Review: Supergirl #15

Supergirl #15 came out this week, ending the Reign of the Superboys story as well as the Lesla Lar/Black Flame Kandor story at the same time. 

There is a lot to like about this issue as writer/artist shows once again that she understands the character of Supergirl. She is hopeful. She has compassion. She doesn't kill. But if she needs to knock some sense into you to defend the helpless, she will. There is a 3 page face-to-face with Black Flame that should be printed out and given to future creators as a sort of distillation of Kara's ethics. 

On top of that, we get some interesting development in ThunderGirl and Lesla too. The Argo City plot thread is intriguing. On top of that, we even get a beautiful finale of the arc with Kara sort of looking to her own future and declaring herself the heir of the House of El. That is amazing.

Campbell's art really explodes off the page this issue as well. There are more solid battles sequences and even a little bit of body horror. 

That doesn't mean there aren't some things to quibble about. Lesla, as has been the case for much of this series, gets to skate a little despite her past. And her being named the hero of Kandor so quickly after being one of the instigators of its near-destruction is a little strange. 

Still, I really liked this issue.

Back Issue Box: Adventure Comics #404

One of the things that I have truly appreciated about the current Supergirl title is how writer/artist Sophie Campbell has really done a deep deep dive into Supergirl's history, incorporating elements of all of Supergirl's lore and iterations into the book. 

Recently, the March 2026 DC solicits came out promoting a 'Reign of the Superboys' arc running through all the super-titles. In a related article talking about the titles, this nugget was dropped.

That same week, Supergirl #11 drops Kara into Kandor, strips her powers, and gives her a cybernetic upgrade as she leads a revolution alongside Conner Kent and a legion of Boy Thunder clones.

A powerless Supergirl in Kandor getting a cybernetic upgrade?

It sounds like Campbell is revisiting a storyline from the early 70's where Supergirl's powers would blip on and off. To compensate, she went to Kandor and had was given an exoskeleton to boost her abilities when she was suddenly powerless. 

Now to be honest, I am not a fan of storylines where characters' powers can suddenly disappear. The story always seems stretched and forced. And that is true for this classic one. But how great to see it updated. So why not revisit Adventure Comics #404, with that Kandorian exoskeleton revealed.

The brief story? A mob leader named Starfire (no ... not that Starfire or the other Starfire) comes to town to take over. To do that, she needs to get Supergirl off the board. So she has a lothario slip Supergirl a pill designed to depower her permanently. But it only works some of the time. Check out the awesome cover! Starfire beating up our here while a group of odd clowns watches on! Inticing!

To put in context, this book came out in May 1971, in the middle of the Kryptonite Nevermore arc in Superman, an arc seriously depowering the Man of Steel. Perhaps DC couldn't have Supergirl be the strongest character in the universe? 

On to the book!

Back Issue Box: Action Comics #281

The new Supergirl #1 has hit the racks including a new Lesla Lar, a character that writer/artist Sophie Campbell hinted would be returning when the book was first announced.

Today I look at Action Comics #281 as I continue my look at the first storyline pitting Supergirl against Lesla Lar, the story leading into Supergirl finally being revealed to the world at last in Action Comics #285.

I've covered the first two parts here and here in which Lesla Lar, a brilliant but jealous scientist in Kandor basically demolishes Supergirl's life. In short order she depowers Kara, brainwashes our hero into thinking she is Lar, and then swaps places with her on Earth. Lar then teams up with Luthor with the ultimate plan to kill Superman and Lex and rule the world. And frankly, she has been doing a fantastic job of all of it, only being temporarily derailed.

This issue continues that arc and that sort of happenstance. Lar swaps places, moves ahead with her plans, and is temporarily detained by ... get ready ... Krypto! Writer Jerry Siegel and artist Jim Mooney craft a completely bonkers story with the Lar plot taking up the front half of the story, including Kara thinking she's Lesla and then playing Kara in a Kandorian made movie. (Seriously, the identity swaps and plot turns in this whole multi-issue story are just pure Silver Age insanity.) 

But it is the back-half that seems both out of synch with this story and yet completely in line with these early Action tales. Supergirl travels back in time and saves a town in early America from all sorts of natural disasters. It has nothing to do with the Lar story and feels almost like inventory pages. It also is exactly the type of  'guardian angel' story that dominated Supergirl's stories here. 

Jim Mooney flourishes here, especially in the story in the past as he gets to put Supergirl through her paces. And his panel composition is great.

So let's read this story!

A Little Bit Of Kandor: Superman #371

Well, after that whole Candor nonsense, I thought we all could use a little palate cleanser. So let's head away from modern comics and head to the Bronze Age and the then 'new' Kandor.

