Review: Convergence: Superboy

Convergence Superboy #2 came out last week, bringing the Kingdom Come Superman/90s Superboy battle to a close.

These Convergence side series are unbelievably brief. Were two issues of 20 page comics enough to tell a story in which the creators were tasked to 1) reintroduce characters from older time periods, 2) include the 'dome coming down now fight' scene, 3) have a plot that included something more than just the fight, 4) have some character growth or progression and 5) be good story-telling?

I don't envy these teams. It can't be easy, especially in an age where all arcs seem to be stretched to 6 issues. Are there compressed stories these days?

Convergence:Superboy does as good a job as any in accomplishing those goals above. Writer Fabian Nicieza has a nice little arc for Superboy here, bringing him from dismay for lacking powers, to re-embracing his powers, to fighting for his world, to ultimately sacrificing himself a little. Superboy is the straw that stirs the drink in this series as opposed to the Kingdom Come Superman who, outside of a major moment for all involved at the end of the book, acts more like an irresistible force.

Artists Karl Moline, inker Jose Marzan, and colorist Hi-Fi bring a nice house style to the book. This isn't flashy or warped. It has an old-school feel which suits the book fine given the presence of this Superman and the 90s Lois as well.

That doesn't mean that there isn't heavy action as the two fighters just lay into each other. This is almost 'Pacific Rim' material! Superman uses a 747 as a club.

But what I like about this is the understanding by Dubbilex that such a fight will undoubtedly level the city if it continues. Any time I read things like that, I feel it is commentary on the Man of Steel movie. These are heroes trying to save their worlds. What sort of world will they be saving if Metropolis is leveled and its people killed.

Nice splash page here.

Kingdom Come Superman has his eyes on the prize. He realizes that all these cities need to work together to fight Telos. But unlike others who simply want to form an assault squad, this Superman wants to 'win' his battle. Superman thinks that if Superboy concedes that Superman will get closer to Telos. Maybe from there Superman can end this.

But it seems like a risky gambit. Telos said that cities whose champions lose will be erased. How does Superman know that Superboy's world won't be utterly destroyed? Isn't he asking Superboy to make a decision that could impact the whole city's population?

The rules of this 'tournament' have been loose and ill-defined. I suppose that this seems as reasonably as anything else.

It does seem like Superboy is the young hero here. He is definitely fighting all out against the Kingdom Come heroes. But there is no listening to reason. He is just attacking.

I like the old tactile TK powers from the earliest days of this Superboy. Here is an interesting way for him to use it, breaking up the surface of the water as Flash runs on it. Haven't seen that one before.

But the biggest emotional moments of the book belong to the Kingdom Come Superman.

I love how overwhelmed he is when he sees Lois alive again. In Kingdom Come it was her death at the hands of the Joker (followed by the acceptance of Magog when he assassinates the Joker) that led Superman to his self-exile in the Fortress.

Her death shut him down.

So, of course, seeing her alive would shock him, would flood him with emotions. Does he want to lose another Lois again?

And then, during this pause in the battle, Superboy decides to continue the attack and inadvertently clobbers Lois with shrapnel.

Now I don't know if like Lois being used as a plot device. I don't think I like her injury being used as the impetus for discussion.

But there it is. I do love how Superman is distraught, rushing to her aid, cradling her, and having the Flash run her to the hospital.

It becomes clear to Kon that this brawl is doing nothing but harming innocents. And Superman explains how he hopes his victory will get him closer to Telos to end the entire thing.

Kon realizes that Superman has a better chance of saving the day than he does. Superman needs to win.  He even asks if he needs to die for this plan to work. He was willing to sacrifice his life in an effort to save everyone. It is mature turn for this Superboy. It is character growth ... in a brief 2 issue series. Impressive.

Superboy stands there and allow Superman to knock him out. And like that, this Superman is off.

While not earth-shattering, I enjoyed this 2 parter, this chapter in particular. To see these two heroes stop their destructive skirmish, come up with a way to try to save everyone, and to have Superboy sacrifice himself is entertaining and engaging. And these are two characters whose stories I have enjoyed. It was good to revisit them.

Overall grade: B/B+

Review: Convergence Superboy #1

Superman had died and four heroes came forward to claim the mantle. One was a brash youngster who claimed he was a clone of Superman. In fact, despite his youth, he demanded to be called Superman. Most called him Superboy.

After the events of Reign of the Superman, Superboy was given his own title. He was impetuous, sometimes immature, and always fun. Written by Karl Kesel with art by Tom Grummett, Superboy was a fun title in my pull list. He was a hero on a journey but he was having a good time.

Then things get choppy. He died in Infinite Crisis. He returned in Legion of Three Worlds. He was in a Twin Peaks style book by Jeff Lemire. And then the 52 happened and all bets were off. That new Kon was no character I wanted to read.

