Terrificon Recap #3: Walt Simonson Sketch And Other Notables

Here is my final recap of Terrificon 2025 which was absolutely tremendous. If you haven't, check out part one and part two. 

So we'll start out with this fantastic Walt Simonson 'quick sketch'.

But to understand the story behind this sketch, you need to know about Walt Simonson and his con presence. So settle in. Because if you are hoping to meet him at a con you need to know what I am going to tell you.

First off, Simonson is one of the nicest guys in the business and is just great to interact with.

Two, he sets up two lines at his table. One is only for signing comics. The other is for 'quick sketches' and he tries to do 10-15 a day. He sketches these 'quick' in real time. If you are in the sig line, you need to wait while he does them. When he runs his table, he does several people in the 'signing only line', then does a sketch, then goes back to the signing line. Then back to do a sketch and so on. So be prepared to wait.

Third, his lines are very very long because he is a legendary creator and, as said, an extremely nice guy. And those lines form early. Usually the sketch line is 15 deep in 5 minutes after the doors open because everyone runs to his table to get there. So be prepared to wait.

All this to say, fans need to be aware that if they are hoping for a Simonson sketch they need to be at the front of the line to get into the con itself and should head to his table first ... like run there. 

Also, fans should know that they might spend a big chunk of time in that line whether it is the sig or sketch line because they get long. So figure out how important meeting Simonson is and how much time you want to spend in that one line. Preparation is important. (You need to make this calculus for any popular creator at any con.)

For me, I had the luck of going to the con all three days. I avoided the Simonson table on Friday. That was my heavy lifting day, trying to set up commissions and get the bulk of signatures I wanted. 

Saturday was 'Simonson day'. With the heavy lifting done, I was ready to spend as long as I needed to in his line. (Again, it helps that I was going all three days. If you are there for one day, you might need to make a harder decision.)

I knew I wanted a sketch. I knew the way the line formed. I got in line very very early on Saturday. When the doors open, I ran to the table.

This is a long set up but I want to help con goers who don't know this. 

Review: Legion Of Super-Heroes #8

Legion of Super-Heroes #8 came out last week and was a powerhouse of an issue. 

A sort of jam piece where every page focuses on one Legionnaire and is drawn by a different artist as the fight between the Legion and King Crav and the Rimbor gang comes to a head. For someone like me, a long time Legion reader, seeing these glimpses at different Legionnaires and hearing a bit of their origins, learning a bit about their powers, this was a complete treat.

As I have said before, writer Brian Michael Bendis is walking the tightrope of this book. There is enough classic Legion stuff here for an old timer like me to love. There is a feeling of a hodgepodge approach to the team here with elements of several incarnations mashed together. And there is enough new stuff here to make me intrigued. And this approach of giving each Legionnaire a page is a great way to introduce new readers to these characters.

But the real treat here is the art. This is a real heavy hitting lineup of artists each bringing jaw dropping art. It would be easy to post each page here. But I have to pick and choose carefully. Please go out and get the issue! It is amazing!

On to the book!

Quick Hits: Super Sons/Dynomutt and Supergirl Being Super

I'm a bit behind in reviews so forgive the late nature of these quick hits.

Earlier this month, DC did another round of crossovers between their characters and classic cartoon properties. You might remember the DC/WB crossovers like Bugs Bunny/Legion of Super-Heroes from last year. This year, the company has mash-ups with classic Hanna-Barbera characters. That is a deeper and wider group of shows to pull from which led to some interesting concepts.

As someone who loved the Super Sons concept and book and was still smarting a bit from the cancellation, I knew I was going to get the Super Sons/Dynomutt issue, written by usual Sons scribe Peter Tomasi with art by Fernando Pasarin.

I was expecting a goofy sort of romp with Blue Falcon and Robin playing straight men to the more rambunctious Dynomutt and Jon.

That is not what I got ... at all ...

Joelle Jones Supergirl statue

The Shrine got a little bigger recently when the DC Cover Girls Joelle Jones Supergirl statue came in.

It is an absolutely gorgeous statue.

Like mind-blowingly beautiful. Not surprising given it is based on Joelle Jones art, someone whose work I have loved for a long time.

There is something that just says 'graceful' about this. From the faraway, serene expression to the holding out of the cape to the gentle leg positioning, this gives off the angelic, pure feel that Supergirl is sometimes known for.

