Back Issue Box: Legion Of Super-Heroes #16

It is an off-week for new Superman books on the shelves so that means dipping into the back issue box for something to review. As always, I look for books that resonate with current proceedings. So between the reappearence of the Absolute Legion and the new Crisis On Infinite Earths podcast The Monitor Tapes  hitting the airwaves, I thought it would be a great time to review Legion of Super-Heroes #16, the most 'why isn't this a Crisis cross-over' issue that hit the racks in 1985. 

Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 came out the first week of July 1985. This issue came out 4 weeks later in August 1985. So amazing timing by writer Paul Levitz and artist Steve Lightle to maximize the impact of Supergirl's death. 

Levitz always had the knack of juggling the many characters and many plot lines of this book. He knew that Supergirl's death would have a major impact on Brainiac 5. Legion fans love continuity. Kudos to him for giving the aftermath the pages it deserves. And given Brainy's past with mental health crises, we needed to see this, in all its beauty and ugliness.

But Levitz has more irons in the fire. We get the five new Legionnaires on a solo mission. Four of them are peppering the then relatively unknown Sensor Girl about her powers. The rest of the Legion is away at a baptism. Heck, there is even a hint at a storyline that is more than two years away. That is a lot of plot. But Levitz had that knack.

Meanwhile, legend Steve Lightle is on art. Bob Smith is on inks this issue, giving Lightle less of a polish than Larry Mahlstedt does. But the art is still great. Brainy's pain is palpable. The action is swift and potent. And the downtime scenes with the other Legionnaires show a posh side to the super-hero team.

But why??? Why is there no official Crisis Cross-Over banner on this issue! This has way more to do with the Crisis than some of those 'look, the sky is red' ones!

On to the book.

DC Comics May 2025 Solicits

The full May 2025 DC Comics solicitations have been released and it is obvious that the incoming Superman movie is spurring DC to ramp up their Superman output. Here is a link to all the books out that month: https://www.gamesradar.com/comics/dc-comics/dc-comics-may-2025-solicitations-covers/

On top of what is coming out this month, we have heard of a Matt Fraction/Mike Norton Krypto book and Mark Waid/Skylar Patridge run on Action Comics writing Superboy. Get ready for the summer of Superman and, by extension, the Super Family. 

Let's dive right in!

SUPERGIRL #1
Written by SOPHIE CAMPBELL
Art and cover by SOPHIE CAMPBELL
Variant covers by STANLEY “ARTGERM” LAU, PABLO VILLALOBOS, and JOSHUA MIDDLETON
1:25 variant cover by BILQUIS EVELY
1:50 variant cover by W. SCOTT FORBES
Foil variant cover by STANLEY “ARTGERM” LAU
Blank variant cover

Kara Zor-El has been a key member of the Super-Family in Metropolis, but what happens when she strikes out on her own? Follow Kara as she returns to her roots in Midvale…home of Supergirl! But how could this be?! Our hero has not been back in years, and the protector of that town has been saving the day for weeks. Can Supergirl stop the impostor before they steal her fresh start and life?

Celebrated writer/artist Sophie Campbell (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Wet Moon) makes her mark on the DC Universe with this thrilling debut issue! Plus a new costume designed by bestselling cover artist Stanley "Artgerm" Lau!

I covered my initial thoughts on the new book here . But I will again say that I have optimism around this book. Midvale hasn't been in comics for a long time. That said, the orphanage was mentioned by Mark Waid in World's Finest. So maybe some classic trappings are going to be seen here? And the imposter? Could it be Matrix? Linda Danvers?

All that said, it has been 5 years ( July 6th 2020 ) since we had a Supergirl book 'on the shelves' (remember that the last 2 issues of this volume was released as digital-only). Five years! 

At least Campbell sounds like a fan of the character, more than many who have been on the book.

But wait, there's more!

The Two Faces Of Supergirl On Instagram

It is 2025 and a new Supergirl book has been announced. A new Supergirl movie is being filmed. 

The character is suddenly stepping into the spotlight in a way she hasn't since the announcement of her television show. 

But things are uncertain and interesting. 

What will Sophie Campbell's book be like? A return to classic superhero adventures? Or something else?

What will the Supergirl movie be like? A pure 'True Grit' adaptation of Tom King's Woman Of Tomorrow? A book I had major issues with which may unfortunately define the character for a whole new audience?

Imagine my surprise to head to Instagram and see some of my hopes and fears laid out in front of me. 

First I stumble upon this pic on Dan Mora's story. 

I have loved any time Mora has drawn Supergirl, so seeing this picture (which must be a variant cover for the upcoming series) made me smile. Mora makes everything look great. But this is spectacular. 

She's young and vibrant. She's smiling. She is in a position of confidence and strength. And we are looking up at her, like we should to our heroes.

It is perfect.

But then I stumbled on to more ...