Superman #371 came out in 1982, just about 3 years after  Superman #338 , the classic story when the 'real' Kandor was enlarged and those Kryptonian citizens were relocated to Rokyn. (Funny to think that that issue was one of the earlier books I reviewed here.)

But just as any good IP gets reinvented, DC and the super-offices must have thought that the Bottle City of Kandor was too good an idea to stay away forever. So why not bring it back.

Even more interesting, at least to me, is that Len Wein wrote this issue bringing back Kandor, just as he was the writer on #338 which took it away! Did Wein regret the decision? Want to bring it back? Was this just editorial dictating it and Wein happened to be on the book?

For Superman fans, it certainly is an eye-catching cover. What is this bottled city in the Fortress? And what is the crazy alien doing trying to destroy it? For continuity nuts like me (even at that tender age), I had to buy this. My original copy was lost in the 'parental purge' so I was only able to get it again recently.

On to the book!

A Little Bit Of Kandor: Candor Epilogue in Supergirl #9

I (sort of) close my long look at the Candor arc in the early run of the 2004 Supergirl series with this brief look at Supergirl #9.

Remember that last issue Supergirl scooped up Power Girl and left Kandor in the middle of an uprising of the alien citizens against the nationalistic Kryptonians. Why did she leave the good fight? Because Saturn Queen gave her some undisclosed information about Argo.

That issue was the first issue for Joe Kelly and, as I have said many times before, I just don't care for Kelly's take on the character. Now it may be that Kelly didn't want anything to do with the Kandor story (remember Greg Rucka started it) and so he simply pulled the plug on the whole thing.

But you can definitely see the direction Kelly was interested in within the pages of this issue. At the very least he addresses the quick exit from Kandor.

Ian Churchill is on art again and he has his style. His Kara looks rail thin and stretched out. That said, I think Churchill would make a dandy Power Girl artist. And if you can look past the sleaze, his stuff has a lot of polish.

We should start with the cover as it also is something of a foreshadow of the darker tone for this book.

Here we see Kara sitting in the dark of space, crying, looking at shattered rocks. Perhaps this is the detritus of Krypton. But this is an homage, really an homage through a mirror darkly.

Because it an homage to All Star Superman #1.

Here a rather peaceful looking Kal is sitting on a cloud in the bright blue sky looking at a sunny horizon. This is a far more optimistic and idyllic image.

But that wasn't meant for Supergirl in the early going of this book.

A Little Bit Of Kandor: Candor Pt 3 Supergirl #8

Welcome to my review of Supergirl #9, the third part of the Candor storyline I am covering.

After two issues, the Greg Rucka era on this Supergirl title ended. I would love to talk to Rucka at some point to see if this was always planned to be a brief run or if he had editorial differences or other opportunities that led him to leave.

But Supergirl #9 is the beginning of the Joe Kelly run on the book. For me, Kelly's run is the worst run for this character. That took me by surprise. After all, Kelly wrote 'What's so funny about Truth Justice and the American Way' in Action Comics #775, one of the better looks at Superman remaining an inspirational hero in a cynical world.

Instead of giving us a heroic Supergirl, learning the ropes on Earth, he gives us a petulant child, an angry and angsty young woman who only cares about herself. He made her a violent person, a killer on Krypton. And his portrayal of her was hypersexual. It certainly isn't any type of Supergirl that I want to read. And at times it is downright creepy.

The art on this issue leans into that portrayal. We start with the cover by Joe Benitez who gives us a Power Girl defining pulchritude. The internal art by Ron Adrian isn't as overt. Adrian brings a decent take on Kara, Karen, and the weird Kandor.

But this story can't end soon enough. And as you will see, it ends abruptly and rather terribly. On to this book!

A Little Bit Of Kandor: Candor Pt 2 Supergirl #7

Welcome to part 2 of my review of Candor, the second arc in the Supergirl  series from the early 2000's.

I had my concerns with Candor Part 1, an opening chapter which showed and angry, violent, murderous, and barely dressed Kara struggling with her place in a rebellion in Kandor.

A man claiming to be Kal-El is running Kandor like a fascist regime. This Kal is a racist, considering the Kryptonians in Kandor to be the True Children and all others lesser beings. He runs the place with an iron fist, keeping the aliens suppressed and with limited rights. Supergirl and Power Girl went into Kandor to help oust this regime and help the aliens. But to earn the other species trust, they have to don masks and the identities of Nightwing and Flamebird.

I was surprised that Greg Rucka was the writer on this. His female protagonists usually have agency. They usually depth. They are usually more mature. This Kara doesn't read like a Rucka character. And part 2, here in Supergirl #7 isn't much better. In fcat, in some places it is worse. Perhaps Rucka didn't like editorial leanings? After all, he is gone after this issue after this 2 issue 'run'.