It is really a great piece, one worth saving for if you have enough cash for just one Supergirl piece.

December 2017 Solicits

The December solicits have come out for DC Comics and it looks like a good month for the company with multiple new titles coming out by big creative teams, Lex Luthor on the cover of the Doomsday Clock with an arm suspiciously similar to Ozymandias' visible, and the continued Metal. I don't know if any of the new titles sound like books for me. I am on board for the Doomsday Clock. But it is the super-titles that we hear to talk about.

I also have to say that it is getting very expensive to be a Supergirl fan. There is just a ton of merchandise coming out for the Maid of Might. Start saving your pennies!

If you want to look at all the solicits you can head here:
 https://www.newsarama.com/36444-dc-comics-december-2017-solicitations.html

But on to the super-books!

SUPERGIRL #16
Written by STEVE ORLANDO and JODY HOUSER
Art and cover by ROBSON ROCHA and DANIEL HENRIQUES
Variant cover by STANLEY “ARTGERM” LAU
“PLAIN SIGHT” part two! Public pressure runs high and there’s no debate—you’re either for Supergirl or against her! As the people of National City divide over their feelings on Supergirl, the teen hero finds it increasingly hard to balance her daily life with her role as her city’s protector. With the DEO and fellow intern Ben Rubel closing in on her secret identity and the added pressures of Catco’s internship, the last thing on Supergirl’s mind is an upcoming school dance that’s more trouble than expected.

I was thrilled when early on in this series, Supergirl was embraced as a hero. People were sporting her shirts and cheering her. So I hope this dark turn doesn't last too long. I love that we'll get more of the Kara Danvers side of the character. A school dance? Awesome.

I am surprised there is no mention of Strange Visitor in the solicit as she dominates the cover. And I hope somewhere along the line we hear how Orlando and Houser work together on writing chores. But this sounds very good.

Statues, Statues, Statues

In their continued effort to make me poor, DC and other companies continue to put out Supergirl merchandise. And in an odd cosmic convergence, a bunch of new statues have all been solicited or revealed within the last few days, many at San Diego Comic Con (and thanks to blog friend Firebird for passing on the photos). I probably won't get all of these. My poor wallet!

The one I would love to get is this Tweeterhead exclusive statue of Supergirl in her Bronze Age costume flying in the clouds with Streaky. Here is the link:https://tweeterhead.com/product/supergirl-and-streaky-maquette/ 

Review: Supergirl Being Super #4

Supergirl Being Super #4 came out this week, the finale to the out of continuity Prestige Format mini-series by Mariko Tamaki, Joelle Jones, and Kelly Fitzpatrick. And I have to say I was very impressed with this ending and somewhat stunned because of the shocking, rather open-ended conclusion. If this sells well or is received well, things are certainly teed up for there to be a sequel.

Let's not think about the future yet. Let's comment on the story at hand.

This has always been a 'coming of age' story about Kara, learning about her past, revealing her powers, and trying to understand who she is. In this issue, she takes a major step on her journey. She recognizes her past; she understands where she came from. But she is ready to be her own person, molded by the lessons she has learned on Earth. She becomes a hero in this issue and I loved it. Yet despite learning to love who she is, in many ways she ends this story more alone than ever. But there is hope for a fuller future on the last page which is genius.

Joelle Jones provides the art on the book with Kelly Fitzpatrick on colors. It is gorgeous. There are silhouettes, great angles, some stretching of perspective, and characters that feel real. Kara looks like a teenage girl. I have always loved Jones' art. I really loved it here.

On to the book!

Review: Supergirl Being Super #3

Supergirl Being Super #3 came out this week and was a very good issue of this coming-of-age story by Mariko Tamaki and Joelle Jones. The Kara of this book is working through some common issues that crop up in adolescence - that feeling of otherness and perhaps your first dealings with grief. This issue continues to cultivate those themes but adds the new theme, the lure of belonging.

Now I'll admit I am just about 3 decades north of adolescence. But the book is written so well, the images so compelling, that I felt back in that space. And my 'otherness' of Math Club, D&D, and comics is probably nothing compared to some feelings of isolation that others are dealing with. Still, to see Kara sort of walk through her life, reeling from the death of her friend, feeling a bit numb, and getting support from her family and other friends felt very real.

