Review: Dark Knights Of Steel #4

Dark Knights of Steel #4 came out last week, a flashback issue to give us some background into The Batman's history. I have been enjoying this book much more than I thought I would. So far it has been a wild ride. Death every issue. Politics a plenty. And some new takes on classic characters.

Writer Tom Taylor continues to push this title forward with this issue. I had some theories about where this book was going and as usual, I was wrong. I thought for sure Taylor would make Jor-El a bit vile. Instead he remains mostly virtuous. I have to say the reveal of who the Green Man is has been the only sort of misstep I have felt so far. We shall see.

Old Supergirl friend, artist Bengal steps in for Yasmine Putri. Given that this is mostly a flashback issue, the artistic change works. Even when this is in a trade, the switch will flow well. I think Bengal has a great smooth style. His work here is great. I love the warmth he brings to characters. And while I haven't been getting the variant covers here, I couldn't resist this Joshua Middleton take on Harley. Fantastic.

On to the particulars!

Review: Batgirl Annual #1

"Together again for the first time!"

It's a tag line I love in comics. Between universal rewrites, reboots, and new people using classic superhero monikers, I have seen it plenty during my comic reading years. And it could apply to Batgirl Annual #1. Because this is the first team-up between the New 52/Rebirth Supergirl and Batgirl.

It seems almost a little odd that here we are 6 years out from the New 52 and this is the first time these two characters are talking to each other. And thankfully, writer Hope Larson makes them fast and easy friends. Enough of New 52 angst and isolationism! These two should be friends!

It is even better that this story is a sort of secret mission, something that neither Bruce or Kal involved. This is something they want to do together on their own. It is clearly the beginning of a beautiful friendship and a multi-issue arc (we know this from solicits). And that makes me truly happy. I don't read Batgirl but the book jibes with Supergirl nicely, name dropping the DEO and even adding an evil Cadmus into the mix.

The art is done by Inaki Miranda and the style has a vibe similar to what Joelle Jones is doing on Supergirl Being Super. There are some nice page layouts as well which accentuate the action as well.

This is a definite read for fans of the Rebirth Supergirl!

Supergirl #6 Bengal Variant - Superman #233 Homage - Edited

A couple of days ago, Steve Orlando tweeted out this pic (from Comicosity), the Bengal variant of Supergirl #6.

If you know me at all, you can imagine how over the moon I was at this image.

Everything about this works - the smile on Supergirl's face as she smashes these chains, the links flying everywhere, the power in this pose! It is just perfect.

And it is even more perfect because it is clearly an homage to one of my favorite comics of all time!

Review: Supergirl #4

Supergirl #4 came out this week and was a very good issue, pushing the story along nicely and throwing in a lot of emotional beats. It is these character moments that make this such an enjoyable read, possibly the best issue of the title so far.

The underlying premise is that there is a war going on for dominance over Supergirl's spirit. Is she still beholden to Kryptonian culture so much that she would sacrifice Earth to regain it? Or has she put the scars and sadness of Krypton's death behind her and embraced her new home. It is unfortunate that we are mining this theme again. It has been played out in New Krypton, the beginning arcs of the New 52, and the ending arc of the New 52. But since #Rebirth might be the first Supergirl comic someone has read, I suppose it makes for a good opening arc, differentiating Kara's origins from Superman. She would miss Krypton; she actually lived there.

Writer Steve Orlando even has a nifty way of playing this theme out, having Kara's parents in conflict, a way of making the Earth/Krypton emotional fight also a very physical one. We saw the sets of parents interact in the Silver Age but I don't think that has been used recently, bring a fresh feel to the overall plot.

If there is one thing that detracted from this issue, it would be the art ... in places. Brian Ching has a distinct style and some panels of his expressive work are really wonderful. But there is also an unfinished feel to his work in places, particularly in his leaving of faces, noses, and mouths occasionally. Also, it was in this issue that I finally noticed that Eliza is missing a hand, something I may have noticed before if my eyes didn't gloss over things as Ching's artistic shorthand. This isn't a blanket complaint; most of the issue is beautiful.

On to the book!

