superman's role at DC in 2011 once he's back full time? We see things from "Flashpoint" with Cyborg taking his place. Can the Man of Steel fit back into the big plans?

 
EB: Well, that's the big tease, isn't it? Don't worry. There'll be a point for it all to come together. We're not getting rid of the Kryptonians in "Flashpoint." And for Superman, when he comes back he's not a happy guy. Think of it this way: all your friends have been taken down and the guy that killed you is back. We're not making it easy on him moving forward.

I really hope that Superman reasserts himself as a major focus of the DCU. He has been sort of an afterthought for the last couple of years. I want him to be the center of the DCU.

But what really struck me in this piece was this preview 2 page splash by newcomer artist Michael Sepulveda. Man, this guy looks like he can bring it.

Here is the Supergirl portion blown up. I am definitely not a fan of the heeled boots. But the rest of it looks absolutely fantastic. My guess is the art here is going to be jaw-droppingly great. I can't wait to see it.

The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide 41st Edition

My local comic book store sometimes lets me take a copy of Previews home so I can look through for anything esoteric I might want them to order for me. Last week, as I was flipping through the pages, I cam across this image of Supergirl and Batgirl by Amanda Conner.

That's right, Conner's Supergirl and Batgirl will be on the cover of this year's Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide.

As is always the case with Conner, the picture is just great. I don't understand why Conner isn't on a monthly book somewhere. I know I would consider picking up the book just for her art.

But the cover is interesting for a couple of other reasons. This looks like the Supergirl from Wednesday Comics, a younger appearing Kara with a red skirt and gold-trimmed sleeves. And Batgirl is clearly the Barbara Gordon Batgirl, with the flowing red hair coming out through the collar. I wonder if Conner was told to do a Supergirl/Batgirl cover but was given carte blanche for which incarnation of the characters she wanted. I know I would buy this if it was a print or put on a T-shirt.

It's been a while since I bought an Overstreet guide so this seems like the right time for me to pick one up. This year's Guide also comes with a pretty slick Walt Simonson Thor cover.

I'd like to thank the DC Women Kicking Ass blog ( http://dcwomenkickingass.tumblr.com/ ) for also showcasing this cover and linking to this article about Conner's work. The article also includes the original sketch as well as the inked versions of this cover. I love process pieces like that.  Here is that link:
http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/public/default.asp?t=1&m=1&c=34&s=265&ai=106374

Here is a blurb from the article but if you are a Amanda Conner fan you definitely should read the whole thing.

The Supergirl and Batgirl cover for The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #41 is her first cover for the Guide. For her it’s a return to illustrating the younger, Wednesday Comics-style Supergirl, and it’s also the first time she’s drawn the Barbara Gordon-era Batgirl for print.

What differentiates this Supergirl from other the many other iterations of the character over the years? Some of the differences are subtle, yet their cumulative effect is readily detectable.

“When we were doing the story for Wednesday Comics, we were trying to make her a younger version of the character, a teenager around 13-14 years old,” Conner said. This particular Supergirl would be a little less experienced, very eager to do the right thing, and definitely not jaded.

I loved the Supergirl strip in Wednesday Comics and can only hope Palmiotti and Conner will do another Supergirl story in Wednesday Comics 2.

Back Issue Box: Superman #309

Superman #309 concludes the 3 part storyline I have been reviewing with a psychologically distressed Superman being told that Krypton never existed. Some of the themes in this arc have echoes to 'Grounded' so I thought it was worth reviewing.

Gerry Conway and Jose Luis Garcia Lopez continue to do the internal creative work. Unlike the prior two issues, there is no Neal Adams cover here. Instead Garcia-Lopez and legend Gil Kane provide the cover art. And after being firmly set on Earth the last 2 issues, thematically tying Superman to the planet, this issue takes a leap into a more universal setting.

Last issue, after defeating the mutant villains The Protector and Radion, Superman accepted the facts that Supergirl has been telling him, that Krypton never existed, that all of it was a delusion in Clark's mind to help him cope with his supposed mutant origins. With the weight of Krypton off him, Superman suddenly feels more connected to Earth than ever. He isn't alone any more; he is is home.