In fact, if there is one thing that really stood out about this issue it is the support structure in Kara's life. She knows she is an alien. She has never felt like she truly belonged. She has struggled sometimes with wondering what she should do with her powers, use them or hide them. And despite all that, it is made abundantly clear that she is accepted and loved by her closest relationships. It is unconditional. And that was wonderful. Because it would have been easy to portray the Danvers as 'stuck in the mud', stereotypical, close-minded folk. Instead, Tamaki gives us the absolute reverse.

The subplot of the 'evil coach' and the possibility of another Kryptonian survivor comes to a boil here as well. Tamaki gives us a very nice curve ball here, zigging where I thought the plot would zag. And that always makes me happy.

Finally, Joelle Jones art, as always, is just wonderful. There is a nuance to the art here, subtle expressive work and body language that adds tremendous volume to the proceedings. This book is as much Jones' as it is Tamaki's.

On to the book!

Joelle Jones Supergirl Statue

Over the weekend, news came out that artist extraordinaire Joelle Jones will be designing a series of DC Cover Girls statues. I am a big fan of Jones so this was great news for me. It looks like the first statue is going to be a classic Harley Quinn and it perfectly captures her zany, madcap fun.

There is a nice video where Jones talks about her approach to statue design and how 'gumption' and 'elbow grease' is what she needed to get where she wanted to. Here is a link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux6AOnWlRcA&feature=youtu.be

And I was glad to hear that Supergirl is going to be one of the statues in the line. Jones is already linked to Kara with the Supergirl Being Super book. But I since I love Jones' style, I am glad we are getting this. And, thankfully, there are early process pics of what the statue could look like over on Comics Beat.

June 2017 Solicits

The solicits for June came out a while back so it is time to review what is happening in the super-books. There's some great stuff coming out that made me smile. And luckily, it doesn't look like I'll break the bank!

If you want to see all the solicits, head over to Newsarama:

http://www.newsarama.com/33652-dc-comics-june-2017-solicitations.html

And now on to the individual issues.

SUPERGIRL #10
Written by STEVE ORLANDO • Art by BRIAN CHING • Cover by ROBSON ROCHA and DANIEL HENRIQUES • Variant cover by BENGAL
“ESCAPE FROM THE PHANTOM ZONE” part two! The Phantom King holds all the cards, and he’s forcing Supergirl and Batgirl to turn to the alien antagonist in order to save themselves and the humans trapped inside the Phantom Zone.

I am definitely pumped for this storyline for many reasons. Batgirl and Supergirl together again for the first time!

I totally love this cover by Rocha and Henriques. Love that determined Supergirl.

Interesting that this story seems to start next week in the Batgirl Annual.

SUPERGIRL: BEING SUPER #4
Written by MARIKO TAMAKI
Art and cover by JOELLE JONES
Having her life torn to shreds and burned to ash has forced Supergirl to choose between the world she was born on and the world that adopted her. Can Kara Danvers find a way to be super—or will she crash and burn?

I have enjoyed this Elseworlds take on Supergirl more than I expected I would. It is a nice coming of age story with gorgeous art. Of course, one of the running themes with Supergirl is her accepting Earth as her home. So seeing this was, I suppose, not surprising. 

One minor quibble is the cover. This is the ending issue. Shouldn't we get something more heroic. Maybe it is the blurred effect that is striking me as odd. Usually we get something more dramatically iconic for a conclusion. 

DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS #28
Written by MARGUERITE BENNETT • Art by LAURA BRAGA and ANEKE • Cover by ANT LUCIA
How can Supergirl convince Power Girl that she is not fighting an enemy—but a sister? Plus, Lois Lane and the Reaper make their way to Hugo Strange’s lab to stop his “superweapon,” unaware that it’s Power Girl herself!

DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS #29
Written by MARGUERITE BENNETT • Art by MIRKA ANDOLFO, RICHARD ORTIZ and CARMEN CARNERO • Cover by MARGUERITE SAUVAGE
Lois Lane and the Reaper join Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy’s travelling circus of mythical Russian creatures, where Poison Ivy uses her powers to alleviate the situation in Leningrad. Plus, Supergirl is forced to fight Power Girl!

Great to see Supergirl prominently on the cover. I was wondering how they were going to place Power Girl into the book. What is their connection? I hope it isn't them being sisters. Perhaps a clone? Given we get a hint about Hugo Strange and the history of the JLU famous Galatea episodes, that would make sense.