Review: Superman #23

Superman #23 came out this week, continuing the future Time Trapper Doomsday arc. This has been one high-velocity story as a ton of moving parts are weaving in and out of the narrative. In the present day, Doomsday is loose. The Radiant and the Aftermath have arrived on Earth to dispatch Doomsday, even if they have to mess up Earth in the process. Superman is trying to hold back Red K rage. Superwoman is learning her powers. Lex is regaining his memories and perhaps his genius as well. And within this is that Time Trapper Doomsday, trying to convince our heroes to kill him and let him ascend.

Somehow Joshua Williamson is able to keep all the balls in the air, giving every piece of the plot the right amount of real estate. This whole storyline is very compelling for me. When did Doomsday become the Time Trapper? Why does he want to be killed? Why is he intervening at this point in time? And all this happening while Williamson is bulking up the supporting cast and their side stories as well. It is a very solid read with a lot to contemplate.

I will also say that this issue feels like it ends this arc, or perhaps puts it on hold in a major way. There isn't a true resolution here. So it has a middle chapter vibe. In the Bronze Age it would have ended with 'To Be Continued ???'. I'd love to see more of the happenings here. I want more of this Time Trapper. But I think I will need to wait.

Dan Mora is on art and shines here, no surprise. I think Mora devotes his time to the major panels which need supreme attention which include massive battle scenes. Mora is just a godsend to books like this.

On to the book.

Review: Justice League Of America #185

 With the Absolute Universe built on Darkseid energy and the Ram V New Gods book being so good, I have dipped into the back issue box to review Justice League of America #183-185, the 'Crisis on Apokolips' storyline, another annual JLA/JSA crossover with the New Gods in tow. Today I'll review JLA #185, the finale. (Here are links to my part 1 and part 2 reviews.)

To be an honest reviewer, I have some mixed feelings about this issue and the conclusion to the storyline. I'll start with the good. 

Writer Gerry Conway throughout this story has done a great job of showcasing the personalities of all the characters as they have broken up into side missions. We have really great moments from all of them, worthy of a spotlight in this review. This is a great read if you love seeing inspiration from Superman and Wonder Woman, skills and intelligence from Batman and Mister Miracle, and action and philosophy from Dr. Fate and Green Lantern. Add to that the brilliant art by JLA-newcomer George Perez. I know that praising George Perez seems unnecessary but his work here is great, in both big moments and small. You can see this almost like the petri dish of Crisis on Infinite Earths as he handles a big cast, big action, weird landscapes, while making sure smaller scenes get their due. The work is incredible. We also get this pretty slick Jim Starlin cover.

I'll also say this is 1980. Darkseid and the New Gods were still .. well .. new. I learned of Darkseid from this story. 

So what's the downside?

Well, the solution to the problem, the ending of the threat, comes out of nowhere and on the last page. There is no build-up, no suspense, no 'crisis' of winning. It just sort of happens. I am not one for overly decompressed stories but this one would have completely benefited from a fourth issue. Part of it is pacing. We get three pages recapping the prior two issues. They are stunning pages for sure. But perhaps that space could have been better served?

On to the issue! Buckle up!

Review: Batman/Superman World's Finest #36

Batman/Superman World's Finest #36 came out this week and was a fun middle chapter in this undersea adventure. The Floronic Man has used some hallucinogenic spores to enrage the people of Tritonis, leading that city to think the city of Poseidonis is using it to weaken the city for takeover.

The overall plot, as well as Floronic Man's motivations, are pretty thin. I think that is almost an afterthought so that writer Mark Waid can tell the stories he really wants. What if Aquaman's interactions with the surface world weakened his political power in Atlantis? What if Superman was reunited with Lori Lemaris? There are a lot of Silver Age reverberations in this one. The most obvious one is how big a pill Lori's husband Ronal is. He is bit of a domineering jerk, ready to throw down the gauntlet and start a war.

But for an old-school Superman fan like me, I always get joy out of seeing Superman and Lori interact. Lori is a married woman making Superman quite the Casanova here. Where does this fall in continuity? It is obviously pre-proposal to Lois. It seems to be post-Swamp Thing Anatomy Lesson? Hmmm ...

As for the art, Adrian Gutierrez seems to be having a ton of fun here. We see Atlantean armor. We see battle scenes. We see botanical bodies. He even continues to use words as interesting art flourishes. I love this cover by Dan Mora with Swamp Thing's face formed out of the branches/seaweed. 

Overall, a fun issue with a great cliffhanger. The foundation of the story is sort of thin but the plots built on it are great.

On to the book.

New Supergirl Book By Sophie Campbell

The official DC May solicits haven't hit the web yet but Bleeding Cool already has scans of the previews and lo and behold there is news of a new Supergirl book. Here is the solicit and some preview art.

