Review: Superman #17

Superman #17 came out this week, the last chapter of H'El on Earth, about as muddle a Superman family crossover as I have read. Thank goodness it is over so I can put it in my rear view mirror.

I have had major issues with this arc, mostly around the inanity in Supergirl's characterization. But I also have had problems with the way the other members of the family have been portrayed as well. The characters read differently from chapter to chapter and from book to book. The Supergirl in this book is much different than the one in her own title. The Superboy in this arc is way more heroic and way more inspired by Superman than he has ever been in his title.

But, as I feared at the end of Supergirl #17, there isn't enough space in this one issue to wrap up this arc in any meaningful way. We are rushed through a simple solution (harming H'El snuffs all his machinations), problems that have cropped up in the plot are simply ignored (Superboy doesn't seem to be dying anymore and in fact seems stronger than ever, it isn't the draining of energy that will blow up our solar system it is the activation of the time ship), characters change their minds dramatically (Supergirl goes from smitten and angry follower to murderous and familial in the span of minutes), and we still don't know anything about H'El or his plot. When there is that many things swept under the rug, the story can't be satisfying.

Now I can imagine that some people will say I should be happy that Kara was the 'hero' here. But I can't forget 7 issues of stupidity. And I can't be happy to see Supergirl try to kill someone.

If there is one bright spot here, it is the art of Kenneth Rocafort which really shines. It is a pretty book to look at. Too bad the words ruin things. Let's start picking at the scabs.

So part of this arc was the introduction of 'The Oracle', a cosmic being of immense power, brought to Earth by the hornblowing alien from Stormwatch. His arrival was part of the cliffhangers of this book. He towered over the Earth last issue. With all that buildup, you would think he would have some role to play in the story.

Instead, through exposition, we learn that the Oracle is called to 'bear witness to threats of time and space'. So he isn't an active part of this story at all.

Superman tries to communicate with the Oracle but all it does is flood his mind with memories things that are and some things that 'should not be'. Most of the memories shown are parts of the origins of the characters as we have seen in the New 52 (see Kal's rocket and Kara in her pod). So I don't know what shouldn't be. Maybe this is some way of saying that the timeline still isn't right? Or is it an out for DC if they want to re-write some of the super-origins if they grow tired of these newer versions?

Either way, the Oracle leaves. He really had no impact on this story ... none. So why include him? Or why spend so much time making it seem like he was part of the story when he wasn't?

As I said before, the plot twists of the earlier issues that need to be resolved are simply ... resolved.

So suddenly Kara, who was shouting her love and praising H'El just moments ago, suddenly says that she and H'El 'never had love'. I suppose I should be happy that Supergirl isn't willing to risk Earth and recognizes the errors of her ways. But the truth is, this is sooo different from the way she acted in the first 7 issues of this arc and not much has changed other than Wonder Woman basically telling Supergirl to open her eyes. The first part of the characterization is idiotic given the cautious nature of Kara in her book.

On top of that, Superboy who was dying moments earlier, genetically twisted and mangled, barely able to stand as Kara pounded him, now looks fine and actually is powerful enough to bring down H'El's energy gathering station. So I guess that has just been forgotten.

I don't mind these heroics ... in fact I applaud them. But just a couple of pages ago, she was enamored and he was almost dead. You can't change things this quickly and have it read right.

How about the plot point that our solar system is going to explode if H'El succeeds. Well, I think it was implied in prior issues that it was the absorbing of all our sun's energy that would lead to that galactic catastrophe.

Now that has been changed. Now he has simply absorbed the energy he needs without threatening the galaxy. It is the actual rip through the time stream from his ship that will destroy us. Of course, this new plot twist means that the time machine can work ... which we see at the end of the book ... I think.

But you can't change that threat from the draining energy to the use of the ship, not in the last issue.

I also wonder why Superboy has got such a postive feel to him in this arc. Here he plays the role of Kryptonian conscience wondering if they would approve of H'El's plans. Of course, this is the guy who describes himself as a living weapon, who doesn't care about Superman, has been programmed to kill Superman, and who recently stomped through an issue saying 'kill, maim, destroy'. Again, I actually like Superboy's growth here. It is just felt off given who he has been in his own book and even in some places of this story. Wouldn't that line have come better from Diana?

As I said, the 'dying Superboy' looks pretty spry here as he holds back 'time shards'. Any time the writer has a character apologize for their dialogue (here Kon saying he is making things up as he goes) I cringe.

As for Kara, since she is seeing clearly he realizes it is time to make a stand. Again, I am glad she is asking herself these questions. I just wonder why now and not when she first meets H'El.