Regular series artist Ian Churchill is back. He doesn't bring the same sort of curves that Ed Benes brought to things last issue but this is still drawn to the male gaze. Churchill's characters are always rail thin, almost stretched out.

We are One Year Later in the DCU. Let's head back to Kandor.

A Little Bit Of Kandor: Candor Pt 1 Supergirl #6

Welcome to part one to a week long look at Candor, the second arc in the Supergirl solo series from the early 2000's. As I said in my prologue post, I did not like this story at all. So if you don't want to read something relatively negative, you can jump off here. I will try to point out the high points. But there aren't many.

Remember that this is a reintroduction of Kara Zor-El as Supergirl in the DCU. It is clear that DC felt the best representation of the character was of a bratty, angry, angsty teenage girl. And, as if to double down, they have given her a motivation of being sent to Earth to kill Kal-El. This is a far cry from the other Kara. It is a far cry from really any hero.  I was still willing to see if this was going to be a redemption story ... remember I love PAD's Supergirl series. But this seemed wrong. Toss in hyper-sexualization of a 16 year old character and I was struggling to get behind this new incarnation.

I will also remind you that it was this run of Supergirl that was such a terrible misunderstanding of the core of the character that it spurred me to make this blog to celebrate her.

But enough retreading old sorrows.

Check out the cover by Ian Churchill of Kara and Karen as Nightwing and Flamebird, the Dynamic Duo of Kandor. That pose, as the tease of it was, is an homage.

An homage to the real dynamic duo, Batman and Robin.

I'll also point out that Greg Rucka was announced as the writer of the Supergirl book starting here and so I had pretty high hopes. So let's dive in!

On to the book!

A Little Bit Of Kandor: Candor Prologue

Okay folks, settle in.

Because of the lack of new books coming out and an utter wasteland of news about Supergirl in the current DCU post-cancellation, I have been combing the backs issues for suitable reviews. And I have been focusing a little bit on Kandor given the recent storyling in Batman/Superman.

That has led me to this Candor storyline and I feel it needs to be reviewed even if I honestly say that I detest it.

But it certainly fits the bill for a decent deep dive for a number of reasons.

First off, it definitely involves Kandor, the post-Crisis city which in this storyline is a mishmash of alien beings and Kryptonian survivors. (I think the city was re-established as a Kryptonian city in Superman Birthright ... perhaps another review idea.)

But more importantly, it shows just how wrong DC can get Supergirl. Remember, right now in the DCU Supergirl has been on a downward path of being rage-fueled and then rage-infected. The book is very dark. And that doesn't work for Supergirl.

Unfortunately, DC never seems to learn the lesson. And so we have storylines like this one, early on Supergirl's reboot. You will see as this story unfolds how they make Kara very angry, actually murderous, and not exactly heroic. You will also see how DC hyper-sexualized her despite saying she was a 16 year old girl, something which is totally cringe-worthy. Perhaps worst of all, this is smack dab in the middle of the 'my destiny is to kill Kal-El, my father is mad Zor-El' nonsense.

Yes, just about everything is wrong here. And Sterling Gates/Jamal Igle's salvation was about 2.5 years in the future.

Still, this was very early. I think people were still a bit giddy that we had a Kryptonian cousin around and were still willing to give this a fair shake.

To put in context, Candor happens right after Supergirl #5 in which we see Jeph Loeb (the architect of the Kryptonian Kara reboot). And that isn't a winner either. Nude Kara prancing around her father while saying she'll kill Kal. Dark Kara coming out of her and being generally evil. And a rather inscrutable ending.

Well, we go from inscrutable to impenetrable ...

A Little Bit Of Kandor: Superman #107

I continue my brief look at Kandor stories with a look back to Superman #107 from 1995, a middle chapter in the overly long and mediocre Trial Of Superman arc.

Remember, when John Byrne took over Superman, he made him once again the Last Son of Krypton, the only survivor of the exploding planet. So Supergirl, the Phantom Zone villains, and the bottled city of Kandor all went away.

But that IP is too good to waste and so we got new, different versions of these characters. Remember, this is the time of  the Matrix Supergirl!

On to the book!

The appropriately named 'Bottled Up' was written by Dan Jurgens, with art by Ron Frenz and Joe Rubinstein.

Briefly, in the Trial of Superman, Superman is being tried by the intergalactic Tribunal for the crime of being responsible for the destruction of Krypton. Apparently, one of Kal's ancestors was somehow responsible for the people of Krypton being unable to leave the planet. So Kal, through the generations, is going to be the stand-in for his familial crime.

Team Superman, including Alpha Cneturion, bands together to head into space and rescue the Man of Steel.

So this issue starts out with a nice shot of the Super-family cruising on an asteroid, following a trail to where Superman went.

