Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #26

I continue my look at the Mark Waid/Barry Kitson threeboot Legion over on the Legion of Super-Bloggers. This week I covered Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #26. Here is a link:
http://legionofsuperbloggers.blogspot.com/2016/07/threeboot-supergirl-and-legion-of-super_29.html

This issue was a doozy, linking the robot rebellion, the Dominator plot, and the Wanderers subplots into one big arc. Add to that some more Supergirl mysteries and a new look at the Ranzz family and this issue is a winner.

Go check it out!

Review: Action Comics 960

Action Comics #960 came out this week, the next chapter in the Doomsday story arc in this new Rebirth DC Universe. Writer Dan Jurgens continues to shine in this new world, bringing a great mix of action and plot progression, and character moments. It is hard to say just how happy I am to have Superman books on the shelves that I enjoy reading! The last couple of years I have struggled to find moments I enjoyed in the super-books while feeling that the overall arc isn't working. Now I get the best of all worlds.

Tyler Kirkham is on art again this issue and brings a wild energy to the piece. His panels all seem to be hand drawn to give a frenetic feel to the action. The action is well choreographed and there is a physical feel to it. His women all are doe-eyed, like Shuster's Lois, but there isn't anything pandering. How amazing that this book has such great artists - Kirkham and Patrick Zircher.

But the big thing about this issue is that it sparked a new theory in my brain about who Mr. Oz. is. I wish I could say why the idea came into my head. But there it was. And I think I may be right.

On to the book.

Supergirl On TV Guide

One last piece touching on Supergirl at Comic Con. Once again, she was on one of the covers of TV Guide's Comic-Con Special. This is a strong looking Kara striking the iconic heroic 'hands on hip' pose.

When I went to the store to buy this, there was a whole stack of this issue. But there was only one Supergirl cover left! Either she is rare, everyone bought her, or it was random. Glad I was able to scoop it up.

Great cover!

The coverage included an interview with Melissa Benoist, a behind the scenese look at season one, and a Q&A with the producers. I grabbed a couple of pieces which grabbed me. If you like these shows though, you should get the book. There are good articles on Flash, DCLoT, iZombie, etc.

SDCC 2016: Supergirl Show News

San Diego Comic Con is in the rear view mirror and boy a lot of fun stuff was released, teased, and previewed. I was wowed by the Wonder Woman movie preview. I was pleasantly surprised by the JL movie preview. And I was very pleased with all the Supergirl comic news that came out.

As I said in the comic news post, I am still amazed at how much Supergirl was front and center at the con. There was a ton of news about the character. And having a hit television show certainly is a big part of that popularity. Gone are the days of people not knowing who Supergirl is.

I was also reminded by friend Martin Gray that just a couple of months ago, we fans were worried about getting a second season. Now the news about the show is just steamrolling forward. There was a lot of great information that was released at the convention and there are a million links, youtube videos, vines, and sites that can get you content. I'm just going to concentrate on the actual Supergirl panel at SDCC to discuss.

On to the coverage!

October 2016 Solicits

The October solicits for DC Comics were officially released last week and I don't know if I have been this excited about the entire line in quite some time. Here is a link to all of DC's books and merchandise:
http://www.newsarama.com/30132-dc-comics-october-2016-full-rebirth-solicitations.html

For me, the biggest news is that we get more of the Young Animal books. It feels like those years when a number of books out out by DC were pushing the envelope, those early days of Vertigo. So this month we get Shade the Changing Girl as well as the second issue of Doom Patrol. Shade the Changing Man is one of those properties that I have always enjoyed. So I am really looking forward to that book.

On to the super-books.

SUPERGIRL #2
(W) Orlando (A/CA) Brian Ching (CA) Bengal
“REIGN OF THE CYBORG SUPERMEN” part two! Supergirl battles Cyborg Superman in the Fortress of Solitude-and there can be only one winner! But even a temporary victory can spell certain doom for Kara and her new home as her father’s plan at last comes to light! Meanwhile, the race for Cat Grant’s prized internship heats up, and Kara finds her human competition to be just as challenging!

