More Publicity From Perkins And Johnson

After what felt to be a long time without any publicity of information, the dam has burst and we have been lucky enough to hear from new Supergirl writers K. Perkins and Mike Johnson several times over the last couple of weeks. We heard from Perkins alone. We heard from Mike Johnson alone. And now, in a
 CBR interview, we heard from the two together. As always, I recommend reading the interview in its entirety. But as usual, I have to highlight some of the questions and give some of my insights.


CBR News: Mike, you have been writing comic books for more than a decade and you were actually the co-writer and/or solo writer of the first 19 issues of the New 52 relaunch of "Supergirl." What drew you back to Kara?

Mike Johnson: When I left the book initially, I was embarking on other projects and the time was right to hand the reins over to a new writer. But I really missed writing Kara's adventures. She's a unique character in comics, with an origin and situation unlike any other character, including Superman. With the advent of the "Crucible" story, editor Eddie Berganza ... thought it would be a good opportunity to team someone who had written Kara's adventures previously with a writer who was new to comics, namely the one-and-only K. Perkins. 

CBR: New to comics, yes, but what is your history with the medium and what was your knowledge of Supergirl before landing this gig?
K. Perkins: First of all, I'm thrilled to be writing with MJ on "Supergirl." I've always been a fan of comics, and when I picked up "Supergirl," I instantly connected with Kara. She's a cool, badass character with such a rich history.

There are two scary words in these questions. Eddie Berganza.

Berganza has definitely been one of the proponents of the edgy, angsty, disaffected, loner, 'pissed off', 'fight her friends as much as her enemies', skewed vision of Supergirl. I hope he isn't trying to steer things back there.

But I like how Johnson says he missed writing Supergirl. Other writers have said similar things in the past, how Supergirl gets inside someone. And I also like how Perkins talks about connecting to Supergirl as a cool character with a rich history. It sounds like she is coming to the character with an understanding beyond just the New 52. These are writers how like the character and are excited for the project!

CBR: What is it about the Last Daughter of Krypton that you think works for fans of the character and what separates her from that other guy from the House of El?
Johnson: I say this as a huge Superman fan, but I think Kara is a more accessible character, which is ironic given that her upbringing is more alien than Kal's was in Kansas. Her reactions to her extraordinary circumstances are more immediate and sympathetic, given that she didn't grow up with superpowers. Add to that the experience of being a teenager, which everyone has experienced or will experience at some point, and it is easy to empathize with her.

As I have said in the past, the reason I love Supergirl more than Superman is that I can relate to her more. Superman is this iconic, perfect character. Supergirl is learning. She is striving to be perfect but sometimes falls short. She can be sympathetic. But I also empathize with her a lot too. So I agree with Johnson's sentiment.

CBR: Will Kara meet familiar faces at Crucible Academy, or are you introducing new characters to the DCU during this arc? And if unfamiliar to Kara, will readers recognize any superheroes, or villains, making their New 52 debut?
Johnson: Perkins has created a group of amazing, distinctive supporting characters in this arc, some of who become friends, some rivals, some with names familiar to longtime fans of the DC Universe. We hope to continue their adventures in later stories -- assuming they survive this one.

One thing that has been creeping into these interviews has been this sense that Crucible Academy isn't necessarily a long-term setting. There are hints that beyond the first arc, there aren't any plans. I suppose that the team and DC will wait to see the reaction.

It will be interesting to see just how much time of the book is on Earth and also there. It will be interesting to see if her time there effects her JLU time or if it is even mentioned. I do like the Comet and Streaky ideas.

CBR: Mike, are there any loose ends or plot threads that you plan to circle back to from your initial run on the series?
Johnson: I'd like to see what Silver  Banshee’s up to now. And the Worldkillers always promised they'd be back.

Hurrah hurrah hurrah!

I want the early stories and early growth of the character to be recognized and acknowledged and handled. It is similar to how Sterling Gates dealt with the pluses and minuses of the book he was inheriting. I want to see Siobhan. I want to see Blaze. I want to see love interest Michael.

So I was thrilled to read this!

CBR: Finally, what can we expect from new series artist Emanuela Lupacchino?
Johnson: Ema has a rare ability to combine epic sci-fi scope with quieter, personal moments. She's a writer's dream: An artist whose imagination takes the words in the script and turns them into something magical.
 
