Legion Outpost: Steve Lightle, Sensor Girl, and Supergirl

Last month, I stumbled on this Legion Companion book, published by TwoMorrows and put together by Glen Cadigan. It is a fabulous collection of interviews with Legion creators from the earliest up through Zero Hour. I decided that the best way for me to digest this was not to read it front to back but to pick and choose which creators struck my interest in the moment. Last month I reviewed an interview with the man who drew the first appearance,  Al Plastino.  

This time I decided I would jump forward to the Baxter series and read a 2003 interview with Steve Lightle. This interview was done by Glen Cadigan. I love Lightle's art, in particular his Legion stuff so I dove right in. It is interesting to read how Lightle got given the book, why he left the book, and how he feels when people always want to talk Legion with him.

But this is a Supergirl blog. So what am I talking about here? Well, if you saw the title of the post, you know it is Sensor Girl.

I get the sense that as I read through this book there will be Supergirl nuggets for me to showcase here.

I was a big fan of Sensor Girl and I loved her original costume. There is something that just works there.

For me, back in the day, the thing that obviously intrigued me about Sensor Girl was the chance that she was Supergirl. Crisis was happening. Her first appearance was in Legion of Super-Heroes #14, which came out one month before Crisis on Infinite Earths #7.

There were rumors that writer Paul Levitz was planning on Sensor Girl actually being Supergirl. But I never heard anything concrete about that being the plan. So let's hear what Lightle recalls.

DC Superhero Girls: Get To Know Supergirl

The new take on the DC Superhero Girls is cranking out new material on YouTube as a sort of preamble to the ongoing show. This has included 'Get to know' mini-sodes about each of the characters.

And finally we got the 'Get to Know' Supergirl short. View here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBJZQGmTS4I

It is clear that Batgirl is going to be the straw that stirs the drink here. She is the narrator of these 'Get to Know' videos. And I love this opening shot of Supergirl rescuing Babs in a classic Superman/Lois pose.

Maybe if we are lucky, Babs will say the classic 'Who's got you?' line.

But the rest of the short gives us a primer on Kara. If we think that the DCSHG are in some ways analogs of show runner Lauren Faust's take on My Little Pony then it is clear that Supergirl is the Rainbow Dash of the group.

And that means Supergirl is 20% cooler.

May 2019 Solicits

The May solicits for DC comics have been released and there is a whole heck of a lot of news to cover. To see all the books on sale that month head here:
https://www.newsarama.com/43979-dc-comics-may-2019-solicitations.html

First off, the Supergirl solicit (after the cut) doesn't sound like anything is being pushed forward in any significant way. In fact, there is a line there that just makes me think that the creative team is treading the 'will Supergirl cross the line' story which never seems to work.

May brings us the end of Heroes in Crisis, a book which hasn't caught the world on fire. I wonder if this would have been better received if DC hadn't hyped it as the end all, be all. It also is the beginning of DCEASED, a DC zombie event written by Tom Taylor. I love Taylor but loathe zombies. And that feels so 2005. And, in theory, Doomsday Clock #11 is on the list.

But the big news for super-fans is buried in the Leviathan special solicit below. That news should make people smile broadly!

On to the books.

Matrix Monday: Action Comics #676

I have been enjoying my look back at the early days of the Matrix Supergirl these last few months. From the early appearances to The Supergirl Saga to her self-exile, it has been interesting to see just how low her character went at points only to emerge from the other side.

I am halfway through the 1994 Supergirl series and yet her I am taking a break in the middle to review the last few pages of Action Comics #676 by writer Roger Stern and the series new artist Jackson Guice. To place this issue in the timeline, this is the first issue after Panic In The Sky. I mean, check out the UPC box text. "After Panic In The Sky, Thing get back to normal in Metropolis - NOT!"

Why pump the breaks on the mini-series reviews? Well, in the review of Supergirl #1, there was a panel of Matrix meeting Lex Luthor II for the first time. I loved this Sistine Chapel like look at their meeting. And I realized, given that the Matrix/Luthor romance is a key part of that mini-series that I should look at their first meeting.

Now understand that the majority of this issue is Luthor II being introduced to Metropolis and Superman fighting the Hellgrammite. But I am not covering those pages.

Instead I am covering the last few. Here we go!

Vacation Staycation

Hey all!

This week I have been on vacation. No traveling to exotic locations. More like hanging out with the family and taking advantage of all the cool stuff locally.