And, of course, they need to fight. Because comics.

Lots of Supergirl monthly stuff for this month!

ACTION COMICS #981
Written by DAN JURGENS • Art by JACK HERBERT • Cover by PATCH ZIRCHER
Variant cover by GARY FRANK
“REVENGE” part three! Superman races to save the Suicide Squad from General Zod, Cyborg Superman and Eradicator. Can the Man of Steel escape the Black Vault and stop the carnage before Harley, Deadshot and the rest of Task Force X are forced to make a final stand?
ACTION COMICS #982
Written by DAN JURGENS • Art by VIKTOR BOGDANOVIC • Cover by PATCH ZIRCHER
Variant cover by GARY FRANK
“REVENGE” part four! General Zod takes command as he leads Cyborg Superman, Eradicator, Mongul, Blanque and Metallo against Superman—but his real motives are yet to be revealed and may have far graver consequences for Superman than anyone imagines.

A new Revenge Squad with all these heavy hitters? Fascinating. I don't know I like the look of the new Metallo (if that is who that is) but otherwise bring it.

I am really hoping that Zod comes off well. He was so prevalent a few years ago I felt he was overplayed.

SUPERMAN #24

Written by PETER J. TOMASI and PATRICK GLEASON • Art by DOUG MAHNKE and JAIME MENDOZA • Cover by RYAN SOOK • Variant cover by JORGE JIMENEZ
“BLACK DAWN” part five! The Man of Steel faces the one foe he refuses to fight—his son. An emerging new ability for Superboy proves deadly to Superman as the promise of power appears to lead Jon Kent to betray his father.
SUPERMAN #25
Written by PETER J. TOMASI and PATRICK GLEASON • Art by PATRICK GLEASON, DOUG MAHNKE and others • Cover by RYAN SOOK • Variant cover by JORGE JIMENEZ
“BLACK DAWN” part six! The extra-sized finale to “Black Dawn” reveals the villain tearing the Super-Family apart and destroying everything the Man of Steel holds dear!

Remember when we had a new superpower for Superman? The solar flare? I wonder if we will get that in the Rebirth universe. I wonder if Supergirl can still do it? Maybe her illness and repowering removed that?

Interesting that this cover makes it seem like Jon has a flare power but with Green K power? Now that is a mystery.

SUPER SONS #5
Written by PETER J. TOMASI • Art and cover by JORGE JIMENEZ • Variant cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN
“Battle in the Batcave”! The battle with Kid Amazo leaves Jon and Damian’s friendship in ruins as the boys decide their partnership isn’t working out! It’s a rumble between Superboy and Robin like you’ve never seen as the boys rage through the house Batman built!

I have to assume the story arc is 6 issues. So having the two split in the penultimate issue makes story sense. It will make their coming together next issue more powerful. The idea of the kids trashing the Batcave makes me very very happy.

NEW SUPER-MAN #12
Written by GENE LUEN YANG • Art by BILLY TAN • Cover by PHILIP TAN • Variant cover by BERNARD CHANG
“THE ZERO ULTIMATUM” part two! New Super-Man and the Justice League of China must take back Shanghai from the current emperor—the original super-powered creation of Dr. Omen! While the battle may be winnable, a devastating secret comes to light and shakes the young Super-Man to his core.

I'm glad to see Billy Tan back on art. I liked his prior work.
Is the villain on the cover the original Omen experiment? It has a Superman vibe.
And I wonder what secret comes to life? My guess? Omen is Kenan's actual mom.

SUPERWOMAN #11
Written by K. PERKINS • Art by STEPHEN SEGOVIA and ART THIBERT • Cover by KEN LASHLEY • Variant cover by RENATO GUEDES
“Rediscovery” part three! Former friends duke it out as Superwoman squares off against…Natasha Irons?! In the battle to contain the freed Stryker’s inmates, Lana and Natasha are split over what to do about Natasha’s criminal father, Crash.

Jimenez certainly pumped up Natasha during his run. Maybe too much? It seemed so over the top it felt forced.

And while the solicit is about Lana fighting Natasha, the cover is Lana fighting Steel.

Of course, how does Lana have powers in this post Superman Reborn world? I guess we'll find out.