February 2017 Solicits

The DC solicits for February were released a while back but it has taken me a bit to finally get to cover them. The solicits here sound like February will be an excellent month for comics. And luckily, given the usual lack of funds in the post-holiday time, there weren't too many surprises.

Here is a link for all the solicits over on Newsarama:
http://www.newsarama.com/32089-dc-comics-february-2017-solicitations.html

As for the super-titles, I am excited for any number of reasons. Let's jump right in.

SUPERGIRL #6
Written by STEVE ORLANDO • Art and cover by BRIAN CHING • Variant cover by BENGAL
“REIGN OF THE CYBORG SUPERMEN” finale! Argo City is on a collision course with Earth and the Girl of Steel is the only hero that can stop it! Cyborg Superman and Kara Zor-El clash in a cataclysmic final battle that leaves only one standing!


The first arc of the Orlando/Ching Rebirth look at Supergirl comes to an end. We have seen the idea of Argo City being crashed into Earth before way back when so it'll be interesting how that plays out in this more modern time. But for me, I will be glad to see the Cyborg Superman arc put behind us. I look forward to Kara declaring Earth her own home and dealing with her father.

I love the cover. Kara looks like she has been through a fight, looking determined and holding what seems to be an injured arm. Nice look.

SUPERGIRL: BEING SUPER #2
Written by MARIKO TAMAKI • Art and cover by JOËLLE JONES
Midvale has been torn apart by a devastating earthquake, and the death toll has hit Kara Danvers hard. As she begins to put the pieces of her life back together, Kara’s developing powers kick into high gear, and her memories of a world that shouldn’t exist begin to surface.



I didn't realize that Being Super was bi-monthly but if that gives Joelle Jones time to get the art done, so be it.

I like the idea of a natural disaster somehow spurring Kara into a heroic ideal. As you may have heard, with great power comes great responsibility.

But the line about her having memories is the line that grabbed me. Was Kara a baby when she was rocketed to Earth? A toddler? Was there an Argo City? Hmmm .... 

Review: Supergirl #3

Supergirl #3 came out this week and was a very solid issue for this new title. I have said all along that I'm not a big fan of Zor-El as the Cyborg Superman which made this opening arc something of a tough sell for me. But writer Steve Orlando did the miraculous and actually had me care for the Cyborg Superman, sympathize for him. It is clear that this Zor-El simply wants to do anything he can for his daughter. But the path to Hell is paved with his good intentions.

And Kara really shines in this issue as a teenager coming to grips with her new life, her new role as a hero, and someone still in mourning. She runs the gamut of emotions here and is proactive in fighting against injustice and abominations. There are great moments between her and the Danvers and her and her birth parents which provide some nice grist for the literary mill. It is a nice contrast to play up. And both sets of parents are thinking of her as their daughter and want to care for her.

Add to that a nice new wrinkle in the Cat Grant arc and overall I was very pleased. This is the type of story I am hoping to read in Supergirl. I closed the book and was already wanting to read the next installment.

The art is done by Brian Ching and his style is slowly winning me over. It is rougher than I thought it would be. His expressive work is very good. But his not drawing any face on smaller renditions irks me a bit. And I had to include the Bengal cover as it really emphasizes the pressure Kara is feeling. It reminded me of the classic scene in Spider-Man #33 where Peter is buried under wreckage.

On to the story!

Sterling Gates Interview - Adventures of Supergirl

I really loved the Adventures of Supergirl digital comic which came out over the spring and early summer this last year. Sterling Gates really delivered a solid story which built on the show's plots while still being a successful stand alone story.  With the release of the Adventures of Supergirl trade out this week, I tracked down Gates for one more interview about the series and Supergirl in general. Gates was kind enough to answer. Settle in!

Anj: The digital series has been done for a couple of months which means the scripts were probably finished well before that. Looking back at the series as a whole, did you accomplish what you intended? Was there anything you that didn’t make it into the story that you hoped to squeeze in?

