No Supergirl In September

I have been waiting for all the DC September solicits to come out to do my usual review of upcoming books. As a result, I haven't touched much upon the upcoming 'Forever Evil' theme running through the books that month. The overall solicit post will be up soon.

But let's talk about 'Forever Evil' and the month of comics. 'Evil' was first announced in USA Today here: http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2013/06/03/forever-evil-dc-comics-series/2381849/    The concept is a decent one if not played out a little. All the books that month will spotlight a villain and, in a move similar to the nonsense of 1990's comic boom, will sport 3-dimensional covers, most likely lenticular covers of a sort. What's next? Hologram covers?

My opinion of David Finch's art has declined since the days of New Avengers but I thought this image was interesting if only to see the villains being showcased. And, when I saw this I immediately wondered which, if any of these villains, would grace the Supergirl book.

Now it seems that there won't be a Supergirl book at all that month, a move that seems to be in line with DC's recent moves of flooding the market with 'hot characters' and not cultivating the middle tier of their line. Over on  Bleeding Cool the list of DC books solicited so far is up. 16 Batman books. 8 Superman books. 10 Justice League books (JL, JLD, and JLA). It also continues the 'event' nature of Septembers. The New 52 premiered in September. Then we had 'zero' issues. Now we have villain issues and 3D covers. It feels a little bit gimmicky.

But the glut of some characters books means that others are going to be missing. There apparently won't be a Supergirl or Superboy book that month.

I suppose the writing was on the wall when Michael Alan Nelson was interviewed over on Zap2It here:
http://blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/2013/06/first-look-dcs-action-comics-villains-month---zod-lex-luthor-and-more-plus-michael-alan-nelson-talks.html

If Nelson is being interviewed and there isn't a Supergirl solicit attached, things don't look good.

Yes, those Action Comics solicits look great. Sholly Fisch being back on board makes me happy. And a Charles Soule Superman book! Fantastic.

But wouldn't this gimmick month be another opportunity to shine some light on other DC books in their line. Look, Supergirl is a middle-ground selling book. She has a new writer who has promised (like others before him) to add to Supergirl's rogues gallery. She will have just fought Cyborg Superman in her book. Silver Banshee is in the wings. Both of those villains are established enough to be recognizable in a month like this. Heck, maybe it would a great time to introduce a new villain in a splashy way! Wouldn't it be nice if DC decided that her book was worth a fancy cover and some publicity?

Instead, her books and others aren't present. Is it yet another 'jumping off' point for the casual Supergirl fan? What about books like Katana? Vibe? Constantine? Don't they need something like this?

It seems I say it about every 3 months or so. DC seems interested in short money, the quick fix, without looking ahead to the health of their whole universe. What do fans of the titles being left off the solicits think about the health of those series? Do Red Lanterns fans think that DC cares about their book?

Remember this month several years ago when every DC title was included in the Faces of Evil theme. It showcased Superwoman to people who might not know she was worming her way into Supergirl's life.

Anyways, it looks like there won't be Supergirl in September. And that irks for a number of reasons.

Review: Action Comics #21

Action Comics #21 came out this week and ended the brief Andy Diggle (1 issue) and Tony Daniel era (?) on the book. Andy Diggle, who walked off the book after his first issue continues to get credit as a co-plotter but I have to wonder just how much this story resembles what he had in mind. Daniel does the co-plotting, scripting, and art on the book. I have to say that I can only wonder just how great this book would have been if both of these creators stayed on board and had their vision of the book allowed to blossom.

I say that because there are a lot of very good moments in this book. In particular, there are some great panel progressions that really tell a story in a way that is unique to comics. And Superman sounds like Superman here. And Lois feels like Lois, which is a refreshing change from recent days. But, I also feel like this story was wrapped up quickly and tweaked to explain some things a bit too easily to make me feel that this is the exact finale that Diggle had in mind.