THE DARING NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERGIRL VOL. 2 TP
Written by PAUL KUPPERBERG
Art by CARMINE INFANTINO, BOB OKSNER and EDUARDO BARRETO
Cover by ED HANNIGAN and DICK GIORDANO
In these 1980s tales from The Daring NEW Adventures of Supergirl #13 and Supergirl #14-23, the Maid of Might faces neo-Nazis, meets the new threat of Blackstarr, explores the depths of Lake Michigan to find a mysterious monster and is baffled by the Ambush Bug! This collection features appearances by the Justice League of America and the Teen Titans!

I am thrilled that the remainder of the 80s Supergirl title is being collected. Unbelievable. There is a lot to like in this back end of the book including the Ambush Bug as well as the debut of the new costume. We also get a nice anniversary celebration for Supergirl.

Kudos to DC for doing this! 

SUPERGIRL: THE SILVER AGE VOL. 1 TP
Written by OTTO BINDER and JERRY SIEGEL
Art by AL PLASTINO and JIM MOONEY
Cover by MICHAEL CHO
In these stories from ACTION COMICS #252-284, Supergirl adjusts to life on Earth with her adoptive parents. The stories alternate between small-town slice-of-life tales, tales of Supergirl’s efforts to master her new powers, and time-traveling jaunts into the far future and past. Plus, don't miss an early appearance of the Legion of Super-Heroes!

I am also thrilled that this omnibus will now be in softcover for folks who couldn't drop the $75 for the hardcover. And I love the Michael Cho cover. Very classic! A lot of goodness in here!

Good month to get us into the summer months! 

Review: Supergirl Being Super #2

Supergirl Being Super #2 came out last week and was a very moving chapter in this Elseworlds take on Kara Zor-El. Mariko Tamaki is known for her coming of age stories and this seems to fall into that mold. There are super-powers and Kryptonite and S-shields on blankets. But really this is a story about life changes for this Kara.

Last issue seemed to concentrate on the awkward feeling of 'otherness' that most teens feel. People are defined in few words. The jock. The feminist lesbian. But Kara doesn't seem to know who she is. Add the layer of otherworldliness to her and you definitely have someone trying to figure out their place in the world and where they are going. But even the characters who seem to have it figured out, like 'Jen the Jock' still have all these insecurities and questions. What if they aren't who they think they are? I don't know any teenager who didn't have these questions. Heck, I still ask myself some of them.

This issue seems to be all about grief. We start with a tragedy. And then we see the emotional fallout. How do people respond? Do they reach out? Or retract from the world? Do they openly weep? Or become withdrawn and seemingly numb to the world? It is Kara who we see struggling with her feelings and we see her interact with everyone else.

Toss in the superheroics and it is a heavy and well conceived book.

The art on the book is brilliant stuff by illustrator Joelle Jones with vibrant colors by Kely Fitzpatrick. Jones continues to shine, bringing in kinetic panels of action with some slightly warped anatomy and perspective to accentuate matters. But the quiet sad scenes also really explode of the page as well. Wonderful stuff.

On to the book.

April 2016 Solicits

The April DC solicits came out recently and there are some great surprises in store for super-readers that month. I have to say, since Rebirth I actually look forward to the solicits knowing there is going to be something to pique my interest.

Here is a link to all the solicits for the month:
http://www.newsarama.com/32844-dc-comics-april-2017-solicitations.html

And now on to the super-books!

SUPERGIRL #8
Written by STEVE ORLANDO • Art by MATIAS BERGARA • Cover by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO and RAY McCARTHY • Variant cover by BENGAL
A “Superman Reborn Aftermath” tie-in! Superman and Supergirl meet again for the first time to face the evil of the Emerald Empress! Plus, what does it mean for the Girl of Tomorrow when tomorrow promises a Dark Knight? Shocking revelations, all-powerful sorceresses from the future, the Batgirl of Burnside and dinner in the Wild West—they’re all here in this amazing issue!

Sounds like a crazy issue with a lot of elements. I can understand the Superman, Batgirl, and Emerald Empress references but 'the Wild West'? Where the heck did that come from.

Look, I have been waiting for Superman and Supergirl to interact so this makes me happy. I think Batgirl and Supergirl should be friends in the DCU so that makes me happy. I have been waiting for the Legion to return so that makes me happy.

Suffice it to say I am down for this issue! This was the best thing I saw in the solicits.