Sterling Gates: I’m exceptionally proud of the story we told in Adventures of Supergirl. We set out to tell an original story set in the show’s continuity. We wanted to dust off and update some old Supergirl villains while introducing a powerful new villain to her mythos. I specifically wanted to create a villain who could only be done within the continuity of the show, someone who came from Fort Rozz and who knew Alura as a judge on Krypton. And that’s how Facet came to life.

I had a lot of questions while watching the pilot about how Fort Rozz was run as a prison, and the Master Jailer episode only got me more intrigued. Who runs that kind of place? How? How firm a hand does a place like that need? Is there a warden? Or are the Kryptonians acting as wardens and the master jailers are their guards? Facet came from me wanting to explore all of that.

Truthfully, I could’ve spent 25 more pages just exploring Facet’s life. She’s been cognizant for a thousand years...what kind of perspective does that give you? What has she endured?

And (SPOILERS) why was she so willing to be locked up under the D.E.O. at the end of the story? Is it a good thing that she’s down there? Time will tell!

As for everything else, the show approved our outline from the start, so everything I wanted to do in this story more or less made it in. My goal was to do story beats that they couldn’t necessarily do on the show, due to stuff like time or budget constraints. I’m not sure you could do that dream sequence with Supergirl fighting other versions of herself on the show. It would probably be confusing for a wide audience, but comic fans know who each of those Supergirls are...and hopefully they’re happy to see ‘em! [laughs]

And while we’re speaking about this, a huge thank you to Greg Berlanti, Ali Adler, and Andrew Kreisberg for asking me to write Adventures of Supergirl. I had a really great time playing in their world and continuity, and am constantly amazed at the wonderful things they’ve accomplished for Supergirl.

Review: Supergirl RB #1

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Supergirl #1, the solo title for the character in the post-Rebirth continuity came out this week and I'll say up front I was very impressed.

It has been over two years since the last solo Supergirl title in that time the Girl of Steel's prominence as a character has skyrocketed. With a popular television show, a presence in DC Superhero Girls, and a re-emergence in the late days of the New 52, it seems like Supergirl is suddenly everywhere. There are podcasts, figurines, cartoon shorts, and apparel in mainstream stores. It is amazing. In fact, it makes me wonder what took DC so long to get a book back on the shelves.

What is more amazing is, at least locally, the Supergirl book has been a focus of announcements for comic stores. I am on a number of email distribution lists for local stores and many had some version of ' 9/7:Supergirl #1 released!' as the title line. And DC also seems to recognize the potential in this book giving us two covers (which may be the norm these days) and a blank sketch variant.

But all of this would be sound and fury signifying nothing if the story isn't good. Thankfully, writer Steve Orlando delivered a very engaging first issue, setting the stage for this new time in Supergirl's life. The emphasis here is that she is a stranger in a strange land. But that also means there is a nice layer of contrast with her cousin Superman who seems to fit right in. There is some angst here, but it isn't bitter or angry unlike the early issues of the last couple of incarnations. Orlando also seemed to pluck pieces of Supergirl incarnations which have worked in the past and distilled them into this new book. This is a rebirth!

The art is by Brian Ching who brings an angular stylized feel to the book. It has an energy too it which makes me feel like the characters in motion, especially when anatomy seems to be distorted a little. Kara looks like Natalie Dormer in a number of panels.

And the covers are great. Ching's looks like a movie poster of old, highlighting the main points while Bengal's variant shows a smiling Kara ready to hug the world.

On to the story.

October 2016 Solicits

The October solicits for DC Comics were officially released last week and I don't know if I have been this excited about the entire line in quite some time. Here is a link to all of DC's books and merchandise:
http://www.newsarama.com/30132-dc-comics-october-2016-full-rebirth-solicitations.html

For me, the biggest news is that we get more of the Young Animal books. It feels like those years when a number of books out out by DC were pushing the envelope, those early days of Vertigo. So this month we get Shade the Changing Girl as well as the second issue of Doom Patrol. Shade the Changing Man is one of those properties that I have always enjoyed. So I am really looking forward to that book.

On to the super-books.