This isn't a perfect book. As I said, the ending is a little too easy and a somewhat off screen. This book takes place only a year ago but Jimmy seems a bit too young and naive to have become the Jimmy we saw shacking up in Clark's apartment just 12 months later.

But it is a very good Superman book, satisfying and entertaining. And that makes this somewhat a bittersweet review. Because I will again have to ponder 'what might have been'?

Last issue, Superman was battling a giant monster created by Hybrid-virus mutated humans. And in an odd sort of riff on Syndrome from The Incredibles, Luthor (who created the Hybrid virus) dons a super-suit to destroy the thing and be recognized as Earth's hero.

Now how a nanobot virus designed to re-write Superman's DNA could infect humans and make them monstrous and able to merge, I have no idea. So I wonder if this was what Diggle initially wanted. As I sometimes need to do, I will roll with it.

One thing I like is Lois' intrepid and investigative nature surging to the front. While emergency services are clearing the block while wearing their hazmat suits, Lois is walking through the rubble to get her story. Wonderful stuff.

Superman uses the little knowledge he has of the mutated creature need for oxygen to make it disassemble into its component humans. As he plans his next steps, he sees a mutated Lois crying out for help. Of course, it is explained away as a hallucination (like the Jimmy one from the first chapter).

That revelation was almost too quick for my taste. We had just seen Lois leap into the hot zone with little concern for her own well-being. For a second I thought the mirage might be real. Unfortunately, we get the reality of the situation the next panel.

I still wonder if the 'hallucination' was part of the first plot by Diggle or a simple solution to explain away the Jimmy 'death' before.

Dr. Veritas does show up as a hologram to provide a possible cure. The virus was weakened by red sun rays (I still don't know if I understand that either) in her lab so she teleports in a Red Sun light cannon. She isn't sure if the light will kill those infected or just eliminate the virus but it is an answer.

As I said above, it is a bit too easy of a solution, literally appearing on the stage.

One thing I did like was that despite knowing he will be severely weakened by the red sun rays (and already hobbled by the virus his body is fighting), Superman says he will stay until the job is done. That is what Superman would do.

Lex arrives. I love the this sort of old-school feel of Lex in a power suit. And he actually gets to kick Superman around a bit. Between the red sun and the virus, Superman isn't at top form. And this sounds like Lex. He talks about himself as a force of nature protecting the world from the alien threat of Superman. I love scenes like this where Lex talks about saving the planet while surrounded by the death and carnage he has wrought.

Amazingly, the red sunlight seems to cure the infected as they de-evolve back to their human form and are shuttled to safety by Lois who has finally arrived at the scene.

Now one thing I didn't realize about this story is that this is Luthor's coming out party as a super-villain. I thought that Lex would have been established as a villain more than a year ago. But it is here, in this battle, that Superman realizes just who his arch-enemy is.

This is one of those panel progressions that I love. The gleeful Luthor revealed by x-ray vision, the battered Superman whispering his name, and the shocked face of Lois realizing who is responsible for this horror show.

Fortunately, Lois has her phone ready and has recorded it all. Unfortunately, in all the craziness, she drops it into the Metropolis river.

This was another nice moment.

I love Lex's cavalier attitude about the sanctity of human life. Despite the victims being apparently cured, Lex implies he is going to kill them to control the spread of infection. He blames Superman for letting them go free and spread the Hybrid threat to the world. Ummm ... that's the virus you created Lex! It shows just how deluded Lex is.

And there is something classic about the glowing red eyes in the solid black panel to convey how angry Superman is.

If the 'red sun' cure seemed easy for the infected humans, Superman's cure seems just as easy. How many times have we seen the mega-dose of yellow sun rays expunge any difficult plot point that faces Superman?

I will say it is a very powerful image by Daniel here.

Rejuvenated and virus-free, Superman flies down and knocks Lex unconscious.

Again, nice panel progression here, even if it furthers the notion that a portion of humanity fears Superman. At least here, it seems plausible. Superman is floating over the defeated Lex, anger in his eyes. The bystanders know who Lex is and don't understand why Superman would clock him. 