And that means he suddenly can focus on things a bit more 'grounded'.

The issue opens with Superman stopping a local crime boss from receiving a weapons shipment. One of the police officers seems surprised that Superman would take the time to stop something as mundane as a mobster. He always assumed Superman was aloof, had his eye on the big picture ... not the 'small details' like street level crimes. That sentiment has been seen in 'Grounded' as well with Superman interceding with drug dealers and abusive husbands.

But this Superman doesn't pile on the sarcasm or condescension like the one in 'Grounded'. Instead he simply states he feels home now and will try to be there for all problems, big and small alike.

And if he is a human after all then maybe he should partake in some more human activities ... like a pick-up football game in the park. This Superman craves 'human contact' something he denied himself when he thought himself an alien, as a Kryptonian first.

Of course, Clark can never succeed in things like this. He runs the wrong way, helping the other team score a touchdown.

But is he a human? Remember Supergirl told him that ... but she then was mysteriously talking to someone about their 'plan' with Superman.

Later, we see Supergirl talking to a group in shadows about what is happening with Superman. The conspirators then tell Kara that in deep space a peaceful race called the Xonn are about to be massacred by a belligerent race of warriors called the J'ai. The right thing to do, of course, is protect the Xonn and Supergirl is going to get Superman so that the two cousins can stop this genocide from happening.

The shadowy group thinks that Superman might not jump into the interstellar fray. Now that he 'believes' he is a human, he might not identify with other worlds and other races. He might not care about a distant world. Hmmm, they say he 'believes' he is human not that he is human ... we knew this was all a hoax right?

Anyways, Supergirl thinks that Clark's heroism will still be there and that he will help her defend the Xonn. But why is she wearing her Legion flight ring? And who are these people she is working with to hoodwink Superman? And why are they trying to pull off this hoax?

Supergirl goes to Clark's apartment where he is showering after the football game.

I always find this panel a little off-putting. Am I stretching things by saying there is sort of sexual/seduction feel to this? Superman drying off, Supergirl's long legs highlighted, her face in the shadows. Even the line 'hope you don't mind me waiting for you' sounds suggestive. There is almost a 'The Graduate' feel.

Or am I seeing things that aren't there?

Amazingly, Superman does just as the group said he would. He tells Supergirl that he has too many issues to contend with on Earth, his home, to get tied up in an intergalactic war. He won't help the Xonn! Now that doesn't sound like the Superman I know. He really is suffering mentally right now.

And we get a little bit of a 'Dark Supergirl' response from Kara. Last issue she told Clark to 'shove it'. This issue she calls him a coward and slugs him. She is going to do what is right and fight the J'ai. And Superman can shove his priorities 'where the sun doesn't shine'. I like this strong confident Supergirl ... even if slapping Superman seems over the top.

Supergirl takes Krypto along to help her battle the J'ai.

Meanwhile, Clark again tries to enjoy a nice romantic dinner with Lois. But during the meal, he uses his super-vision to see how things are going. And unfortunately, he spies Supergirl and Krypto being defeated and captured.

Even if he currently believes that Supergirl is not his cousin and is just the daughter of his father's friend, he cannot leave her to die in space.

So he basically pushes Lois out of his apartment, telling her something suddenly came up, and flies out the window.

I guess that was the end of the potential Clark/Lois romance. Interesting to see though.

Out in space Superman finds that there is a good reason why Supergirl fell to the J'ai. They are extremely powerful warriors. And what's worse, the orange sun of the system they are in has struck the Kryptonians blind! Defeated, Superman is thrown in a cell with Supergirl.

In the prison cell, the heroes learn from the Xonn that the J'ai are like the mythical hydra. If a J'ai warrior is killed, 8 more crop up. Their 'population explosion' method of rebirth simply overwhelms their opponents. Superman calls the hydra myth a 'human myth'. And if he distinguishes it as human ... he must know he is Kryptonian.

He confronts Supergirl about her lies and she seems appropriately distraught. While the 'cousin' and 'Kal' references seem like weak proof (she could be doing it out of habit), Superman also realizes that there is no easy explanation for Krypto.