SUPERGIRL #2
(W) Orlando (A/CA) Brian Ching (CA) Bengal
“REIGN OF THE CYBORG SUPERMEN” part two! Supergirl battles Cyborg Superman in the Fortress of Solitude-and there can be only one winner! But even a temporary victory can spell certain doom for Kara and her new home as her father’s plan at last comes to light! Meanwhile, the race for Cat Grant’s prized internship heats up, and Kara finds her human competition to be just as challenging!

This must be the main cover as it is clearly Brian Ching's art. I am glad to see that we are getting a variant by Bengal whose work sparkled in Adventures in Supergirl.  I might have to get used Ching's art which seems pretty stylized. Those are long thin legs on Kara.

That said, there is a lot to like about this solicit. I am not a fan of Zor-El as Cyborg Superman but maybe this 'plan' will make things interesting. But having Kara be Cat Grant's intern is brilliant. Could the human competition be  Siobhan Smythe? Nasty Luthor?

ACTION COMICS #965
(W) Jurgens (A) Stephen Segovia, Art Thibert (CA) Clay Mann (CA) Gary Frank
“BACK IN THE PLANET” part one! Superman returns to the public eye-but what of Lois Lane? When a mysterious package arrives for Lois and Clark back on the farm, Lois can stay on the sidelines no more. But where does that leave Superman’s human doppelgänger, Clark?

ACTION COMICS #966
(W) Jurgens (A) Stephen Segovia, Art Thibert (CA) Clay Mann (CA) Gary Frank
“BACK IN THE PLANET” part two! As the Daily Planet’s star returns to work, so does Lex Luthor. Meanwhile, Superman continues to investigate the devastation in the aftermath of the Doomsday attack.


Hmmm ... does this mean the older Lois Lane is taking over the role of the current Earth's Lois? We know that the current Lois will be Superwoman. Maybe she can't be the reporter so the older 'Author X' Lois needs to take up the mantle? Won't people notice she's older?

And who is that Clark?

SUPERMAN #8
(W) Tomasi, Gleason (A) Jaime Mendoza (A/CA) Doug Mahnke (CA) Kenneth Rocafort
“RETURN TO DINOSAUR ISLAND” part one! Father and Superson work on a science assignment with bizarre consequences that transports the pair along with Krypto to Dinosaur Island! Now, amid relics of World War II, Superman tries to keep Jon from the jaws of prehistoric predators! Worse, Kal-El can’t find a way to fly off the Island.

  SUPERMAN #9
(W) Tomasi, Gleason (A) Doug Mahnke, Jaime Mendoza (CA) Patrick Gleason (CA) Kenneth Rocafort
“RETURN TO DINOSAUR ISLAND” part two! Trapped on a strange island removed from time, Superman and Son encounter a lone survivor from the past. He may hold the key to their escape, but first they must survive the other denizens of the Island.


Superman and Superboy fighting dinosaurs amid WW2 relics? And Krypto will be there? And who could the sole survivor be? Iron Munro?

This cover screams everything I love about comics.

SUPERWOMAN #3
(W) Jimenez (A) Emanuela Lupacchino, Ray McCarthy (CA) Phil Jimenez(CA) Terry Dodson, Rachel Dodson
“WHO IS SUPERWOMAN?” part three! Ultra Woman is revealed, and her unstoppable Bizarress army are hunting for Superwoman! But that’s not the only challenge facing the new hero-Steel has made a terrifying new discovery: Superwoman’s powers are killing her-and the only chance to save her life is to leave her powers behind!

Who is Ultra Woman? I really really really hope it isn't Lana. But we'll see. 

Superwoman dying from the power seems a bit too familiar. Haven't we just seen that plot? 

Anyways, the cover has a sort of Dark City feel to it. And I am looking forward to this book. 

NEW SUPER MAN #4
(W) Yang (A) Richard Friend (A/CA) Viktor Bogdanovic (CA) Bernard Chang
“MADE IN CHINA” part four! It’s the Justice League of China vs. the Chinese Freedom Fighters! As the New Super-Man tests his power against the Flying Dragon General’s team, a shocking new revelation will stop our young hero dead in his tracks. And trust us, you won’t believe what Kenan Kong discovers! All this, plus the Chinese Freedom Fighters’ ultimate weapon arrives, and it’ll be the STAR of the show…

What could it be that he discovers? I hope it isn't that he is dying.