This three panel sequence showing an angry Superman who then is ashamed of hearing people sounding afraid of him and then looking up and being more heroic, knowing that is the person he needs to be. This was just fantastic, showing a younger Superman.

While Lois and Jimmy (who she calls her assistant!) tell the police all they overheard, implicating Luthor in the disaster, it simply doesn't have the power as the recorded confession she had on her phone.

Well, when things settle down and while having lunch, Clark says he did some searching and found Lois' phone. He couldn't let her have all the fun. Plus, of course, it is important to he.

For those out there who feel that Lois and Clark should be together, panels like that second one are wonderful. We saw some flirting in the first issue of this arc. Here we see Lois still has feelings for Clark, even if Jon walks into the restaurant on the next panel. Even Clark admits he and Lois are just friends ... even when it is clear he wishes there was more.

So overall a story that had a lot of excellent elements and big art when it needed it. We have a perfect Lois. We have the 'origin' of Luthor as a criminal. There was an overall feeling that this was the right sort of Superman. And that was enough to let me overlook some of the odd quirks and holes in the plot. If this was a primer on what Andy Diggle was planning for the book then I fear we really lost out.

If only ...

Overall grade: B+

New Michael Alan Nelson Interview

With 8 Superman comics coming out in September in the Forever Evil villains month, I suddenly doubt we will be seeing either a Supergirl or a Superboy issue that month. While I may end up being pleasantly surprised if a solicit shows up, at least DC continues to ramp up the Supergirl publicity. Writer Michael Alan Nelson recently did an interview on CBR which further deepened his thoughts about the character and direction of the book. Here is the link: http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=45701

As always, I strongly suggest you read the interview in its entirety. And, as usual, I have picked a couple of questions to focus on giving my thoughts about things.

CBR News: Michael, in your debut issue Supergirl seems like she's resigned to having the world's worst luck. Is this "bad luck" something that's going to define the tone of her adventures on Earth and your initial story arc?

Michael Alan Nelson: I don't see it so much as being a defining tone as I do a new lens she uses to view the world. She hasn't really had the best luck a person could have, but I think she's moving from a place of being angry about that bad luck to a more accepting place of understanding. Bad things happen. That's life. She's starting to understand that no matter how frustrating things are, she's going to have to deal with it. That's where some of the fun can come in -- she's starting to learn from all these experiences which influence how she makes choices. Even if the choices she makes aren't necessarily the best ones.

CBR: It was touched on during the "H'el" storyline, but Sanctuary's actions really reinforced the Kryptonian attitude towards clones. Is Kara learning to ditch some of her more rigid Kryptonian mores in order to survive Earth?
MAN: I wouldn't say ditch just yet, but she's definitely starting to at least question the infallibility of Kryptonian culture. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and her longing for home colors her memory of Krypton in a way that makes it better than what it really was. Sanctuary's insistence that two Karas cannot be allowed to exist is a reinforcement of the occasional harshness of life on Krypton. No place is perfect and Kara is slowly coming to that realization. It takes time and she'll stumble along the way just as we all do, but she's taking her first steps toward accepting Earth as home. That's why the Earth's sunrise reminded her of a Kryptonian sunset. Her life on Krypton is over, but her life on Earth is just beginning. Yes, it's a pretty heavy-handed metaphor but I think it speaks to where she's at in her life right now.

These are both great answers and in line with prior things that Nelson has said. It feels like we are entering the second phase of this incarnation of Supergirl. Instead of just reacting to her new situation, it sounds like she will be more pro-active. It sounds like she understands that Earth is going to be her new home so she may as well do her best to make the most of it. Her life hasn't been perfect but it is time to move on.

I also think that Mike Johnson had written Kara with a healthy bit of adolescent rebellion when it came to the mores of Krypton. In Supergirl #0, Kara is a bit defiant of Alura's traditional match-making and wants to be more independent. While I can understand that she would want to 'go home' if possible, it seems she already knew that Krypton (like Earth) wasn't perfect. It will be interesting to see how Nelson walks the line of her missing Krypton, respecting her history, but also moving on and away from it.