This must be the main cover as it is clearly Brian Ching's art. I am glad to see that we are getting a variant by Bengal whose work sparkled in Adventures in Supergirl.  I might have to get used Ching's art which seems pretty stylized. Those are long thin legs on Kara.

That said, there is a lot to like about this solicit. I am not a fan of Zor-El as Cyborg Superman but maybe this 'plan' will make things interesting. But having Kara be Cat Grant's intern is brilliant. Could the human competition be  Siobhan Smythe? Nasty Luthor?

ACTION COMICS #965
(W) Jurgens (A) Stephen Segovia, Art Thibert (CA) Clay Mann (CA) Gary Frank
“BACK IN THE PLANET” part one! Superman returns to the public eye-but what of Lois Lane? When a mysterious package arrives for Lois and Clark back on the farm, Lois can stay on the sidelines no more. But where does that leave Superman’s human doppelgänger, Clark?

ACTION COMICS #966
(W) Jurgens (A) Stephen Segovia, Art Thibert (CA) Clay Mann (CA) Gary Frank
“BACK IN THE PLANET” part two! As the Daily Planet’s star returns to work, so does Lex Luthor. Meanwhile, Superman continues to investigate the devastation in the aftermath of the Doomsday attack.


Hmmm ... does this mean the older Lois Lane is taking over the role of the current Earth's Lois? We know that the current Lois will be Superwoman. Maybe she can't be the reporter so the older 'Author X' Lois needs to take up the mantle? Won't people notice she's older?

And who is that Clark?

SUPERMAN #8
(W) Tomasi, Gleason (A) Jaime Mendoza (A/CA) Doug Mahnke (CA) Kenneth Rocafort
“RETURN TO DINOSAUR ISLAND” part one! Father and Superson work on a science assignment with bizarre consequences that transports the pair along with Krypto to Dinosaur Island! Now, amid relics of World War II, Superman tries to keep Jon from the jaws of prehistoric predators! Worse, Kal-El can’t find a way to fly off the Island.

  SUPERMAN #9
(W) Tomasi, Gleason (A) Doug Mahnke, Jaime Mendoza (CA) Patrick Gleason (CA) Kenneth Rocafort
“RETURN TO DINOSAUR ISLAND” part two! Trapped on a strange island removed from time, Superman and Son encounter a lone survivor from the past. He may hold the key to their escape, but first they must survive the other denizens of the Island.


Superman and Superboy fighting dinosaurs amid WW2 relics? And Krypto will be there? And who could the sole survivor be? Iron Munro?

This cover screams everything I love about comics.

SUPERWOMAN #3
(W) Jimenez (A) Emanuela Lupacchino, Ray McCarthy (CA) Phil Jimenez(CA) Terry Dodson, Rachel Dodson
“WHO IS SUPERWOMAN?” part three! Ultra Woman is revealed, and her unstoppable Bizarress army are hunting for Superwoman! But that’s not the only challenge facing the new hero-Steel has made a terrifying new discovery: Superwoman’s powers are killing her-and the only chance to save her life is to leave her powers behind!

Who is Ultra Woman? I really really really hope it isn't Lana. But we'll see. 

Superwoman dying from the power seems a bit too familiar. Haven't we just seen that plot? 

Anyways, the cover has a sort of Dark City feel to it. And I am looking forward to this book. 

NEW SUPER MAN #4
(W) Yang (A) Richard Friend (A/CA) Viktor Bogdanovic (CA) Bernard Chang
“MADE IN CHINA” part four! It’s the Justice League of China vs. the Chinese Freedom Fighters! As the New Super-Man tests his power against the Flying Dragon General’s team, a shocking new revelation will stop our young hero dead in his tracks. And trust us, you won’t believe what Kenan Kong discovers! All this, plus the Chinese Freedom Fighters’ ultimate weapon arrives, and it’ll be the STAR of the show…

What could it be that he discovers? I hope it isn't that he is dying.

And the fact that STAR is capitalized makes me think that the word is in the codename. Any ideas?