And the fact that STAR is capitalized makes me think that the word is in the codename. Any ideas?

I was thrilled by the first issue. So I am on board for now.

DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS #18
(W) Bennett (A) Laura Braga, Mirka Andolfo (CA) Ant Lucia
With the help of the real Raven and Miriam Bätzel-now transformed into Mary Marvel-the Bombshells must defend the Jewish rebels against a Nazi army magically controlled by the Joker’s Daughter. But as the city of Atlantis rises out of water mid-battle, the Bombshells may be facing an even bigger threat than they ever imagined!

Again, no mention of Supergirl in this solicit. I keep hoping we'll see Kara again and soon. But introducing Mary Marvel is a brilliant stroke for this book. I hope she is played like the earliest Mary, almost Pollyanna in the face of the atrocities around her.

But a new Shade book and a Doom Patrol title on the shelves makes me very happy!  

September 2016 Solicits

The wait is over.
We finally have an official solicit for Supergirl #1 and all the DC books for September.

Solicits have one job, to grab me as a consumer and make me want to buy a book I normally wouldn't. And this month's solicits do just that. I am on board with a lot of the DC Rebirth books. And some of these solicits make me even more interested! Here is a link to the whole slate:
http://www.newsarama.com/29792-dc-comics-full-september-2016-solicitations.html

And here are the actual solicits and some comments.

SUPERGIRL #1
Written by STEVE ORLANDO
Art and cover by BRIAN CHING
Variant cover by BENGAL
Blank variant cover
“REIGN OF THE CYBORG SUPERMAN” part one! Supergirl is back and working for the DEO to defend National City! As Kara Danvers, average American teenager and high school student, Supergirl must balance her life as a superhero with her new life on Earth. But some demons from her Kryptonian past are coming back to haunt her, and Kara will find herself face-to-face with her father: the sinister Cyborg Superman!
On sale SEPTEMBER 7

So mark the calendar! September 7 is the drop date for Supergirl. We will have read the Supergirl Rebirth Special by now. But this book's set up seems to resonate with the show. She is Kara Danvers. She works for the DEO. She lives in National City.

Now one of my least favorite parts of the New 52 Supergirl was the revelation that Zor-El was a creepy scientist who experimented on his daughter and ultimately became the Cyborg Superman. Will Steve Orlando be able to make decent sense of this? I hope so.

But how great that we get a Bengal variant and a blank variant!!
And now the rest of the super-solicits.

Adventures Of Supergirl Heading To Print!

When Adventures of Supergirl was announced, I was puzzled that it wasn't going to be solicited in print form. After all, Smallville, Flash Season One, Bombshells, and all other 'digital first' books get issues on the rack as well as the eventual trade collection.

But Adventures of Supergirl was going to be digital only until the trade. It was so odd that it made me, a 'digital never' reader, set up a Comixology account and get the book electronically.

Well, probably because sales have been brisk, DC has reversed course. They announced last week that the book will be released in print form. Here is a link:
http://www.comicosity.com/dc-to-publish-six-issue-periodical-of-the-adventures-of-supergirl/

And a blurb:
Due to popular demand, DC Entertainment will now be offering The Adventures of Supergirl as a limited-run six-issue periodical, prior to the collected edition release this fall. The Adventures of Supergirl will now ship twice monthly for three months, beginning with The Adventures of Supergirl #1 (collecting Digital First chapters 1-3) on May 11th, 2016.

The Adventures of Supergirl is a fun, accessible, exciting comic featuring an optimistic and positive heroine going up against some huge threats,” Gates told Newsarama in a recent interview. “There are so few books like that in the current comics marketplace, in my opinion, and given the show’s popularity, Supergirl should be leading that charge.”

The words 'popular demand' linked to a Supergirl book? And a digital Supergirl book? These are great days my friends! And a Supergirl book being shipped twice monthly?? Incredible.