As odd as some of the dialogue has been, this rant by H'El stood out as the clunkiest. 'Humans all think they're all so damned special. They're not.' Doesn't that seem a little petty coming from someone who thinks we are below him on an evolutionary scale? Would I say 'Squirrels all think they are so damned special. They're not.' And the 'damned' just seems bitter and  ... well ... human. Why would he say that?

I suppose we haven't really heard H'El's true origin. Maybe this will make more sense then.

As for Supergirl end game, she realizes the H'El is controlling everything psionically. The only way to stop the timeship from leaving and taking the solar system with it is to eliminate H'El.

So, risking herself by holding a chunk of green K, she stabs H'El in the chest.

That's right folks ... Supergirl tries to kill the enemy!

This isn't a wounding attack. This isn't hitting him in the head to knock him out. This is stabbing him in his heart.

Do I like a Supergirl who would risk her own life to save millions? Yes.
Do I want to read about a murderous Supergirl? Not me.

With his bleeding open chest wound, H'El falls into this temporal swirl and disappears.

So H'El isn't stopped.
And he uses his energy to go through a time warp.

So ... why did he need the ship?

I suppose that seeing Kara almost sacrifice herself to save the galaxy is a good thing. That said, seeing a dying Supergirl in Superman's arms is a bit too reminiscent of Crisis #7.

And the heartwarming 'I did it for my cousin' is a complete turnaround from the 'stay out of my business and away from me' Supergirl we have seen throughout this arc. Why would she be so loving of him now when she has shunned him since the inception of the DCNu? If this was an olive branch extended to Superman I suppose it works a little. But it sounded almost too sugary of an answer for that.

I just think that characterization has been so erratic in this story that it is hard to feel like there is any internal consistency. I can only imagine what this would read like if I read all the chapters in one sitting.

As for H'El ...

He really didn't need a big solar-system killing timeship after all. He ends up going back in time and arrives on Krypton. So even moreso, the 'victory' of the heroes is hollow. H'El succeeds!

So let's take a look back at the arc.

Superboy seems to come out of this whole thing looking the best. He has matured and actually sounds reasonably heroic. He is inspired by Superman. Of course, he should still be dying ... but we'll see if that is even addressed. Superman comes out looking okay ... although he basically was a guest star in this arc. He routinely got pummeled by H'El, didn't tell his cousin his concerns and sent friends to throttle her,  and had nothing to do with the outcome. Supergirl comes out the worst because in the opening chapters she is too trusting and naive of H'El (which is the exact opposite of her in her own book). She turns things around in this issue but it is so sudden it makes her seem unstable and immature.

As for H'El. We don't know who he is. We don't know his true origin. We don't know how he got his powers. We know nothing of him.

The Oracle? Why was it even in this story? Or why was their such a buildup about it being here in prior issues if he didn't do anything?

I think I have laid out my concerns about the inconsistent plot points and characterization enough not to reiterate.

I am glad this story is done. Because at least it is done.

Overall grade: D

Superman Unbound Movie Press Release

Recently, over on the Superman home page, the back trade dress for the Superman Unbound was posted. They (and other sites) also posted the press release Warner Home Video has distributed for the movie. Here is the link: http://www.supermanhomepage.com/news.php?readmore=12637

One thing that I have talked about is how the last 5 plus years have been something of a golden age for Supergirl fans. Starting with ... at least for me ... the Gates/Igle run, the character has really been showcased to the world more than ever. A solidly selling comic, multiple statues and action figures, important roles in company crossovers, and now starring in 2 animated movies. I remember days when there was no Supergirl. I remember days when there were bad Supergirl stories. Let's face it, Supergirl fans have had it pretty good.

And this movie looks like another great piece for the character. We know how Supergirl grew as a character in this arc and ends up saving the world. That was the beginning of a rehabilitation of the character away from the insanity of Loeb and Kelly.

Now the back of the box does have one interesting sentence. "It's just another day for the heroic Man of Steel ... only this time, for better or for worse, he has his unpredictable cousin by his side." For better or for worse? Really? My guess is Supergirl comes out as a star in this movie.

Here is the press release (long) and my comments afterwards:

A destructive force is devastating planets across the galaxy - with Earth next in its sights - and even Superman may not be capable of halting the terror in SUPERMAN: UNBOUND, the next entry in the ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies. Produced by Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation, the all-new, PG-13 rated film arrives May 7, 2013 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment as a Blu-ray^TM Combo Pack ($24.98 SRP) and DVD ($19.98 SRP), On Demand and for Digital Download. The Blu-ray^TM Combo Pack will include UltraViolet^TM*.