SUPERGIRL #1
Written by SOPHIE CAMPBELL Art and cover by SOPHIE CAMPBELL
Variant covers by STANLEY "ARTGERM" LAU, PABLO VILLALOBOS, and JOSHUA MIDDLETON
1:25 variant cover by BILQUIS EVELY 

1:50 variant cover by W. SCOTT FORBES 

Foil variant cover by STANLEY "ARTGERM" LAU 

Blank variant cover
ON SALE 5/14/25

Kara Zor-El has been a key member of the Super-Family in Metropolis, but what happens when she strikes out on her own? Follow Kara as she returns to her roots in Midvale…home of Supergirl! But how could this be? Our hero has not been back in years, and the protector of that town has been saving the day for weeks. Can Supergirl stop the impostor before they steal her fresh start and life?
Celebrated writer/artist Sophie Campbell (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Wet Moon) makes her mark on the DC Universe with this thrilling debut issue! Plus a new costume designed by bestselling cover artist Stanley "Artgerm" Lau.  NOT FINAL TRADE DRESS COVERS

There is a lot to unpack here. I very much love Campbell's art but I haven't read much of the stories she has written. Her writing style will be new to me. That said the solicit sounds great.

I think the Super-family has swollen to pretty big numbers so I think moving Supergirl out of the city and letting her branch out on her own, be the solo star, is great. I also like Midvale being the setting, a flashback to classic Supergirl.  I have loved her relationship with Superman in the Williamson and Phillip Kennedy Johnson books but it will be nice to see her not be second in command and instead marching her own way. 

I do know that Campbell has been on TMNT recently and I would love to hear from anyone who read that what they thought. 

Moritat Commission Gift From Derek WC

One of the things that I have come to completely appreciate about the comic community on line is how generous it is. 

Within the community I have become friends with Derek W. C. of the Fanholes podcast. Derek is a huge comic art collector and we have that shared interest. He and I often discuss our commission hopes prior to cons. Heck, we even did a long form podcast about it here. 

It was during this talk that he convinced me to post my commission over on Comic Art Fans here. 

So imagine my surprise when I got this Supergirl sketch card in the mail from Derek. The art is by Moritat and shows this wonderfully happy Supergirl. I just love the broad smile and the elegant simplicity to the art. It is completely charming.

If you want to hear about Derek obtaining the card at the Original Art Expo, you can hear about it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQJ3XAmpxAE

I really am just overwhelmed by the generosity. This is a welcome addition to the collection.

DC Comics Amazing Yamaguchi Revoltech NR032 Supergirl Action Figure

I recently obtained a set of book shelves which allowed me to devise a new shrine set-up. 

What better way to celebrate that than to get a new piece for the collection. And what a piece!

Purchased through Big Bad Toy Store , this is the Yamaguchi Revoltech Supergirl figure from Japan. 

Like many pieces from Japan, it is extremely articulated, with moving joints, and some articulation in the chest and even hair. If you are looking for a figure to pose in a million different ways, it is this one.

Add to the articulation that the set comes with 4 different sets of hands and 3 different faces and this is the toy that keeps on giving. Yes, there is a 'red eyes' face but also a serious and smiling one. And hands are fists or splayed of flat handed. It is pretty fun.

Add to that you get a stand with peg-holes and an extension you can stick in the figure's back to give the illusion of flying. I like the gold (not yellow) accents of the shield. It even has a cloth cape. 

I picked this 'flying by to say hey!' pose.

Review: Action Comics #1083

Action Comics #1083 came out this week, the second part of John Ridley's arc during the Superman Superstars era of the title. Last issue showed a sort of bleak world where both our heroes and our villains were downtrodden and dreary. I wondered if something might be manipulating people's feelings.

In this issue, Ridley gives us the answer. I don't know if it quite worked for me but this is a middle chapter so maybe it will all work out in the end. Maybe I was thinking of something more innovative. I will say that the cause of the villains hopelessness and the cause for Superman's hopelessness are different which gives this a somewhat interesting twist. But in the end, it raises another concerning question, one I talk about at the end of this review.

Inaki Miranda stays on art and is solid. I like how beefy he makes Superman, a physical presence. There is a nice action-filled 2 page spread near the end that is quite brilliant. I like the way he draws Scorch as well. 

But this issue overall fell just a little flat with that big plot reveal. 

On to the specifics.

Black Orchid Info In The Glx Sptzl Glaah Fanzine

Back in 2022, I did a very deep dive on the Bronze Age era Black Orchid. It was a ton of fun especially as I looked at those stories through the lens of a popular fan theory that Black Orchid was Supergirl. 

There was one problem. 

I couldn't find any evidence for that theory. Not in the letter columns in Adventure Comics. Not in the letters in the issues of Phantom Stranger where her stories landed. Nowhere. Yes, it is implied in ENB's Super Friends #31. 

And I don't think that I could have made that theory up on my own. I knew of it ... but how?

Anyways, I am very thankful for the comic community out there. My good friend Isamu Hideaki-Yukinori was going through his father's fanzines and came across Glx Sptzl Glaah #1, a fanzine devoted to the works of Sheldon Mayer. 

In the magazine were two articles about Black Orchid and one of them at last mentions the fan theory!

As a major fan of the Black Orchid character, I am thrilled to be sharing these with you today.

And please go to https://xum-yukinori.blogspot.com/ to see the great art work of Isamu and his father, the dear departed and brilliant Xum Yukinori, and their family. 