I was thrilled by the first issue. So I am on board for now.

DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS #18
(W) Bennett (A) Laura Braga, Mirka Andolfo (CA) Ant Lucia
With the help of the real Raven and Miriam Bätzel-now transformed into Mary Marvel-the Bombshells must defend the Jewish rebels against a Nazi army magically controlled by the Joker’s Daughter. But as the city of Atlantis rises out of water mid-battle, the Bombshells may be facing an even bigger threat than they ever imagined!

Again, no mention of Supergirl in this solicit. I keep hoping we'll see Kara again and soon. But introducing Mary Marvel is a brilliant stroke for this book. I hope she is played like the earliest Mary, almost Pollyanna in the face of the atrocities around her.

But a new Shade book and a Doom Patrol title on the shelves makes me very happy!  

SDCC 2016: Supergirl Comic News

Okay everyone, please settle in.

I usually try to cover the Supergirl news that comes out of the San Diego Comic Con in one post. But let's face it, Supergirl has become so popular that there is no way I could cover it all in one place. How crazy is it for me to say that! But true ... between the comic, show, and merchandise, Supergirl is everywhere.

This post will only cover the news about the comic that came out of SDCC. And that is still a lot for me to touch on. Between preview pages and hearing Steve Orlando talking about the book, I am even more excited for this new book. Everything looks and sounds like I am going to love this book.

So the outline here will be me grabbing blurbs from a couple of panels that Orlando appeared at and then adding my thoughts. After that I'll showcase some of the panels from the preview pages I liked. Everything I am commenting on is easily found on the internet. For ease, here are links to where it all can be found on Newsarama.

The link for the DC Young Metropolis panel: http://www.newsarama.com/30246-sdcc-2016-dc-rebirth-s-young-gotham-young-metropolis-panel.html

The link for the DC No Boundaries panel: http://www.newsarama.com/30235-sdcc-2016-dc-all-access-no-boundaries-panel.html

The link for the comic pages: http://www.newsarama.com/30251-dc-first-looks-supergirl-rebirth-1-and-supergirl-1.html

But there is a lot to cover here than just that. So please settle in. It is great that so much Supergirl news came out of SDCC.

Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #25

I continue my look at the Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes book over on the Legion of Super-Bloggers. This week I cover Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #25.

Click here to head to the full review.

And continue reading for a great Supergirl moment!

Review: Superman #3

Superman #3 came out this week and continued a sort of up and down ride on this title. Plotters/storytellers Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason are joined by Jorge Jimenez (the eventual artist on Super-Sons) to spin a new origin for the Eradicator and move the main plot around Jon forward.

I have to be honest. It has been quite some time since an Eradicator existed in the DCU. So it is hard for me to quite remember exactly where the character was in the pre-New 52 world. Wasn't he a sort of anti-hero in the Outsiders at the end? I don't think he was a out and out villain. I ask the question only because I am trying to reconcile Superman's immediate response here.

I am also trying to wrap my head around the Eradicator's new power set. There is something off about it. Does it fit the character? Does it make sense? Did we have to see the last scene in this book? Did we have to see another pet get injured?

I suppose I should be happy that, for the most part, Superman has acted like a Superman I can root for in this Rebirth world. And Jorge Jimenez art has always been delicious. So visually the book is striking.

But after last issue's step forward post Goldie, this issue felt like another step back.

Closing in on the Boston Comic Con

I know that SDCC starts today. But I'm not going to be there. Instead, I am finding it Hard to believe that in just about 3 weeks from now I'll be standing in line to get into the Boston Comic Con. I have been going to this con since its inception and have been impressed with how it has grown.

Over the last couple of years, the con has started to invite some celebrities to the event but the focus is always on the comics. This year they added a tag line espousing that ideal. "True to comics, committed to fans." I like it.

There is the usual glut of fantastic guests coming this year. And so I thought I would present the list of commission hopes. As you know, I try my best to get 4-5 commissions each year from this con. If I get my top two, I'll be thrilled. But as always, there are others I am hopeful for. And, as usual, the Grail piece will be within eyeshot but most like unattainable.