Based on the Geoff Johns/Gary Frank 2008 release "Superman: Brainiac," SUPERMAN: UNBOUND finds the Man of Steel aptly handling day-to-day crime while helping acclimate Supergirl to Earth's customs and managing Lois Lane's expectations for their relationship. Personal issues take a back seat when the horrific force responsible for the destruction of Krypton - Brainiac - begins his descent upon Earth. Brainiac has crossed the universe, collecting cities from interesting planets - including Supergirl's home city of Kandor - and now the all-knowing, ever-improving android has his sights fixed on Metropolis. Superman must summon all of his physical and intellectual resources to protect his city, the love of his life and his newly-arrived cousin.

The film's stellar voicecast is led by Matt Bomer (White Collar) as Superman, John Noble (Fringe, The Lord of the Rings films) as Brainiac, Stana Katic (Castle) as Lois Lane and Molly Quinn (Castle) as Supergirl. Additional voices in the cast include Golden Globe Award winner Frances Conroy (Six Feet Under) as Ma Kent, Wade Williams (The Dark Knight Rises) as Perry White, Diedrich Bader (The Drew Carey Show, Office Space) as Steve Lombard, Stephen Root (Boardwalk Empire, Justified) as Zor-El, and Alexander Gould (Weeds) as Jimmy Olsen.

Supervising Producer James Tucker (Justice League, Batman: The Brave and the Bold) also directs the film from a script by Bob Goodman (Warehouse 13, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns).

"SUPERMAN: UNBOUND adds an all-new chapter to the growing legacy of animated films featuring the Man of Steel and his epic challenges to maintain peace on Earth," said Mary Ellen Thomas, Warner Home Video Vice President, Family and Animation and Partner Brands Marketing. "Matt Bomer's voice epitomizes the All-American hero that is Superman, and John Noble counters that tone with a commanding, chilling delivery for Brainiac. A superhero is only as good as the depths of his opposition, and Noble brings out the best in his villainous portrayal of Brainiac."

SUPERMAN: UNBOUND Blu-ray^TM Combo Pack has over 4 1/2 hours of exciting content, including:
Standard and high definition versions of the feature film
UltraViolet^TM*
Sneak Peek at Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, the next DC Universe Animated Original Movie

Featurette - "Kandor: History of the Bottle City" - An all-new featurette. Kandor: a peaceful scientific community dedicated toward the preservation of all that is good on Krypton, the home world of Superman. That is, until the city was ripped from its world and placed into a small glass bottle! This is the short story highlighting the shrunken city of Kandor. Its history just as fascinating as it is unique, here is how it ties in directly with the Man of Tomorrow.

Featurette - "Brainiac: Technology and Terror" - An all-new featurette. Mostly machine, but part sentient being, Brainiac steals cities and destroys worlds. Is he the most vile of Superman's villainous foes? Experience the Brainiac mythology and find out why Superman barely stands a chance!
Audio Commentary - Featuring members of the creative team: Mike Carlin, Bob Goodman and James Tucker.

Four bonus episodes from Superman: The Animated Series ("The Last Son of Krypton, Part 1"; "New Kids in Town"; and "Little Girl Lost, Parts 1 & 2"), all handpicked by producer Alan Burnett.

Digital Comic - Excerpt from the graphic novel Superman: Brainiac by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank.

Some interesting stuff here. This looks to be early in Supergirl's career (earlier than in the actual comic) since Superman is 'acclimating' her to Earth. The Supergirl in the Brainiac arc, the one who didn't know about breast implants and was terrified of Brainiac, read a little younger than the one who had been living alone and sulking for 2+ years in her own book. So I suppose that makes better sense.

I also like the continuity nudge that Kandor is Supergirl's home city. It better explains why Zor-El and Alura will be there, avoiding the Argo City story. Of course, if her parents are trapped in a jar in Kandor, who rocketed her to Earth?

The bonus features sound great. A whole featurette on Kandor! It will  have to include the classic Superman #338! And the animated episodes include "Little Girl Lost", the first solo adventure for the animated Supergirl including a nice smackdown with Darkseid. "New Kids in Town" have the Legion going back in time to Smallville when Clark first is discovering his powers to thwart a time-traveling Brainiac.

I know where I will be on May 7th! 

Michael Alan Nelson Publicity Tour Stop: Comic Book Resources

New Supergirl writer Michael Alan Nelson has been making the interview rounds in preparation for his upcoming run. He recently was interviewed by Comic Book Resources. Here is the link to that interview:
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=43987

This interview reads much like the prior ones which have been covered here. From the beginning there have been parts of what Nelson has said that has made me optimistic. And many of those buzz words are present here as well. And yet, as I peruse ... and admittedly probably over-read into these things ... more slightly concerning phrases are sneaking in.