I cannot thank Isamu enough for sharing these with me!

We'll start out with the one page article about who Black Orchid could be. What a crazy list - Lucy Lane, Lilith, and ... Supergirl! Check out the article as a whole to see the details about those first two guesses, especially given that the Lucy Lane one comes from Wonder Woman expert Carol Strickland!

Review: Absolute Superman #4

Absolute Superman #4 came out last week and continued to enrich this new universe and new Superman's history and supporting cast. More than any issue, this one showed us that this is a universe fueled by Darkseid energy. 

This issue really put Lois Lane in the spotlight, showing us more of who she is and why she is the way she is. Jason Aaron is showing us just what it means in this world for an independent, incredibly powerful super-being to be out there. He is a folk hero. He is a hippie. He is a threat. He is an opponent or a potential ally in this violent political world. A lot of this can be seen in Lois who seems to be conflicted in her thoughts but resolute in her duty. This Lois definitely feels innovative. I am not sure if I like her yet.

Aaron also shows us how the fringes of politics, both left and right, are extremists and probably aren't the good guys. The Peacemakers working for Leviathan Inc and the field agents for the rebellious Omega Men both seem ready to maim or kill to achieve their goals. If  'the ends justify the means' is a tenet, you should look hard in the mirror.

I have complimented Rafa Sandoval a ton and this issue deserves that continued praise. There are is high action. But the opening scene is Lois interviewing people from around the globe and he shines there too. I like Sandoval's design of the Omega Men. 

One quibble about this issue is that Superman isn't in it that much. Yes, this is a Lois issue. But we are still learning about this Kal. I want to know more. And this issue seems mired a bit in how grim this world is. I get that that grittiness is the foundation of this world but boy, I could use a glimmer of something hopeful. This is a Superman comic after all.

On to the book.

Back Issue Box: Justice League Of America #184

Way back in October, in the context of Darkseid being the creative energy behind the new Absolute Universe, I reviewed Justice League of America #183 , the first part of the annual JLA/JSA crossover. That year's story brought in the New Gods as well. 

How inappropriate of me to drop the ball and not finish reviewing the three parter! Since that time, DC All In has been in full swing and a New Gods book is on the shelves which makes this an even better back issue dive to review.

Written by Gerry Conway with art by new League artist George Perez, this middle chapter pushes the story forward, gives us some great character interactions between these three groups, and showcases the force Perez would become in the DCU. 

Conway does need to play a bit with villains' power levels to keep this story going. I have never seen the Fiddler be this powerful. But outside that tiny quibble, the rest of this works well. One thing I love is that Conway definitely gives many of the characters a tiny moment to showcase a part of their personality, making them feel unique. In particular, his scenes with the mini-team of Superman, E2 Wonder Woman, and Big Barda really have some powerful character moments.

I'll also say that the New Gods were not a huge presence in the DCU in this time of the Bronze Age. This was probably the first encounter with these characters for many readers. So I do like how Conway tries to let us learn about the characters we meet here.

Remember, last issue was drawn by Dick Dillin who unfortunately passed away after completing that issue. Dillin's run was historically long and truly beloved. Perez had big shoes to fill. We know how huge Perez becomes and you can see that even here. His page breakdowns, knowing when to inset panels and when to go splash page, even the dynamic cover showing our heroes in readiness around the face of Darkseid, shows us Perez was destined for greatness. On to the issue.

DC Comics Solicits - April 2025

The steady stream of weekly comics and my schedule has kept me away from doing solicit coverage. 

Now is a great time to restart coverage as the upcoming Superman movie has spurred DC into declaring this the Summer of Superman. That means lots of super-books to cover! If looking for all the solicits, head here: https://www.gamesradar.com/comics/dc-comics/dc-comics-april-2025-solicitations-cover/ 

But 'Summer of Superman' is just the beginning of what looks to be a great month. 

I'll start with something I probably won't be getting but will look forward to hearing about. Jon Kent is going to be a star in the new Secret Six book. It is interesting that he is called 'Super Son' and no longer Superman. 

I have been really enjoying the current New Gods book, even if only 2 issues in. It is great fun and the art is compelling. In this month's issue, the JLA guest stars.

There is a lot of the 1970's Superman arc 'Kryptonite Nevermore' in this month's solicits. You'll see more below but there is a trade of the story coming out this month too. Denny O'Neil strips Superman's power but eliminates Kryptonite, makes Clark a reporter, and otherwise does a soft reboot.

Lastly, there is a The DC Universe by Steve Ditko Omnibus coming out, stuffed with Hawk and Dove, Creeper. Stalker, and other Ditko ephemera! Incredible!

But on to the super-books!