Here are the commission hopes.

Terry Dodson - I have always been impressed with the sheer beauty of Dodson's work. From the first Peter David Supergirl story in Showcase 96 to runs on Daredevil, Xmen, and Wonder Woman, I have always been drawn to his art.

This is the first time that I'll be seeing Dodson at a convention and so I'll be running to his table first in hopes of getting a Supergirl from him. I am leaning towards the Matrix style costume for Dodson although I might ask him if he'd be interested in doing the 70s version I have become just as fond of.

Jae Lee - My second commission hope is Jae Lee. Lee's stuff is just breath taking. I gushed about his work on Batman/Superman. I especially like the way he draws women. His Huntress, Supergirl, Wonder Woman, and Lois were all just gorgeous. Like Dodson, I haven't seen Lee at other conventions I have been to so I am hoping to get on the list.

If I'm able to get these two and nothing else I will be thrilled. I love both their styles. Fingers crossed. But on to the others.

Sales Review: June 2016

From the beginning, I have been behind the #Rebirth idea. When Geoff Johns publicity piece streamed onto my iPad and he talked about bringing back a feeling legacy and heroism to the DCU, I was thrilled. Because I feel, for the most part, I suffered through the New 52 era. Take a moment and think if there is any arc or title from the last 5 years that will be considered classic or will be a run that you will go back and reread every couple of years.

I guess I would say Morrison's early Action and Supergirl from Red Lantern on. Maybe the Azzarello/Chiang Wonder Woman because it was daring. But besides that ....

So I wondered and worried if #Rebirth would stumble out of the gate. Would it be a jumping off point? Or would the new tone, new titles, and better price point bring readers (both old and new) to the DCU.

Well, the numbers don't lie and in June, DC sales looked fantastic. As always, I find the coverage on ICv2 to be the best. Here is a link:http://icv2.com/articles/markets/view/34914/top-300-comics-actual-june-2016

Eleven books sold over 100K. Civil War 2 #1 sold a staggering 381K (amazing). But DC had 8 of those books.

Bullet Review: New Superman #1

New Superman #1, the latest addition to the Superman Family and one of the first new books in the post-Rebirth world.

I wasn't sure if I was going to be on board for the book. The writer of the book is Gene Luen Yang and I feel Yang stumbled so badly with The Truth that I thought maybe I should stand clear. I very much enjoyed his Boxers and Saints books. But for me, The Truth was a chore to get through.

Still, I wondered if this was more in Yang's wheelhouse. And the idea of a Superman in China was somewhat interesting. I never really latched onto Morrison's Great Ten. So maybe it was time for a fresh start.

The art is done by Viktor Bogdanovic. I haven't seen work by Bogdanovic before. It is sort of a scratchy economical style. I thought for sure this book would have a much more stylized look. I guess I'll have to see what I think over time.

For me, the biggest hook for the book is that the hero is something of a bully. We are used to the picked on kids get powers. We have seen good people get powers. But the character of Kenan Kong is something of a jerk. There is a tragic background here and maybe he is compensating a bit. How will he respond to having powers. Remember, the New 52 Superboy was something of a punk and that did not work. Will Yang be able to pull it off?

Supergirl Romance Comic Ad

Over on Twitter, my buddy Greg Araujo has a nice little thing going. He will read old comics and tweet out the #ComicBookAds. For old folks like me who remember these crazy ads fondly, it is a walk down memory lane.

Occasionally he posts one which grabs me. Like the one above. I have never seen this one before and it talks about Supergirl, using the famous image of her from that time.

It touts that DC has 'The Three First Ladies of Comicdom!', Wonder Woman, Lois Lane, and Supergirl. And each one has a little blurb describing the current ongoings in their title.

"Despite Supergirl's epic feats - she is faced with the every day problems a teenage girl has!"

I suppose that it is because she is on a journey and growing that I love her as a character. And it does say she performs epic feats. So I like it.

As for Wonder Woman, she is again 'Miss Number One!'. And Lois won't 'give up on the big ' S-shield.