As with anything, the waiting is the hardest part. At this point I want to move past the publicity (which has been woefully off the mark when it comes to Supergirl) and read what Nelson is going to do with the book.

Please read the interview in its entirety, but here are the parts that stuck out for me.


CBR News: Right now you're writing "Ravagers" for DC. What about the title made you want to add "Supergirl" to your plate?

Michael Alan Nelson: Supergirl is such a wonderfully rich character, how could I not want to tell her story? I love the complexity of her situation and how much story fodder it provides. She's an alien who lost everything she ever knew, now living on a planet she doesn't understand. All of which is almost as traumatic as her being a teenager. Put all that together and you're going to have some serious fun.

There is both good and bad in this response.

On the positive, Nelson does sound excited to be writing the book. And he continues to call her a rich and complex character. That is definitely a plus. I always hope that the person who is writing Supergirl is a fan and wants to write her rather than just cashing a check.

But I worry about the 'isolated Supergirl' theme which DC seems to be trying to shove down our throat recently. The fact that Nelson says that living through your teenage years is more traumatic that losing your family/planet/culture completely is a little worrying. I don't need a downbeat Supergirl.

CBR: How would you describe your take on the New 52 Supergirl? Will the character retain her very distinct pro-Kryptonian attitude?
MAN: I definitely see that as part of her character, but I also want to see that attitude challenged. With Superman, he represents the best of humanity, the best Earth has to offer. I want Supergirl to see herself as representing the best Krypton has to offer. She is the sole ambassador of a ghost world and her actions reflect on the memory of that world.
Of course, most people tend to look at the deceased with Rose-tinted glasses. No one, and by extension no world, is perfect. But for Kara, I'd say it's normal that she sees Krypton as the better world. Not that she's jingoistic or demeaning toward Earth, only that she has the occasional thought, "You know, we didn't have that kind of problem on Krypton." Thus, completely glossing over the problems unique to Krypton. It's much like someone from the city moving to the country and noticing the flaws of rural life; just like someone from the country moving to the city and taking note of urbanity's shortfalls. Each has their pros and cons. And I want to see Supergirl embrace Krypton's pros in order to help with Earth's cons.

I can understand this approach. It wouldn't make much sense for Supergirl to simply forget her Kryptonian past.

But I worry that this pro-Krypton viewpoint will simply make it more difficult her to interact with people here on Earth. As much as I want her to remember her past, I also want her to start loving and embracing her new world.

I can only think about people who start working where I work. Those who constantly say 'where I came from we used to do things this way' have a harder time. Sometimes the new view is interesting and can bring forth positive change. But after a while it can be grating. You aren't 'there' any more.

CBR: In light of that, how would you describe the place Supergirl holds in the Super family -- her, Superman and Superboy -- as your run begins?
MAN: I think Supergirl sees herself as an orphan being forced to live with her distant cousins -- and that's the thing to remember. She sees Superman as her cousin, as a part of her family, not the other way around. She doesn't define herself by her relationship to Superman and Superboy. She's her own person. Yet humanity tends to see her at the lowest level of the Kryptonian hierarchy. And that's a little galling since they have no idea what it was like to actually live on Krypton, to have had a life there. It's hard for her not to look at them as poseurs.

This pronoun issue is confusing. I suppose that what he is trying to say is that Supergirl isn't defined by Superman. In fact, she thinks he should be defined by her. But that sounds so petty and adversarial. Can't they just be part of the same family and not try to jockey for position of family dominance?

And before people jump on me, thinking I want a return to the earliest Silver Age stories ... IT ISN'T TRUE!

I love the fact that Supergirl is her own person. I want her to be strong and independent. I also think it is vital for her to be part of this family. I don't want her subservient or beneath Superman. I want her to be his friend and loving cousin. Someone she can count on when she needs him. Someone he can count on when he needs her.

Like we talked about before with "Ravagers",you're a writer most fans equate with dark and horror-infused books. What will the tone of your "Supergirl" be? Will it be darker like much of your previous work?
Darker? Absolutely not. Dimmer? Hmmmm… maybe. Let's be honest. Kara has lost her entire world. Her family, her friends, her life, everything. That's going to leave a dark cloud overhead that's never going to fully dissipate. It will always be there in some way, but the sun will eventually shine through, and that's what I want to do with Kara. I want to show her journey to finding joy and happiness in life. I mean, it's not going to be all puppies and rainbows, but I can say that it's going to be nothing like "Fall of Cthulhu" or "28 Days Later." One thing I really want to do with Supergirl is have fun. She's finding out what Earth has to offer. Our planet isn't perfect, but there are some truly wonderful things for her to discover.