I totally agree. I have seen Lupacchino's art just grow on this book. It is like there is comfort now with the character. This panel is beautiful ... and it is Kara working as a cashier. There is just a whiff of Ryan Sook here ... the highest compliment.

I appreciate the publicity! And I can't wait for this book to get here.

Tony Bedard Interview On Newsarama

I have talked a lot about the new direction for Supergirl and the good things that writer Tony Bedard has said about the character. Looks like it is time to say more.

Bedard continues a fine run of publicity interviews about the title over on Newsarama. Here is the link:
http://www.newsarama.com/21872-supergirl-gets-fresh-start-in-october-new-love-interest-but-no-red-ring.html

It is well worth reading the entire interview which also includes some sneak preview pages of the upcoming Supergirl #34. But, as usual some of the things said in the interview struck me and are worth a couple of lines of commentary.

Newsarama: Tony, since you've been writing this version of Supergirl, what's been the biggest challenge as you integrate her into the DCU after the New 52 relaunch???
Tony Bedard: Biggest challenge? Trying to get her some friends. Trying to get her a life. Trying to give her a reason to use her powers for good that goes beyond just being Superman's cousin.
When I picked up the reins on Supergirl, poor Kara had been through one disappointment after another. She lost her parents, her planet, and her only friend on Earth. She had been used and tricked by multiple people, including her first love. I wanted to give her a break!
But the thing I learned on the Green Lantern books is that if you're doing a top-tier character, you often have to play along with events in your sister-books, and that's certainly been true on Supergirl. So between a new Lobo, a stint in the Red Lantern Corps and Superman: Doomed, it's been a challenge to stay on target with what I want to do for her as a character.

Boy, that first sentence of his answer encapsulates much of what has plagued this book since the New 52. And it mirrors so much which troubled the early issues of the last incarnation. There hasn't been a purpose or a drive for this character. She has been reacting rather than acting, and often reacting in an unsympathetic way. So I am glad that Bedard sees it as a problem.

I also like a sentiment he hints on here but carries throughout the interview. The crossovers she has been part of (specifically H'El on Earth and Krypton Returns) both have derailed any momentum this book was gaining.

Nrama: But I feel like she has evolved since you've taken over the book, especially in recent issues. I assume that was your goal… or did it come from the story as you wrote it???
Bedard: The goal was to preserve Kara's teen angst and her struggles on an alien world (Earth) while making her a little more likable, a little less of a whiny sad sack.
Along with that goal comes the need to give her a supporting cast, or at least a friend or two. And, as I said above, this can be tricky while accommodating storylines like the Red Lanterns crossover that I didn't see coming when I first got started on Supergirl.
But another thing I've learned over the years is that the unexpected is usually an opportunity, and that was exactly the case with Kara's time as a Red Lantern. It turned out that getting her on that team gave her an instant supporting cast that gladly accepted her and gave her the friendship she so desperately wanted.

I find this answer interesting. First off, raise your hand if you think Supergirl needs to be more likable and less like a whiny sad sack. (My hand is up.) At times it has been hard to read this character - mostly in the above mentioned crossovers.

But then Bedard comes right out and says he didn't know about the Red Lantern turn when he first accepted the Supergirl gig. It corroborates the 'Charles Soule blurted it out in the Superman summit' murmurs we read in other places.

But the truth is, the Red Lantern arc turned out to be much better than I anticipated. And it did show Kara all of the things she was missing in her life ... purpose, noble goals, friends. All things she should want to replicate in her own title. Talk about making lemonade from lemons!

Nrama: Thus the move away from the Red Lanterns?
Bedard: The main thing the red ring gave her was a chance to face her own anger over losing everything she knew when Krypton exploded and being betrayed and deceived by so many people since she arrived on Earth. All that stuff makes for great drama, but I really think Supergirl needs to be an aspirational character, a positive example.
The other thing the Red Lantern Corps gave her was a much-needed sense of acceptance and belonging. Kara really needed that. And I have to thank Charles Soule both for coming up with the idea of giving Kara the red ring and for making his Red Lanterns book such a fun and funny read. It gave me a chance to inject some humor into Kara's adventures, and there's no better way to build empathy for a character than to make the reader smile and laugh with them.

It amazed me when I was reading Red Daughter that since the New 52, Kara sounded the most like the true Kara while under that mask. She should be an aspirational and inspirational figure. She should be a positive example. She should do her best to embody the S-shield while still learning the ropes. And Red Lanterns gave us that - a caring friend to Bleez, a thinker, a protector, someone Guy said was better than the Reds.