Faced with the truth, Supergirl opens up about why she has been lying to Superman. The people she has been talking to have been the Kandorians who were rightly worried about Superman's sanity. They feared he might be losing his grip on reality, that his feelings of abandonment from being an orphan were overwhelming him.

It's easy to see their concerns given how Superman was acting in the last couple of issues. He seemed obsessed, something we saw back in the 'Dominus' storyline of 1999, where Superman decided to take over the world for its own good.

But I don't know why stopping his obsessions by making him think he was deluded or schizophrenic is any better. I had to laugh a little at Supergirl's explanation: "an emotional problem should be removed rather than solved." That's pretty poor counseling. And the removal of the problem of his obsession with protecting Earth was to make him think that he was from Earth? Seems 1000% wrong to me. That Kandorian psychologist should have his license revoked.

But re-learning the truth about his origins seems to ignite the fight in Superman. And suddenly he realizes how he can defeat the J'ai. He smashes into the crystalline structures of Xonn at a particular frequency such that the resulting sound waves paralyze the J'ai troops.

Now how he is able to do this when he is on a foreign planet and completely blind I'll never know. But if I can swallow the rest of this nutty story, I guess I just have to accept this.

What does seem wrong is how everything so neatly ends on a happy note in the course of one page.

Back on Earth, Superman claims he wanted to save Earth so desperately because he loves it, as much as he loves Krypton. And he feels that Earth is his home and he is proud of his obsession to protect it. Ummm .... but that contradicts many of the thought balloons we read in the first two parts where he said he felt alien and unaccepted. And if his obsession is still there, will he start tossing oil tankers into space again. And ... shouldn't he be just a tad perturbed at Supergirl that she was part of this bizarre form of therapy?

Instead he flies away happily. And Supergirl simply sheds a happy tear realizing she should feel his obsession as well. Hmmm ... does that mean she'll start dismantling factories? It all ends too easy ... too fast ... to pat. I'd almost rather see an entire epilogue issue where Superman explains his feelings and Kara explains her motivations. Instead we get one page.

So this is a tough 3 part story to grade, I'll be honest. I have to admit that the premise of Superman feeling disconnected from Earth but cherishing it to the point of wanting to save it any way possible is a good plot. Much like 'Grounded', the idea that Superman might have a tough time understanding and dealing with everyday people and their issues has some merit. It is just tough to pull off the story without having the hero seem powerless or idiotic. So whether it is burning a stash of drugs (like in 'Grounded') or taking apart a polluting PVC factory (like here), it doesn't solve the problem of drugs or pollution and makes the hero seem ineffective.

I also thought the idea that Superman was a human mutant and Krypton was all a delusion was also an interesting theory. Sounds almost like an Elseworlds waiting to happen. So that does bring a bit of originality to this story.

The anti-pollution angle is good to see retrospectively in our current world of increasing green measures. I always like it when comics are used as a social media to educate the readers.  But the pro-pollution villains of the Protector and Radion seem ridiculous.

Supergirl plays a crucial role in this arc and is shown to be confident and strong. But I think she also seems like she has too big of a temper here. And I don't know if she would play along with the Kandorian idea of therapy.

Lastly, Conway does his best with the plot, stuffing a lot into 3 issues. Who knew so much could be resolved so quickly ... maybe to quickly. And Garcia-Lopez does a very good job on art.

From a Supergirl collection point of view, I would put this as low/medium importance. I always like seeing the cousins interact as sort of equals and that happens here. And the Neal Adams cover of Superman #307 is definitely a nice piece for a Supergirl fan.

Overall grade (3 issues): B

Back Issue Box: Superman #308

Yesterday I reviewed Superman #307, the first part of a 3 part story in which Superman finds himself psychologically distanced from humanity and vowing to protect Earth from pollution even if his acts defy governmental decisions. In a shocking twist, Supergirl reveals to Superman that the two of them are actually  Earth-born mutants, the result of scientists Jonathan Kent and Fred Danvers work with radioactive materials. With his entire past apparently a lie, Superman isn't sure where to go. Should he be happy to know that he is not an orphan, that he has a connection to the world? Or should he be dismayed that he has been living a delusion this whole time.