As I have said countless times before, the Supergirl publicity pieces from the higher ups in DC's offices usually don't jibe with reality. The 'don't piss her off' 'Hell on Wheels' Supergirl discussed pre-new 52 didn't match Mike Johnson's sad and internally strong Supergirl.

So despite the recent Harras and Chase laughing response that the new Supergirl will be 'dark ... ha ha ha', Nelson implies it won't be horrific. He keeps talking about how the sun will eventually shine for Supergirl, that she is going to have fun and eventually ... eventually ... embrace Earth.

I hope there will be fun. That part makes me happy. But if it is fun in the vein of 'hanging out with Boomer in a bar' or 'wanting to stay at the rave rather than save innocents from a dinosaur' like we saw in the last incarnation's earliest adventures, I won't be happy.

Do you have plans to introduce new supporting cast members or to expand on characters, perhaps Silver Banshee, who have already been introduced?
Oh yes. Right now, Siobhan the Silver Banshee (and to an extent, her brother as well) is Kara's only friend. So it will be fun to see her strengthen that relationship while developing a few new ones. Plus, how will those new relationships affect her friendship with Siobhan, especially if those new relationships are with non-supers? Will Kara even be able to have meaningful relationships with non-supers? This is where I think the core of her character is. She's trying to find a place to belong, to make connections with other people. That's hard enough as it is, but when you're also fighting insanely powerful people, it becomes almost impossible. And it's in all that chaos and tension where the fun of the story lives.

Again, I think that the 'strange visitor' angle can be interesting as long as the context of a generally optimistic, good person who will use her powers as a hero core isn't ignored.

I do think a supporting cast is essential for almost all comic books. So I think this will be a good way to go as well.

I guess I just have to wait for the issues now and see how it all unfolds.

Superman Unchained

Yesterday, DC Comics and USA Today unveiled the name of the upcoming Scott Snyder/Jim Lee upcoming comic. They also talked a little to both Snyder and Lee about what to expect. Here is the link to that article:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2013/03/04/dc-comics-superman-comic-book-series/1931359/

And the name of the new book is Superman Unchained. It is an interesting title, invoking classic images of Superman breaking chains, cashing in a little on the Django Unchained name, and also tying in to the approach that Snyder and Lee are bringing to the book. I also think there is some nice synergy with the upcoming Superman Unbound movie.

As usual, a couple of things in the interview stuck out which I will show here but it is worth reading the article in total. There is some news about the upcoming Greg Pak/Jae Lee Batman/Superman series as well. Here are some blurbs.

Snyder teams with artist (and DC co-publisher) Jim Lee for an all-new Superman Unchained series beginning June 12, and that same month sees the debut of Batman/Superman by writer Greg Pak and artist Jae Lee that will show the earliest meeting between the company's two iconic heroes.


No surprise about the release date, a mere 2 days before the release of the Man of Steel movie. I can understand toking the publicity fire and taking advantage of the media blitz most likely happening at that point.

Later Jim Lee said:
"We've been pushing the creators to not be beholden to the past conceits and understandings" of Superman, he adds. "So we will speak to a new generation of readers."

I am just a little worried about statements like this. I think there needs to be some 'conceits and understandings' about Superman that have to remain intact. If you write Superman like Deathstroke or Wolverine or even Batman ... he isn't Superman anymore. If someone pitched an angry, violent, killing Superman, would Lee think that was 'fresh'? Or would he say it was wrong? Personally, I don't want Super-Doom.

You can write good Superman stories while still leaving his essence intact, even in this modern world, even as you woo new readers.

Lee says they'll pull back "the camera" sometimes, "showing really how this small little figure, this human-shaped character, can literally move mountains," and Snyder aims to focus on this superhero who has the power to shape the world however he wants it yet looks at humanity to be inspired himself.

I wonder if the 'unchained' portion of the name comes from Snyder and Lee having Superman doing more incredible things, exploring the vastness of his powers ... like the fetters are off. If the opening scene is Superman hoisting a mountain, where do you go from there.

And yet, I also trust Snyder's take because he seems to be focusing on the 'man', that his Superman is inspired by the goodness inherent in humanity. 

"If I think for a second, 'I'm working on Superman,' you get chills and it becomes very, very intimidating when you think of all the amazing stories that have come before," says Snyder, who also is doing backup stories in Unchained with artist Dustin Nguyen.

I didn't know there would be a back-up feature in the book. I was glad to hear that because I think this is going to be a solid book. But adding that the artist is Dustin Nguyen is just a complete win.