CBR: In this first issue Supergirl had a lot of fun rolling her eyes at Power Girl's "new" outfit. How is Supergirl-Kara different than Power Girl-Kara, besides taste in clothes?
MAN: It goes back to the idea of belonging, of having a sense of place in the universe. The biggest difference between the two is Power Girl has that and Supergirl doesn't. Power Girl knows what it's like to be accepted, to have a friend, to be respected. Supergirl knows what it's like to be hunted, used and deceived. Since Power Girl is older, she also has a wisdom that Supergirl just doesn't have yet. That's the fun of writing her character -- we get to see her obtain that wisdom through her stories.

Certainly Power Girl was accepted on Earth 2 as a hero. And she belonged there because she accepted Kal as family and a mentor. Heck, she even called Lois 'the closest thing to a mother' she had on Earth. And yet, she also feels she doesn't belong on Earth 1 and is trying desperately to 'go home' to Earth 2. So there is a similar pining in both to get back to a more comfortable place.

I loved the interaction between Kara and Karen in the last issue so I hope we get to see more of it at some point. The two are in different places in their lives but have similar foundations and now sort of similar problems. I would love to hear Karen talk to Kara about her relationship with Kal.

CBR: Lex Luthor's training his sights on Supergirl in issue #21. As "Supergirl's" writer, how much do you want to draw on existing Superman bad guys like Luthor versus creating new or reusing old Supergirl-specific villains?
MAN: I definitely want to see Supergirl deal with villains that are specific to her, whether they're new villains or ones we've seen before. On a meta level, we all know Supergirl is part of the Superman family, not the other way around. I really want her to be strong character in her own right and not defined by her relationship with Superman. In her world, she sees Superman as part of her family. She isn't Kal-El's cousin, he's hers. Put like that, it may sound like merely semantics, but it really is the way she sees herself. It's the way we all see ourselves. I want her villains to be just that: her villains. I certainly don't mind borrowing other baddies from throughout the DCU, but Supergirl is enough of a heavyweight that she can attract villains that are specific to her. By doing so, it helps solidify her as a premier character in her own right rather than just part of Superman's "supporting" cast.

Another good answer. I think most Supergirl fans want her to be part of the Superman family, want her to be within that loop and involved with any major Superman storylines. And yet, at the same time, we also want her to be respected as her own character. I could care less about familial semantics. The two are cousins and should be friends and confidantes. But it is a difficult tightrope to walk. It is funny how the Bat-titles handle this issue so effortlessly. Nightwing and Batgirl are clearly part of the Bat-family and also solid solo characters.

I hope Nelson looks back a bit and tries to utilize Supergirl's existing rogues, reinventing them for the New 52. Silver Banshee, Reactron, Superwoman, Bizarro Girl, Blackstarr, and Satan Girl are all linked to Supergirl and ready to be used. But new villains (like Luthor's female lieutenant) are also welcome.

All that said, wouldn't it be great to introduce us to a Supergirl specific villain in the Forever Evil month (much like Superwoman graced the Supergirl cover in the Faces of Evil month.)

Are we going to see more of Kara using her Kryptonian science and math know-how, or is Sanctuary right in that she's way more comfortable using her fists? Also, is that freezing equation Kara tosses off in your first issue a real mathematical formula?
Supergirl is a bright young woman. She was well educated and surrounded by intelligent adults on a scientifically advanced planet. Kara is no slouch. It's fun to see her reach the limits of what her powers can achieve and start to tap into her other resources. Don't get me wrong, there's action and fighting, but Supergirl has a sharp mind and is starting to realize her intellect may be her greatest power of all.
And yes, the formula is definitely real. Big kudos to Rob Leigh for being able to get it on the page -- and for the great lettering on the whole damn book for that matter.

