There are parts of this issue that show me the Supergirl I want to read, thinking about her family, trying to help her friends, standing up to evil, and fighting to the end. I really love that Supergirl.
But the tough part about this is that we are nearly a year into this run and we haven't seen Supergirl have an outright win. We haven't seen her save her friends and trounce evil. Almost every issue has her friends helping her out. At times she seems like a member of an ensemble cast instead of the straw stirring the drink. And there is a hinted possible romantic relationship that could tear this fandom apart, something I have seen before.
In this issue, Supergirl recognizes that as much as she wants to find the missing Superman, she has to help Kandor. She has to help Lesla. She finds a youth revolution tearing up the city, led by the nihilistic, sadistic Black Flame. And like a hero, Kara stands up to Black Flame only to be stabbed repeatedly, left for dead.
Yes, we need conflict and seeing Supergirl in peril means the ultimate victory will be sweeter. But this loss might be better received if prior issues had Kara mopping the floor of some opponents.
This Sophie Campbell written story fell just a bit flat, buoyed by the high points I'll point out.
One thing I have no complaints about is the art. Campbell's work is stunning. The Black Flame/Supergirl fight is brutal. The hits are palpable. The blood is flowing. And the choreography of the fight is phenomenal. One thing I really love is that the pages with Black Flame have slanted and odd shaped panels, as if to show that everything is off kilter with her. Nice touch.
The book opens in the immediate aftermath of DC KO. Superman is missing.
I really love here how Supergirl's first thoughts are finding Superman. I love the connection the cousins have had in recent years. This was a quick moment but is powerful. She loves Kal.
But Kandor is aflame. And other heroes can look for Superman.
Kandor is in rough shape with buildings aflame, rusty goop everywhere, and kids trying to stay alive. It is interesting that Kara says it reminds her of Argo when the meteors hit. I think at some point it might be good to have the definitive timeline of Kara set. Her being on Argo hasn't been canon in a while. I'm not against it!
There are also hoods running the street. One is Cut, a sort of living blade. The other is Rust, as we see above. Both are powered by Lesla's super-stuff. Both are working for someone called The Black Flame.
Supergirl helps the kids finds shelter. She finds the Science Council embedded in a bunker.
Again, this is a strong section of the book as Supergirl is considered the city's hero. She holds her own against this gang.
Through the destruction she hears Lesla and flies to her.
The body language of the opening scene feels like it is infused with romance. Kara being attracted to Lesla would be a new turn for the character.
I have seen the fans of the CW show rip itself apart over the potential Kara/Lena romance there. You might not remember it but it got ugly. If Supergirl needs anything now, it is a united fandom. I worry about all this. Supergirl is too small a character to have her own small fanbase fractured.
Lesla looks pretty defeated the whole time but then her cousin Black Flame arrives.
She and Lesla are responsible for all the devastation. It mostly is about the mutation we learned about, keeping the Kandorian youth in the city and bound to that culture.
But there is also this malicious undercurrent in Black Flame, wanting to sever the Lesla/Kara friendship and lead Lesla down a dark path. Throughout the rest of the issue, Black Flame keeps pointing out how terrible Kara had been to Lesla.
One thing to point out from an art perspective is that as the issue proceeds and Black Flame gets the upper hand, the panels become more slanted and bizarrely shaped as if to point out her madness and perhaps disorganized thinking.
The prior pages were all standard straight lines and right angles. Here, as she is being introduced, we get a subtle slant. It gets crazier. Wonderful art flourish.
Lesla does bow to her cousin's will, ripping the Ring of Nor-Kann of Supergirl's fingers.
With no super-powers, the fight is on and Black Flame has some skills.
The fight is really well drawn throughout, become more frenzied and violent as we move along. Great blocks and punches. Superb stuff.
But you can see how Black Flame is stoking the fire, making it sound like Kara was a terrible friend.
I mean we get head locks and choke holds.
This might be the best shot Kara gets in the whole fight (perhaps explaining the rectangle panels here?).
Supergirl is pretty smart here pointing out that Black Flame is bringing up both the genetic mutation and Lesla. What is Black Flame's real motive here?
It might be chaos. It might be nihilism.
She seems completely unhinged.
It does end dramatically with Black Flame pulling out a knife and stabbing Kara repeatedly, in the leg, gut, and chest.
This is our hero, gutted like a fish.
It definitely shows the reader how vicious Black Flame is. She is a true villain. But it also means our hero has lost ... soundly.
The book ends with Kara being dumped of a high building, plummeting to her death.
As I said, I get we need conflict. We need a villain's threats to feel real. And we get that emphatically here.
But can I please see a big Supergirl win?? Please?
Don't get me wrong. I am liking this book. I love the art. But I need a win!
Overall grade: B-
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