So, as with many of the Convergence books, I was thrilled to revisit the Metropolis Kid, a character happy to have powers and smiling as he flew around being a hero. Written by Fabian Nicieza with art by Karl Moline, Convergence Superboy gets us close to those fun-filled early days of the brash Conner.

But first we have a little bit of angst and pathos.

We start with Kon being tested in Cadmus. Dubbilex is trying to see if he can kickstart Kon's powers under the dome. Maybe by infusing him with solar power?

Well it turns out that somehow the dome created a psionic block in Superboy's mind. The energy is present but can't be accessed.

And this is a Superboy who we hear was just getting proud of what he was doing, just being accepted for who he was ... and then the dome came down.

Who is he if he isn't Superboy? He isn't Clark that's for sure. And that's hammered home in a panel where we see him looking at Jimmy and Lois running off somewhere. And he can't help them either. He's just a normal kid.

And then we see part of what is haunting him. What has always haunted him.

He is living in the shadow of Superman. Both figuratively and literally.

How do you fill in for someone that great? How do you live up to that? How do you not disappoint yourself?

This a Kon who is truly in adolescence, just on the cusp of adulthood, and trying to figure out who he is. And with his powers are gone, this is an even trickier conversation.

But then ... the dome drops .... and powers return!

And just like that the happy, smiling, exuberant Superboy returns.

I have to say, I smiled when I saw this page.

This period of joy is short-lived. The 'tournament of worlds' is announced by Telos. And that means a battle is brewing.

Superboy's Metropolis is set up to fight the world of Kingdom Come. There is Wally as a true Hermes, a red blur. And then the Dick Grayson Red Robin. They attack Superboy in an abandoned corner of the city.

I love Kon's matter of fact questioning wondering who these people are. I like the befuddled look on his face too. This is that sort of unfiltered response you expected out of this Superboy.

And then Kon shows a little ingenuity, using his tactile telekinesis to drop the empty buildings on Wally and Dick, incapacitating them.

Some intelligence maybe? Some growth in him and comfort in his ability?

Still, maybe the Flash, who in Kingdom Come was just a blur, should have escaped this?

But then the big Kahuna shows up, the Kingdom Come Superman. And he wonders who Superboy is and why he wears the S. Superboy's brash answer, the acceptance of the challenge seems spot on. After a year off, my guess is he is itching to use his powers and defend the city.

But I do have to wonder why the Kingdom Come Superman, so eager in that book to bring about some peace, would so willingly join in the tournament, fighting other heroes. That seems wrong. And the Kingdom Come Superman was so powerful, even Kryptonite wouldn't bother him. So I don't think would be a close fight.

I thought this was one of the better issues of Convergence because it captured the feeling of this period's Superboy book. That's more than I can say for Supergirl Matrix or Batgirl. And there was even a little teen angst to go along with the teen spirit.

Overall grade: B+

Review: Supergirl #34

The timing couldn't have been worse, more ironic, more strange.

On Monday, DC released there November solicits including the reveal that there was going to be a new writing team on Supergirl.

On Wednesday, Supergirl #34 was released, the first glimpse at what Tony Bedard had in store for Supergirl. Gone is the red ring. Gone is a reliance on rage. After 33 issues of an often angry and isolated Kara, this issue turned the corner. Instead we see a heroic Supergirl, helping people, and gaining a friend ... maybe a love interest. It felt like a new beginning. Instead, it turns out to be an ending. Ironic.

Despite being labeled a Superman:Doomed crossover, this is a Supergirl story. The events spurring the story along are linked to Doomed but don't overwhelm the narrative. I am glad that DC linked the book to Doomed if only to bring in some completists who might not read the issue otherwise.

The art on the book is done by Karl Moline who brings a nice style to the issue. It is close enough to Emanuela Lupacchino to keep the feel of the book intact. It really showcases a young and fresh-faced Kara. The cover is done by Cam Stewart. I don't know what I like less - an angry Supergirl or a gloomy Supergirl. Here we see the latter, Kara in a rain-soaked, Kryptonite drenched world.

The bottom line is that I loved this issue. But it is a bittersweet experience. Frankly, I want to read more of this Supergirl, finally acting like the Kara I have loved. And just like that it is gone.

 The last issue of Supergirl had her rid herself of the ring, destroy World Killer 1, and swear to make Earth her home. Unfortunately, the Earth isn't too hospitable right now. It is swaddled in a Kryptonite cloud making it literally toxic to Kara.

Now I could comment on how strange it is that the military had a K-Bomb this powerful waiting in the wings. Given the lack of trust in Superman just about everyone has in the New 52, I'm surprised it hasn't been used before! And just how much Kryptonite did they have that they could envelop the planet??