Perhaps my favorite answer in the whole interview. In every Kara Zor-El incarnation of Supergirl (sorry Matrix), she has been highly intelligent and adept at science. From tinkering in the Midvale orphanage lab to find a cure for Kryptonite to being in the Science Guild in Sterling Gates, Supergirl has always been a science whiz. So I am glad this important piece of Supergirl's core is intact.

I know Nelson never admitted being a fan of Supergirl before writing her. And I know he wants her to be fresh. But elements like this are critical to the established foundation of who Supergirl is. I seems like he recognizes the crucial aspects of who Kara is.

Back Issue Review: Action Comics #402

With the 3-D covers of DC's Forever Evil month trickling out and with a hankering to thumb through the long box, I thought it was time for a Back Issue Review. The back-up feature of Action Comics #402 made the cut for a couple of reasons.

While the cover image is filled with some political incorrect imagery devoted to the main story "This Hostage Must Die", we do get a blurb above touting a story of Superman vs. Supergirl in 'The Feud of the Titans'.

I try to link my back issue reviews to current Supergirl themes and Sanctuary's trying to kill Kara the last issue made me think that I should review some Fortress of Solitude stories where Supergirl is in danger. I suppose it is a bit of a stretch.

I also wonder if Sanctuary's AI will become a new sort of Eradicator and end up the villain on the Supergirl Forever Evil cover.

"Superman vs. Supergirl 'The Feud of the Titans!'" was written by Geoff Browne with art by the legendary team of Curst Swan and Murphy Anderson. I have to say Browne's name doesn't ring any bells so I might have to see if I have anything else by him in my collection.

This is a short action packed piece by him which starts right in the middle of the action. From the opening panel, we see the two Super-cousins at each others' throats. And it isn't some minor quibble. They have descended into name calling. Supergirl a double-crosser? Superman a super-lout? It's war.

And moreover, it becomes a land war as Supergirl has claimed half the Fortress for her and her alone, even installing a back door!

I do like that we have an immediate sense of 'when' this story is taking place by Supergirl's costume, placing this firmly in the middle days of her headlining Adventure Comics.

And the action continues from there. Superman finds that Supergirl has cordoned off her corner of the Fortress with impenetrable force field. Again, we have some name-calling and verbal baiting by Supergirl here. She hates and despises her super-heel cousin!

Of course, Browne is already slipping us a hint to why the two are acting so out of character. What could those green fumes be all about?

Finally, a sliver of sanity comes across Superman. He sees a two-headed bird in his alien zoo where the two heads are attacking each other. He tries to figure out when he started hating Supergirl and more importantly why he hates her.

The last thing he remembers them doing together as a team is destroying outlawed experimental Earth weapons by tossing them into a Kryptonian Atomic Cauldron, an incinerator that could effect even the super-cousins. It is quite an array of interesting weapons including a jigsaw gun and seismotron.

In an interesting twist both discover that the other has stashed a weapon off to the side, to be used to kill the other. With trust gone and hate filling their bodies, they end their partnership and fire on each other.

Seriously, I have to chuckle at the verbal jabs that fly in this story. Even the super-cousins insults seem somewhat polite and erudite. She calls Superman a Benedict Arnold. He calls Supergirl a female Judas!

After some skirmishing, the battle wheels around and back into the Atomic Cauldron room.

In her rage, Supergirl attempts to fly over the cauldron but immediately succumbs to the withering radiation that it gives off. Even the cousins need to stay safely behind a 'radiation rim'. She basically falls into the soup with only her super-suit saving her from a horrible and painful death.

And that sight of his cousin about to die is enough to snap Superman a bit to his senses. He might hate her but he doesn't want to see anything die, let alone his cousin. He holds out his hand and ends up rescuing her.

It is interesting that Supergirl doesn't have the fortitude to break whatever spell the two are under, actually saying she would rather die than be saved by Superman. While this might irk some, I actually like a Supergirl who is still learning, still trying to get there.