Sales Review: December 2016

The sales for December 2016 were posted over on ICv2 and I highly recommend heading over there for great insight. Here is a link: http://icv2.com/articles/markets/view/36511/top-300-comics-actual-december-2016

But I was very interested in seeing the hard numbers because this was the first month in a long time that two dedicated Supergirl comics were on the rack at the same time. Has Supergirl reached a level of popularity that she can support two series? Or, from a print viewpoint, is she still a steady 'middle of the pack' seller.

Suffice it to say, as an eternal pessimist, my glass is half empty.

Supergirl #4 continued the Cyborg Superman/Argo City storyline. In this issue, Supergirl breaks out of her prison and breaks through to her mother that Earth must live and Krypton has already died.

This issue also had one of my favorite covers in recent memory, Bengal's variant of Kara saving Streaky from a truck accident.

So how did it sell?

Review: Supergirl Being Super

Supergirl Being Super came out last week, a sort of Elseworlds by any other name look at Supergirl's origins. This is out of continuity. The main themes are there. Supergirl is sent to Earth at a young age (here younger than usual ... around 8 years of age). She feels unbelievably different than those around her. She is trying to find herself, define herself. All of that sounds pretty much like any Supergirl story since 1959.

But this is an origin written by Mariko Tamaki with art by Joelle Jones which takes place in current times. So the super-powers are, at least for me when I read this, sort of in the background. This is really a coming-of-age story but for someone who has extraordinary powers. Anyone who has lived through that tumultuous period of life called adolescence knows any difference feels enormous. Kara trying to figure out who she is should resonate with anyone who has asked these big questions to themselves as a teenager.  It's just that her difference is that she is an alien and can lift tractors. But it can still be as mundane as the self-consciousness as a giant zit.

And, of course, she is hiding the fact that she has powers which muddies things even further. When you are different and you hide those differences, bury them, it can lead to isolation and pain. I am sure we can all substitute any number of things instead of super-powers that can lead to desperation and emotional turmoil.

I will freely admit as a heterosexual white male just into the back half of my forties that I am not the target audience for this book. That said, I was a lonely unathletic nerd in high school who luckily had friends who understood me so this still resonated. Those adolescent wounds run deep.

Tamaki does a great job showing us Kara's life and how she is reacting to things in it. It all reads very natural. Joelle Jones is just superb on art, bringing expression and energy to the proceedings. I feel like Jones has dialed things down a bit from the super-stylized stuff I have seen from her in Lady Killer. But the art still is powerful. Sandu Florea's inks are clean and Kelly Fitzpatrick's color palette is spot on. And it all starts with that cover. This perspective of the 'upside down' Kara shown to us right side up is just engaging.

As this is a new concept, this review is pretty lengthy, so bear with me. 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 .... 

Supergirl Being Super Preview

Back in September, DC Comics announced Supergirl Being Super, an out of continuity mini-series telling Supergirl's origin. Written by Mariko Tamaki with art by Joelle Jones, the book promised an 'updated look at Kara Zor-El's earliest days on Earth'.

Now I have been a fan of Joelle Jones' art since I first discovered her work. So I was going to be in for this  project no matter. I have not read anything of Mariko Tamaki yet but I have read the glowing reviews for her work all over the internet and so I am intrigued.

Last week preview pages for the mini-series hit the internet and I think it teases what the underlying theme is going to be in the book. Here is a link to the pages as posted on Newsarama:
http://www.newsarama.com/32076-go-back-to-supergirl-s-origin-in-supergirl-being-super-1.html

Just based on the creators and the out of continuity nature of this, I could knew this was going to be a bit more modern and perhaps a bit more progressive. After all, without the weight of 50+ years of continuity and fandom memory, the shackles are creatively off. So I am interested to see where all this is going.

In what seems to be the opening page, we get a simple origin page.

This basically looks like a retelling of the Superman origin, doesn't it? Rocket to Earth, in the breadbasket of America, discovered by a passing car. I have to assume that there isn't a Superman on this Earth. So already it is a whole new world.

Look at that page again and remove the words from the balloons. You would assume this is a Superman origin page, wouldn't you?

It is the  voice over that shakes things up a bit though. These are the words of a teenage girl, lamenting cheesy narration. But the theme is right there. She says you need an origin story so you can learn 'who I am'.

Like many origin stories, this is clearly going to be one of self-discovery and forging your own identity.