This is pure "end of the Silver Age/beginning of the Bronze Age" DC. I love it!

The ad was lifted from Girls' Love Stories #177 from May 1973.

I suppose that this might explain why the ad talks about the characters' personal lives as well as their adventures.

But I am amazed that this book has a #177! That is basically unheard of in this day and age of renumbering and short leashes on titles.

I thought it might be interesting to take a peek at the titles starring the three First Ladies of Comics from early 1973 to see what their covers looked like.

Review: Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #24

I continue my look at the issues of Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes over on the Legion of Super-Bloggers. I am up to Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #24. Head to the site to read the whole review:http://legionofsuperbloggers.blogspot.com/2016/07/threeboot-supergirl-and-legion-of-super_15.html

Review: Action Comics #959

Action Comics #959 came out last week, continuing the Rebirth arc pitting Superman and Lex Luthor against Doomsday. This issue is mostly a large action sequence with Doomsday and the Supers throwing down in Metropolis. But writer Dan Jurgens realizes this is a sort of new start for this set of characters. There are mysteries to unravel. There are emotional points that need to be struck. It is overall gripping.

Jurgens is a veteran on the super-books and he really seems to capture the voices of almost all these characters. I like Lois' internal monologue as she watches her husband again battle the creature who killed him. I also like how she manages to push her fears down so that Jon doesn't see her worry. I like Luthor's standard pomposity although there is a moment of humanity. I like Clark Kent's insistence that he is who he says he is. In fact, of all the characters in the book, Superman is the one who comes off a bit odd and I find that surprising.

Tyler Kirkham is on board as artist (he and Patrick Zircher are splitting up the pencilling duties here). Kirkham brings a bit of style and flair to the proceedings here. His Doomsday looks particularly monstrous, enormous and laden with spikes. I love Kirkham's expressive work too.

Overall, having read many stories where Doomsday and Superman punch each other for pages, I found myself getting a little bit bored with the throwdown and much more interested with the character interaction. Still, these new Superman books have hit the ground running. I am impressed.

Review: World's Finest #256

Way back in May, we first read about Supergirl Rebirth #1, a prelude to the upcoming Supergirl written by Steve Orlando. The Rebirth special has art by Emanuella Lupacchino and a variant Adam Hughes cover and should re-establish Supergirl as a hero within the reimagined and reenergized DCU. We are just a few weeks away from a new Supergirl title.

But the thing that really caught my eye in the solicit for the issue was that the villain would be the Kryptonian werewolf Lar-On. That is a pretty deep cut by Steve Orlando and makes me think that fans of Supergirl and the DC mythos are in good hands.

Lar-On first appeared in World's Finest #256 way back in 1979. From the cover, drawn by Ross Andru and Dick Giordano, you get a sense of just what a threat Lar-On will be. A giant pink werewolf crawling out of a dimensional portal?? Just fantastic.

This story is a whopping 20 pages in this dollar comic, the size of a regular comic today! There is plenty of padding in this tale. Batman gets a mostly unnecessary subplot to give him something to do. The fight scenes are rather pedestrian and go on for quite a while. But the tragic ending to the story gives it a nice impact. I wonder if Orlando is going to play up that tragedy as a sort of prologue to the sad reality of Zor-El being tranformed and mutilated into the Cyborg Superman.

But all that said, calling back on Lar-On alone is fantastic!

Bullet Review: Justice League Rebirth #1

I wasn't necessarily planning on reviewing Justice League Rebirth #1 but the story ended up having a healthy chunk of Superman in it so I thought I could bullet review it.

Now, I'll be up front about one thing, and I'll be ready to face the slings and arrows, but I am not a big fan of Bryan Hitch's art. That was probably the biggest reason I stayed away from his JLA book. The upcoming Justice League will have Tony Daniel art and I love his work. So I am going to check that out.

From reading this issue, Hitch seems to capture the voices of the JL members pretty well. The premise of this book is how the League is reacting to their being a new Superman active on Earth. And we get the reverse premise, how this new (old?) Superman regards this League. I don't think this necessarily jibes with the prior times Diana and Bruce have met this Superman. But I'll roll with it.