And finally the reveal. The green fumes from the beginning of the story was from one of the weapons the two destroyed. The 'Brainwash bomb' mixed with the Kryptonian isotopes to be able to effect even Superman and Supergirl.

Now I often have to take these Silver Age stories with a grain of salt and be forgiving. The bomb is supposed to make you hate your enemy so much that you attack with abandon. So shouldn't this bomb make the super-cousins attack Luthor, Brainiac, and Starfire with gusto rather than each other?

I would hate to think this hatred is bubbling under the surface of Kal and Kara. I suppose it would have been easier to say the bomb made troops mad with anger so they would attack each other, thus weeding out an enemy army with little casualties on your side.

Okay, that was too much thinking for this thing. Just got to roll with it.

Superman realized that they must be under the influence of something when he saw the two-headed bird attacking itself, something it would never do. In the fresh outside air and away from the gas, the two suddenly become level-headed and declare themselves a team again. Supergirl even destroys her private entrance.

This is one more story heaped onto a pile that has Superman and Supergirl fighting. It also perpetuates a myth that Supergirl somehow has deep-seeded feelings of hate for Superman. What I like about this is the clarity that they consider themselves partners and close friends in the saner parts of the story.

I also find it interesting that this story is referenced in the DC Treasury Edition of Superman and his Incredible Fortress of Solitude. Who would think this story would be revisited?

And the Atomic Cauldron actually plays a key role in am issue of Daring New Adventures of Supergirl, an issue I will probably review later this week to play out this theme.

As for a Supergirl collection,  I think this is of low importance. It does introduce the Atomic Cauldron and is a rare team-up of the cousins at that time. It might possibly be the only time Swan drew this variant costume for Kara. For those reasons, it is an interesting piece for a more comprehensive collection.

Overall grade: B

Review: Smallville Season Eleven Special Effigy

Smallville Season Eleven Special:Effigy came out last week, a Batman/Martian Manhunter sort of Brave and Bold sort of adventure. Despite the basic lack of Super-family, I enjoyed this book because it brought all the things that I love about Smallville to other DC characters. 

I have enjoyed the series Smallville Season Eleven immensely, amazed at how writer Bryan Q. Miller has been able to bring an old-school Superman feel to the character while keeping modern sensibilities of current comic stories. So I get a heroic Superman inspiring heroes, married to Lois. And I also get snappy dialogue, an undercurrent of humor, and multiple storylines all happening at the same time. If I have one compliment for this book is that it actually makes me want to go back and watch the show! Something I never thought I would want to do.

Another thing that I have enjoyed with Smallville has been the universe building that Miller has continued to bring to this universe. And boy, does Miller add an interesting new character to the Smallville universe in this story.



This story allows Miller to explore the concept of family and mentorship in the Smallville universe, with (of all people) Batman being used as a sort of sounding board for what it means to have family in a super-hero world.

Lastly, there is a lot of Steph Brown Babs Gordon Nightwing in this book. And any time I get to read Miller writing one of his signature characters, I am happy. There is great stuff here and it will lead me to a particular plea at the end of the review.

Axel Gimenez does the art here and brings a great energy to the story.

The book starts with a peek into John Jones personal life. Living in an apartment building, befriending a single mother and her young son, J'Onn seems to be settling in nicely to a life on Earth. And you almost get the sense that he feels somewhat fatherly to this boy.

While retreating to his apartment, J'Onn looks longingly at a Martian artifact, a sort of cave drawing depicting a family, parents holding a child's hand. He is then attacked psionically, clearly by a white Martian (given the telepathic word balloon), and drops the tile, symbolically breaking the family in two.

I do like the family theme working through this story. But the sort of cave drawing feel to this artifact felt wrong coming from the Martian culture.

Before we get too much more into J'Onn's story, we move to Gotham where Batman and Nightwing are stopping the Mutant gang from an arms deal. It is clearly a riff on the Mutant gang from Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns.