SUMMER OF SUPERMAN SPECIAL #1
Written by Dan Slott, Joshua Williamson, and Mark Waid
Art and cover by Jorge Jiménez
Variant covers by Alexander Lozano, John Giang, Mahmud Asrar, and Chrissie Zullo-Uminga 

1:25 ratio variant cover by Dan Jurgens
Foil variant cover by Jorge Jiménez

The Man of Steel and his universe of friends, family, allies, and rogues is in for some big changes, and it all starts in the Summer of Superman Special! Brought to you by Superman series architects Joshua Williamson (Superman), Mark Waid (Batman/Superman: World’s Finest), and (making his grand entrance to the world of tomorrow) Dan Slott, this special oversize issue will set the stage for all the major events exploding throughout the Superman titles! When John Henry Irons and Lana Lang take their vows, everyone turns up for the big day—but trouble is brewing on the horizon, as threats from the past, present, and future kick off major new conflicts for the Superman Family. Brought to stunning life by the incomparable art of Jorge Jiménez (Batman, Super Sons), the Summer of Superman Special is the ground floor to the most exciting action imaginable in 2025!

The big news that dropped earlier this month was that Dan Slott is writing a Superman Unlimited book. I liked Slott on She-Hulk and Silver Surfer. We'll see if he can bring some of that energy here. The fact that Slott has his own book maker me hope Joshua Williamson stays on Superman. And this story sounds fun with a super-wedding. 

Would love to hear what folks think about Slott coming over!

Review: Superman:Lex Luthor Special #1

Last week the Superman:Lex Luthor Special #1 was released, an interesting spotlight on Lex who has been going through quite some changes over the last 2 years. 

Since the inception of the latest volume of the Superman comic, writer Joshua Williamson has been focusing on the Lex/Superman dynamic. The whole book started with Lex saying he wanted to work with Superman, not against him. LexCorp became SuperCorp. Superman was a leader in the company. Work was done to help Superman. All the while I kept wondering if this was some trap set by Lex, a long con.

Then in House of Brainiac, Williamson changed even that dynamic, giving Lex amnesia and softening him considerably. Gone was the aggressive, Type A megalomaniac. Instead, there was a gentle soul. But even there, I was wondering if this was another long con ... a con within a con.

Perhaps with the Superman movie on the horizon, there was some impetus to put Luthor back in the super-villain ranks. This issue Superman nudges Lex more towards his purer form, ending the amnesia at least. Will Superman regret it?

It also layers in the dreaded 'sympathetic backstory' that every villain seems to need these days. Gone are the days of  'I'm just an evil SOB' villain. I like my Lex to just be a narcissist. Not someone emotionally abused as a child who must be dealing with his trauma.

The art is done by Eddy Barrows and Eber Ferreira. I have always like Barrows. This is a low key issue without a ton of action. But Barrows brings the emotion to the proceedings. I really like his ink style in the flashbacks, reminding me of legendary inker Alfredo Alcala. High praise.

On to the book.

Review: Superman #22

My Red K detour has delayed my current comic reviews on the site. And at some point I'll need to cover all the 'Summer of Superman' books we have heard about with some interesting creative teams.

But for now, allow me to review Superman #22 by Joshua Williamson and Dan Mora. 

I really think that Williamson has hit his stride on the book for a while now and this latest Doomsday story is really solid. I have been pretty tired of Doomsday but bringing in a Time Trapper version into the mix is a great idea, injecting something new into an older character, a change that actually makes sense. 

Now Williamson does a great thing and leans into Superman's history, going all the way back to Superman/Doomsday: Hunter/Prey, a mini-series over 30 years old. But if you are telling a Doomsday story, why not utilize the continuity? I mean, I haven't read the mini in at least 25 years. (Should I cover it here?)

Should Superman give Doomsday over to the Aftermath (the remnants of races decimated by Doomsday)? Or does he think Doomsday deserves to be watched over on Earth? It is an interesting question. And Williamson injects a little mystery and a little new wrinkle to things that made me want to hear the debate more.

I'd be remiss if I didn't say that there are some small Supergirl moments in this issue that really let her shine. Williamson really seems to have taken a shine to her.

As always, Dan Mora's art is just spectacular. He makes Supergirl's jacket outfit look good. He gives The Radiant a shiny, slick look. He has a tremendous two page spread showing a great battle. Mora is a gold mine.

On to the book.

Amazing Heroes #136 And Jerry Ordway

Earlier this month, I reviewed Amazing Heroes #136, including some interesting comments from Jerry Ordway and Mike Carlin about the (then) upcoming Supergirl Saga, the ideas around the new Supergirl character and the Pocket Universe from where she came.

I had a few questions percolating in my brain, especially knowing how that whole storyline ultimately played out, with John Byrne leaving, Matrix going mad and eventually becoming Supergirl, and the utter destruction of the the Pocket Universe.

I reached out to Jerry Ordway who was kind enough to answer most of my questions and provide his recollections on things. 

As a long time fan, the peek into the creative process is always appreciated. So I can't thank Mr. Ordway enough for sharing! Here is the brief interview.

Anj: How far did this 'Power Girl' idea go? A mention? A deep discussion? Matrix IS found in the Arctic. Was that piece of your pitch kept? Or just coincidence?

Jerry Ordway: The Power Girl idea was likely only a brief paragraph I wrote out, to pitch as a story.
My Power Girl idea became Supergirl being found in the arctic. 