Instead I might comment on how prior to this K-cloud, Supergirl acted like Earth was poisonous to her. Now, just she is ready to embrace the world, it truly is poisonous.

And I am old enough to like the title of The Girl Who Fell To Earth, a nice riff on the Bowie movie. Here Kara has fallen into a building in Queens NY, where a wheelchair bound boy named Michael has been trying to reach his parents in Metropolis.

Seeing Kara incapacitated, Michael realizes the Kryptonite is hurting her. He takes her into the old bomb shelter in his building's basement and covers her in lead blankets. With the Kryptonite effects blunted, Kara awakens. Bedard takes the time to give us a quick recap of Doomed, first from Kara and then from Michael.

I loved this panel. Knowing he needs to leave Earth, Superman tells Supergirl that the world needs her. Earth needs her help. It shows how much he trusts her. It shows how much he believes she can become a hero. And, for a long time Supergirl fan, it sort of harkened back to her role as an 'emergency secret weapon' for Superman, when he wanted her in reserve to protect the world if something happened to him.

Supergirl seems shocked that Michael didn't call the police or army to come scoop her up. She even is surprised that Michael isn't frightened of her.

In a great moment, Michael brings up one of my favorite moments of the New 52 Supergirl - her victory over the World Killers in Supergirl #7. He knows she saved everyone that day. And that he doesn't need to be scared of her.

The follow-up to this panel is Supergirl with a stunned expression saying that is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to her.

I applaud Bedard for incorporating the past of this book and dealing with it rather than just sweeping it all under the rug.

 We get a little back story of Michael as he talks to Supergirl. He injured his spine when he was involved in a car wreck. He actually was briefly dead until he was medically revived.  He has been in the wheelchair since then. But he didn't let that event, that pain, that loss mire him down into anger or despair. Instead he has decided to dedicate his remaining life to make the most of things.

It is, of course, a reflection of Supergirl's life. She has lost everything. She is in pain. Maybe it is time to shed all the emotional weight and instead embrace life. Maybe it is time to make the most of things.

This isn't a ground-breaking literary trick. But it works. And it is the perfect follow-up to Kara's decision to shed the ring. This was the biggest moment in the book.

 Now here is where things unfortunately get a bit fuzzy from a continuity point of view. Remember that this is a Doomed crossover. Right now Brainiac is making the people in Metropolis comatose, draining them of their energy. And Michael's parents are there now. Supergirl decides to find them.

In the Doomed main issues, Brainiac has kept everyone alive even if comatose. The cars simply stop. The planes stay aflight. In this issue, when suddenly comatose, people have crashed their cars. Planes have slammed into the ground. Subways have derailed. As a result, this seems out of synch with the rest of the story. This continuity gaffe will probably knock the book review down half a grade.

But it does give Supergirl an opportunity to show just how much she has changed. After a solar recharge, she flies to Metropolis and tells the police that she is there to help. It again smacks back to classic Superman. A simple declaration of being around to help people. It sways the police who are there.

 And Supergirl is able to help out. Some of the crashes have landed outside the 'coma zone'. And so she is able to help the rescue parties and find survivors.

It is a simple montage of panels but it is wonderful. Hoisting a crashed jet. Ripping the doors of the twisted subway. The police and fire fighters beside her.

These are classic images of what super-heroes do.

Wonderful.

And as a bonus, Kara is able to find Michael's parents alive and relatively unharmed. She flies back to tell him the good news and ... ahhhh ... l'amour.

Can I say that Supergirl falling for an 'ordinary' person, a non-super being, is also classic and wonderful. Now I might call Michael extraordinary. But if this was the romance that Bedard was going to bring to the book, I am said to see it go.

It definitely cements an embrace of the planet, to love one of its people.

We know that Brainiac eventually forces all of Earth into a suspended animation state. Kara watches helplessly as Michael and those around her succumb. It makes her look skyward where she sees the Brainiac ship and the Cyborg.

She has a history with both. But I like how Bedard makes Brainiac a historical bogeyman for Kara. It resonates with how Johns' treated them in his run. And I think that Supergirl would have a feeling of fear and anger for the collector.

And she also has some outright anger for the Cyborg given that he killed her in the Michael Alan Nelson issues.

But this Doomed cliffhanger didn't have the impact that the first part of the issue did. It is Kara, her interacting with Michael, her drive to help, that kiss ... all of that is what I loved in this issue. For the first time, in a long time, this book read like Supergirl. And that made me smile.

I can only hope that Kate Perkins and Mike Johnson don't take the character backwards in characterization. This is the Supergirl most fans of the character want to read.

Overall grade: A- (nudged up)