 More from the article:

Paralleling but not duplicating storylines from the Monday night TV show, The Adventures of Supergirl introduces fans to Kara Zor-El, who is determined to grow into the super-hero her powers promise. But are dark forces pushing her to improve faster than is safe? As Supergirl faces classic DCU villains like Rampage, Vril Dox and Psi, she’s got no reason to suspect that their attacks have been coordinated, but when the final battle comes to a head, she’ll need to use all of her training, her DEO contacts, her friends’ talents and her sister’s love and support to get through it all!

We see the covers of the first four issues including the one above.
 
My guess is this issue (the cover above is for Adventures of Supergirl #3) is where Kara fights Psi. The glowing eyes in the background are very Psi-like. But the rest of the cover is a mystery. The left side looks like the Kryptonian armor Kara wore in the Crucible arc. But the right side? White pants? Is that an Iron Munro version of Supergirl?

And what's up with the cowled cat? Is that an updated Streaky?
And the screaming DEO agent? Is that an evil Alex? She looks sort of like Domino in the X-Force.

 And this is the cover for Adventures of Supergirl #4.

This is clearly a reflection of Supergirl in the face of someone crystalline. I don't think it can be Bizarro as this story takes place before that episode (in this Kara's timeline). So this one makes me very intrigued. Is this the 'dark force' pushing her?

Anyways, given that Cat Staggs is coming to Boston Comic Con this year, I'll probably get the floppies so I can get them signed. I going to have these books in digital, print, and trade?

Regardless, this is great news showing how popular Supergirl has become. 

Review: Adventures Of Supergirl #3

Adventures of Supergirl Chapter 3 came out yesterday and was what I like to call a 'world building' issue. The first two issues really did a great job of dropping us into the Supergirl universe, giving us a high action hook to keep us riveted. A Supergirl who is early in her DEO career and, alongside her sister, fighting the Hulk-like Rampage is a great way to grab the reader.

With the action sequence set, writer Sterling Gates does a good job of easing off the gas, giving us a lot of character moments to build on. That's not to say there was no character progression in the earlier chapters just as I am not saying this issue is devoid of action. Instead, we really get to learn about who this Supergirl is and how she thinks.

Better than that, we get the backstory of Rampage. Building on the idea that Rampage had a sister, Gates is able to give us an origin which is similar enough to the Kara/Alex relationship to get me comparing and contrasting. It helps that this is still an early enough adventure that the Danvers are still feeling each other out in the field. While I have become a bit tired of sympathetic back stories on villains, this one works as it plays better as a reflection of Supergirl.

But for me the real juice was us getting a glimpse into Fort Rozz. The inner workings of the prison are unknown. The television show hasn't really told us anything about what life was like there. Seeing Rampage inside there is great.

Onto the issue.

Review: Adventures Of Supergirl #2

Adventures of Supergirl #2 came out yesterday and continued to be an absolute delight. Writer Sterling Gates and artist Bengal are really clicking together, meshing words and art in a way that elevates both side of the medium. This book is so much fun, so entertaining, and really builds on the television universe.

This feels like an early adventure for this Supergirl. Between her interactions with Alex, her use of her powers, and her interaction with Winn, I think this occurs around Livewire. Unlike the Supergirl in the current show who is dealing with some personal conflicts and tragedy, this is still a fresh-faced Kara. She is just joyous and smiling throughout most of this adventure, just happy to be helping out in public.

And I love how Gates injects some comic history and echoes of his original run on Supergirl into this book.

Review: Adventures of Supergirl #1

Well the wait is finally over.

With the cancellation of the main title and the onset of the television show, plenty of fans (myself included) were wondering when DC would pull the trigger on a new Supergirl book.

Finally, DC announced a digital first book, Adventures of Supergirl, written by Sterling Gates with a bevy of great artists, and Cat Staggs on covers. What a complete win!

Now, after waiting what has felt like an eternity, Adventures of Supergirl Chapter 1 was digitally sent to my computer. And thankfully, it lived up to my high expectations.

Gates immediately shows that he still has a sense of Kara's voice, even if this is a different version of Supergirl than the one he wrote years ago. He drops us right into the middle of a battle which also is a nice hook to keep the reader turning the pages ... umm ... scrolling the screen. We get exposition and back story all while a tremendous super-powered brawl is happening. It is the best of all worlds.