It also has meant that I have had ample time to chill out with comics.

Figured it would be cool to share my comic nook, the Sanctum Sanctorum.

It is in a corner of the unfinished basement. But I love it. This is where the magic happens.

The cataloged collection are all in boxes on heavy steel shelves. There is no room for more boxes and there is no real room for more shelves. So hard to know what will happen when those boxes are filled. Maybe time to cull.

Behind on the floor are other boxes of loose comics, some roughly organized. Those are the 'readable' books, foldable, tattered, and loved. A nice rocker is there as well as a stand up lamp like in a mod 70s apartment.

Behind, on the studs, you'll see prior commissions and comic pages.

 That wall extends about 5 more feet to the right and is similarly filled. Those were the pre-sketch book days.

DCSHG: #StreetStyle

The latest DC Rebirth I have been coming to grips with is the Lauren Faust take on the DC Superhero Girls. It definitely is a rehash of Faust's Super Best Friends Forever, a series I loved when it came out.

The Supergirl in the SBFF's was definitely brash. She was something of an instigator. Maybe even a little punk. We have only seen glimpses of her in the latest DC Superhero Girls shorts but it is clear that she is more of the action oriented, authority-chafing Kara from the SBFFs instead of the awkward, shy, lonely Kara from the Shea Fontana DC Superhero girls. In our quick looks, we have seen her sleep-fly, crashing through buildings. We have seen her toss tacos in a food fight and be called a bully.

Finally, in the #StreetStyle, we actually get a true glimpse into this Supergirl's personality. Here is a link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSb6R4TSIIc


It is funny. I think if this was the comic Supergirl, I'd probably bristle. But here, in the DCSHG, I don't mind this loud Kara. In fact, I think she is kind of fun. And my guess is she will demonstrate the sort of fierce defense of the helpless as well as the fierce pursuit in justice that I love in the character.

On to the short.

Supergirl Episode 412: Menagerie

Supergirl episode #412, titled Menagerie, aired this week and overall was a very solid episode. Every plot that has been percolating this season was moved forward. Every character had strong moments. This was mostly an Alex episode and that was needed given that her brain has been made into a frappe in recent times. We needed to know that *our* Alex was still in there somewhere. We even got a new villain! So I was overall pleased with this one.

That said, there were two moments in this episode that will stick out in my mind and neither are good. One is a terrible continuity gaffe for anyone who has watched this show since its inception. The other is an unintentional 'laugh out loud' moment about a plot twist which has irked me since it started. And both involve Alex's mind wipe to some extent. I am sorry, I can't align myself with any universe where that was a wise decision.

Still, we get Dreamer. We get Agent Liberty. We get a proactive Brainy. And we get a lot of Kara and Alex, something which I think elevates the show every time we see it. In fact, we got so much good Danvers stuff that it was only on the second watch that I realized we only see Supergirl in costume in one scene at the end.

I know. I shouldn't curse the darkness. I should light a candle.

Let's accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative.

Review: Superman #8

Last month, I sort of lost my mind as I reviewed Superman #7.  In that book, Lois decides to leave her son in the hands of the previously homicidal Jor-El after seeing the two break up a crime ring. That made no sense. In that book, Jon Kent returns and tells his parents that Jor-El is insane and needs to be stopped. That shouldn't be a revelation. Everything about this particular story has felt off kilter and wrong. Since Man of Steel when Lois and Jon left, I have been wondering if Brian Michael Bendis would be able to convince me as a reader that these characters made decisions they normally would.

I am sorry to say that Superman #8, out last week, did little to change my opinion that the entire Kent family made decisions they wouldn't have and shouldn't have in regards to Jon and Jor. This issue we get to hear Jon fill in the gaps of the years he has spent away from home and all he has witnessed. Again, given the actions of 'Mr. Oz', none of this should shock Clark or Lois. Jor-El had gone mad, tortured by whoever plucked him from Krypton's death. Having Jon hang out with him unsupervised is the very definition of a poor parenting decision.

The art is split between Ivan Reis and Brandon Peterson. Peterson's work has a more organic feel to it, reminding me in places of Stuart Immonen (high praise indeed). The expressive work is top notch. Reis (and inker Joe Prado) continue to be stellar in their fine lined, precise work here. The book is gorgeous to look at.

Still, I can't quite shake off the idea that this story should never have happened. On to the book.