I like this group shot as the body positions tell us a bit of the characters' personalities. Love the upright Eradicator and somewhat youngish, demure Supergirl.

I like the concept of Team Superman.

A Little Bit of Kandor: Supergirl #2

We are in a new world with the COVID-19 pandemic, with no new comics and very little comic news coming out. With no new reviews in the queue, I will start doing some back issue reviews, trying as best as I can to lean into recent storylines or plot points. That has always been my M.O. here at the site, not doing index reviews but celebrating the rich history of the DCU.

Recently, I covered Batman/Superman #8, a story reintegrating Kandor and setting up the Kandor Compromise. It is definitely a fun issue.

With that book in my mind, in particular the rather rapid reintegration of Kandor in current continuity given that Rogol Zaar had just smashed and stomped it to bits about 2 years ago. So why not take a little look at Kandor?

This won't be comprehensive at all. 'A Little Bit of Kandor' will be like 'Matrix Monday' was here, a side look at some stories that intrigue me or that build a little history. And I thought I'd start with 1973's Supergirl #2,

Now I am a fan of Supergirl. And I tend to be a tad forgiving for her stories.

But this story is crazy.

I mean 'did the creative team drop acid' crazy.

I know that late Silver Age/early Bronze Age stories are stuffed with story elements. How often do I say that a 10 pager in this time period has as many plot elements as current 6 issue arcs. But this story is filled not only with plot elements but significant inconsistencies to continuity, odd off-the-cuff major details, and insanity that I am surprised everyone agreed to do it.

In the end I wonder if the writer basically asked people what they wanted to see in a Supergirl story, got a list of things, and fit a story around those elements. It is the only explanation I can see.

Let's not forget the reason I am reviewing this now. Kandor is a huge part of this story. But I also feel like the rules and landscape of the bottle city we see in the tale are just a bit off as well.

At the very least, I also have to tip my hat to the medicine in the issue. We get a brief message of sickle cell disease. I suppose that is the educational element that was sort of demanded at the time in comics.

On to this story. Strap in!

Review: Man Of Steel #3

The Man of Steel #3 came out this week, marking the halfway point of this opening arc of the Brian Michael Bendis era for Superman. Anyone who comes to this site knows I had some concerns about this takeover. Everything seemed to be going right for the Superman books. Why should DC rock the boat?

Three issues in and I can say that I am very pleased with what Bendis is doing here. This doesn't detract from the Jurgens/Tomasi/Gleason stuff. It just means that Bendis seems to be embracing all that Superman is much as those prior teams did. There are pitch perfect moments in this issue that just sang to me. If you like classic Superman or if you like Modern Superman or if (like me) you like both, you are in good hands here.

I also have to add that I worried about what this changeup would mean for Supergirl in particular. After all, this is a Supergirl site first and foremost. This issue features Supergirl prominently and, again, I am very pleased. There is an easy camaraderie between the cousins here, a familiarity that I haven't sensed between them for a long long time. They clearly know each other, have fought with each other, and love each other. So that pushes this issue that much higher in my mind.

Add to all this the glittery artwork of Ryan Sook, one of my all time favorites, and you have a winning issue. Things travel fast. There is a lot of wordless pages here. But they punctuate the powerful emotional beats.

Bendis is here! So far so good.

On to the book.

Review: Batman/Superman #18

Batman/Superman #18 continues the 'Superman's Joker' storyline and once again showed me that my confidence in Greg Pak writing Superman is well founded. Pak's work on Action has been spectacular, especially his reintroduction of Lana into the Superman universe.

In Action, Pak has Superman in a horror environment. Here he has placed Superman in a Batman scenario, having an insane, obsessed enemy picking off his loved ones. I have heard people say that writing Superman stories is difficult because 'he is invulnerable and what can threaten him'?  But putting Superman in odd situations for him, for making him uncomfortable or unsure of himself, to make Superman ask himself tough questions, is how Pak is accomplishing it. Superman doesn't usually deal with psychopathic serial killers. How would he react?

But then, and this is so important to me, Pak puts Lois in the spotlight in this issue, showing us just how brave and powerful she is. If there is a character in the Superman universe who has been underutilized in the three years of the New 52, it is Lois. I have been waiting to see the 'real' Lois for some time and outside of Superman Unchained and the occasional snippet in Geoff Johns' Superman, I haven't gotten enough. So I love that she is front and center here.

The issue moves the plot along nicely with a not so surprise ending. But it is the character moments as Superman and his friends struggle to deal with this killer that makes this such a good issue.

The art by Adrian Syaf is sort of scruffy with lines and cross hatching that works well for this grimmer sort of story. This looks more like a Gotham book than a clean bright Metropolis book.