What works here is the banter between the moody Bruce and the more effervescent Steph Babs. We saw a lot of this in the earlier Smallville Detective arc. Nightwing gets the best lines here, punning and funning her way through her fight. There is joy here, a little light in the darker Batman universe, just as we saw in the Batgirl title Miller wrote.

Beating up Mutants is one thing. But around the corner is a White Martian who savagely slashes Steph Babs across the abdomen.

With Nightwing recovering in a Lazarus Pit tube, Bruce is confronted by J'Onn in the Batcave!

J'Onn is there to try to team up but you know nothing goes that easy with Bruce. Seriously, J'Onn appears, reveals that the creature was a Martian, and wants to join the fight. Bruce, being Bruce, tells him to leave and then has Alfred shoot a flame thrower at the Manhunter. I guess Bruce is Bruce no matter what universe you are in!

Still, Batman knows when help is needed and so brings J'Onn alone to investigate the crime scene.

It turns out that the White Martian has struck all over the country making J'Onn think that it is trying to ferret him out.

As I said above, one thing that I like about this story is the feeling of family and the importance of family running through it. J'Onn seems shocked that Commissioner Gordon is unaware that Barbara is Nightwing. I like how J'Onn thinks Bruce should come clean given Babs injury.

Unfortunately, the White Martian has finally found where J'Onn is hiding out. She arrives at J'Onn's apartment house and attacks the mother and son he has befriended.

In what seems to be a recurring riff on Will Smith's famous line from Independence Day, J'Onn welcomes the white Martian to Earth.

The white Martian is driven off.

Afterwards, J'Onn reveals to Bruce some Martian history about the war between the whites and the greens, how he was part of that war and slaughtered whites, how he lost his family and then everything, and how he has reinvented and redeemed himself on Earth.

Again though, even if unsaid, we see J'Onn perseverating over that family cave drawing, furthering that need for family seeping into the story.

This was also one of my favorite scenes in book. While researching the White, Bruce learns that Steph Barbara has recovered. J'Onn tries to figure out that exact nature of the Batman/Nightwing relationships. I really love that Bruce calls Steph Barbara his anchor. He needs someone to keep him in the 'real world' so he doesn't really go off the deep end.

That also adds some comment on J'Onn's life. J'Onn is alone, completely. Maybe he needs someone too.

Finally, a pattern emerges in the White Martian attacks. It leads Batman and the Martian Manhunter to an abandoned missile facility in Colorado.

J'Onn battles the martian where it is revealed that her attacks were only on criminals. She seems young and impetuous and very angry and sad.

Meanwhile, Batman discovers that this martian had been living a life as King Faraday's (!!) daughter. She was rocketed to Earth by her loving parents to save her from the ravages of war ... a sort of sideways version of Superman's origin. She was found by Faraday and raised in the likeness of his dead daughter.

I suppose it could be creepy ... raising a shapeshifting alien as your dead daughter.

When Farady died, the white Martian became angry and alone and began to lash out.

And the white Martian is ... M'Gann Morzz. Hello M'Gann!!!

And so both M'Gann and J'Onn find someone to care for and share their lives with. Despite the planet's history, these two recognize the value of family and so take each other in. You can definitely apply the earlier conversation about Bruce/Babs to these two - too old to be a daughter, too young to be a lover, instead an anchor.

And then we get a nice 'quiet' moment between Bruce and a recovering Steph Barbara. We see a crack in Batman's armor as he actually cracks a joke while training, only to self-mock immediately afterwards.

Overall I thought this was a great issue, introducing Miss Martian to the Smallville universe and showcasing how these heroes need someone in their lives to keep them semi-sane. And, much like the main title, it really deepens and broadens this universe. And it continued to have the nice blend of humor and action.

But if there is anything that this Special #1 did is made me hope ... BEYOND HOPE ... that a Smallville Special #2 is already in the works ... one starring Supergirl, Nightwing, and Miss Martian!!!

