Review: Absolute Superman #6

Absolute Superman #6 came out last week, another mostly flashback issue filling in the back story of this universe's Kal. With the destruction of Krypton behind us, we focus on Smallville. After the slow burn of the first issue, this one feels brisk opening and seemingly closing the Smallville portion of Superman's origins. We also get a major reveal which I felt was coming but never said outright. You'll have to trust me.

Writer Jason Aaron shows us that overlying despair of this Absolute Universe, especially in the early pages of Kal lost in space. But he also gives us some light, showing us a Jonathan and Martha Kent that feel pretty much our typical Kents. They take Kal in as a miracle. And Kal feels a bit of comfort in this Kansas environment with a kindly couple. Interesting to see just where the classic origins blur with the new stuff. But most importantly, as I said above, this is definitely a bit of a brisker pace for the flashback than the prior. 

The art this issue is by Carmine DiGiandominico and he's sort new to me.  Despite a slew of book, I only know him from the digital only covers of the end of the last Supergirl run. There is a sort of Chris Sprouse energy to his work. I love Rafa Sandoval but DiGiandomenico is a decent fill-in. Sandoval is on the cover which displays something which doesn't appear in the story. 

So with the brisk Smallville chapter done and the true villain revealed at the end, I think we can call this the 'opening arc' and that it is officially closed. Looking forward to what comes next.

On to the book.

Review: Action Comics #279

In the recent DC solicits, we learned that Lesla Lar is being reintroduced to the DCU as a Supergirl villain.  It made me realize that I have never really covered the earliest Lesla Lar stories on this sight despite my nearing 17 years of running the place. 

And Lar is a pretty big deal in Supergirl lore. In the Silver Age Action Comics, she had (for that time) a pretty long multi-issue story arc where she bedeviled Supergirl. She comes back and has a shocking 'death' later in Action Comics. And then, in one of the things I truly love about the character, she comes back to plague Supergirl over multiple issues in the early 1980's Superman Family book (some of which I have covered here)!

Today I'm reviewing Action Comics #279, Lesla Lar's first appearance which kicks of that long-form arc. I do think that multi-part stories were pretty rare back then. Her arc trying to replace Supergirl on Earth runs over 4 issues! The whole story is written by Jerry Siegel and drawn by Jim Mooney. Overcoming Lar is part of some significant growth for Kara. You looking for an important event in Supergirl's life? It is in this issue! Goodbye orphanage!

As for Lar herself, her motives are pretty basic - jealousy leading to contempt. Her scientific prowess is enough to rival Luthor making her team-up with Lex in this first issue seem appropriate. Lar does a number on Kara for sure. Mooney plays it up well with his usual expressive work. 

But it that jealousy, that wanting to be Supergirl and get the accolades, that upcoming writer/artist Sophie Campbell is riffing on in the new Supergirl title. So let's see the villain in action! On to the book!

Back Issue Review: All-Star Comics #58

We just turned the corner on April and that means we have officially entered the comic event of 2025, JSApril! Kudos to comic podcast legend, The Irredeemable Shag, for putting together the event, herding in over 40 podcasts and blogs to celebrate the first super-hero team, the Justice Society!

I definitely wanted to be part of the festivities. I wanted to remain true to this blog's core. So why not review All-Star Comics #58, the first appearance of Power Girl, the Earth-2 Kara Zor-L. 

In this current world or reboots and new #1's, it is pretty amazing to me that DC picked up the numbering of All-Star Comics. This book came out October 1975. All-Star Comics #57's release date? December 1950! A quarter century has passed!

But here we were in the mid-70s with DC deciding that not only were the JSA worth being on the racks, not only that we would pick up their legacy numbering, but we would inject the 'old-timers' with fresh blood ... The Super Squad!

Kudos to writer Gerry Conway for mixing this up. Yes, we get the veteran JSAers, right there on the splash page! But the Squad's make-up is interesting. A now grown-up Robin, a veteran in a way. The Star Spangled Kid, a hero from yesteryear but now thrown into modern life. And Power Girl, brand new and answering the question 'why isn't there a Supergirl on Earth 2'! They each add some juice to the proceedings but in different ways.

Power Girl is immediately effective and her personality is pretty much on display from the beginning. She is strong, smart, and very independent. This isn't the meek 'secret weapon' in the orphanage. She is ready to throw down and jump into the mix. This is who Power Girl is and always should be. 

The art is by Ric Estrada with great inks by Wally Wood. We all know that Wood is the one who ultimately pushes the envelope with Power Girl's particular pulchritude. But both artists give us solid representation of the JSAers. 

That is my copy's cover scanned above, signed by Conway and cover artist Mike Grell!

This is a fun new chapter for the Society and therefore a perfect book to celebrate JSApril. On to the book.

Supergirl #2 Homage Cover

Just yesterday I reviewed Action Comics #279, the first appearance of Lesla Lar. I was prompted to review because it was revealed in solicits that Lesla Lar is in the upcoming Supergirl #2 by Sophie Campbell. Furthermore, the solicit also says that Lar is impersonating Supergirl in Midvale. All of that is a riff on the original Lesla Lar story arc.

While the book is still a bit away, I have been feeling some cautious optimism about it. Most of the optimism comes from the feeling that Campbell actually likes the character of Supergirl ... unlike other writers who have her shoot up schools, hate Superman, become 'the mistress of the axe' and abandon Earth, bring a young girl to a stoning execution, or just plain be boring. 

I could be wrong. 

But things like bringing back an impersonating Lesla Lar to Midvale, it feels like there is a respect for the character.

So I thought I would read all the old Lesla Lar appearances, figuring I'm eventually going to Back Issue Box review them all. 

So I did indeed go to the long boxes and pulled out Super DC Giant S-24, a reprint collection of Lesla's second arc. 

That night I woke up and 4am because it finally hit me.

Look at this cover.

Now look at the two covers side by side.

Look at the middle strip in particular. Even the dialogue is the same. 

Sophie Campbell is homaging a 1970's Supergirl reprint comic cover for the current series.

I said it feels like Campbell respects the character, likes her. Something like this makes me feel like I might be right.

This is pretty cool.

Review: Justice League Unlimited #5

Justice League of America #5 came out this week and featured Supergirl so prominently that I felt I should cover it here.

This new title by the tremendous creative team of writer Mark Waid and artist Dan Mora. These two brought us Batman/Superman World's Finest and that book was the best on the shelves for some time. When Waid had characters guest star in that book, I would always say that Mora brought such polish to them that he should draw that character's solo book. Now with the Justice League Unlimited, in essence, being every hero in the DCU, I actually get to see Mora's take on the entire universe. 

I don't know if I am 100% behind the 'everyone is a Leaguer' idea. Back in my youth, being named to the League was a big deal. Dick Dillin would draw a big scroll welcoming the hero with some sort of certificate. Perhaps a better screening process would stop a traitor from being in their midst, one of the plot points here.

Still, this book has been fun and it does allow both Waid and Mora to allow different heroes to be in the spotlight. As I said, Supergirl is front and center here, as is Impulse, Star Sapphire, and Red Tornado. They wouldn't get a showcase with the big guns unless they are in the League. So there is an upside.  Plus, given Waid's love of the DCU, this allows him to do a deep dive. into every nook and cranny. I am convinced he is hinting at something in this book which is one of my great loves. 

Plus the League is up against 'Inferno' an evil society they seem helpless against. We learn who they are at the end which only ups the ante.

Add to it all Mora and his jaw-dropping work. I love his work. Mora makes the 'jacket' Supergirl costume work. And the action is stellar throughout. 

I don't think I'll always review this book so let's just dive in!