I have to assume the plot that brings everyone together is a tease towards what Hitch is planning to bring to the new title. And I'll have to see how that plays out there because I wasn't blown away with the premise. But it did tug at the old heart strings when in the end the team names themselves the League. And I liked that the people of Earth (at least via a new report) recognize the League as protectors. There wasn't a whiff of grim, dark distrust anywhere here.

On to the book!

Review: Adventures of Supergirl Chapter 13

Adventures of Supergirl Chapter 13 was released two days ago. It was the final chapter in this digital first book based on the Supergirl television show. And I can only hope that DC Comics realizes what it has here and gives us more.

Throughout this book, writer Sterling Gates has been giving us the best of all worlds. He has mined the Supergirl and Kryptonian mythos from the comic book continuities. We have had huge action sequences. He has woven this story into the television show timeline seamlessly, even using the book to smooth over some questions I had about show plots. And throughout, he has given us wonderful character moments, especially between the Danvers sisters.

This chapter gives us all of that. But interestingly for me, the action takes a bit of a back seat to concentrate on the character moments instead. We get the fight we want between Kara and Facet, trust me. But instead of many pages of the two exchanging blows, we get a few, just enough. This gives Gates the page space to wrap up the story and how it has impacted the cast. And we get a new tagline for Supergirl, one that I hope every creator moving forward thinks of when they write Kara.

The art by Emma Vieceli is solid. There is a sort of rough feel to it at times which works well with the battle sequences. Kara looks strong and determined throughout. And the melee has a palpable energy.

But seriously, I hope we get more Adventures of Supergirl with Sterling Gates at the helm.

Streaky And His Powers

Last month, in Superman #1, Jon Smith accidentally immolated his bet cat Goldie.

After that, I was talking to friends about how back in the day, the super-pets were beloved colleagues in family adventures. And that has led me to do a couple of posts about Supergirl's cat Streaky. First, I reviewed the original Streaky's first story in Action Comics #261.And then I covered the appearance of the second Streaky in Daring New Adventures of Supergirl.

That review made me wonder what actually happened to the first Streaky? 

Well, luckily, by some cosmic karma, the answer was given to me on Twitter. There, @PCabezuelo posted a letter he had read in 1972's Supergirl #2.

It pains me that I have this issue in my collection and didn't remember this.

In the letter column, Maryann Farrell from Wolcott, Connecticut asked what happened to the original Streaky. Why didn't Linda bring him to San Francisco (where Supergirl's Adventure Comics stories were set)?

Well, legendary Superman editor and aficionado, E. Nelson Bridwell has a legitimate answer. Streaky is no longer super and is living out his normal feline life with the Danvers. The X-Kryptonite, which was based on a green Kryptonite nugget, was turned into iron. This is a continuity riff based on the 'Kryptonite Nevermore'/Sand Superman arc which started in Superman #233.

To put this in context, according to Mike's Amazing World of Comics, Superman #233 hit the stands on November 5,1970. Supergirl #2 came out almost exactly two years later on November 21, 1972. Now, by then, many Superman writers had simply forgotten about the Kryptonite ban and the weaker Superman. But others held to it.

Now I suppose you could say that Streaky could have still moved to San Franscisco and been a normal cat loved by Kara. I mean, why does he need powers? My guess is that comics were getting 'mature' and a flying cat with a cape may have fallen out of favor.

At least this is some Streaky I closure. And I am not surprised that Bridwell with his encyclopedic knowledge would think of this.

Review: Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #23

I continue my look at the Threeboot Legion of Super-Heroes over at the Legion of Super-Bloggers site.

This week we hit Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #23, an issue which finally addresses the babootch in the room, that a Supergirl who believes she is dreaming this reality is scary Supergirl. What if she thinks her actions have no consequences? What if she gets upset when she realizes that this is real? How could the Legion stop her?

Storytellers Mark Waid and Barry Kitson do a good job of giving us a Legion intervention, forcing Kara to face the truth about where and when she is.