"I know conceptually why he admires Lois Lane, but then when you're writing them and you feel the chemistry between them and it comes to life on the page, it's always these little bursts of surprises that have been a joy to discover with him," Snyder says.

And lastly, this is the part of the article that struck me (and it seems the internet) the most. Lois will play a big part in the book. Snyder understands the chemistry between them. He knows that Superman admires Lois. These are welcome words. If there has been one thing lacking in the New 52 Superman, it has been a strong role and presence for Lois. It looks like there will finally be a place to read about a strong Lois.

Hopefully this book will live up to my preconceived expectations of excellence, expectations that are growing.

Superman Vs. Shazam Trade

Last week I splurged a bit and bought the Superman vs. Shazam trade which came out.

Boy am I glad I did!

There are several stories in the book including a wonderful DC Comics Presents 2-parter which ends with Hoppy the Marvel Bunny punching out King Kull. That is a beloved story from my youth.

But the main story is a reprint from a 1978 treasury comic called (of course) Superman vs. Shazam. I vaguely remember reading this story as a kid, actually borrowing it from a friend. But that means that I hadn't read it in about three decades, so it read as new.

What is amazing for me, something I had completely forgotten, is that while the two title characters slug it out for the majority of the story, Supergirl and Mary Marvel are the real heroes of the book. While the story is pretty wonky and full of holes, there is no denying that Mary and Kara are the stars.

The story, written by Gerry Conway with art by Rich Buckler and Dick Giordano, has a martian sorcerer/scientist Karmang trying to resurrect his people (which he accidentally killed eons ago) through science. But the only way he can get the energy to achieve that goal is to destroy Earth 1 and Earth S. (Sounds surprisingly like H'El's current plot). Karmang recruits (through torture) Black Adam and Quarrmer, the Sand Superman to act as agents. Adam, dressed as Captain Marvel, attacks Superman. The Sand Superman (as Superman) attacks Captain Marvel. And the true heroes are struck with a 'judgment ray' which makes Cap and Superman enraged and hope to kill each other. Meanwhile, devices are placed on the Earths drawing them together.

Get all that?

But let's highlight some Supergirl moments.

First off, when Black Adam first attacks (in disguise) Superman calls on Supergirl for help. Imagine that!!

And Supergirl? She accepts her responsibilities without question or concern. She too is a hero!

What a microcosm of what I would love to see in the DCnU. Supergirl has her own life. But loves her cousin and helps him when needed. She understands she is a hero. Fantastic!

Meanwhile, Mary helps Captain Marvel fight the Superman imposter.

When the action moves to Earth 1, Mary follows. And suddenly Mary and Kara realize that their out of control relatives have been duped, attacked by the imposters. And they also realize that Superman and Captain Marvel aren't in their right mind.

I love the fact that Mary and Kara are the voices of reason here. They don't immediately attack each other, instead talking it out. They are intelligent, figuring out who the imposters are. And they devise a plan.

And I love ... LOVE ... that Quarrmer is here. Sand Superman is one of my favorite little known characters. Heck, it's my avatar here! Even here he is forced into working for Karmang who threatened to destroy Quarrmer's dimension if he didn't help in the scheme. In the end, he helps out Mary and Supergirl.

Of course, at this point, Supergirl and Mary don't realize that Karmang is pulling the strings, so instead they go after the other villains.

Supergirl tracks down Black Adam in Egypt. He is trying to steal the Earth 1 version of the Ibistick from the pyramids. Supergirl quickly turns the tables, grabbing the stick and using it to activate the magic lightning which turns Black Adam back into Teth-Adam.

Nice use of powers and smarts on Supergirl's part (even if it is a weird and easy fight). But I love how strong she is in the last panel!

Apologies for crummy scan.

With the info gleaned from Adam and Quarrmer, Supergirl and Mary take off for Mars to fight Karmang. Since his powers are more magic than technology, Mary takes the lead in the attacks. Meanwhile, Supergirl uses some mental chicanery to trick Karmang into revealing how to defeat him.

And just like that, with the press of a button, Karmang is flung into limbo, Superman and Captain Marvel stop fighting, and two Earths are saved.

So just let me reiterate here.

Superman and Captain Marvel spend the bulk of the story out of their minds and fighting each other. Meanwhile, Supergirl and Mary Marvel fight the bad guys, learn the underlying plot, take the fight to the boss, and save two universes.

Fantastic!

In an interesting side plot, Mary is quite smitten with Superman and basically throws herself into his arms. Supergirl decides to show her how foolish it looks by doing the same to Captain Marvel. Embarrassed by the revelation, the group simply laughs.

But look, they part as friends!

So no doubt this is a nutty story. But it is amazing and wonderful that Supergirl and Mary Marvel carry the story and are the real heroes here.