Amazing.

Nrama: OK, so she's moving forward in a positive direction. Yet there have been some recent revelations about her past, particularly the motivations we've learned of the WorldKillers toward her. How does her history tie into her growth as a character — and also into what's coming up in Supergirl???
Bedard: Kara's history is hugely important to defining her character, especially for giving her a reason to use her powers for the good of others, rather than for her own personal gain. One thing I tried to do, especially in her origin story in Secret Origins #1, was to set up that in Kara's family on Krypton, the men may have been the thinkers, but the women were the doers. It wasn't enough to me that Kara just follow in her cousin Kal-El's footsteps when she got to Earth. I wanted her to have her own Kryptonian reason for wanting to do something positive and proactive with her life. That's what's expected of a daughter of the House of El. Heck, it's even kind of feminist, not just making her a subset of Superman.

I had a complicated relationship with Sterling Gates' Alura, ending up loving her more than I thought I would and frankly missing her.

So this turn of being a Daughter of the House of El, a 'doer', someone who will strive to honor the family crest is perfect in my mind.

Supergirl needs to be part of the Superman family. She needs to love and work with her cousin. They need to care for each other. But she needs her own purpose. This is a good one.

Nrama: Yeah, let's talk about Supergirl: Futures End #1. This involves Cyborg Superman?
Bedard: Yeah, we jump ahead five years to find Cyborg Superman has been joined by...Cyborg Supergirl!
Father and daughter are terrorizing the galaxy, and now they've set their sights on Earth.
But we'll also learn about a big romance that Supergirl had between now and five years from now, with the last person you might guess.

This is the one part of the interview that gave me pause. Isn't a Supergirl terrorizing a galaxy a step backwards from all this positive, inspiring stuff? That said, all of Future's End is depressing so this crossover will be among many.

Nrama: What's her role in the Doomed storyline???
Bedard: Supergirl and the Red Lanterns take on "Superdoom," who proves to be more than a match for all of them, but Superdoom manages to get control of himself enough to ask Kara to watch over Earth while he's in self-imposed exile. This will be a challenge for Supergirl, since the military set off a Kryptonite bomb to drive away Superdoom.
But it also shows that despite the distance between them, Superman recognizes Supergirl's potential and would turn to her in his darkest hour.

Nrama: Is this the start of a new story arc?
Bedard: It's more of a character issue than a launch point for a story arc, but I think with all the big moments and crossovers and such, a character-centric issue is just the ticket right now.

I don't recall this particular exchange in the Superman:Doomed issue. But I love this panel from the upcoming Supergirl #34. To see Superman show his trust and love for his cousin is perfect. It saddens me that I would be thrilled if they were simply friendly to each other ... an upgrade from the prickly interactions so far.

But I want them to be family.

And a new Supergirl-centric arc without crossovers sounds just about perfect.

This all sounds great.

Nrama: Then to finish up, is there anything else you want to tell fans about Supergirl???
Bedard: I just want to thank everyone who has been so kind and supportive since I took on the book. Especially at conventions, I get to see how much Supergirl means to some people, the real heartfelt love they have for her. It's a wonderful reminder of how lucky I am to be working on this book and help set part of the history of this beloved character. I'm like a proud father working on this book, and I get to do so with such talented people, from Yildiray Cinar to Emanuella Lupacchino, to old, dear friends like Jeff Johnson and Karl Moline. I'm lucky to have this opportunity and I know it.

Nothing makes me happier than when I hear creators acknowledge the Supergirl fandom.

We are out there! Loud and proud! And loyal!

And I'll thank Bedard for doing his best to right the ship here!

CBR Interview With Tony Bedard

Tony Bedard has done an interview on CBR talking about his plans on Supergirl and I have to say the interview made me feel that, despite the Red Lantern announcement, she is going to be taken care of. Here is the link: CBR

As always, I strongly suggest you read the interview in its entirety as it provides a lot of insight into Bedard's approach and his love of the character. I have picked out the blurbs I liked and will add my comments.

CBR: Thus far in "Supergirl," readers have seen Kara struggle to find her place on Earth and then struggle with her Kryptonian background and outlook. Are you looking to continue this tone, or does your Kara have a bit more of a handle and sympathy for Earth and its cultures now?

