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.

I feel blessed that I ran into Roger Stern at a con last year and got him to sign this issue.

"Demands" is well named as the whole issue is Lex making demands of Supergirl and her realizing that it just isn't right.

But we have to get there. Like a straw eventually breaking a camel's back, these demands need to keep piling on.

The issue opens on a happy moment. Supergirl has been sent to Singapore for tests at a LexCorp facility. She is surprised to see that she has quite a following there already. In fact, LexCorp manufactured Supergirl dolls are being sold by street vendors.

Supergirl wonders why she wasn't involved in the decision to make her into a toy. But in some ways, it is symbolic of how Supergirl, in reality, is Lex's plaything.

At LexCorp, Supergirl talks to Lex via a giant monitor. She has heard rumors that he is sick. And she wonders about the toy marketing. She felt exploited. And she should.

When confronted, Lex laughs it off. It was a trial run, a surprise! of course, moving forward, she'll be involved in decision and even which charities some of the profits can be sent to.

It all seems so perfect. But that is just a brick in the wall.

But his positive spin on the doll sale is just as much a ruse as his hale and hearty appearance.

He is sickly, pale and skeletal. And no one knows why yet.

(Spoiler alert: clones everywhere are dying.)

Back at the facility, Supergirl grabs some needed rest.

However, as she is sleeping in an exam room, a ninja-like gunman sneaks in. Without notice, he blasts her with a high-intensity laser, burning through her costume and scorching her skin ... at least temporarily. She heals herself pretty quickly.

'With the speed of the Flash' she snatches him and throttles him.

Again, it turns out to be something unsavory. LexCorp sent this killer in to test Supergirl's invulnerability. Does she need to be awake to activate her psionic shield? Does she need to concentrate?

Once again, Supergirl laughs it off. That crazy Lex! He has to run thorough tests and this is helpful. She really is overly forgiving.

Maybe to try to stop her from thinking about it too much or getting angry for having a 'boyfriend' who sends laser-shooting ninjas harming her, Supergirl gets given the afternoon off to relax.

What I like about this side scene is that this is an outfit that Matrix picked out for herself. This isn't Lex telling her how to dress. This isn't the Supergirl costume. This is what she wants to wear to walk around town.

It is a nice combo of camping shorts and stylish vest.

The plot thickens even more.

Lex's ex-wife, Elizabeth Perske, lives in Singapore and decides to seek out Supergirl. She knows what the Luthor family is capable of. She wants to warn this Supergirl.

And she already has evidence. It turns out that Lex has been having Supergirl followed. Perske has pictures. (Of course this means that Perske has been tailing Supergirl as well.)

But once more Supergirl is all too quick to forgive Lex. Or think cautiously. But she doesn't think Lex is capable of such a thing.

Then, like a Stockholm survivor. Supergirl starts forgiving or explaining away Lex's bad behavior. Sure he's possessive. Sure he gets angry. Sure he keeps secrets ...

Then she starts to look at her own behavior.

But there is something about that stern countenance that makes me think she has turned the corner. This isn't the vapid lovedoll who cheerily accepted that doll decision just earlier this issue.

This is something new.

Great work by Brigman/Guice.

And then things get even more damaging for Lex.

First his scientist Dr. Eller makes Supergirl shape change into forms she isn't comfortable with. First the scientist makes her change gender. Then he makes her bulk up, becoming a form more akin to Blockbuster. It hurts her to increase her mass that way but this scientist asks her to do it regardless.

You can see in that last panel that she is reluctant to do that. But she does.

After this session, Supergirl walks around the LexCorp building and sees the man who Perske said was following her. Perhaps she is on the LexCorp payroll after all.

Turning invisible, Supergirl skulks around. She is ashamed at all she hears. She is called a bimbo. Women are shocked at how she lets herself be used and exploited. People think she is being used. Others think it is demeaning what she lets happen.

This is something of a slap in the face. This forced Supergirl to reconsider it all. After all, everybody can't be wrong. Maybe she has been mistreated.

And then she hears Eller talking about 'Operation:Protomatter'. It involves Supergirl. And she isn't happy. It is one more secret Lex has been keeping from her. And she is angry.

Of course, we know that Operation:Protomatter is probably the cloning site.

But this looks like this is the proverbial last straw. This is an angry Supergirl, sick of being manipulated, tired of being treated like a lab rat, and wanting transparency. I love that top panel. She is not happy.

This issue is a great second part of a four issue run. We turn the corner here. No longer will Matrix be a patsy. So one more issue to uncover all the bad stuff happening to her and then a last issue to tie it all together.

For a Supergirl fan who was sick of seeing this incarnation treated like a patsy, who wanted to see her continue to grow as she had in Funeral for a Friend and Reign of the Supermen, this was great character growth.

And no denying how sweet the art is.

Overall grade: A