Supergirl #4 came out last week and was another very enjoyable issue written and drawn by Sophie Campbell. The things I have loved about the prior issues: a strong heroic personality - a mix of kindness and action - for Supergirl, a reverent look back at Supergirl's history, and tremendous art are all here.
As has been said in prior reviews, Campbell has taken a sort of Grant Morrison take on the Supergirl character. It seems like in some way everything has happened. But also, everything is new. It feels incredible fresh. Campbell's art, a gorgeous style, adds to the feel of both nostalgia and innovation, a tough mix to pull off.
In this issue, we get references to Supergirl's 70's series, her 80's series, the New 52 series (probably), and maybe even the Peter David run (maybe this time I am right). I know as a long term fan, seeing these nods to Supergirl's history makes me smile. It isn't just nostalgia. It is finally seeing a creator come on board who isn't looking at the character as a blank slate to scrawl their own idea on. It shows that Campbell knows and respects Supergirl's 65 year history.
If I have one quibble, it is that I worry this might veer into a team book rather than solo title. I am all for supporting casts. I want them. It is clear Supergirl is the center of this book. But if Lena and Lesla and now Wanda ... um, I mean Luna are all on board I hope they don't detract from Kara too much. And I would love to see more of Linda and the Danvers. But this is quibble. I have trust that we will get there and Campbell will keep her eyes on the prize.
The art from pencils to inks to colors are all beautiful throughout. I love the cover with the wild, multicolored Decay trying to overwhelm Supergirl. And the guest star bubbles below add a bit of comic history to things.
On to the book.
Last issue ended with Lesla Lar's absentee parents hauling Kara and Lesla back to Kandor to stand trial. Given how cold and aloof her parents are (asking to be called Magistrate), it is no wonder Lesla felt so lost.
They hand down some hard sentences. Lesla gets 10 years in a 'cognitive corrective' institure. And Kara gets a year of community service. Pretty harsh! And really no recognition by the parents of their part in this.
I do love Supergirl in this scene.
For one, she hand-waves the community service saying she already patrols Kandor. A strong, fierce Supergirl ... but not an off the rails one.
But second, Supergirl sees some potential in Lesla. Lesla isn't evil. She just needs some guidance and support. Why not let Kara mentor her on Earth.
This isn't a shy, naive, young Supergirl. This isn't a bad girl blowing up the court. This is a rational, intelligent hero. Love it.
The court agrees and Lesla picks a Superhero name on Earth - Luminary. But she is still a rookie and still prone to think in the disordered way she has been. She is a handful.
This might be my favorite part of this issue. For one, Supergirl hopes she will be enough of a friend to help Lesla get through this but she also recognizes how hard it will be.
But more importantly, she now recognizes why Superman might have been hard on her when she first arrived. With great powers there must be great care. Lesla sort of rushes in and Kara has to hold her back.
This is a look back at all Supergirl's history where Superman sort of trained her - either in Midvale as a secret weapon or putting her on Themyscira in different reboots - and held her back. It was for good reason. It also shows character growth in Kara. She isn't that young, eager, brash kid. Now she has to put the reins on Lesla.
This is what I mean when I say this book looks back and forward on the character.
With a day of heroing behind them, Lena thinks a night at The Masquerade, a goth club in Midvale, will help them wind down. It let's Campbell draw the three in crazy goth attire.
But Lena's line - more to Midvale than you see on the surface - makes me wonder if the Peter David idea of a Chaos Stream flowing under the town, slowly warping things, is happening here.
The club scene is as dark and goth-y as you would expect.
First we see Howard Pendergast, an older looking man, hitting on someone who looks exactly like Wanda Five. That is Howard Pendergast, the villain Decay in the 80s series and Wanda Five from the 70s series complete with some apparent psionic powers!
But this bare-chested boy that Kara seems immediately smitten with?
That has to be this world's H'El. This time I hope I am wrong.
H'El was a pretty terrible character and not the best story. Let's hope Campbell can polish him up a bit.
When Howard tries to grab 'Wanda', Lesla steps in big. First she grabs him with her super-strength. And then she socks him with a 'super-substance' punch to make it not lethal.
Supergirl has tried to defuse every situation she has been in within this title before resorting to fists. Here Lesla just slugs away using a contraband weapon. (She was supposed to leave all her tech back on Kandor). We are going to see a lot of compare/contrast with Kara/Lesla as this relationship grows.
Some super-substance gets ingested by Pendergast and reacts to his negative emotions to make him Decay. (He mourns the decay of social norms and what his world was like.)
I do love how Kara has to chastise Lesla for breaking the rules already.
I wonder if this story will end with Kara saying she can't control Lesla and sending her back to Kandor, thus cementing Lesla as an arch-villain. Hmmm ...
If super-substance is activated by emotions, then stronger emotions might overpower Howard's thoughts.
Kara dives into 'decay' with her thoughts.
"The people of Midvale are my responsibility. I love them all. I love this place."
That is a hero. That is Supergirl.
Not drunk. Not crying in a sun. Not watching someone get stoned to death.
These are thoughts of bravery, responsibility, and love.
Lesla is thinking the same thing.
But look at her thoughts ... so negative, filled with self-loathing.
This is the compare/contrast I am talking about.
Great moment to look at these two.
And great art with the gloppy, goopy Decay looking amazing!
No surprise, Supergirl is victorious.
As for Wanda Five? Well, she is actually Luna Lustrum. Hat tip to blog buddy Jude DeLuca who pointed out that Lustrum is a Roman word for a 5 year period. So this is a new Wanda Five.
This is sort of 'done in one' adventure that continues to build this world. We see Supergirl as a young hero but an accomplished one. Having her train Luminary like Superman trained her is a brilliant plot thread. And so many nods to history.
This is sort of 'done in one' adventure that continues to build this world. We see Supergirl as a young hero but an accomplished one. Having her train Luminary like Superman trained her is a brilliant plot thread. And so many nods to history.
I just hope this remains a Supergirl book with side characters and not a team book with her in the background.
Overall grade: A
1 comment:
Supergirl mentoring a younger, less experienced hero is long overdue. It's great to see her understanding Superman better now that she is walking ... I mean flying a mile in his shoes. It seems to me that the most logical path for Supergirl's growth as a superhero is the following. Superman's protege-Legion member-hero in her own right-JLA member-Superman's right hand-mentoring her own protege-leading her own super team-emerging as Superman's rightful successor eventually taking on his role as Earth's leading hero when he retires. Campbell has already brought Kara up to mentoring her own protege. Given that her friends are a brilliant scientist, a telepath, and a superpowered Kryptonian who is also a brilliant scientist, she is more or less leading her own super team already. I've known since the 1970's that Supergirl has enormous potential. It looks like we might finally be seeing it fulfilled.
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