Superman #308 is the middle chapter of the arc. It is amazing that all the concepts brought up in this storyline are wrapped up in such a short period of time. I am not necessarily saying that it is a good thing. Some elements of this plot are covered so briefly they require a 'roll with it' laissez-faire attitude.

Still, there is a lot to digest here. Writer Gerry Conway does his best to show just how tortured psychologically Superman is in this piece, torn between two worlds feeling he doesn't really belong to either. Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez does his usual stellar internal work. And there is a nice Neal Adams cover to this book, although not as fantastic as last issue's Kandor-smashing piece.

As I said before, part of my interest in looking at this story now is how much this echoes some of the beats of 'Grounded', an emotionally tortured Superman struggling to find his place in the world.

I thought the splash page was a pretty good image. Superman envisioning the destruction of Krypton but voicing his confusion. If Krypton did not exist ... did not explode ... then he is insane or his life has been a lie.

But last issue ended in the Fortress where Superman had just defeated The Protector, a super-villain who derives great power based on the pollutants spoiling the environment.

It was there that Supergirl told Superman that Krypton's existence was a delusion that Clark had created because he couldn't deal with the reality that he was a mutant. To physically drive home the point, Supergirl begins smashing her way through the Fortress, destroying the 'mementos' and displays of Clark's 'alien heritage'. She even tells him to 'shove it' and 'stop being maudlin' about his false history.

Now I am sure that there would be plenty of ways that Superman could try harder to figure out if Krypton existed ... his weakness to Kryptonite, his indestructible outfit, etc. None of those things could be around if he was a mutant. That said, there appears to be some truth to this. At one point we see Superman turn on the Phantom Zone projector only to discover it is an oversized flashlight. Either Superman imagined those things or someone replaced the old projector (and the real Kandor) with fakes.

In the end, Superman actually thinks Supergirl is telling the truth. He simply needs to be alone for a bit and think this whole thing through.

Not that we as readers needed to be told that this was some hoax, but we then see Supergirl talking to someone about the plan to help Superman, about how she did what she was asked to do. But you can tell, she isn't so sure if telling Superman that Krypton did not exist is the right thing to do.

One thing I will say throughout these first issues, Conway has the cousins really acting as equals. In fact, given Superman's mental instability, Supergirl comes across as the more mature, more rational hero.

Another interesting wrinkle to this arc is that it seems that Lois is smitten with Clark and is trying to woo him. I don't recall reading this slant in the 70s, so this felt fresh.

Last issue, Clark felt that he couldn't get close to Lois in any way because he was 'an alien', different. But now, given his new history ... now that he is an Earth mutant, suddenly something like romance is an option.  Rather than push Lois away, he decides to embrace this moment.

I thought this was great. Not only because the Clark/Lois romance is innovative for the time period but it also added some depth to the psychological isolation Superman is feeling. He never thought he could love.

But these quiet moments of introspection are brief.

The Protector had escaped the Fortress earlier in the issue and flies straight to his mentor, the villain Radion.

Tying in to the anti-pollution angle of this arc, Radion is a mutant who possesses unruly nuclear powers, gained by his exposure radiation suffered in a nuclear accident. He not only lived, but changed, and now has great strength and the ability to cause things to explode or decay. This also warped his mind.

Radion found The Protector and trained him. Both villains hope to massively pollute the world and Superman's new found passion to end all pollution interferes with those plans.

And Radion's plan is pretty simple. He wants to cause a meltdown in all the world's nuclear reactors. The way Radion sees it, the resulting armageddon will lead man to the next level of evolution. Many will die. Many will become twisted mutations, but some will become supermen.

I know it doesn't make much sense given what we know now. In fact, it seems to be a pretty silly plan all around. But that's why Radion is the bad guy. Because he is evil and twisted.

Luckily Superman is able to thwart the reactor meltdown.

He then tracks Radion and the Protector to their lair and defeats them, tricking them into eliminating each other.