Back Issue Box: Action Comics #284

Last week I reviewed Action Comics #283, the first part of a crazy Red Kryptonite story where Kara exposes herself to 6 Red K meteors and therefore must undergo 6 transformations. 

Today I wrap up the story with Action Comics #284, which turns out to be a relatively important story for Supergirl’s history. ‘The Strange Bodies of Supergirl’ is written by Superman creator Jerry Siegel with art by classic artist Jim Mooney. We’ll get through three crazy transformations for sure. But we’ll see some continuity from Superman’s history. We’ll get a character from Supergirl’s supporting cast re-appear. And we get an announcement from Superman at the end of the story which changes the direction of this ongoing back-up moving forward.

Mooney continues to shine giving us a perfect young Supergirl as well as a touch of horror, a pinch of Sci-Fi, and a wonderful happy ending.

So if you are looking for some Silver Age insanity and some Kara history, you are in the right place.

I’ll add that the front end of the issue has a Superman story where he also is affected with Red K, turning into a toddler. What I love about that story is that he does it on purpose, exposing himself to a ‘youth restoring’ Red K from a prior Supergirl story. So there is some continuity in that showing how Supergirl’s life can impact Superman.

On to the book.

Review: Action Comics #1082

Action Comics #1082 came out last week, the next writer in the 'Superman Superstars' run on the book. With Mark Waid's weekly arc behind us, we enter a monthly schedule again. 

Waid's fun story was about the Phantom Zone, was about Mon-El, with a time travel trip to Krypton to boot. It went at a brisk pace and really was fun. It would be hard to follow that.

Writer John Ridley and artist Inaki Miranda come on board for 'Force Majeure' a title I will come back to at the end of this review. 

The short version is that Major Disaster, a villain turned hero, reverts to his villainous ways. And Superman, who helped reform Disaster, gets both upset and depressed about the whole thing. So vexed, that he begins asking around about why it happened. 

I haven't read much by Ridley but I did like his The Other Side of the DC Universe. It is hard to know in this first issue why he thinks Disaster regressed. Almost everyone Superman talks to feels it was inevitable. But the result is a sort of morose or highly agitated Superman. It doesn't feel quite right.  

Inaki Miranda's art is solid if standard. The opening disaster movie has a nice energy to it. But much of the remainder of the issue is Clark Kent interviewing people or sulking with Lois. Hard to make a meal out of that.

On to the story.

Supergirl And Streaky Statue

Last week, I showcased my Supergirl shrine in all its glory on a set of new shelves.

New shelves mean more space. And lucky for me, because Iron Studios is coming out with a fantastic Supergirl and Streaky statue in the second quarter of 2025. You can take a closer look here: https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/VariationDetails/289507?o=4

This one is just beautiful and therefore will probably find its way into my collection despite the high price.

For one, it has Streaky. How could I say no.

Second, the costume is a version of my most favorite: red skirt, blue shirt. Heck even the sleeves are oversized, akin to the pointed end version I like best.

But the most important thing is the vibe you get from this. Supergirl happily sitting on a tower top, smiling and happy, enjoying some fun with her kitty cat. Wonderful.

Back Issue Box: Action Comics #283

Last week I reviewed Action Comics #303, a Silver Age classic with a healthy dose of Red Kryptonite fun. I got a lot of great feedback for that review and I feel that I have been so busy with current reviews that the Silver Age stuff has been missing a bit from here. I also try to have my back issue reviews somehow relate to current storylines and with Superman dealing with a Red K injection in Joshua Williamson's Superman book, I thought I would look back again to one of the wackier Supergirl/Red K stories from 1961. (For transparency, these scans are from my Supergirl Archives Vol 2 book.)

'The Six Red K Perils of Supergirl' was the back up story in Action Comics #283. Written by Jerry Siegel with art by Jim Mooney, we get to see Supergirl dealing with a new period in her life and struggling with a major Red K exposure. 

I really feel like this period of Supergirl's stories are a major turning point for the character and worth a look at. There is a long, multi-issue story where we meet one of Supergirl's arch-enemies, Lesla Lar. She loses her powers. She regains her powers from an odd source. And then it all culminates two issues from this story in Action Comics #285 in which Superman reveals Supergirl's existence to the world. That issue is one of the most key issues in Supergirl's history. 

But we are here, now, in Action Comics #283 so settle in for Silver Age goodness. From character progression to zany Red K transformations to detailed super-brief side plots, this issue is a hearty meal. And guess what? It is only part one.

Settle in!

Review: Batman/Superman World's Finest #35

Batman/Superman #35 came out this week, the beginning of a new arc bringing our title heroes into an adventure with Aquaman. Writer Mark Waid and artist Adrian Gutierrez are back on as our creative team. 

The charm of this comic is how it hits the sweet spot of Bronze Age fun with modern sensibilities. But that 'elsewhen' aspect lets Waid sort of put a classic stamp onto our heroes. We have seen scrappy young Robin, less-moody Batman, and friendly Superman throughout the three years of this book. But we also have seen Waid look at Metamorpho, Red Tornado, Supergirl, and others. 