Bengal's art is brilliant here. The action sequences are well done with blurring or movement lines to really add to the impact of the brawls. But the quiet panels of a smiling Kara, her body language, really adds a lot to the feel of the story.

Lastly, Staggs' cover is poster worthy and tremendous.

One thing I always like in comics is when creators take some risks.

In this case, I love that the first panel is Supergirl getting her face pushed into a wall. You barely get the sense it is Supergirl, just the clue of that blue eye between the fingers of the opponent that let me figure out what is happening here.

So for me that is a fun risk, opening up this comic with the image of your hero being crushed.

There is some nice internal monologue cluing in the reader that Supergirl was raised with the belief that violence is a last resort. That communication should always be tried first to defuse a situation. And we have seen this in the show with Kara trying to talk to all her opponents, offering them help, before battling.

But this beginning ... I almost expected her to say 'this is my life', the tag line of Gates' prior run.

The villain is Rampage. In the comics, this is a sort of Hulk character. Kitty Faulkner, a STAR scientist, becomes this super-strong, enraged monster when upset. So this is a nice match-up for an opening battle. I do love how Rampage only seems to be able to say her name 'Rampage'. Sort of silly. Rampage has a sort of Dragon Ball Z feel to here (Android 16 maybe?). But this page, with this angle, plays up the size differential here.

Gates riffs back to his first issue, Supergirl #34, by putting the fight in a sports arena. In that prior issue, Supergirl is lambasted by the fans as a bad hero. Here, she seems to be recognized more as a force of good.

 While the battle rages on, Kara thinks back to her 'origin'. These pages really lean heavily on the television show, which I think probably works nicely for people who are fans of the show and don't usually read comics. It sort of tightly links the book to the show.

So we see Kara say goodbye to Alura. We see the rocket. And we see Kara's plane rescue which leads her to become Supergirl, the protector of National City.

You get a sense of Bengal's style here. Kara's mouth is exaggerated as she saves the plane, but it works to convey the effort behind this rescue.

 The battle rages on, ending up in the parking lot. Away from cameras, Hank Henshaw calls in saying he is sending in DEO troops. But Kara doesn't want those men endangered, so she asks Hank to hold back.

And then we get this nice sequence where the fight picks up. The use of small panels, with the perspective getting tighter and tighter, the colors getting darker and darker, adds to the energy of the sequence.

But the thing I really liked about this was that last panel, the close up of a smile, the second such panel in the book. This is a Supergirl who is happy ... happy to be doing good, happy with her life.

She thinks she ends the fight with the 'surprise uppercut', the signature move of Belinda, the bully from Midvale High. That has to be a call out to Belinda Z, the 'bully' of Landry Walker and Eric Jones Supergirl Cosmic Adventures. And a Midvale High reference? Awesome.

Again, Bengal really gives us a great panel. The energy circles do have a sort of anime feel to them, a Goku vs. Vegata flavor. The angle, really looking up through the punch, adds some power as well. This whole fight sequence has been very kinetic.

With the battle over, the DEO chopper begins to descend to grab Rampage. (Hmmm, is Rampage a Fort Rozz prisoner or an Earth supervillain?) We finally get a shot of Alex! Hurrah!

I think my favorite panel of the story is Supergirl standing triumphantly over Rampage, looking up to her sister, beaming a big smile! That just screams 'Supergirl' to me.

But the fight isn't truly over. Rampage is awake and throws Supergirl through the tail of the helicopter. It is going to crash.

Nice cliffhanger.

Great book.

I felt this was akin to the opening scene of a James Bond movie. We are dropped into a conflict which may or may not have anything to do with the big plot. We get a chance to see what Supergirl can do. Plus we get her origin and some supporting cast. All beautifully rendered.

I suppose I am biased but this was all win for me.

Looking forward to the next chapter already!

Overall grade: A+

I Pre-ordered Adventures of Supergirl

I had always clung to a simple truth when it came to comic collecting. 'Never digital.'