Matrix Monday: Supergirl #2 (1994 mini-series)

Supergirl #2, the second issue in the Matrix mini-series from 1994, playfully has the word Supergirls as it's trade dress, showcasing last issue's reveal that Luthor is creating a clone army of his innocent girlfriend. There are a lot of Supergirls in a lot of bubbles. If this doesn't grab your eye, not much will.

The truth is we don't see much of this part of the story in this very good issue. Instead, we have Supergirl finally realizing just how much of a toxic relationship she is in with Lex. For months she has been creating excuses for Lex for his poor behavior. She has accepted his apologies and inane rationalizations for his actions at face value, always leaning on her belief that Lex is ultimately a good man. Even hearing from trusted sources like Clark and the Kents has done little to dissuade her.

In this issue, Supergirl finally listens to herself and realizes that Lex is mistreating her. She hears others say how she is being used and abused. And maybe because she hears it not from the viewpoint of Lex being evil but from the angle that she is complicit in her own abuse does she shake away the cobwebs. It's about time.

Writer Roger Stern does a great job in these first two issues showing us just how terrible Lex is. And he does a very good job in showing us just how slowly Supergirl comes to seeing through the lies.

The art by June Brigman and Jackson Guice also is strong here. We get action sequences in the book. We get to see how graceful Supergirl can be even while fighting. And we see some quieter, more civilian moments, reminding is that she is a young woman as well.

All in all, this is a great second issue as it pushes the plot forward but in a more character-driven way.

On to the book.

Review: Supergirl #27

Supergirl #27 came out this week and continues a concerning trend in the book for me. As this space odyssey has progressed, it has seemed less and less like a true Supergirl story. The impetus for this quest was for Kara to find out what role Rogol Zaar had in the destruction of Krypton. I wasn't sure then if that was a strong enough cause for Kara to abandon Earth. But at least it was something personal, something tied to her history.

As we have moved 6 issues into this new direction, we have barely made much headway. There is something of a forced plot point of Appa Ali Apsa having split up redacted information into crystals scattered over the galaxy, making a longer quest a necessity. We have a memory that maybe Zor-El was involved in creating the bomb that Zaar uses. We have crime boss Gandelo trying to hunt or delay Supergirl. But really there hasn't been much movement. It is glaring enough that Supergirl says it herself in this book.

Moreover, these last couple of issues read more like an Omega Man story than a Supergirl one. Seeing Supergirl spitting on villains, shooting a Liefeldian gun, and overall being a bit nasty just pushes this further away from what I am looking for in a Supergirl book. Again, I shouldn't be surprised. This is the wash/rinse/dry/repeat Supergirl 3 year cycle. We seem to have to get mired in angst, have that approach fail, and then reboot every so often.

As for the art, Eddie Pansica does a good job here. I have liked his art in the past and he certainly brings his A game here. But when a book has many different artists in a short period of time it makes me worry that it isn't of prime importance to either the creators or the producers. And I love Yanick Paquette's cover even if it is Supergirl screaming as she fires her rifle.

So let's see what happened in the book.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day for all those out there celebrating romance.

I am always surprised at how much Supergirl showed up on mainstream stuff in the Bronze Age.

Here we see her and her then bestie Batgirl on a Valentine's Day card, talking about what a great team they are together.

I love this version of World's Finest so seeing the two together on something like a school Valentine is fantastic. I can only hope that their friendship, rekindled recently, remains intact and revisited.

As for Supergirl, we know that in the Silver Age, her falling in love ... often with the wrong people ... was well-trod soil. She had her standard beaus - Comet, Jerro, Brainiac 5, and Dick Malverne. And then all the villains, unscrupulous aliens, and criminals who want to marry her.

The current Kara was just on the verge of a romantic relationship with Ben Rubel when that take on the character was shelved for the space-story unfolding now.

Anyways, Happy Valentine's Day!

Back Issue Box Review: Action Comics #286

Lex Luthor is coming to the CW Supergirl show, ready to be a nemesis to our hero. With no new episode this week, it meant I had an open Wednesday slot that I usually devote to the show. With that in mind, I thought the time was right to dig through the back issues to find a comic story where Supergirl and Lex had a throwdown.

I have to say I love when the two square off. Almost always Lex dismisses Kara as a pale copy of her super-cousin. So it makes it that much sweeter when Supergirl defeats him. I especially love Silver Age stories when the two interact. Back then, Supergirl was a true neophyte, a teenage girl, and subject to the standard gender norms of the time. So seeing her defeat Superman's arch-villain in those stodgy days is even more delectable.

