Bullet Review: DC KO #5

DC KO #5 came out last week, finishing the story and, in theory, rebooting the DC universe yet again. Will there be any repercussions from this reboot from a continuity view? It doesn't feel like it. It feels like this was both an event and a non-event as it swept through all the books, was labelled an event on the cover, but ultimately will need to no tangible change other than Superman being out of the books for a while.

Perhaps the most memorable thing to the book is the sort of rock-em sock-em plot, the fight club style issues leading to the championship bout in this issue. I think we all knew it would end up being Superman fighting Darkseid. Too bad the bracket wasn't a true bracket. This issue is a sort of boxing match of cosmic proportions with the Universal Ruler being the title. 

Scott Snyder does a fine job putting Superman as the center of the DC Universe again, setting him up to be the core of things. I also think the ending where Superman reveals his plan is true to his character. I don't know if there was any revelation here either. All that said, the book is filled with some solid moments if you are a fan of Superman.

Javi Fernandez and Xermanico are on art. The art is cosmic. Some of the pages are wonderfully composed. And there are good flourishes worth pointing out that make the book a pretty solid visual feast.

The parts are more than the whole in this series though. Nice moments throughout but that don't come together into something more.

On to those moments.

"That's Not Me"

Last Saturday, this picture was forwarded to me, a post on the Pre-Crisis Supergirl page on Facebook. They knew I would love it. This one would have missed be completely because Facebook is one of the social media platforms I am not on. 

To give credit where credit is due here is a link to that Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/176AkvCbYD/?mibextid=wwXIfr

I thought the post was brilliant, talking about how at times DC 'scoops out' Supergirl's hope and optimism and replaces it with 'trauma and disillusionment'. This is, for me, especially true of her portrayal in Woman Of Tomorrow. So seeing this picture of Supergirl chucking the Woman of Tomorrow book in the trash and saying 'That's not me.' was great.

I posted it on X with the simple words 'perfect post'. I feel this 'not me' sentiment about trauma and disillusionment is not only true of the pre-Crisis Supergirl, but the post-Crisis ones too - the Loeb reboot, the New 52, and the Rebirth ones. They all dealt with their history and rose above.

The tweet has grabbed some serious traction, one of the biggest ones I have ever had. As of 7a this morning, it was one of my most viewed tweets with 10K views. 

Of course, this led to some interesting responses as well. And while I think my position on this blog is easy enough to find, I want to make sure that I am abundantly clear. I have said all along, I will never begrudge people for liking what they like. If you liked Woman of Tomorrow, I'm happy for you. It just isn't for me.

I love the character of Supergirl for many reasons. One is that despite the tragedies in her life she has worked through them, beyond them, above them to be bright, optimistic, and hopeful. She wants to make sure no one else has to suffer like her. 'Help, Hope, and Compassion For All' was the perfect mantra for her.

I think some of the best stories I have covered on this site have been arcs where she has done just that - BizarroGirl by Sterling Gates/Jamal Igle/Bernard Chang stands out. As does 'Red Daughter' by Charles Soule, Tony Bedard, and others.

DC seems to think that Supergirl an interesting take for the character would be to turn her dark but time and again that has failed. I think that is because it doesn't work for the core of the character.

And frankly, Woman Of Tomorrow's dark take failed for me there as well. The drunk, angry woman who wants to be alone rather than with family isn't right. The young woman screaming in a sun, living 'a life of pain' isn't right. A Supergirl who brings a young girl to a stoning execution and allows a prisoner to be beaten to death after serving his sentence isn't right. 

It isn't right for me and how I think of Supergirl.

This doesn't mean I want her locked in amber, never growing or changing. I think Joshua Willaimson and Phillip Kennedy Johnson had her grow tremendously under their run.

This doesn't mean I want her stories to be saccharine fluff. I love Supergirl because she is so complex, still learning her way, still fallible.

I do not want her without hardships. Of course, in all her incarnations, she has had them. I just want her to have worked through the trauma, not wallow in it.

I want her hopeful and optimistic. 

I actually believe the movie, unlike the book, is going to lean that way. I think the movie is going to have the traumatized Kara seeing Lobo as what she will become if she stays on her current path and deciding she needs to change. I think in the end, this movie Supergirl will be hopeful. 

We shall see.

And kudos again to 'Tommy Cheatham' for the original post. Brilliant.

Review: Absolute Superman #17

Absolute Superman #17 came out this week, the finale of a quick two parter bringing Absolute Hawkman and Absolute Superman together to fight the Parasite. The first arc of this book was something of a slow burn, world-building and introducing our cast and fleshing them out. So this fast, action packed and brief story was an interesting change of pace.

Quick doesn't mean light or superficial. Writer Jason Aaron infuses the whole story with a comparison of Hawkman and Superman, their approach to 'heroics' and morality. Hawkman is an 'ends justify the means' guy. Superman is a much more inspirational figure, willing to sacrifice himself to save anyone else. Add in the Parasite, who seems more of a victim than a villain here, perhaps another way the Absolute Universe is a new angle and approach to characters. But the hero here is still Superman, who has matured in this book already, becoming the hero this world needs.

Juan Ferreyra again brings a sort of pastel panache to the proceedings. He brings the horror of the Parasite as well a Brainiac as well. This book has, at times, veered into body horror and we see that here. It is all gorgeously if not grotesquely rendered. 