TB: I actually want to change that tone a bit, but in a way that makes sense and isn't too abrupt. Basically, Kara Zor-El has had a very rough life. Everyone she grew up with on Krypton is dead. Her only surviving relative has "gone native" on an alien planet. Her first love turned out to be a monster and she had to kill him. She's met an alternate version of herself (Power Girl) who is better than her. Her father has turned into Cyborg Superman. And her current "Krypton Returns" exploits aren't going to have a terribly happy ending, either. So if she's filled with teen angst and resentment, that's only natural. But a pouty teenager can also be a little off-putting, and I'd like to arc her character toward something a little more positive and proactive. So that's the long-term plan: to make her more likable and have her embrace her mission in life while respecting the stories that have led up to this point.

We have heard this mantra before - that teenage angst and resentment is natural. And Bedard does a great job of showing how DC has done nothing to Kara but pile on bad luck and darkness. That is a rough 2 years of stories.

At least we hear him sat that he has a 'long term plan' to make Kara likable and to embrace her role as a hero. Now we have heard Michael Alan Nelson also say that he wanted to bring Kara closer to the light. So take that with a grain of salt. I also think that no mid-level title seems to have the luxury of a 'long term plan' in this New 52. I am hoping that DC gives Bedard a chance. As I noted before, Bedard had a good handle of the last Supergirl, filling for a couple of issues and really helping that character!

And no giggling Chase and Harras talking about how 'dark' the book is going to be!

CBR: According to DC's solicitations, your story begins after "Krypton Returns" and brings Lobo into Supergirl's orbit. What can you tell us about your first "Supergirl" arc?

TB: Both the Lobo and Red Lantern storylines have a lot to say about who Kara is and who she should become. Like Kara, Lobo is one of the very few survivors of a dead alien race. In fact, Lobo serves as a cautionary example of what Kara might become if she lets her anger and resentment take over. That inner rage is what draws the Red Ring to her and Kara's induction to the Red Lantern Corps will in one sense give her what she longs for: a place to belong. But it's also going to force her to come to terms with her own issues and what she wants to do with the awesome power that Fate granted her when it took away everything else. 

All of this will yield some intense, over-the-top action, but my real focus is further defining who she is and whether she's going to let her misfortunes define her, or if she can turn her life around and stop being a victim of tragedy. I think she'll to emerge a stronger, more likable character.

I don't mind the idea of a character being a reflection of what Supergirl could be as a way to nudge her forward. 

Reign could/should have been that in the first arc. What if Supergirl decided to go rogue and become a world-killer? I thought with the defense of NYC she might move forward.

Power Girl could have been that in the early Nelson issues. Power Girl has lost just as much if not more but seems more reasonable and heroic. She would be a positive reflection. 

So Lobo has the right fit.

Again, we see that Bedard wants to move her forward. The question is ... how long will she wear that ring before she decides to put it behind her.

CBR: The Red Lantern news is huge, so let’s talk for a moment about her move over to the Lantern corner of the DCU. How tied-into the events of the ongoing "Red Lantern" comic will she be? Is this a case where Guy Gardner and the other Ysmault Lanterns will be supporting characters, or appear in both books?

TB: "Red Lanterns" writer Charles Soule and I are still working that out. I anticipate some fun stuff between Red Lantern Kara and Bleez, who would make an awesome odd-couple. I don't see the books being linked lock step in the way that the GL books sometimes are, though. 

CBR: Is becoming a Red Lantern a permanent move for Kara? After this first arc will her grappling with being a Red Lantern be a driving force in the comic?

TB: I definitely want to use this change to explore her character and to bring about a more positive direction for Supergirl in the long term, but I think it's safe to say she won't be a Red Lantern forever. On the other hand, this isn't change for change's sake, nor is it a throwaway storyline. This is a big deal and a turning point for her. If you care at all about Supergirl, you won't want to miss this storyline.

I guess I am going to buy Red Lanterns for the time being, sliding it into the review slot vacated when I drop Superboy. I am glad there isn't going to be super-tight continuity.

The fact that he is calling this Lantern move a 'storyline' and not 'the foreseeable future' or 'for the time being' makes me think it isn't a super-long-term move. I wouldn't mind 6 months of it if the result is that move to being a better hero.

CBR: Finally, you're working with the versatile artist Yildiray Cinar on this arc. What does he bring to the table in terms of drawing Kara? And what has it been like working with him for the first time?