I know that pro-pollution supervillains probably wouldn't fly today. But for the time period, I thought making 'pollution' bad in comics was a good way to get children to learn about the problem.

I also continue to be amazed at the speed in which these plot elements are wrapped up. These villains were introduced, talked about their evil plans, fought Superman, and were defeated over two issues! And there were a lot of scenes without them in these comics!

Unfortunately, the anti-pollution angle of this arc ends here as the next issue's threat is more galactic in nature.

But even if the villains lose in the end, the psychological part of this arc is still there.

Superman actually feels some sort of empathy with the villains. They are mutants just like he supposedly is now. If his prior life as 'The Last Son of Krypton' was a lie then maybe he needs to embrace a new life. maybe he needs to become someone different. It seems that Superman is still feeling lost.

So is Superman really a mutant? Or did Supergirl's 'plan' include replacing Kandor and the Phantom Zone projector as a way to confuse and delude Superman? And if that was her plan ... why?

There are a lot of questions unanswered. But one thing we do know is that Superman is still on shaky ground mentally. What is he? And how does he fit into this world? Which part defines him ... the alien Kryptonian walking alone amongst the populace of Earth? Or the man raised on Earth but rocketed from another planet? Can he easily straddle both parts of himself? So many of these questions are being raised in 'Grounded' right now as Superman deals with the destruction of New Krypton and the War of the Supermen.

As I said yesterday, I'll give an overall grade for this arc tomorrow when I review the conclusion. But the interaction between the super-cousins early in the issue really shined, showing Supergirl in a positive light. Conway does a good job using thought bubbles to let us see just how distraught Superman is. And Garcia-Lopez puts in his usual solid work.

Back Issue Box: Superman #307

It seems to be a slow week for Supergirl and Superman news. What's worse is that it was a low yield week for comics with no new Super-related books out this week. That usually means a trip to the back issue box for some reviews of older issues. I usually try to link my back issue reviews with current comic topics and given the recent 'Grounded' storyline, it is a perfect time to review Superman #307-309. This three issue story touches on a number of themes running through the current Superman book but specifically it looks at a psychologically damaged Superman trying desperately to get in touch with the people of Earth as well as the planet itself. So much of what we see in this story is echoed in 'Grounded' that it felt like appropriate to look back at this story from 1977.

Written by Gerry Conway and drawn by Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, the story features a troubled Superman dealing with his feelings of despair as he watches mankind pollute the planet, potentially leading up to a Krypton-like disaster. He loves the planet, but feels detached from it since he is an alien. Can Supergirl help him? Or is she part of the problem? In fact, her part in this story could even be considered a sort of 'Dark Supergirl' riff, another theme I have been covering here.

Superman #307 sports a spectacular and very dramatic Neal Adams cover. Sure we don't see Supergirl's face but the focus is clearly on her smashing of Kandor with a shocked Superman in the background. It really grabbed my attention when I first saw it. I mean how can you not want to see that story?

The issue opens up with an enraged Superman destroying a factory while the workers look on helplessly. It doesn't seem like the usual Superman thing to do, to demolish a functioning plant. especially since it might endanger the people standing on the ground below him.

And who is the 'hero' rushing to stop this crazed Superman from his destructive outburst?

It is a nice opening hook to the book, dropping the reader into the middle of the action, with a sort of apparent role reversal.

We learn that the 'hero' is someone called The Protector and he has enough power to stun Superman, sending him to the ground. With Superman thwarted in his attempt to raze the plant, the Protector leaves. And with his attack abruptly halted, Superman takes a breath and we are treated to a flashback of the events which led up to this confrontation.

The day before, a troubled plant worker went to WGBS to talk to Clark Kent about some concerns he has. The factory makes vinyl chloride, a known carcinogen. The workers are, in essence, putting their lives in danger by working with the stuff. The owners don't seem to recognize the dangers, or don't seem interested in protecting the workers .. no safety standards or benefits. Despite this, the man seems conflicted ... probably because he needs his job. He doesn't necessarily want Clark to do an expose, he just wants someone to look out for the little guy. Clark offers Superman up as a neutral party.