I wouldn't mind a few more of these mini-arcs to help increase the mythos of this Superman.

On to the book.

April 18 - Supergirl Day

April 18th is Superman Day commemorating the anniversary of the release of Action Comics #1. DC Comics will usually celebrate with some special releases or a re-releases of trades and collections.

With the Supergirl movie being released in June, DC decided to make April 18th Supergirl Day this year. Incredible. 

If you want to read all about it, here is a link to DC's blog: https://www.dc.com/blog/2026-02-12/look-out-supergirl-is-taking-over

I started this blog in 2008 because I felt Supergirl was being overlooked and horribly mishandled. I wanted to shine a spotlight on my favorite character. So if you told me then that DC would be celebrating Supergirl day in advance of a major movie, I would think you were crazy.

So I will be here to celebrate Supergirl Day and I hope you will to.

At the heart of Supergirl’s Superman Day offerings is the Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #1 Superman Day 2026 Special Edition. This exclusive Superman Day sampler reprints the acclaimed first chapter of Tom King, Bilquis Evely, and Mat Lopes’s character-defining sci fi fantasy epic.

In addition to the Superman Day Special Edition, fans can also pick up two Superman Day–exclusive versions of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #1 at their local comic shop while supplies last: a foil‑enhanced Special Edition ($9.99 US) and a blank sketch cover ($4.99 US), ideal for signings, sketches, and collectors.

Obviously the movie is based on King's story so the celebration will revolve a lot around that book. I don't particularly like the book's portrayal of Kara but it is clear this is here to stay. Will I buy these issues? It will be torn for sure.

But there's more.

Review: Superman #35

Superman #35 came out last week, another DC KO crossover and another chapter in the redemption arc for Superboy Prime. It succeeds on both fronts. There is an interesting wrinkle to the Doomsday storyline as well, perhaps leading into a dramatic event in the actual KO finale as well. 

Joshua Williamson has done a good job so far making me a little sympathetic towards Prime, veering into actually liking him. Prime has learned some hard lessons and continues to do so in this arc, reminding him why Superman was his hero so long ago. This issue Williamson reminds us who Prime has been in the past, and maybe showing that he still has some darkness in him. Perhaps some down to Earth Kent wisdom will help tamp down the remaining vitriol.

The Doomsday piece does intrigue me as it is basically a new element to his origin and changes him fundamentally. I suppose that Doomsday becoming the Time Trapper was a big step already, one that makes some sense. I recall hearing that Dan Jurgens didn't like that change so I doubt Jurgens will be on board with this one either.

Eddy Barrows is again on art and continues to show why he is a favorite. The fight scenes are brutal. There are emotional scenes with heft. The pages layouts are interesting. But the high water mark for art here is the expressive work, a strong part of Barrows' art.

Will the events of this change the climax of KO? I think so.

On to the book.

Review: Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong 2 #7

Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong 2 #7 came out this week, the final chapter in what has been another fun romp through both universes, mixing nostalgia, interesting character moments, and lots of kaiju brawls. This was incredibly entertaining in a popcorn movie sort of way. And I read comics to be entertained.

Writer Brian Buccellato throws in just about every giant monster in the Monarch universe into this book and in particular this issue which is basically a massive melee between the good guys and the bad guys. As always, he lets Supergirl shine, not in the way I was hoping but in a way that is even better. But this is more than just fights. Small character moments, like Wally trying to follow in Barry's giant footsteps, or Hal being scared of Parallax, are inserted to sort of ground the book in loose DC history. Does it end fast? Sure. But is is JL v Godzilla v Kong. There isn't going to be nuance.

Christian Duce drew every page of this sequel and has a pristine art style which brings a crisp feeling to the insanity. He must have had a blast drawing giant-sized leaguers throwing down against dinosaurs and giant apes. I hope I see more of him. Give him something like this every year, a mini-series that allows him time to do it all.

Get your popcorn ready!

DC Comics May 2026 Solicits

The DC solicits for May came out this week and they include an interesting blurb in the Absolute Superman solicit that makes me a little worried. I'll also add that the Justice League Unlimited solicit grabbed me as well. But this month is right in the middle of the Reign of the Superboys event and those sound fun too.

To see all the solicits, which include the second issues of the DC Next Level books (like Firestorm) and some new Absolute books, click here: https://aiptcomics.com/2026/02/20/full-may-2026-dc-comics-solicitations/

On to the super books.

SUPERGIRL #13
Written by SOPHIE CAMPBELL
Art and cover by SOPHIE CAMPBELL
Variant covers by MATTEO SCALERA, SKYLAR PATRIDGE, and CHLOE BRAILSFORD

The battle between the newly empowered rebel Black Flame and Team Thunder rages on as Supergirl, still at the mercy of her recent cybernetic enhancements, is forced to come up with another tactic to save Kandor from ruin. Can Superboy and Lena Luthor’s arrival turn the tide of the approaching war?

Love the Sophie Campbell cover. I do wonder how Cyborg Supergirl returns to normal. And that yellow ring on Black Flame's finger has to be the Yellow Ring of Nor-Kann meaning Zora has super-powers in Kandor.

I do hope Supergirl wins this war and isn't bailed out by Conner and Lena. 

Let's see what else will be on the shelves.