TB: I'm wishing we'd started off with this question because Yildiray is knocking it out of the park! He's a terrific storyteller and his visuals are always twice as good as whatever I imagined as I wrote the script. I'm looking forward to establishing a real collaboration with him and figuring out how to play to his strengths even more. 

While I'm at it, I'd like to mention inker Ray McCarthy and colorist Dan Brown. Rickey Purdin really put together a remarkable creative team here. Having edited a lot of books, I can tell you it's rare when the art improves at each stage, from pencils to inks to colors. But these three guys really get each other, and it's a thrill to see that their combined efforts are greater than the sum of their parts. Yildiray, Ray and Dan are setting a very high bar. I'm a very lucky man to be working with them, and the four of us are absolutely devoted to giving Supergirl the run she deserves. 

 I can't wait to see Cinar and company's work on the title. 

'Devoted to giving Supergirl the run she deserves.' I love that!

Johnson And Lobdell On CBR

There has been any number of publicity spots about H'El on Earth and how it is going to help define the stability of the Super-family members moving into the future. I take the pubilicity about the Super-titles with a grain of salt. But more and more it sounds like DC wants to continue to fracture the super-family, make them be at odds with each other, and not even be friendly or courteous with each other. It is shocking. I have said it before, there is something inherently wrong with a DC universe where Batman is a more nurturing mentor than Superman.

Anyways, the latest H'El publicity was posted on CBR last week, a brief interview with Superman writer Scott Lobdell and Supergirl writer Mike Johnson. Here is the link: http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=42190  As always, it is worth reading in its entirety. It is a brief interview and a bit sparse on new information. But some of it stood out dramatically. Here are my thoughts.

CBR News: How did this crossover collaboration start? Did the three of you flesh out the "H'el" idea and character together?

Scott Lobdell: Originally, we had planned to just use each other's characters and supporting players a little more freely, but as H'el started to become more and more developed, and the threat he posed became more horrific ,it became pretty clear that his origins, motivation and actions were things that could play out in all three books over the course of one massive story. 

Mike Johnson: We've been charting the evolution of [Kara's] relationship with Superman since the last page of our first issue, and the time was right to really bring things to a head. We didn't want to keep re-treading the same territory of Kara doubting whether Kal was really her baby cousin all grown up. In the crossover, we see that Kara has come to accept the truth, but that doesn't mean she agrees with everything Kal has to say, especially when it comes to H'el. We haven't seen as much of Kara's relationship with Superboy, but that changes starting with "Supergirl" #14 and onwards. As different as they are, they have a lot in common given that they are both young people struggling with questions about their place in the world and how best to use their incredible powers.

I suppose that it is good to know that this wasn't a DC mandate to have the titles crossover and a story was cobbled together. I am glad that the writers were together, came up with the idea of a crossover and pitched it to DC.

As for Supergirl, I still don't understand why ... if she misses her world so much ... she would run away from family. It also is depressing that Supergirl will immediately side with the villain of the piece. It seems to me that DC continues to want to isolate Supergirl, make her a bitter loner. It just doesn't fit the character. I have said if before and I will say it again ... I don't mean I want to return to the saccharin days of the Silver Age. I crave a complex Supergirl. We read one with Peter David. We read one with Sterling Gates. I have seen glimpses of one under Mike Johnson. I just hope DC doesn't force the character to be something she isn't.

After reading Supergirl #14, I think she will be safe in her own title.

CBR: This crossover villain seem to be hitting the Super-family in a more personal way than we normally see, pitting Kryptonian against displaced/cloned Kryptonians. What does facing this foe mean for your heroes on an emotional and personal level?

Johnson: What I loved about Scott's concept for H'el, and the fact that H'el would be the centerpiece of this crossover, is that he is so intrinsically tied to Krypton and the story of the House of El itself. It not only makes for a more interesting adversary, it raises the emotional stakes for everybody involved. Especially for Kara, who has yet to embrace Earth completely. Her heart is still on Krypton, so to speak, and H'el can relate to that in a way that no one else can.

I suspected that H'El would have a tie to the House of El given the 'El piece of his name. So that adds another wrinkle to this story, it makes it more personal. And I can understand that Supergirl might want to hear what H'El has to say. But ... don't you think if she is willing to listen to this stranger she would have the same interest in listening to her cousin?

As I have contemplated H'El, I have hoped that Supergirl will sort of realize that Krypton is dead after this arc. That the climax has here embracing Earth as her new home. So there is room for hope here. And if she does that, the logical fallout will be to seek out Kal as a friend. Will it happen?