That really sounds like the very problem seen in 'Grounded', in Superman #707, where that factory isn't meeting safety standards but the workers don't want the place closed down. You may recall that the Superman in 707 decided to look the other way.

But it is clear that Superman is troubled. Despite getting some romantic attention from both Lois and a WGBS intern named Terri, he knows that he will forever be alone. He is an alien, forever apart from humanity.

Hmmm, that also sounds like feelings that prompted Superman's walk in 'Grounded', that feeling that he is out of touch with the people of Earth.

As promised, Superman decides to look into the problems of the vinyl chloride plant. Unlike the owners of the factory in Superman #707, this owner seems much oilier. Still he carts out the same excuses for the state of the plant. The plant is a vital part of the local economy and the risks that the workers take are 'acceptable'. Now the toxins here are known to be deadly, unlike the chloride spills in the 'Grounded' factory but it is eerie how money seems the be the root of both evil plants.

But that is where the similarity ends. Where the Superman in 'Grounded' decided to let the factory remain open despite its many problems, this Superman becomes unhinged. He decides to take matters into his own hands and dismantle the plant ... the very moment we saw at the outset of the book. Now this response seems to be the other end of the spectrum of irrationality. I want my Superman to help matters. Destruction can't be helpful. After the Protector's attack, Superman stops his destructive attack and flies off.

Even if Superman decides to leave the plant intact, his concern for the overall well-being of Earth remains. Superman worries that the pollution ravaging the planet will only lead the planet to destruction like Krypton.

Apparently seized by anger, Superman vows to the heavens that he won't let Earth die the way Krypton did.

I'm not used to seeing such an irate Superman. I think pollution was just becoming a hot topic in the mid-70s so it interesting to see Superman join the cause for a greener world.

Stopping pollution might be a noble cause. Unfortunately, Superman's actions again veer awfully close to insane and absurd.

His first act in the war on pollution is to throw the crew of an oil tanker into the sea. Since there is a chance the tanker might crash and dump its oil into the ocean, Superman decides he should toss the tanker into orbit.

Now that seems a bit rash, doesn't it?

Luckily (?), the Protector shows up to stop Superman from heaving the ship into space. But The Protector is no hero. He is a mutant who gains power the more the Earth is polluted. He is pro-pollution! In fact, he has named himself the Protector because he wants to protect all polluting industries.  Still his sentiment that Superman cannot be judge,jury, and executioner of the world rings true. I don't want Superman as a dictator, especially one as mentally unstable as he appears to be now.

After a brief skirmish underwater, the Protector escapes.

But the madness continues for Superman when he is greeted by Supergirl who is playfully waiting for him. Kara tells Superman that he cannot make decisions for humanity, he cannot interfere with the mankind's evolution (something which sounds a lot like 'Must there be a Superman?').

And he cannot use Krypton's history as justification ... because there was never a planet Krypton! Superman has been living a lie! Wow!

I have to say, I am a fan of Garcia-Lopez, he is such a legend in the industry. And I like his Supergirl a lot!

Superman is, of course, completely confused by Supergirl's statements so she brings him to the Fortress of Solitude for some proof.

For example, the bottle city of Kandor is nothing but a 'ship in a bottle' style model with tiny figurines as opposed to people.

Superman needs a healthy dose of 'reality' and maybe smashing the city is just the sort of startling vision to shake him from his delusions.

When I first read this book I couldn't believe that the scene from the cover actually happened. Back then there was a lot of 'bait and switch' covers.

And the truth keeps coming. Superman and Supergirl are Earth mutants. Fred Danvers and Jonathan Kent were scientists working with radioactive materials. That exposure changed their DNA. The result is that their children ... Linda and Clark ... were born with tremendous abilities.

Pa Kent was not a farmer. Superman was not rocketed to Earth from Krypton. Jon and Martha Kent are Clark's birth parents. The whole of Krypton was all a delusion made up by Clark to help him deal with who he really is.

