Review: Summer Of Supergirl Special #1

Last year the Superman movie hit the screens so a Summer of Superman Special hit the racks.

This year ... indeed this very day ... a Supergirl movie will hit the screens. So DC did the right thing meaning a Summer of Supergirl Special #1 hit the stands this week. And what a special it is. We are talking big name creators are on the book. Mark Waid, Sophie Campbell, and Gail Simone write stories. Cian Tormey, Belen Ortega, and Emma Kubert are on art. And most importantly, the stories all say something. 

Campbell and Ortega are on 'Main Man's Best Friend', finishing the story started in Lobo #4. That means we get a story truly in current continuity.

In 'Lost Girls', Simone and Kubert give us a sweet story pointing out, quite elegantly, the similarities between Supergirl and Mary Marvel. It even sets up Supergirl as a sort of mentor for Mary, a nice new wrinkle if kept in continuity and built on. We have seen Kara be a role model for Lesla in her current book. We have seen Kara be Superman's second in command. Why not have her be a 'big sister'.

But the absolute winner of the book is Waid and Tormey on 'Who Is Supergirl?'. I have always known that Waid is a fan of Kara. But in this story, he sort of double downs on what he wrote in the recent New History of the DC Universe. In fact, Waid almost seems to be pulling a 'Morrison on Batman' take on Supergirl's continuity. It all happened. But baked into the story are some funamental truths about who Supergirl is, not just her history but her character, her ethos. Most wonderful.

This truly is the Summer of Supergirl and this special is a great way to kick it off.

On to the book.

'Who Is Supergirl?' is the last story of the book but, as I said, is far and away the best of the bunch. So I am reviewing it first.

On the JLA satellite, Conner, Jon Kent, and Natasha Irons are inputting history into a corrupted computer. It is time for Supergirl's entries.

They start with a review of her costumes. Look close, you get a bunch from the Adventure Comics run, the House of El jacket uniform, the New 52, and the Crisis era.  Amazing.

Right off the bat, Waid is telling us that there is a lot of Supergirl history to cover.

Most amazingly, Waid has an explanation for Kara being put in an orphanage by Superman. It has always seemed incredibly wrong.

Here, Waid says it was Supergirl's decision to go. She wanted to be surrounded by other kids. Not alone on a farm. Not alone in a city apartment. But surrounded by kids. It was a way of coping.

I am gobsmacked.

That makes perfect sense. It even gives Kara some agency in her own life. Look at that smile. She was happy.

Brilliant. 

BRILLIANT.

So Midvale orphanage is in continuity. As is Argo City. As are Jeremiah and Eliza Danvers as adopted parents.

What else is in her history?

Well, all her jobs from Action Comics to Adventure Comics to Superman Family to Daring New Adventures. They are all in continuity.

How?

Who cares.

Then we hear from the Martian Manhunter. He describes Kara as a warrior.

To drive his point home, he talks about how Kara died in the Crisis, killed by the Anti-Monitor, saving the universe. 

Kara is a warrior. Kara saved the universe.

Love Tormey's take on the classic Crisis #7 battle.

So dying in the Crisis is in. As is the 'Loeb/Turner' reboot origin ... sort of.

Kara's dead body was stolen by Darkseid. Another Supergirl briefly took Kara's place because the universe 'wanted there to be a Supergirl'.

She was resurrected by Darkseid to kill Superman but she didn't, overcoming the dark god's will.

Batman puts it best. Supergirl is a light that no darkness can extinguish. 

Waid just gets it.

And then we end on the highest of notes. 

Natasha says that Supergirl is the coolest member of the super-family.

So true.

This whole story is pure gold. From all the history, to the clear understanding of who Kara is, to Natasha's statement ... PURE GOLD. 

The Lobo story completes the Lobo story. Kara and Lobo are both found guilty of the crimes they committed on Astra Plinko. But Kara is bailed out by Crush.

She heads home, babysitting Lobo's dog. After a stint in the hoosegow, Lobo arrives. But when Streaky and Dawg start tearing up Midvale, Lobo and Supergirl come to blows. They in turn also start tearing up Midvale.

After coming close to braining Lobo, Supergirl realizes that she has to calm down.

So we get some good action and we get a clear thinking Kara.

After some mac-and-cheese sandwiches, Lobo and Dawg are reunited.

And then it is up to the two 'heroes' to fix up the town.

I kind of liked this montage of Lobo and Kara doing mundane things like fixing up a fence and playing with kids.

Maybe a touch too much Crush and Shark Princess but otherwise a fine story.

'Lost Girls' by Gail Simone and Emma Kubert has Supergirl about to lose a fight to a K-powered robot when Mary Marvel flies in to help save the day. 

Turns out Mary is big fan of Kara, something Supergirl isn't used to. She is used to Superman getting all the fans.

The two share their stories and they are surprisingly similar. I suppose I shouldn't be too shocked. Otto Binder created them both. 

Both are orphans. Both are in the shadow of loved ones. Both know what if feels like to be alone. In the end they hug and decide to be friends, sisters even. I always felt these two should be good friends. Glad we see it here.

Kubert's style is perfect for this story of young girls walking around town. 

Look, the Waid story is an A++++ story. The others are solid. The art throughout the book is gorgeous. This was a true special.

Overall grade: A+