Mike, as you said, it seems Kara is not as hostile to H'el and his ideas as Superman and Superboy are. Why would Kara be on his side?

Johnson: Because H'el speaks her language, both literally and figuratively. Kal is the "Last Son of Krypton," but he never really knew it like Kara and H'el did. The things H'el does that bother Kal don't bother Kara in the same way, because she can understand and sympathize with H'el motivations. One of the many cool things about the crossover is that each title has its own unique role to play. In "Supergirl," you will get to see a side of H'el you don't see as much of in the other titles, because in "Supergirl" you're seeing him through Kara's eyes.

Earlier in the interview, Lobdell calls H'El a tragic figure. So I suppose giving that character a forum to be viewed differently, to flesh him out away from a megalomaniac twirling his mustache, is a good idea. But I worry that Kara will agree with H'El's ideas. We have already seen Kara protect the innocent, stop fighting if she thought others will be hurt. If H'El's hopes are to re-write Earth as a new Krypton won't she be against it if it means destroying or killing?

I know, we need to see how it is played out. By why make Supergirl a quasi-villain?

CBR: This is the first time the three Super titles have crossed over in the New 52, and while fans refer to them as the Super-family, Superboy, Superman and Supergirl are just getting started. Was one of the goals of the crossover to start to unite the characters as an actual family, at least in the face of this new villain? Will they be more involved in each other's lives after this?

Lobdell:   I'm glad that we got to spend the first twelve issues of the New 52 developing the characters and their continuity in their own books. Now that that's done, I'm excited about the chance to really see how these three disparate characters will interact going forward. I would caution anyone, though, who thinks that the "Super-family" are those fresh scrubbed faces of yore -- all of them sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner with Krypto and Streaky out on the porch playing cards with Comet the super horse. Tolstoy once said, "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." Did I get it right?

Sigh.

There is a middle ground between playing cards with Streaky and fighting each other and remaining distant. So this family wouldn't be together for the holidays, is described as the Superman writer as unhappy. 

Why??

I keep going back to the Sterling Gates (and even the James Peaty and Kelly Sue DeConnick) Supergirl book. That Supergirl was an independent young woman, finding her way, struggling sometimes. She had a good relationship with Superman but she was never defined by him. But they loved each other and hung out with each other when they could. Why is that frowned upon these days?

Why does this character family need to be splintered and angry? Doesn't DC see that the Bat-Family, as complex and unique as it is, works because they act like a family? Maybe a little disgruntled ... but together?

Where will the Supers be when this is over? I was lising hope until this week's comics. My review on Supergirl #14 should be up soon.

Supergirl Bullet News

Lots of small bits of business to catch up on here, so I thought I would batch them!

Over on Jamal Igle's blog, he has announced that he is going to take a look back at his time on Supergirl. He is going to post 5 pages from his Supergirl issues, including process sketches, etc. He is going to do that for every issue he drew on the title! As  a fan of Igle's work and process pieces, I can't wait to look at this series of posts and will probably comment on some of them here.

He announced his plans here: http://jamalligle.blogspot.com/2011/11/from-vaults-returns-in.html and included this great pencil page, the opening page of Supergirl #34, his and Sterling Gates' first issue.

I was thrilled to see that Jamal will be coming to Boston for the Boston Comic-Con in April. I can't wait to talk to him again.

As I said before, as a comic book fan, I love process pieces so any time an artist let's me see that creative side of things, I am thrilled.

Current Supergirl artist Mahmud Asrar has been great about sharing on his blog including the above picture seen here: http://mahmudasrar.com/post/13417041334/rough-thought

Asrar usually then will post the more tightly penciled and ultimately the inked/marked final product. I hope he continues to do this.

I spoke here about some similarities in the opening flight sequences in Cosmic Adventures and the new Supergirl comic. Bleeding Cool also talks about it with a nifty page by page comparison at this link:
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/11/24/swipe-file-supergirl-and-supergirl-and-wile-e-coyote/

Finally, the Comics Should Be Good blog on Comic Book Resources have been posting panels of characters and asking readers to guess the artists. It is Supergirl's turn here: http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2011/11/27/name-that-supergirl-artist/

I was all full of hubris figuring I would be able to name the artists immediately but it is trickier than I thought. Maybe some of you out there will have a better time. Make sure to submit your guesses over at CBR!