Action Comics #1074 came out last week, including the fifth part of the Supergirl back-up story by writer Mariko Tamaki and artist Skylar Patridge.
Frankly, I am frustrated with this Supergirl story.
We are five parts into this 'mystery mission' of Supergirl escorting a prisoner with universal threatening power. But who is it? And why does she need to do it alone? Tamaki has given us nothing to go on in five issues. Instead we get confusing story-telling, empty dialogue, and worst of all, a boring take.
This is supposed to be a showcase solo story for Supergirl. She is completely ineffectual in this story. As of now there is nothing that makes this a Kara story. Take her out and put in Natasha Irons, Starfire, or Hawkgirl and it would read completely the same. She has not even been a hero in this story. She is confused and helpless. In the Supergirl Special Tamaki wrote, the most action we saw was Supergirl eating a cupcake. In this story, we have Supergirl lose every encounter she is in, whether it is a physical altercation or an intelligent conversation.
If this is supposed to drum up interest in the Supergirl character, it is going to fail. Because she is an afterthought in her own boring story. It is frustrating.
It's a shame because I am a fan of Skylar Patridge's art. And this Mark Spears variant cover is a killer too.
On to the indecipherable story points.