And so I give you Action Comics #286 and the Supergirl story 'The Death of Luthor'. One thing in particular about this story that makes it stand out is that it comes on the heels of Action Comics #285, the issue where Supergirl is finally revealed to the world.'The Death of Luthor' picks up on all the beats of that story. People are still in wonder about her existence. Luthor thinks it's a hoax. Superman is still off-world, on the mission that prompted Supergirl's heroics in AC #285. And Supergirl herself is still getting the hang of being able to act out in the open. I love the history of this story as much as I love seeing Lex get a comeuppance!

On to the story!

Legion Companion And Al Plastino

 Every so often, I feel lucky.

I was in my comic store a couple of weeks ago when they were having a sale. As I was thumbing through their stock of back issues, I stumbled across this book, the Legion Companion.

It has a cover price of $24.95 but was on sale, about 70% off that. It is a TwoMorrows compendium of interviews with Legion royalty, bringing together these disparate conversations into one neat volume. From Otto Binder to Mark Waid and nearly everyone in between this book showcases creators of the Legion from multiple decades and continuities.

I have only started the book, just three interviews in and I already know that I'll be cannibalizing the Supergirl-centric bits to share here.

But seriously, this book was so cheap that I might have bought it for the Dave Cockrum cover alone!

Add to that Jim Mooney's drawing on the back, Kara holding a big place among the notaries, and the cover itself is a score.

I love TwoMorrows, subscribing to back issue and picking up Alter Ego and collections like this (for example the recent DC Implosion one). They never fail to satisfy.

I mean I can never get enough Mooney Supergirl.

But if you told me that Dave Cockrum once drew the head band Supergirl, I would have said you were lying. I appreciate that Supergirl was shown this Legion respect!

But onto the first noteworthy interview (from a Supergirl perspective), Al Plastino.

Matrix Monday: Supergirl #1 (1994 mini-series)

The Matrix Monday sometimes series rolls on this month with a look at the 1994 Supergirl solo mini-series written by Roger Stern with internal art by June Brigman and Jackson Guice and covers by Kerry Gammill. Supergirl #1 had a cover date of February 1994, a busy month in the Superman Family for DC Comics. Coming off the wildly successful Death of Superman , Funeral for a Friend, and Reign of the Superman story arcs, DC decided to showcase some of the heroes who emerged from that historic arc. That month there wasn't just a Supergirl first issue. Steel #1 and Superboy #1 were also on the shelves.

During the Death/Funeral/Reign arcs, the Matrix Supergirl character took some big leaps in character growth. She started to act independently, thinking like a hero, and embracing her role in the Superman family. She even started to recognize that maybe Lex Luthor wasn't the purest of hearts. At times, in those stories, she defied him.

This mini-series marks a major turning point for the Matrix character. Finally she sees Luthor for the evil person he is. She finally breaks away from him. She starts out on her own with a new mentor. I know ... spoiler alert. But I am giving away the ending just so that you can see how profound that turnaround is given how she acts here.

The art in this is also stunning. I am used to Guice inking his own pencils. Here, his lines over Brigman have a nice synergy.

I had the luck of meeting Roger Stern at last year's Terrificon and got him to sign these issues.

On to the book.

Review: Adventures Of The Super Sons #7

Adventures of Super Sons #7 came out this week and continued an almost frivolous romp through the DCU. This series has been a tour through Silver/Bronze Age DC with issues running through horror comics and silly sci-fi stuff. This issue seems to marry two of my favorite things: DC Legion lore and 1940's film noir. There is nothing like an old school prison break film! Chuck the sons of Batman and Superman into the mix and you have something transcendent.

Writer Peter Tomasi brings a Philip Marlowe feel to these proceedings as Robin, thrust into the role of prison warlord, gives voice over narration that would make Bogart blush. The story here is aptly titled Noir Town, leaning into the film noir conceit. And these pot-boiled words and swift violence all sounds so natural coming from Damian.

Despite that particular flourish, Tomasi does his usual excellent job of littering the story with name drops, homages, and even tips of the hat to creators that makes this a treat for grizzled readers like me.

After a couple of months off, Carlo Barberi is back on art and brings his stylized elan to the proceedings. His work fits the material so well. But there is one panel which made me smile wide as near perfection. More on that soon.

If there is one downside, it is that The Gang, the alien adolescents obsessed with Earth super-villains, remain the glue holding it all together. I'm a little fatigued of them. That said. as always, I'll miss this book and this version of the sons when it goes away.