I will add that I love Rich Buckler's Supergirl so I find the art very pleasing here.

But mostly, I love the characterization of Supergirl here as a hero willing to risk it all to save the universe. I love that she is the first person Superman calls when he needs help. And I love that she answers without question.  I can only hope that this sort of characterization returns.

Supergirl Info Pages In Superman Family

After reading Back Issue #61 and its coverage of the Superman Family comic, I just had to go back and look at those earliest issues.

Superman Family took over the numbering of Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen and started out as mostly a reprint book. The original material's character would rotate and readers could tell by who was in the 'lead off' spot on the side column. Here is Superman Family #165 which showcased an original Supergirl story.

In Back Issue, I read that E. Nelson Bridwell, whose knowledge of the DCU was encyclopedic, would try to pick out reprint stories that had something in common with the new story.

One thing I like about these early issues are the inclusion of some information pages about the main character. In a pre-internet world and at a time when reprints weren't typically in trade format, to have some recap or information pages was probably a godsend to collectors. Here are the Supergirl information pages from that time period.

Here is the information page from the above issue. This brief review of Supergirl's career showcased a lot of the main events in her life up to that time. I mean, if you were a collector and wanted to know when Linda graduated college, your options were to hope for an editorial footnote (if one was warranted), hope the story was reprinted, or ask for the information in a letter. I think it is great now. I can only imagine what it was thought of then.

I also like that actual panels from the issues were used.

In Superman Family #168, the issue included a 2 page spread recounting Supergirl's interactions with Lena Thorul.

Amazing that she warranted that much space but she was in a bunch of stories and remained a part of the pre- Crisis Supergirl's life. And, of course, she was a key player in Cosmic Adventures.

Superman Family #171 included a Supergirl Batgirl team up which I covered here. 

It is incredible that the two were considered 'best friends' but only had a handful of team-ups.

Some day I'll cover those wacky World's Finest stories.

Superman Family #174 included this quiz of Supergirl's classic villains. It shows just what a lack of a rogue's gallery Supergirl had considering that 2 of the 5 (Night flame and Satan Girl)  are one time villains. Even Black Flame only was in 2 stories.

I suppose Lesla Lar and Starfire bothered Kara enough to be considered arch-villains.

And in Superman Family #177, there is a review of Supergirl's boyfriends. I think it is silly that Mr. Mxyzptlk is included.

Anyways, I thought there information pages were probably invaluable for new comic fans and new Supergirl fans. Hope you enjoyed them too.

More Optimism From Michael Alan Nelson

The publicity rounds for Michael Alan Nelson as the new Supergirl writer continues over at Newsarama. This is another interview, much like the one on ComicVine, where he talks about his thoughts on Kara but also Power Girl. Like always, it is worth reading the entire interview. Here is the link:

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/supergirl-michael-alan-nelson-interview.html

And, as with the first interview, there are some blurbs here that make me optimistic about the direction of the book. The book definitely sounds like it will continue to be a bit dark but with the sun peeking up on the horizon. As always, the proof will be in the book itself. But, at the very least, Nelson seems to be saying a lot of the right things. Here are some of the things that stuck out for me.

First, some of the introduction:

DC readers didn't get much of a chance to check out Nelson's writing on his last DC book, with his run on The Ravagers cut short by the publisher.
 Before writing Ravagers, Nelson was best known for his work on indie series like Fall of Cthulhu and 28 Days Later. He brought some of that horror sensibility to Ravagers.

When Nelson was announced, I bought Ravagers #8 and #9 to get a sense of his style. Having read Superboy and Legion Lost, I felt I knew enough about the Ravagers team, especially Rose, to jump right in. I will say that despite having no love for Harvest or Psyblade, I thought the issues were decent as the Ravagers deal with a plague having been descended on a small mountain village. One thing that worked for me here was that, despite being on a team of super-villains, Rose tries to do the right thing, quarantining the villagers and hoping to save people. Now her reasons are mostly her falling in line with Harvest's wishes. But there were easier options to do that (like killing everyone) that she rejects. So dark ... but hopeful.

We know that Nelson's first story arc includes the long awaited Supergirl/Power Girl cross over (together again for the first time!). So the first few questions revolve around Power Girl. One thing that stuck out was that Nelson says that Power Girl's appearance was not coordinated with Worlds' Finest. So hopefully no continuity gaffes will ensue.

Nrama: Then before we talk about Kara, what's it like writing Power Girl?