Let's face it, we have read Miller's Kara/Steph crossover stories and how fantastic those stories were. Why not bring that magic here!

I don't know if Bryan Miller comes here or reads this ... but if you do Mr. Miller, please write that story!!

Overall grade: B+

My First Commission: Mark Texeira

When it comes to commissions, I consider myself a late bloomer.

Being a without liquid assets for much of my early life, and being in a place remote from conventions for a long time, I will be honest that I hadn't even heard of commissions before the early 2000's. When I moved to my current locale, I was suddenly able to attend a bunch of small, humble conventions where artists were going to be guests.

In 2005, I purchased my first commission ... this Supergirl commission by artist Mark Texeira. Suffice it to say, I was not prepared. I had no bristol board or sketch book. It is on the back of a comic backing board. I had no resource material.  I had to run to a dealer to buy a Supergirl comic to give Texeira so he could see the costume I wanted.

I got this great piece. Sure, she has an impossible female figure. But the face is soo perfect, smiling and upbeat and cute. And it really was a representation with the costume elements I love about the Matrix version, the pointed sleeves, the pleated skirt, shape of the belt.

Suffice it to say, I was hooked.

I have been asked in the past to write about my convention commission preparation and I don't know if it is worth it. But if I knew then what I do now, I probably would have a slicker collection.

Texeira has been around for a while. At the time, I loved his Birds of Prey covers and that was what led me to his table that day.

That was over 50 commissions ago!

Superman 75 Years

Earlier this week, DC Comics revealed their new logo honoring the 75th anniversary of Superman as well as discussing some of their plans for the Man of Steel over the year. Here is the link to that press release:
http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2013/05/30/warner-bros-entertainment-dc-entertainment-celebrate-supermans-75th-with-new-logo

I like this logo, a classic sort of silhouette take on Superman. The numbers seem a bit wonky but there is strength here. The red banner adds a splash of needed color.

Here are some of the blurbs:

The new animated short, currently in production, is being produced by Zack Snyder and pays homage to Superman and many iterations of the Super Hero throughout his 75 years.  A sneak peek of this short is planned for Comic-Con International: San Diego in July and the finished version will debut late summer.

I have read that Bruce Timm is also involved in this film, showcasing Superman in comics, films, and television. That should be cool.

And then some plans

• “Superman: Unbound,” an all-new DC Universe Animated Original Movie that pits Superman against Brainiac—a devastating force of flesh and machine with Earth squarely in his sights—was released on May 7 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.
• “Man of Steel” and Superman products are available for fans of all ages, including toys, costumes, apparel, party goods and publishing from Warner Bros. Consumer Products.
• “Superman Unchained,” the much anticipated new comic book series that centers on a mystery that is frustrating the hero in both the Superman and Clark Kent aspects of his identity ultimately revealing a brand-new villain, debuts on June 12 from DC Entertainment.
• “Infinite Crisis,” an all-new multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game that delivers a heart-pounding competitive player vs. player battle experience set in the legendary DC Multiverse, a world in which familiar DC Comics characters such as Superman have been reimagined in startling ways, debuts in fall of 2013 from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.
• “DC Nation” Superman Shorts, a series of all-new Superman-themed animated shorts produced by Warner Bros. Animation and airing on Cartoon Network’s DC Nation block throughout the year.
• DC Entertainment’s “We Can Be Heroes” giving campaign launches its second crowdfunding initiative in June focused on Superman and featuring one-of-a-kind experiences and limited edition merchandise to engage, excite and empower legions of fans.  Get something good.  Do something great.

I have talked about Superman:Unbound already. I am salivating for the Man of Steel movie. I am looking forward to Superman:Unchained, having pre-ordered by Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez variant cover. And I can't wait for the 'We Can Be Heroes' Superman campaign. That is going to be great!

But hearing that Superman shorts will be produced for the DC Nation block! New animated Superman! That sounds great. I hope we get to see a lot of the Superman mythos in these!

Hopefully, 2013 is the year that Superman rises back to the top!