But they also continue weaving a number of subplots which make this a very satisfying read.

My favorite bit is that Waid includes Rokyn in this post-Crisis/post Zero Hour world. This is reaching way back to the history  in Superman #338 a book I covered way back in 2008. In that story, Kandor was enlarged on a new world, a world the Kryptonians renamed Rokyn. By placing Supergirl on this Krypton-like planet, the team could ease her into understanding that she wasn't dreaming. That this was ll real.

It is that appreciation for the DCU that makes me wish that Waid and Warner Brothers would somehow reach out to each other and smooth over the past. I would love to read a DC book by Waid, almost any DC book would do.

Review: Superman #2

Superman #2 came out this week and continued to forge a new and more optimistic trail for the Man of Steel. Writer Peter Tomasi picks up the threads he started in the 'Death of Superman' arc from before Rebirth and really brings us a classic interpretation of Superman. Gone is the dark viewpoints, the mistrust, the brutish Superman. Instead we have a someone who is here to help. And that is who Superman is for me.

I also love how this character embodies both Superman and Pa Kent. A big part of the character is that he is now a father, leading his son Jon into a new world. And with Jon's powers starting to manifest, the need for wisdom and nurturing is that much more crucial. This is a Superman who has lived through this awkward time. He can speak from experience. But he also has that Middle America, 'you aren't here to score touchdowns' approach to teaching. I really love this side of the book.

Now the book isn't perfect quite yet. Last issue, we saw Jon immolate a cat. This issue we see Clark uncharacteristically lose his cool. But these are minor hiccups when compared to the whole feel to the book.

The art by Patrick Gleason and Mick Gray is both inspired and uneven. There are panels where Gleason seems to have this wonderful mix of McGuinness and Mignola with a nice polish. The vast majority of the book is gorgeous.  Even the cover, of a Superman bathed in clouds, is wonderful. But occassionally the art veers to that odd Rankin/Bass look. There is a panel of Lois which is just jarring with her big eyes and pointy chin.

The colors by John Kalisz are vibrant and again seem a way to scrub away the darker tones of the New 52.

On to the book!

Adam Hughes' Variant For Supergirl Rebirth #1

Back when the solicits for Supergirl Rebirth #1 came out, I was thrilled to see that Adam Hughes was listed as the artist for the variant cover. Hughes is a major talent and definitely a draw. He's one of those artists where people will buy a book they otherwise might not simply for his cover. That means more sales and more eyes reading the Supergirl story by Steve Orlando and Emanuela Lupacchino. That's a good thing.

Last night on Twitter, Hughes teased the cover and eventually shared the entire image (above) and it is stunning.

As folks who visit here often know, I am a fan of the red skirt version of the costume. So I love this new look. I'm not a huge fan of the high boots but I still like this more than the fussy new 52 costume. And seeing Hughes do it is spectacular! I think the big win here is the bright expression on Kara's face. Really wonderful. I'll definitely be picking this up (if I can).

I wish I had the opportunity and money to get a full Hughes commission back when he was doing them. Here is the quick sketch I got from him several years ago. I still treasure it in my collection.

Review: DC Superhero Girls Finals Crisis

Last week, the first DC Superhero Girls trade 'Finals Crisis' came out. Written by Shea Fontana and drawn by Yancey Labat, the story is fun one showcasing all the characters nicely and telling a good story of how teamwork can defeat even the greatest villains. I had read Chapter One already when it was released on Free Comic Book Day. And while that meant that Supergirl was removed from the story early on, I was very impressed with this whole book.

For one, I liked how each character got to shine in a solo chapter. This gave Fontana some room to explore each of the Superhero Girls and let new readers learn about their personality. (There is a 'role call' page giving powers and character traits as well).

I also like who the surprise villain is and what their motivation is. Rather timely in an odd way.

Fontana also brings a lot of fun to the book for old timers like me. We hear how Liberty Belle wrote a text book on super-heroes. Starfire has a personality similar to the one from Teen Titans Go! I liked seeing Flash in detention, the only true hero there. Perhaps he has an impulse problem? And even seeing Steve Trevor and Lois Lane as the 'normal' people in the nearby cafe was fun.

