Review: Supergirl #41

Supergirl #41 came out digitally this week, the penultimate virtual issue of a title which has limped to cancellation. I have talked a lot recently about the ever erroneous decision to darken Supergirl by DC. It inevitably leads to a cancellation and unhappy Supergirl fans. And this volume is no different. From Marc Andreyko's axe-wielding space explorer to the tainted viral infected Goth villain, Supergirl fans have suffered for the last 2 years. To have the title end digital only adds to the somberness of this.

Perhaps even worse is that the book continues this darker tone even as it winds down. Supergirl was cured of the Batman Who Laughs virus somewhere in some mini-series I wasn't collecting. I have to assume the other tainted folks (Donna Troy, Hawkman, Captain Marvel, and Jim Gordon) are also cured. But in this issue Supergirl continues to reel a bit from the infection, suffering hallucinations. I don't know if it is editorial or writer Jody Houser or just DC in general who feels like even in her own book Supergirl can't go out the hero.

Rachel Stott is on interior art and does a solid job of showing just how unsteady Supergirl is mentally, slipping in demonic imaginary images between the normal things Supergirl should be seeing.

The high point of the book is the imaginative cover by  Carmine DeGiandomenico. We see the world and visions collapsing down on Kara, putting pressure and stress on her. But the borders and her body are in the shape of the S-shield, as if it is the strength or what the shield represents which is aiding her. Very slick.

On to the book ...

Freed from the infection, Supergirl is flying along, trapped in her own thoughts about how fragile life can be. She remembers Krypton exploding.

And then, she begins to question herself. Were the deranged thoughts she was having when infected truly outside thoughts? Or was this simply her thoughts unleashed? Could she be that horrible?

Because that is what we want to close out a character's book. The hero wondering if they are the villain.

We need to remember that this is essentially the New 52 Supergirl. She has lived through so much, including being a Red Lantern. We also had 20 issues of her being a pure hero to start this volume.

Having Kara question her ideals and ethics at this stage of the game is silly.

Her flight has takes her into the path of a hurricane. She initially sees the buildings of Smallville but then realizes she is hallucinating.

Nice use of the eyes here in the last panel by Stott to denote reality.

Krypto is, of course, along for the ride.

When these two meet up, Kara immediately apologizes for all she has done. But even Krypto knows that saving people and dealing with the storm is the primary objective.

This truly has been a book where a heroic dog has had to stop our title character from doing the wrong thing over and over.

Maybe it should have been a Krypto book?

As Kara flies through the town to see if anyone needs help, she realizes that the place has most likely been evacuated.

But the visions take over. She thinks she is on Krypton. And she batters her way through a house accidentally.

I wonder if the other infected characters who have been cured continue to have lingering symptoms? Or is Commissioner Gordon back to complete normal.

I wouldn't be surprised if only Supergirl is hampered this way.

Of course, given the events in Smallville, the government is watching Supergirl. And they catch the roof busting accident on drone. And the commanding officer is ready to pounce.

She even wonders if Supergirl caused the hurricane.

This is how damaged Supergirl's character has become. Perception is she is a villain.

Again, as a lifelong Supergirl fan, this is just depressing.

Supergirl does find a young woman and her sister still in their house. The girl's parents went away on a second honeymoon in a place devastated by the hurricane. These two didn't evacuate in case their parents return.

Supergirl wants to help of course but those pesky hallucinations keep cropping up. Here she sees herself saying that Kara can't save anyone.

A self-doubting, hallucinating, possible super-villain. That doesn't sound like Supergirl.

When the two girls say they won't leave, Supergirl flies off to a faraway Supermarket to stock them with supplies. (At least Kara pays for them!)

Flying back she sees a huge vision of the Batman Who Laughs who taunts her.

You know this is pre-COVID writing. Kara has lots of toilet paper in this bundle.

But would you really leave these kids there?

And even more delusions.

Here she sees the girl from Smallville we met in recent issues saying that everyone's parents are dead.

Good use of lighting and shadows by Stott here.  That middle panel is appropriately creepy.

And then the officer from before arrives wearing a sort of armor similar to Kryptonian battle armor in look and design and ready to fight.

Supergirl has to surrender as the criminal she is.

As you can guess, I didn't like this issue too much. With the infection cured, I was hoping we would get an uplifting ending to this title, a way for Kara to go out on top. Instead, we get this issue with Kara not trusting herself or her senses. We have people in need not sure they can trust her. And we have the government not sure they can trust her.

And now the book is basically over.

Where did this whole Rebirth title go wrong?

Overall grade: D