This arc lets Waid and Gutierrez put their stamp on Aquaman, Mera, and the twin cities of Atlantis. Seeing Aquaman as a sort of 'man of two worlds' is interesting given the more recent runs which have been Atlantis-centric with politics and factions. But it is the inclusion of Lori Lemaris and her sullen husband Ronal was  really the cherry on the cake. 

I thought this opening arc is a nice primer on the old-school Atlantis. At the same time, this is a decent look back to why Aquaman's recent tales have focused more underwater than on terra firma.

Gutierrez continues to grow on this book. There is a sort of recurring artistic panache of repeated words or sound effects in the art. His take on the world of Atlantis and their fashion and looks is nice. But it is his take on a classic villain (seen on the last page) that really grabbed me.

On to this book.

Supergirl Shrine Revamped

It has been too long since I last showcased my Supergirl collection here on the site.

There are a few reasons for this. The old shelves I had for the collection were too small to accommodate the collection so it seemed overly cluttered and unappealing. I also moved a bit ago and with the lack of adequate shelf space, I left some things unpacked.

Just before the holidays, I was lucky enough to obtain some new bookshelves. This one big enough to showcase the whole thing!

Turns out I have a lot of Supergirl stuff, the efforts of decades of collecting. This is a 'first go' at the arrangement and I think it works out well but let me know your thoughts. 

But I am very happy with these new shelves!

Back Issue Box: Action Comics #303

Back in Action Comics #1081, Phantom Zone villain Ras-Krom summoned Zanchyroia dragons.

I'll be honest, I thought for a second they were an updating of the Kryptonian kaiju from Action Comics #303. Turns out, I was wrong. This creature is a Kryptonian Drang. 

Then in Superman #21, we learned that Superman's Red emotional storms are the result of a Red K injection from Pharm and Graft. I remembered Action Comics #303 again for its Red-K centric main story.

Between a flying Kryptonian dragon and the Red K connection, I thought it would be fun to formally review this story here. As a plus, Supergirl has a small role in the story. Besides, it has been a while since I have gone back to the Silver Age for something completely silly and fun. 

'The Monster from Krypton' was written by Edmond Hamilton with art by Curt Swan. It sports a pretty eye-grabbing cover of Supergirl riding the one-horned monster while the US military fire Kryptonite bullets at it. But perhaps the most interesting thing about the cover is that it gives away the twists. The monster IS Superman, changed by Red Kryptonite!

Well, settle in for a silly ride! Here's some Kryptonian Kaiju and Red K hijinks!

Review: Absolute Superman #3

Absolute Superman #3 came out last week, a flashback issue looking at young Kal's life on Krypton as it approached destruction. It is a pretty heavy-handed issue as we see Jor-El and Lara dealing with a completely corrupt Kryptonian hierarchy by rebelling with violence.

Now look, this is the Absolute Universe, the one tainted by Darkseid energy, and so the whole thing is going to be murky. A Kryptonian Science Council allowing genocide to happen as long as they escape? Sounds like a Darkseid place. Lara donning attack armor and wielding a lava gun as she mows down innocent police officers? Sounds like a Darkseid place. 

We have seen this Kal on Earth, fighting the system by helping people. He seems to be an upstanding hero, only retaliating when attacked by the cronies of Earth's own corruption. Writer Jason Aaron is walking a fine line here. Superman as a populist hero fighting an inherently evil world? Sounds okay. But where does it end? When does fighting the system become fighting innocent people also stuck in the system? When does this become too ham-fisted?

This issue comes close to that. It veers to the preachy. But I do think it is important for us to see the experiences of young (not baby) Kal on Krypton to inform who he is on Earth.

Now there are some things that seem convenient for the story. And some things that seem nonsensical given the story. So of the three issues of this series so far, I feel this one is the weakest from a writing view.

Interesingly enough, I think this might be the strongest issue from an art view. Rafa Sandoval is just crushing it on this book. Here we see Krypton with its death pangs. We see Lara in action. We see high tech and lush alien landscapes. Sandoval is inching towards Dan Mora as my favorite DC artist.

On to the book. 

Amazing Heroes #136 - Superman at 50 and 'The Supergirl Saga'

One of the holiday presents I got this year was a copy of Amazing Heroes #136, a Superman-centric issue celebrating the Man of Steel's 50th birthday. 

I am a big fan of Amazing Heroes and definitely have been looking in back issue bins for ones that cover interesting topics for me so this was a gold mine. The issue includes a section where comic professionals give brief reflections on why they love Superman. There is a 'gallery' section of Superman pics from up-and-comers including one from a some guy named Adam Hughes who is about to break on the scene.

But for me, the article I found most interesting was an interview with Superman editor Mike Carlin and Superman creator Jerry Ordway about the state of Superman in the DCU and some upcoming storylines. The biggest one on the horizon at that point? The Supergirl Saga.