Okay, so pretty big revelations here. Could this be real? Could Superman really be an Earth mutant so repulsed by his origins that he created a whole separate reality to help him cope? And does this mean that Supergirl is stronger mentally and emotionally that she knows the truth but has 'played along' with Clark's phony history?

Before he can really digest all this information, The Protector shows up and a battle ensues. Luckily Superman figures out a weakness in the Protector's attacks and is able to defeat him. But this victory is of little consolation. Superman's whole life has been a lie, a fantasy of his mind.

While that information is frightening and puzzling, it also means that Superman's disconnect with humanity is also a fantasy. He isn't an orphan anymore. He isn't a man without a planet. He is truly home! But what does it all mean?

Now that was a busy issue! As if the Supergirl reveal that Krypton is a hoax isn't a big enough event, we have Superman teetering on madness, a new powerful villain, and a nice anti-pollution message.

So a Superman, unsure of his place in humanity, unclear if he has lost touch with the people around him, is suffering psychologically. Sure sounds like 'Grounded' huh? So what will happen to 'this' Superman? Will he walk across the country? Embrace his 'newfound' Earth origins? Continue his war on pollution? Remain emotionally scattered?

I think it will be better to give the three issue arc a final grade rather than each individual issue. I also will comment on the relevance of this story for a Supergirl collection at the end as well. That said, the cover alone might make this worthy of being in a Supergirl collection. You can't beat Neal Adams.

New Cover For Supergirl #62

A new cover for Supergirl #62 has been posted on the DC Comics website. Mahmud Asrar is the artist and he also posted the cover on his blog here: http://www.mahmudasrar.com/2011/03/supergirl-62-cover.html

I like the piece, Supergirl taking point as she, Robin, and Blue Beetle face off against some of Alex's robots. The S-shield seems a little off, but I like Kara's pose as she braces for an attack. This could easily be the cover for the upcoming trade of this arc.

I only know Asrar's work from the Jeff Lemire Atom back-up feature in Adventure Comics but I can remember thinking he had a nice style.

Of course the new cover means that this initial cover solicit by Amy Reeder isn't going to be on the issue. I like this piece too. But the Asrar piece clearly is linked to the internal story while this Reeder piece could be on almost any issue or just be a pin-up.

Much like the other un-used Reeder cover for Supergirl #61, I hope this makes it into the trade in a cover gallery of sorts.

What Is Sterling Gates' Secret Project?

With the question of what new title I should review here behind me, I figured I would ask the next question that has been bugging me.

What is Sterling Gates' secret project?

It has been a couple of months since his epic run on Supergirl ended. We have heard solicitations through May. And still no answer. Is he writing one of the Flashpoint minis? Is he writing a new monthly?

I don't think it is any surprise that I am a fan of Gates' work and so I am looking forward to picking up whatever title he is working on. This will be pure speculation, just blind guesses of titles or characters that I think Gates would do a great job with. But here are a couple of thoughts of some titles I hope will be the 'secret project'.

I would love to see a re-imagination or revamping of Amethyst, Princess of the Gemworld. I really enjoyed the monthly series back in the 1980's and thought Ernie Colon's art was the perfect fit for the mystical title. I think that Gates would have a great handle on these characters. And on the Booster Gold blackboard there was a line about Gemworld which means it might be coming back.

Of course, maybe I am pigeon-holing Gates a little here. Amethyst is young blond woman on a hero's journey. Maybe a little bit too close to Supergirl?

More than Amethyst though, I would love to see Gates do a Dr. Fate book. Is there any DC character more underutilized than Fate. I mean, Fate is a great character with so much potential and instead we see him languishing in the background or not being around at all.

I will admit, I would want this to be an 'old school' Fate. I would want it to be Kent Nelson, with Inza, and the tower in Salem. I know Fate has gone through a bunch of revamps. I don't even know who currently wears the helmet, if anyone. The world needs a good Dr. Fate book. The world would be a better place with a good Dr. Fate book.

Anyways, those are my two top guesses. I had plenty of others - Shade the Changing Man, the Creeper, Damage, Kid Flash - but these are the two I would like to see the most.

What titles or characters would you all like to see as Sterling Gates' Secret Project? I would love to hear other ideas.