And I think the cover is an homage to Days of Future Past.

The story starts with Superman straining the slowly rebuilding Fortress computer to try and figure out who the killer is. I have to admit I had forgotten that the Fortress got demolished in Doomed. I think that story was so muddled and jumbled that some plot points have been lost amid the detritus.

Supergirl however doesn't think that is the right move. She barrels into Superman to stop him from accessing the computer.

While I don't like the physicality of her stopping him, I like that she does. Here she reminds him that the computer may not be able to survive a search this early in its regeneration. She knows he might regret this choice. And this Kryptonian computer is needed for other things too.

I have liked the interaction between the two super-cousins recently.

In a bit of serendipity or foreshadowing, Kara talks about the bottle city of Kandor, apparently lost into the Phantom Zone.

Much like the destruction of the Fortress, I didn't recall that the bottle city got somehow swept into the Zone. But Kara knows the Fortress computer will be needed to somehow find the city and revive the people in it, including her friend Tali Zar.

One small complaint about the art here. For a second I  thought Kara was holding the bottle which seemed unsafe and impossible. I know this is supposed to remind us what the bottle looks like ... but maybe don't position it in her hands, or have her hands away from it?

There discussion is interrupted by Batman.

He has deduced a plan. Talking on a magically protected line, he says that Superman's Joker must be lured out by someone so close to Superman that it would grievously hurt the Man of Steel should they die.

And that person is ... Lois Lane?

Now maybe this might be true in just about every other DC Universe. But we haven't seen these two interact much in the New 52. And while some sort of history is hinted at between the two, and maybe they are friends, we haven't seen anything that would make us (as readers) think it is true. Even Supergirl is shocked. After all, wouldn't Diana be the person he would miss the most?

Turns out the whole thing is a ruse. The communication isn't protected. It is all a stunt to use Lois as bait to lure out the killer.

And Superman knows it. There is nothing for Superman to do except fly to the rescue. And Supergirl heads there too.

It is clear that Superman cares for Lois greatly. But as a reader, I have to rely on my memory of "Lois and Clark" to feel that.

That said, this Lois is incredible.

Look at her standing there, arms crossed, steadfast whatever threat is heading her way. She plays up this role, saying how she loves Superman and remembers the 'wedding proposal on the moon'.

And here, she tells Batman that she is glad that he pulled her into this mess. She would have kicked his ass if he hadn't. She is that big of a friend of Superman, that big of a presence in his life.

This is the sort of Lois that I want to read.

But in an interesting turn of event, the 'bullet' doesn't go after Lois, evades Superman and Supergirl's efforts to stop it, and hits Batman in the chest.

This Joker says that Batman is the person Superman would miss the most. Batman is the person who understands Superman the most.

Now I suppose that Batman and Superman are best friends. And I guess 'understand' doesn't mean 'agree with' as I think these two are very different. And maybe this killer isn't targeting Wonder Woman because she is more difficult to kill. Because I would think the person Superman loves ... Diana ... would be the one who understands him the most and the person he would miss the most.

I also think it is interesting that Batman has Kryptonite built into his armor. This has to be defense against Superman ... although it is timely.

More Lois though. Superman seems a bit irked that Lois would put herself in danger at Batman's request. But she had no worries, knowing that Superman would save her. She always bets on blue.

But then Pak has Lois backtrack from any sense of true feelings, having her say that her 'love' was an act. Is she protesting too much?

Still, this is a great representation of Lois.

That Kryptonite laced armor probably saved Batman's life. The 'bullet' was a Kandorian flying at high speed! And he's dead!

So does that mean Batman killed this guy with Kryptonite? Is it self-defense? I have to mull that over in my head a bit ...

What is even more interesting is that this Kandorian, Kan Ko, was a 'Wellness Officer', a sort of selfless doctor type who helped save people afflicted with Sky Flu. How could this sort of saintly figure become a living weapon?

Lois thinks it is Brainiac but Batman doesn't think it fits the typical Coluan M.O.

Well it turns out that Batman was able to trace the bullet's trajectory. It came from ... a bottle ... which is in the middle of a tech shielded beach on Iceland. And looking at that thing, we see that there are a lot of angry people in that bottle, maybe Kandorians who are angry that Superman hasn't done more for them? A sort of revenge squad?

This is very good issue. I have to congratulate Pak for bringing a strong Lois into the story. Her willingness to risk herself for Superman and to do so unflinchingly is refreshing. I like the interaction between Supergirl and Superman.

I suppose the decision to target Batman is an interesting one. I wonder why, in the New 52, these two would be friends. Pak has done a lot to show why they would be. And elevating Batman to that status shows the strength of this friendship. Still ... I would think Diana (in this current DCU) would be the one Superman would miss most. And in a perfect world it should be Lois.