Remember, we were only about 2 years into the Byrne reboot so things were still a bit fresh. The Superman line was still settling in. Hearing Carlin and Ordway's thoughts, especially knowing where things end up going, was interesting. 

But far and away, the look back at the origin of the 'Supergirl Saga', the publicity for it, and how it seemed a bit still in flux is fascinating for this Supergirl fan. 

On to the details.

Review: Superman #21

With the weekly schedule of Action Comics done and the holidays and year reviews behind me, I am finally getting to Superman #21 to review. (I have to say that the last few months have been busy here on the site with the two-fer Action Comics reviews but it also assured content. I might miss that.)

Superman #21 is a sort of breather issue to catch up on the characters and their private lives. Between Doomsday, Time Trapper Doomsday, Superwoman, and other mysteries, there is a lot of plot happening in this book. I give writer Joshua Williamson some kudos for recognizing that giving the characters a moment to breathe and giving the audience some moments to remind them why they like these characters is a brilliant move.

As always, Superman and Lois and their relationship is the axle this book revolves around. So this 'date night' issue is focused on them. It would be hard enough to stay connected when both are ultra-busy journalists. Now both are super-heroes on top of that. So seeing the two taking time for each other is great. Williamson realizes we are in a superhero comic so this isn't without action. 

Dan Mora continues to shine. His work is just so beautiful, full of energy. I will admit that there are some places in the book that seems a little rough, a little unpolished. Still stellar for sure. But I wonder if Mora is burning the candle a bit too bright given the number of Mora covers I see on the racks.

On to the book.

Supergirl Best Of 2024 Part Three: Top Ten Comic Moments #5 - #1

Well, we are nearing the end of our recap and so far it has been a little bit of a circuitous tour.

Part one was the Supergirl non-comic highlights and some comic moment honorable mentions.

Part two was the beginning of the top ten Supergirl comic moments, #10 - #6, with a bonus honorable mention. 

As always, my hope is that Supergirl will be recognized for the cool character she is and warrant her own ongoing title. It is intriguing to me that the books where she is a supporting character, the writers showcase how great she is. But in the past few solo books, she is angry, drunk, sad, ineffective, or idiotic. Can't we get someone who likes the character to write the book? 

That said, 2024 has had its highlights as you will see. Much of them show how integral she is to the super-family, either emotionally supportive or action ready. 

My favorite moment might seem random but when you are a lifelong Supergirl fan it completely made my year. We'll get there.

So let's settle in as we review the top five moments for Supergirl in the year 2024!

Supergirl Best Of 2024 Part Two: Top Ten Comic Moments #10 - #6

I started my 2024 Supergirl year in review yesterday with a look back at her non-comic appearances, my convention season, and a couple of comic honorable mentions.

As I said, this was a decent year for Supergirl. Not the best but certainly not the worst. We started the year with the very end of Philip Kennedy Johnson's Action Comics run in which Kara was the second in command of the super-family, the smartest person in the room. We saw Joshua Williamson keep her as a that field general, especially in House of Brainiac. And Mark Waid, when he included her in his books, always treated her well. 

That said, it has been nearly 4 years since Supergirl has had a solo book on the shelves. And her recent solo stories have been, in my opinion, pretty lackluster.

So cobbling together a top ten comic moments list means combing the depths for Supergirl moments that stood out for me. Some of them are one panel wonders, a blip into a story. Others powerful moments in arcs she was a main part of. And yes, even Mariko Tamaki's solo story has a moment that was a solid entry.

But I long for the halcyon days of a solid monthly Supergirl book. 

On to the Best Supergirl Comic Moments of 2024!

Supergirl Best Of 2024 Part One: Non-Comic Reviews And Comic Honorable Mentions

Well, we have reached a new year and that means it is a good time to go back and look at 2024 and how it treated Supergirl.

As with most years, this will be a three day review.

Today - non-comic year as well as Honorable Mention 2024 comic moments

Tomorrow - Top ten 2024comic moments, #10 - #6

Friday - Top ten 2024 comic moments, #5 - #1

It has been an interesting year for Supergirl overall.

She was a major player in the Crisis On Infinite Earths trilogy movie which wrapped up that era of the DC Animated universe. She also was a key player in the second season of My Adventures with Superman television show. A Supergirl movie is in the works and she was even casted. That is a lot of exposure for the character which I think is always a good thing. But certainly the concept of the upcoming movie and her portrayal in the two animated series weren't exactly what I look for in Supergirl as a character. 

In comics, it was a bit more piecemeal as you had to sort of look to find Supergirl here and there. I think she had a great presence in the House of Brainiac arc. I think she has been treated well by Mark Waid in his Phantom Zone arc in Action Comics. But I have found her one solo story by Mariko Tamaki to be a bit lacking. 

So overall I think it has been an okay year for the character. Certainly her being visible outside of comics is a good thing. And I'll reiterate that while these takes on her don't work for me, if you love them, I am glad.

As always, I want to thank the people who come to the site and read my ramblings! Appreciate you all!

On to the year in review.