Nelson: I think there's a joy to Power Girl that Supergirl doesn't have just yet. Not that she's bouncing off the walls giggling all the time, but that she sees the world through that filter where Supergirl is still dealing with the fallout of some personally traumatic events. And that's been the key to finding the difference in their voices. I see Power Girl as more of a "glass half-full" to Supergirl's "wait, I have a glass?" It's been a fun but interesting challenge.   


It is so interesting to read this. In past incarnations, I would think the 'glass' references were reversed, with Supergirl being more optimistic and Power Girl being a bit more serious and grim (the Palmiotti/Conner series notwithstanding). So I think this role reversal is one of the more interesting wrinkles in the New 52. In fact, I wonder if that switch irritates both the SG and the PG fans who followed the older incarnations.


And, you could easily explain why Power Girl has as much a reason for being sad and isolated. We don't know her 'pre-Earth' history but from what we have seen, she was beloved on her Earth, she loved her Earth, her de facto parents Superman and Lois are killed before her eyes. And now she has been banished to an odd Earth where another version of her is running around.  Can't you imagine the tag line that Power Girl is upset so 'don't piss her off'? Of course, Worlds' Finest is written by classic Supergirl fan Paul Levitz so no surprise she has some of the inclinations of prior Karas.

Nrama: Let's back up and talk about your overall plans for the Supergirl title and what we'll see from Kara. So far, we've seen a sort of "alien teen/coming of age" approach to Kara. Will we see more of those stories, or is your hope to give the book a bit of a new direction?

Nelson: The alien teen/coming of age aspect is a really big part of who she is. Growing up as a normal teen is difficult enough. It's a chaotic, painful, beautiful disaster that we all have to learn to navigate. Having to navigate that terrain on an alien planet in an alien culture all while having super powers just adds to the chaos.

But that said, I really want to add some adventure to her life, both personally and "professionally."

Supergirl is a rich and incredibly complex character. I want to explore how those complexities affect her attempts to adapt to living on Earth, how she forms relationships, how she reacts when those relationships fall apart — all while dealing with problems that only an alien teen with god-like powers would have to deal with. I said that I think there's a joy to Power Girl that Supergirl hasn't found yet. The key word in that sentence is 'yet.' It's my hope to tell a story that shows her journey toward finding that joy and sharing all the devastating lows and breathtaking highs along the way.   

So I don't know if 'alien teen coming of age' works for me because it sounds more like the doldrums of the earliest Smallville seasons. I prefer the 'young hero's journey' and I suppose being a teen thrust into an alien world can only make things that much more difficult.

But one of the things that Nelson said here and in the prior interview is that he considers Supergirl a 'rich and incredibly complex character'. I would love to hear whether or not that appreciation comes from some sort of history with the character. Has he read some older adventures? Has he always liked the character?

I also like that he again says that joy is something Supergirl hasn't experienced 'yet' as if promising brighter days in the future. 

Nrama: Will we see some of her life outside the Supergirl costume?

Nelson: Quite a bit, actually. The truth is, she's a lonely girl who can't really relate to other people. The fun is going to come from watching her try to overcome that issue. We're going to see her strengthen her personal relationships, develop a few new ones, and then see those relationships tested in some interesting ways.

Relationships are a minefield for teenagers, whether they're platonic, romantic, or those confusing ones that fall somewhere in between. Add in the added dimension of "things want to kill you on a daily basis" and things can get...complicated.   

I don't know if she 'can't relate' to other people because she must have on Krypton and she has here with Siobhan. So maybe it is more that she is having a hard time coming out of her shell on a new planet. At least Nelson talks about trying to create relationships as opposed to becoming more isolated.

Nrama: How much will Supergirl be involved in what's happening with Superman over the summer and further into 2013?

Nelson: She will definitely be involved for a while. But when we get to my first few issues, I'm going to focus on Supergirl and really hone in on her as a character before she gets drawn into larger events affecting the DCU. She's got some pretty big things to deal with on her own. Other DCU characters may have appearances, but it's going to be pretty Kara-centric.

Nrama: So does that mean she'll be involved in events involving the rest of the DCU?

Nelson: I'm sure she'll have some involvement, perhaps more and more as the series continues. But as she does become involved in the rest of the DCU, I see her as a strong lead-character more so than a supporting cast member. And that could have some interesting consequences with her relationships (or lack thereof) with other members of the DCU.

So Nelson thinks she is strong enough to be a lead character and he wants her book to be her book and not be tied down to happenings around the DCU. We need to get past this 'I just got to Earth ... what is happening' portion of the title. We need to learn about this Supergirl and have her become more invested in Earth.

Not that I am happy to see Mike Johnson leave this book, I will say that Nelson is saying some great things here and it makes me optimistic. Again, all these answers are a far from the 'pissed off' angry young girl who hates humanity stuff we heard about the character before.