I don't know the motivation of these Kandorians yet. For me, that is going to be the linchpin for the story. If I don't understand why these Kryptonians would become killers, the foundation of the arc might crumble. But why worry about something that might be fine.

Overall grade: B+

March 2015 Solicits

The DC March solicits were released this last week and struck the death knell for 13 books. This will be longer than the usual solicits post, so settle in.

Between the move to the West Coast, the Convergence months 'off' from main continuity, and general lackluster sales on some titles, apparently it was time for DC to clean house. But 13 books! That's 25% of the New 52!

Here are the books getting axed!

 Aquaman and the Others
Arkham Manor
Batwoman 
Green Lantern Corps
Green Lantern: New Guardians 
Infinity Man and the Forever People
Klarion
Red Lanterns
Secret Origins
Star-Spangled War Stories Featuring G.I. Zombie
Swamp Thing
Trinity of Sin
Worlds’ Finest

Just a few thoughts about this list before I review the super-titles.

I am sad to see Batwoman go. For me, the book was absolutely beautifully rendered by JH Williams early in the title. The stories were confusing and underwhelming, but the art made up for it and so I collected. Williams left under some controversy. Marc Andreyko and Jeremy Haun came on board and made the book a more straightforward Bat-book. Frankly, I enjoyed those issues more than the Williams one because story and art were very good. Lately, the horror/vampire theme has been less than fantastic so I am not surprised to see them go.

I had high hopes for Worlds' Finest when it was announced. A book about Power Girl and Huntress, with art by George Perez and Kevin Maguire, seemed like a no-brainer. But the book languished a bit under Paul Levitz. And so it is sad that DC couldn't make a book that seems built for sales work.

I was looking forward to Landry Walker's run on Red Lanterns. And it is already over!

Lastly, at this time last year, I thought for sure that Supergirl was careening towards cancellation. Nelson's issues were pretty terrible. Krypton Returns portrayed her horribly. We had just heard about Red Daughter and I thought it would sully Supergirl even more. It is amazing to me how much more optimistic I am about this book just a year later. Congratulations to Charles Soule, Tony Bedard, K. Perkins, and Mike Johnson for bringing us the 'true' Supergirl.

I assume post-Convergence, we will see an large number of new books announced. 

On to the solicits. Here is the link at Newsarama:
http://www.newsarama.com/23007-dc-comics-full-march-2015-solicitations-including-batman.html

SUPERGIRL #40
Written by K. PERKINS and MIKE JOHNSON
Art and cover by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO
MOVIE POSTER Variant cover by MARCO D’ALFONSO
It’s time for final exams at the Crucible Academy – and they may just spell the death of Supergirl!

So much to talk about even with this brief solicit. 
One, is this the end of the Crucible arc? Or just final exams?
Two, I love this new costume and keep wondering if it is the new default look for Kara.
Three, how great to see Michael, the 'boyfriend' from Tony Bedard's run on the cover! As I have said, I like that Perkins and Johnson have picked up the ball from Bedard and not simply erase/ignore what came before!  

JUSTICE LEAGUE UNITED #10
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art by NEIL EDWARDS and JAY LEISTEN
Cover by ANDREW ROBINSON
MOVIE POSTER Variant cover by MARCO D’ALFONSO
“The Infinitus Saga” reaches its stunning conclusion! The combined might of the JLU, the Legion of Super-Heroes, the Rannian War Fleet and the Thanagarians learn the true meaning of sacrifice as events unfold that will change the DC Universe forever!

At last we have the finale of the Infinitus saga.

But I like that this JLU seems to be going the Cosmic route. Rann/Thanagar/Infinite Man/Ultra. That is all intergalactic stuff!

I would love to hear about Lemire's love for Ultra. What is the history behind this love?

ACTION COMICS #40
Written by GREG PAK
Art and cover by AARON KUDER
MOVIE POSTER Variant cover by JOE QUINONES
Bizarro make Superman sane! Happy to see each other! No fighting ever!

With the horror story in the rear view mirror, Pak and Kuder head back to some classic Superman stuff. Glad to see Bizarro returning and love Jae Lee's look!

Superman #40

Written by John Romita Jr

Art by John Romita Jr and Klaus Janson

Movie poster variant by Dave Johnson

The spotlight shines on John Romita,Jr. as he goes solo to  tell the story of the testing of Superman’s new power against the Justice League! But the appearance of an unexpected enemy could end the Man of Steel’s life!

I am worried about this issue.

BATMAN/SUPERMAN #20
Written by GREG PAK
Art and cover by ARDIAN SYAF and SANDRA HOPE
MOVIE POSTER Variant cover by TONY HARRIS
The devastating truth behind the terrorists from Kandor has been uncovered! Now, Superman and Batman must piece together who set this plan in motion and stop them before more innocent lives are destroyed!