December 2016 Solicits

The December DC Comics solicits came out this week and there weren't too many surprises. That doesn't mean that I don't have things to say. In fact, there is something about these solicits that troubles me. And we'll get to that right up front.

I'll be looking at the super books but if you want to see all the DC solicits, here is a link to Newsarama's coverage:http://www.newsarama.com/31093-dc-comics-december-2016-solicitations.html

On to the books!

SUPERGIRL #4
Written by STEVE ORLANDO
Art and cover by BRIAN CHING
Variant cover by BENGAL
“REIGN OF THE CYBORG SUPERMEN” part four! Supergirl struggles to escape the perverse reincarnation of Argo City as her father, the Cyborg Superman, attacks National City and her new home with the DEO! To face her ultimate test as a hero, Kara must let go of her past and embrace the future.

So here is my immediate problem.

This cover.

I am not thrilled with the Kara side of the cover. There is something just a bit too hentai for me in this look. A bound Kara, her eyes wide looking down at the growing mechanics heading towards her skirt. There is just something a little icky about this image, especially given the tone of this new book. This isn't overtly salacious. It isn't a Zenescope cover. But this is supposed to be a 16 year old girl and there are some things implied here.You can have an imperiled Kara who isn't in *this* position. Add to that the word perverse in the solicit and my remembering that Eddie Berganza is the editor who okayed this cover and I cringed a little.

As for the solicit, I thought this Kara had already let the past go and embraced Earth. But as this is a #Rebirth with 90K more readers, I guess Steve Orlando felt he needed to cover that one more time. So long as the story is good, I am in.

Supergirl: Being Super

I have been talking lately on this site about what an incredible time it is to be a Supergirl fan. She is everywhere. She seems incredibly popular (weird for long time fans). And suddenly DC Comics seems to have noticed.

So late last week a new Supergirl mini-series was announced. Supergirl Being Super, by Mariko Tamaki and Joelle Jones will be a released in late December. Here a link to the Hollywood Reporter:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/supergirl-being-super-comic-book-926438
Now I highly recommend heading to the site and reading the whole thing and looking at all the art. But here are my thoughts.

I have to admit that I have never heard of Mariko Tamaki before this announcement. But everything I hear about the OGN This One Summer has been extremely complimentary. I don't think that a guy in the back half of his 40's is the target audience for Summer but I'll probably see if my library has it so I can get a sense of Tamaki's style.

Now I am not complaining at all about more Supergirl being on the shelves, especially if this format and creative team will bring in new readers. But this bit had me scratching my chin.

Set outside of regular continuity, the series will offer an updated take on Kara Zor-El's earliest days on Earth.

With a new Supergirl book on the shelves with a slightly rebooted/reimagined/rebirthed origin and tone as well as a popular show which has a different take on the classic origin as well as the one in DC Superhero Girls, it just seems like an odd time to be putting out an out of continuity different origin. Is this a sort of Supergirl:Earth One?

Later in the article, Tamaki had this to say.
"I come from a very John Hughes place, because I'm very old and that's my starting point for starting to talk about adolescence," she jokes, adding, "There's something about taking a weekend in someone's life and just focusing on what happens in that time." 

As someone who was in the perfect demographic when John Hughes movies were in cinemas, I like that reference. So that definitely makes me more intrigued.

Perhaps best of all, my understanding is that this will be released in the prestige format, 48 pages and square bound. I thought that format disappeared!

Now I don't think I need to tell people how much I love Joelle Jones art. Her being on a Supergirl book, even out of continuity, is like a dream come true. Even the few pages shared on the announcement, are just gorgeous. Here is what Jones had to say:

"I try to be very aware of the storytelling aspect, so I try to put myself in the position of people approaching comics for the first time. But beyond that, I want to work on something that excites people and create something that people want to read," Jones says.

Just gorgeous. And her art always draws me in. Her stuff on Lady Killer is just spectacular.

I doubt the Kara in Supergirl:Being Super will be wearing the 70s costume. But here is my Joelle Jones Supergirl commission,  a possible sneak peek of what Jones' Supergirl might look like.

So more Supergirl to read!

Boston Comic Con 2015: Joelle Jones Commission

One of the commissions I was really hoping to get at Boston Comic Con was one by Joelle Jones.