But perhaps what I like best is that there is a fun timeline to the chapters that sharp readers can build in their mind. We will see a character in  the background in one chapter and then in a later chapter we see why that character is there. It makes it fun.

Labat brings a clean and breezy style to the book which shines here. Whether the light action sequences or the fun happening in school, the whole book is bright and energetic.

On to the story.

Darwyn Cooke Supergirl Action Figure

The latest item obtained for my Supergirl collection was the Darwyn Cooke designer series figure which comes with Krypto and Streaky.

The whole collection is just delightful and really a wonderful tribute to Cooke. If there was ever a creator which seemed to understand what the DCU should be, it was Cooke. He was one of those creators who was an automatic buy for me, so sure I was of the quality.

Back to this figure, even the box is great. I love that the side of the box has a snippet of the cover of Supergirl #37 which Cooke did. I have to assume the design of Kara and the pets was based on this cover.

You know what that means? It means I want a Comet now!

The figure is really wonderful.

We clearly are set in the Silver Age here with the blue skirt costume. And there is this joyous expression on Supergirl's face. Between that expression and the Veronica Lake hair, this feels retro-cool and classic. This really captures the brightness of the Supergirl character from this time.

But I also love the small touches that was added to this design, like folds and wrinkles in the skirt and shirt. There is a feeling that this is fabric, not spandex. And I love that too.

The one quibble is the heeled boots, a look I never like. But I suppose it is a minor issue given how great the rest of the figure is.

As for Krypto and Streaky, their designs feel a little simple but, again, they are lifted right from the cover. Even their expressions are straight from #37. So the overall aesthetic feels right. I just wish that Streaky was more of an orange than the deep brown he is here. Streaks has always been an orange tabby.

As for the place in the collection, this figure clearly needed to be in the Silver Age section, next to the classic action figure, the spinning statue, the Mini-Mate figure, and the Action #252 cover.

Look! Two Super-cats!

The Silver Age section has grown nicely. Here is the whole shelf which also includes the Bronze Age hot pants section.

I keep saying it but I will show the whole collection soon. I have a couple more things on order.

Happy July 4th!

Happy holidays to all those who celebrate July 4th!

I will be working on this fine holiday but I can't complain. I am just back from a week away where I had a view like the above picture pretty much every day.

That vacation mindset also explains the poor spelling and grammar issues with last week's review of Adventures of Supergirl. Sorry ...

Hope everyone not working and celebrating is planning to have a great day!

See you all tomorrow!

Supergirl Merchandise

Hat tip to blog friend Uncle Screensaver for forwarding me several links to Supergirl merchandise that is available on line now. I think Uncle is trying to drive me to the poor house. There is so much Supergirl stuff out there nowadays. I really have to pick and choose what I want to get.

First off, we knew that Funko was coming out with a Rock Candy version of Supergirl based on the comic book character. Now there is a new version available based on the the show character. Check it out here:Rock Candy Show Supergirl

I am hoping to get the comic version of the Rock Candy statue. I don't know if I will necessarily seek out the show version. I wonder what I will do if it is physically in front of me at a con. How could I pass it up?

The Bleacher Creature company makes plush versions of pop culture characters including the Reverse Flash! Let's cuddle up with the guy who murdered Barry's mom and Iris Allen!

Anyways, they have a Bleacher Creature Supergirl  now available.

This is one that I think I will pass up for myself. That said, if I ever have to buy a gift for a kid's birthday, this will be at the top of the list!

Finally there is a   Supergirl Show Calendar  available. A sixteen month long calendar at that! It looks like mostly character shots. I would have preferred action shots from the series. But this is still a nice way to remember the first season of the months.

To think there was a time where Supergirl was a forgotten part of the DCU, rarely the subject of merchandise. Now there is almost too much stuff for the avid fan!

Thanks again Uncle Screensaver! Now I have to save my pennies!