At least we hear that the assasins are Kandorians, something sussed out by blog friend Thomas Hayes weeks ago! I am glad that Greg Pak is picking up and finishing the subplot of the awakened Kandorians that Scott Lobdell started. 

BATMAN/SUPERMAN ANNUAL #2
Written by GREG PAK
Art and cover by ARDIAN SYAF and JONATHAN GLAPION
Superman and Batman have defeated the menace that was targeting the Man of Steel for months, but not before he set something deadly in motion – their greatest foes have been given the means to kill Clark Kent. And for Clark, time is running out.

And again, part of the Kandorian subplot. 

SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN #17
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art DOUG MAHNKE and JAIME MENDOZA
Cover by ED BENES
MOVIE POSTER Variant cover by GENE HA
It’s a bloody showdown as Circe and Magog attack the power couple! And the outcome will bring about a major change in Kal and Diana’s relationship.


Hmmm ... a major change?
Maybe they stop being romantic?
If there is a proposal I just might quit comics.

SMALLVILLE SEASON 11: CONTINUITY #4
Written by BRYAN Q. MILLER
Art by IG GUARA, MARCELO DI CHIARA, JULIO FERREIRA and RUY JOSE
Cover by CAT STAGGS
Superman has defeated the Monitors, but what can he possibly do to
keep the Universe safe from them in the future? The people of Earth pick up their lives as best they can, and our heroes make some hard decisions about their own futures. As Season Eleven ends, new lives begin.

I am behind the times I know. The book has ended digitally. And I will be reading the ending 4 months after the fact. SO I am trying to savor this whole experience. Love that Supergirl on the cover!

So sad to see this book end. 

SCOOBY-DOO TEAM-UP #9
Written by SHOLLY FISCH
Art and cover by DARIO BRIZUELA

Superman needs help from Scooby and the gang – so they speed to Metropolis and the horribly haunted Daily Planet offices. But then Superman is turned into a super-powered monster! Even with help from Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen and Krypto the Superdog, how can these meddling kids stop the transformed Man-Monster of Steel before he wrecks the city?

I don't know where this book is in the production line, but please please please have "Rupergirl" make an appearance!

Whether she shows up or not, I am in.

Map Of Krypton

We have been seeing a bit more of Krypton this month what with Supergirl #0 and Superman #0 being primarily set on the planet. We also witnessed the clone uprising in Superboy #0 as well.

With that in mind I thought I would post a Silver Age map of Krypton.

I think it is pretty interesting to see how many of these Kryptonian landmarks and ideas have survived over time, having been utilized in the pre-Crisis world, the Modern Age of comics, and now the New 52.

My favorite landmark on Krypton has to be the Fire Falls. I covered some of the more memorable and recent Fire Fall stories over time on the blog. You can get to those posts here. The Falls have survived all the ages and were just seen in June in Supergirl #10.

Argo City also has had a pretty storied comic history. The concept of Zor-El encasing the city in a shield to survive Krypton's destruction has also survived the various reboots the DCU has gone through.

And even the shrunken city of Kandor in the end has been seen in the Silver Age, Modern Age, and DCnU.

Fort Rozz was seen last in the New Krypton story arc as being a citadel/jail that was flung into the Phantom Zone in its entirety. And the concept of 'weather control towers' was seen just a couple of weeks ago in Superboy #0.

I guess if I am a proud enough geek to have a favorite Kryptonian landmark then I should be proud enough to admit I have a second favorite too. There will always be a soft spot in my heart for the Scarlet Jungle, only because of the great Alan Moore story in DC Comics Presents #85.

I found this map in reprinted Superman Annual #1. The reprint was released in 1998. The original was published in 1960.

Will other parts of historical Krypton be seen in the DCnU?

Does anyone else have a favorite spot on Krypton?

Review: Action Comics #4

Action Comics #4 came out this week and continued the absolute breakneck pace that writer Grant Morrison has brought to this title. For me, this has been the best book of the DCnU relaunch, a mix of nostalgia, history, action, and characterization.

And this issue is no different. There is a lot to process here as Morrison continues to throw idea after idea at us in the context of high speed action. So we are continuing to learn about Superman and Clark ... and Lois and Metropolis. And we are learning about Luthor and General Lane ... and Metallo and Brainiac. And there isn't much exposition here. We are learning by seeing, not by being told. It is daring and is grabbing me as a reader.

