Mark Waid has been doing a great job on the current Superboy stories in Action Comics, letting us see him at the earliest stages, learning his powers, and growing as a hero. But he barely knows about Krypton as a concept. So seeing him on Krypton, experiencing it for the first time, and knowing that perhaps he could change things and have it survive is all interesting. Waid clearly knows young Clark's voice and he makes these stories compelling.
And Waid also loves Supergirl and she continues to shine in this Krypton arc, weighing her love of the planet and her need to keep the timeline and Superman's legacy intact. Supergirl might actually be the star of this issue.
The action is also great with Kara and Clark trying to escape a Krypton prison, get Ursa to stop talking, and get back to the time bubble.
Montos is on art and his fine pencil style works well here. His fight scenes really shine as you see the effort and anger on the combatants.
Deapite being told to remain in the time bubble so he doesn't interfere with the timeline, Clark has decide to wander around to take in some sights and find his cousin.
Great page construction. Remember this is Smallville Clark, just months into his adventures, and mostly a farmboy. Imagine him taking in this scene with crazy clothes and alien languages. He must feel like a fish out of water. And I think this page, with him tiny, in the background, swallowed by the environment, shows just how overwhelming it all must be. Love this page.
Waid loves the dusty corners of the DCU. The Atoms are reviewing the heroes attempts at keeping things under control. Is that Doctor Occult in the lower panel??
Now last chapter, in Supergirl #17, Kara and Ursa were being confined by the Kryptonian police and about to be interrogated by a younger Zod.
Remember according to Paul Kaminiski, this is about 5 years before Krypton explodes. Zod isn't with Ursa. Zod isn't in the Phantom Zone. But, apparently Jor-El is already warning the Science Council about Krypton's destiny. Ursa wants to save Krypton so she tells Zod that Jor-El is right.
Even back then, it seems that Zod has beef with Jor-El. I like these panel constructions as well. All we see is Ursa's voice, as if the only thing that matters is what she says. She isn't even fully human in Zod's eyes.
And you can see the ire in his eyes. Even without heat vision there is a blush of red there, leaning into his anger.
He actually attacks Ursa.
That gives Supergirl an opening to act.
She smashes the S-Matrix flask so she can get suited up again. And then she outright chokes Zod out so she and Ursa can try to escape.
Check out Kara's expression in that lower panel! She probably has wanted to put a beatdown on Zod for a while! That is fierce! Kara-tharsis! Amazing!
Meanwhile on Earth, everyone is together, in lead-lined sewers (at least there is a line in here that El Caldero probably would still have lead lined tunnels).
The army is forming. But there really isn't an enemy now other than Zod's leaderless knights. Zod is dead. Ursa is gone. Eradicatrix is empty.
One thing that is interesting is that 'Kryptonite Woman' Lana Lang collapses after trying to absorb more Green K energy.
So the Earth-bound chess pieces are together. And Lana can't be used as a cure-all.
I bet when this is over, Lana is completely stripped of powers and she's just a normal human again.
Back on Krypton, Ursa has run ahead and is trying to warn anyone who will listen that Krypton is doomed.
This being a comic, she luckily runs into Zor-El who suddenly thinks that Jor-El is onto something. But in the exchange, Zor-El falls about 20 feet, suffering injuries requiring him to go to a hospital.
Did Ursa just undo something that would have saved Krypton? Would Zor-El have convinced the Council? Shouldn't young Kara remember that time her dad fell and got injured?
But the timing here is tough. If this is 5 years before Krypton's explosion, did Zor-El and Jor-El really rail against the Council that long?
Ahhh ... time travel!
I am pretty sure Supergirl was sick of Ursa already. Now Ursa almost killed Zor-El.
Enough is enough.
If you thought Supergirl choking out Zod was cool, how about her clocking Ursa with a left uppercut.
Love this panel design as well, hovering above the action so we can feel that fist coming up towards us as Ursa recoils downward.
Amazing.
As I said, Supergirl is really showcased here.
Superboy and Supergirl drag Ursa to the time bubble where Ursa makes one more pitch. Perhaps Superboy should help her stop Krypton from exploding.
Once again, Supergirl shows some heroism and maturity here. If Krypton doesn't explode, this version of Kal and Kara won't exist. Superman on Earth won't exist. Superman on Earth won't save the people, planets, universes that he has.
The cousins have to let Krypton explode.
Compare this version of Supergirl to the 'I'll do anything to bring back Krypton even blow up Earth' we saw in H'El on Earth oh so many years ago.
This is a hero. This is a young woman, not the angry, bratty kid from the New 52.
I love Supergirl in this issue.
But Zod has come to and has followed the group to the time bubble.
The cousins have to get Zod to stand aside so they can head back and save Earth.
Nice cliffhanger.
I have definitely enjoyed this side mission more that I thought I would. Some of that might be I wasn't grabbed by the main plotline. But Supergirl has shined in these two issues. And Superboy's reaction to Krypton was great as well. The art also worked incredibly well.
Overall grade: A
1 comment:
This was a great Supergirl story. I agree that here she comes off as the heroic young woman she should be instead of a depressed idiot or a selfish brat. I think she probably remembers her father falling and hurting herself, but doesn't know that Ursa was involved. She also has no way of knowing that the day she returns to Krypton is the day that happens. I agree that it was satisfying to see Kara wallop Ursa.
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