Jones had recently done Lady Killer for Dark Horse, a look at what would happen if one of the women from Mad Men were an assassin. It was brilliant and gorgeous and entertaining. And given the sort of period look of the issues, I decided if I was lucky enough to get a Jones piece, that I would go with the 70s costume, the puffy sleeves and shorts.

I contacted Jones and learned she does a handful of commissions each day and so I knew I needed to get to her table early if not first. When I got to the con, I saw a huge throng of people near Jones table and I thought that I had blown it.

It turns out the Information Booth was close by and most of the people were in line for stuff. Jones' table was much more manageable. I was able to secure the commission above.

And what a commission ...
I love everything about this, the POV, the playful expression, the color, the costume.
It is brilliant!

I seriously think the scan doesn't do it justice as it simply pops right off the page!

I feel extremely lucky to secure all the main commissions I was hoping for.

As for Jones, if you haven't seen her work you have to check her out.

Lady Killer just ended and so issues should still be on the rack. And a Lady Killer 2 was just announced and I will be there.

Her art is the kind your eyes just drink in!

Jones can be reached on line at:
www.joellejones.com 

And on twitter at:
@Joelle_Jones

Boston Comic Con Wish List

Boston Comic Con is 'my' con, the big local convention that is the hub of my convention season. I have talked about how the convention has grown exponentially over the last few years, how it is in a venue I love, and how planning my commission strategies for the con is one of the things that gets me through the dark, cold, New England winters.

This was a very dark and very cold and very snowy winter. And the end of March was one of the most stressful times at work for me ever. So heading to the con site looking for new guest announcements became almost ritualistic.

Well the guest list has rounded out nicely so I thought I would take a look at who is there and who I am hoping to get a commission from.

Now I go to these cons for the comic guests. The media/celebrity guests are usually overlooked.

But this year Agent Carter herself - Hayley Atwell - will be there. The older two Supergirls haven't been too interested in going to cons in the past but hearing Atwell be there has made them pause a bit. At the very least, I think I will need to get an autograph from her for each of them. We all loved the show and watched it together as a family. I can only hope more episodes will happen.

As for me, it's the creators that are the draw and there are plenty of big names appearing. Here is the list:http://www.bostoncomiccon.com/artists.html

I have been at this commission thing for some time so there are many people attending who I already have a commission from. So here is the dream list for 2015 commissions.

Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (praised be his name) is going to be at the con. I have heard he does commissions at shows so he is number one on my list. Moreover, he did a lot of style guide Supergirl material in the headband costume, so I  think that is the version of Kara I will get from him if I am lucky.

Joelle Jones art is just achingly beautiful. And I have been loving her Lady Killer mini-series from Dark Horse. So she is also in my top tier of artists I am shooting for. I am toying with the idea of having her draw the 70s Hot Pants costume.

Lastly, Andrew Robinson was just announced as a guest. Robinson's recent covers for JLU have been stunning. But I also loved his painted stuff of Nightwing and Flamebird way back in the New Krypton days.

Now, right now, those are my top three hopes. But these can change depending on cost, funds, availability, etc. I also aim to get 5-6 commissions a show, so here are the 1A artists.

Stacey Lee's stuff is just beautiful. I have enjoyed her line work on Silk. And I also saw a Mrs. Peel cover on line that is fabulous. I wish I could find that comic to purchase!

 Yanick Paquette is an artist whose work I have always enjoyed. My buddy got a Beast commission from Paquette which is great. So I'll have to see whether or not I can pull off a Paquette commission.

Lastly, Eduardo Risso is going to be at the show.

I wonder just what a Supergirl done by him would look like. I think it would be unbelievable interesting, unique. So I am keeping Risso on the back burner. He may jump up.

But you know who else will be at the show ...

Remember Percival in King Arthur legend?

He was the only knight who could handle the Holy Grail. He had visions of the Grail before he was able to attain it.

In this image, from John Boorman's Excalibur, Percival again sees the Grail ... again just out of reach.

My grail piece for my collection?

Amanda Conner.

I have seen Conner now at a handful of conventions but every time she isn't sketching. I keep hoping beyond hope that somehow I will catch her at the right time, be first in line, be last in line ... be something ... such that she'll draw a quick sketch of Kara for me.

Like Percival, I can see the Grail but I haven't been able to grasp it ...

Anyways, I hope some of you will be in attendance. And let me know if I should be thinking of other artists for commissions?