As interesting is the lack of a true 'origin' in the book yet. We haven't seen Krypton explode. We haven't seen the desperate parents or the kindly couple. We are going to learn about that as we go along. And yet, we haven't seen Superman's actions from the beginning. There is no 'first sighting rescuing a space plane' event in this new run. We met Superman when he confronted Glenmorgan but he is already semi-established. Morrison has dropped us into the middle of the action and we haven't had a chance to catch our breath. It is exhilarating.

So yes, you can tell I liked this issue a lot and I'll jump into the story soon. The one downside here was Rags Morales art. While I think it still is very good, this issue looked a bit more rushed than I am used to. It seems rougher, less detailed. While that can add to the frenetic feel of the book,  it slightly detracted.

So 'The Collector of Worlds' has arrived, turning Earth's technology into a robot army and preparing to catalog the history of the planet and destroy it. Perhaps the most panicked of the characters in the face of this threat is Luthor. And he was The Collector's liaison!

Anyways, I think there is something ironic about what he says here. He blames Superman for the arrival of Brainiac ... not himself! Amusing. It is like other times when Luthor says he would have saved the world if Superman wasn't around as he is surrounded by the carnage he has wrought.

That said, Luthor has seemed a bit too openly cowardly for my taste in Action. In this issue he has seen running around pleading for his life. It seems somehow beneath Lex. I preferred the initial presentation of this new Lex, where he was smug and untouchable. It is hard to respect this Luthor and as a result a bit harder to fear. Of course, it may be this event that steels him into the cold blooded Lex I am used to.

As if in counterpoint we see the cool and calm John Henry Irons sipping a cocktail while the world crumbles around him. But that apathetic response is shelved when Irons hears the President call for Superman for help.

Irons realizes a Man of Steel is needed. The scene works well and is a glimmer of optimism.

Clark slipped away from his auto factory tour when the assembly robots turned into android killers. And despite the recent sway in public opinion, Superman jumps into the fray to save people.

Despite the devastation around them, the police initially try to arrest Superman! One thing I liked here was the old school 'slap on the bracelets boys' (which sounds like something Siegel would write in the 30s) 'or stand back and let me do my job'. That's heroism. And it sways the cops who finally realize Superman fighting for the good of the Earth outweighs the petty insult to someone like Glenmorgan. Superman is winning people over.

I don't quite understand the white shirt here.

Meanwhile, John Corben has been turned into 'the Voice' of the Collector, the mouthpiece of the alien invader. But Corben's voice occasionally breaks through the robotic tones of his programmer. Corben is still in there somewhere. And Lois tries to coax that true person out by reminding him of all the things that make him human. Hey ... he likes the Chili Peppers ... he can't be all bad.

What it does do is show that the Lois/Corben relationship was more than a date or two. She talks about a trip to Maui. I do like Lois' bravery here. I think she is going to be great in this book.

Despite her pleadings, the 'Metallo' personality wins out and Superman has to come in and save the day.

One of the things that Morrison has been touching on in these early issues is the initial distrust the population has of an alien hero. Corben drives that point home when he talks about how the Metal Zero program was initiated immediately after Superman went public. It is purely an anti-Superman program. That has to be demoralizing to Superman who has tried to help people. It is a sort of psychological attack on top of the overwhelming physical attack of Metallo and the robot army.

And, as if in counterpoint again, to stifle Metallo's words, Irons shows up, as Steel, to help. "I'll take care of this." Just awesome. For Superman, he suddenly has to feel like he is not alone. That he has a friend. That there is someone else out there who cares.

I'll cover the back-up Steel feature separately and soon. I like the low tech look here.

Unfortunately with museums purged of 'important artifacts', the Collector collects Metropolis, bottling it! This is the second time Metropolis has been bottled in recent history (it was in Johns' Brainiac arc). And look, there are more bottles and other cities. Is one of them Kandor? Is that piece of Superman mythos back ... so shortly after New Krypton? Is that how Clark learns his heritage?

This is clearly Brainiac-y enough to be Brainiac, what with the green head and pink electrode nubs. But the centipede look is new. I would wonder if this was a drone but it is doubtful *the* Brainiac would let a drone be in charge of his collection.

With Metropolis gone, things have changed. While his troops remain with their guns trained on Superman, General Lane asks Superman if he can help rescue Lois. General Lane! This will clearly be a turning point in Superman's career. This will make him a hero in the world's eyes. I mean, already attitudes are changing. But what plan could this brash Superman have?

What's worse is we have to wait 2 issues to get to the next chapter! An interlude? Already? Within the first arc? I don't know if this pacing is right. Unless it is planned to give Morales more time to finish the story and tighten things up. The next issue blurbs are about the actual origin, the rocket trip from Krypton, so hopefully things it will slip into the arc seamlessly.

The bottom line is that this comic remains the cream of the new universe. I want to read the next issue immediately after reading this book and that is always a sign of a winner.

Overall grade: A