On to the book.

Supergirl Is Patient

Big thanks to Rob Kelly of the Fire and Water Podcast Network for sending me this great children's book 'Supergirl Is Patient' but Christopher Harbo and Gregg Schigiel.

As someone who works in a 'go go' environment, who was kept on schedule by my family, and who is potentially wanting everything to go faster and more efficiently, I feel like I needed this book for myself, even at my advanced age. Anj needs to be patient. He needs to learn from his heroes.

This seems to be a series of books where each hero showcases a particularly good quality.  I like that Supergirl has patience. And I love the look, the Bruce Timm DCAU costume, minus the belly shirt. It really looks slick.

But this is really about the lessons. So let me share a few of my faves.

Supergirl Shrine: DC Mystery Mini

Last week, I thanked Russell Burbage for sending me the Supergirl figure from the Imaginext Series 5 figure run ( https://comicboxcommentary.blogspot.com/2019/01/supergirl-shrine-imaginext-figure.html ). I also mentioned how I never get unopened mystery figures because I can't tolerate the chance.

So imagine my delight when in the same package that had the Imaginext figure, Russell included the Supergirl figure from the DC Super Heroes Mystery Mini series.

Now of all these things, this series is the one that vexed me the most. There was a Supergirl figure. There was a Streaky figure! A Streaky! There was Superman and Krypto! I'd be happy with any of those. That meant that I had a 7/24 chance of getting something that I would want. Heck, even the Joker fish one was sort of cool!

But still, I could only imagine getting 7 Catwoman black cats and none of the ones I wanted. So as many times that I picked the box up, I also put it down.

So in rides Russell to the rescue. He got the Supergirl figure and immediately thought of me and sent it my way! Another Christmas miracle!

Supergirl Show Renewed For Season Five

Last Thursday, The CW network decided to give their fans an early Valentine's Day gift announcing that they were renewing 10 shows, including all of the DC Comics superhero shows. That means we will be getting a 5th season of Supergirl.

Here is a link to Variety's brief coverage: https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/cw-renews-series-charmed-legacies-riverdale-1203125086/

Times like this I remember my feelings in April 2009 when I started a Supergirl blog because I felt I needed to promote the character. Now Supergirl has a successful, live action show approaching 100 episodes.

Moreover, I feel I have been blessed as a fan to have someone like Melissa Benoist, who just seems to embrace everything that Kara is, as the star. No show is perfect. But this series has really showcased everything I love about the character and I get to enjoy it for another year.

And all this while maintaining a healthy audience in the usual graveyard time slot of Sunday nights. Incredible.

Hooray for all of us.

I suppose it should come as too big a surprise given the fact that the end of the Elseworlds crossover promised Crisis on Infinite Earths next year. You simply can't do Crisis without Kara.

But no worries now.

We'll get Supergirl S5.

Patriots Win!

Taking the day to revel in some Super Bowl Bliss.

Your Supergirl coverage will resume tomorrow!

Review: Action Comics #1007

Action Comics #1007 came out this week and carries the cover banner as part one of the Leviathan Rising arc that has been promised to we readers for some time. At least for this issue, the invisible mafia are indeed visible.

This is a fun issue giving us a closer look at writer Brian Michael Bendis' Jimmy Olsen. There certainly is a feeling of 'Mr. Action' in our favorite photographer as he slithers his way into some shady proceedings as well as winning the heart of a misguided woman. We even see him sporting the famous plaid shirt and bow tie. This all completely works for me. I have been waiting to get a Jimmy who is as fierce a investigative reporter as he is an irritant to Perry!

That said, there is a big portion of this issue devoted to a coming together of Lois and her father General Lane. I hope I get some comments on what people thought of this scene. Unfortunately, it didn't feel right to me. So much of what gets said here seems wrong. And it only further solidifies some of my concerns of how Bendis is handling Lois.

Of course, Leviathan rears its ugly head as we see the beginning of their attack on some of the more powerful organizations in the DCU, soldiers on both sides of the law.

Steve Epting is the new artist on the book. He is stepping into Ryan Sook's shoes and that seems daunting to me. Sook's work is gorgeous. I know Epting best from his run on Captain America with Ed Brubaker. I like his stuff here. In particular his character scenes show how slick he is with body language and expression. But he handles the bigger, more action stuff deftly as well.

On to the book.