So call me a Luddite if you want. Imagine me throwing wooden shoes into the gears of a factory machine in a futile attempt to stop progress. But I had never even set up an account at a site to get comics in that way. Instead I waited ... and waited ... for things to be printed.

Well, if you read the first sentence, you'll notice the verb of 'had', meaning a thing of the past.

Because frankly, I couldn't think of waiting months for all 13 chapters of the Adventures of Supergirl digital first comic to come out on paper. So I went an pre-ordered it on-line. Here is the link:

https://www.readdcentertainment.com/The-Adventures-of-Supergirl-2016/comics-series/66736

Seriously, if you are a fan of the show or the character or the creators involved, you should head to whatever site you use and do this as a show of support.

After setting up the account and subscribing to the series, I then had to go to Twitter to ask my friends what happens next. Apparently on Monday I go to my account and read it on my tablet. Fascinating!

(Don't make fun of me.)

If you are on the fence, you should head to TVInsider.com which has a nice article/interview with Sterling Gates and some preview art as well! Here is that link:

http://www.tvinsider.com/article/67939/supergirls-universe-expands-with-new-comic-book-adventures/

I'll save the big review for the comic but opening this book in a sports stadium is a bit reminiscent of Gates' first issue on the main Supergirl book. Also, I love Bengal's art on these pages. I especially like Rampage who gives off a bit of a Dragon Ball Z vibe to the proeceedings.

Anyways, I promise I will let you know how things go on Monday as I scroll through the story rather than thumbing through the pages.

But regardless of my digital aversion, Kara fans should be pumped for this!

Supergirl Digital Comic By Sterling Gates Announced! Bengal On Art!

Well the wait if finally over! On IGN, we finally have confirmation of a digital first show tie-in Supergirl comic. This had been rumored for some time so it is great to get some concrete news. And there is a lot to love about this announcement. Here is the link:http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/12/15/dc-swoops-in-with-adventures-of-supergirl-digital-comic

And here are a couple of blurbs:

TV show will be happy to hear that they can see more heroic exploits of the Girl of Steel in DC’s new Digital First series called Adventures of Supergirl. Veteran Supergirl writer Sterling Gates will be penning the new title, which will be drawn by a cast of rotating artists including Bengal, Jonboy Meyers, Emanuela Lupacchino, and Emma Vieceli. Bengal will be penciling, inking, and coloring the first three chapters. 

Now the first thing that jumped out at me was the creative team.

Folks who come here should know that I love Sterling Gates writing the character. His run remains one of the most influential on the character in her long history and definitely a consistent high point in recent times. He seemed to understand the layers of the character and made her grow. I cannot wait to read him writing her character again.

As for the art, what a wonderful group. I love Bengal's energy. He brings a certain amount of Burnside sensibility to the page. Emma Vieceli is killing it on Jem recently. And everyone remembers how great Emanuela Lupacchino was on the book. Meyer has a nice slick style but I hope he doesn't veer too close to cheesecake.

I even like the title of Adventures of Supergirl, a link to the digital Adventures of Superman and also a unique title for the character.

 This 13-chapter, bi-weekly comic will release on Mondays, which just happens to be the same day the show airs on CBS. It won’t directly tie into the show, but will tell stories in that universe with Supergirl teaming with the DEO to protect National City while also working a job at CatCo as Kara Danvers. DC also told us that she will take on classic villains like Rampage, Vril Dox, and Psi.

I hope that this is simply a 'Season One' for the series. 13 chapters is a nice start and probably accomodates an overall arc for the book.

And Rampage, Vril Dox, and Psi! All have a history with some incarnation of the character so glad to see Gates dipping into DC's mythology. Psi!

However, unlike those comics, Supergirl’s series will not be printed and shipped as a monthly comic. The title will instead be collected and printed as a graphic novel, skipping the floppies entirely.

 Adventures of Supergirl will debut on January 25, 2016.

One thing I don't like is the lack of floppy. I am an old-timer, married to print. Looks like I'll have to actually get a digital account now!

Anyways, this is a very nice Christmas gift for Supergirl fans all around the world. Everything about this announcement makes me optimistic!