Back Issue Box: Infinite Crisis Secret Files And Origins

One of my greatest joys in comics is scouring the bargain bins for hidden gems. Dollar boxes are abundant here and whenever I thumb through, I feel like some old miner, panning for gold and hoping to strike it rich.

Now usually I am looking for things from the 70s and 80s in those bins but more recently, I have discovered a new passion. I like finding books from the 90s and 00s which maybe I should have bought but didn't. And any over-sized or Prestige format book found there is most likely going to get bought.

In particular, I have found a new love for the DC Secret Files and Origins series. These books usually have a couple of stories. They exist to fill in readers to a current character's history and ongoing stories. And they always have some version of 'Who's Who' style pages. It has reached a point that, if in the $1 box, even for characters or arcs I don't like, I'll probably get the Secret Files and Origins.

Which brings me to Infinite Crisis Secret Files and Origins 2006. To be frank, I don't really remember this Crisis too well. I remember Alexander Luthor and Superboy Prime escaping paradise and doling out 'reality punches' to shake up the universe. I think Luthor even makes 'tuning forks' like the Monitor. And, of course, Superman from Earth-2, the first hero and the ultimate hero in Crisis on Infinite Earths, was made a patsy.

I also remember a hodge-podge of artists filling in pages in the latter issues.

But the ending? I don't recall.

So this falls into one of those 'don't like the arc but maybe I'll like this Secret Files' sort of issue. And, as usual, I did. A few key moments will be shared!

June 2018 Solicits

The June solioits for DC Comics have been released and it is a big month for Superman fans. Finally the Bendis era takes over. Here is a link to all the solicits:
https://www.newsarama.com/39119-dc-comics-june-2018-solicitations.html

I just don't know what to think about this whole upheaval of Superman. I suppose this is what I was feeling in 1987 when Byrne completely uprooted and replanted the entire mythos. In the end, I was pretty happy with Byrne reinvigorating the property. But much of that was I felt the stories had become tepid before he took over. Right now I feel we are in a Renaissance for the Superman and his family.  So now seems like an odd time to blow things up. And this is my biggest concern. After years of suffering, we finally had a Superman I could read and enjoy. Will this be a step back?

Artgerm Supergirl #20 Variant

I have been pretty impressed with the variant covers that Artgerm has been producing for the ongoing Supergirl title. While it is abundantly clear that Artgerm is a 'good girl' artist, the pieces are so beautiful I can forgive if they occasionally veer to cheesecake.

And in particular, I have loved his more recent covers showcasing the different costumes the Supergirl character has worn over the years. I spotlighted the 70's hot pants cover for Supergirl #18  here. And didn't share the equally gorgeous 'white shirt' costume cover he is putting on Supergirl #19.

But when this variant for Supergirl #20 was out on the internet late last week I had to show.

People who have been coming to this blog for a while know that the belly shirt costume designed by Michael Turner is, without a doubt, my least favorite costume for Supergirl. In particular, when it was taken to it's extremes, growing ever tinier, I cringed.

But there is something about this cover that made me smile. So I want to tip my hat to Artgerm for honoring Michael Turner here. Because this pose by Kara is pure Turner.

Supergirl Tidbits

Just a couple of quick hits of things I have noticed that I feel warrant some coverage but not big enough to deserve a whole post.

So here are some quick hits!

Item #1: Steve Orlando has been bringing a lot of DC history into his books, in particular Supergirl where we have seen Lar-On, Strange Visitor, and other nods to the past.

Here in Justice League of America #15 he has Ryan Choi comment on an experiment performed at the New Athens Experimental School. Of course, this was the school where Linda Danvers was a guidance counselor in the Superman Family run. Nice nod to the past!

Secret Files And Origins Blog Crossover: Supergirl 2004

Welcome to another blog crossover among friends where character pages from DC Secret Files and Origin issues are shared. These 'files' are a sort of nouveau Who's Who pages tucked between the stories of these oversized issues. I recently stumbled across this Michael Turner Supergirl page.

Earlier this month I went to the Granite State Comic Con and really got elbow deep into the dollar boxes, walking away with a ton of stuff cheap. One of the things I got, on a whim and without flipping through, was the Superman Secret Files and Origins 2004 issue. I can't pass up high-page count books at a low price!

(For me, one of the joys of going to comic book conventions is thumbing through all of the $1 boxes trying to find some diamond in the rough or some unknown gem amidst the detritus. It also allows me to sample titles I passed on earlier at a cut price.)

The convention gods have shined on me in the past when it came to Supergirl. Sometimes it seemed that at random I would pull out a Batman Chronicles or Adventure Comics 80pg Giant or Four Star Spectacular that happened to include a Supergirl story. Is there a greater force at work here?

Anyways, what was in the back of that book? A Supergirl Secret Files page sporting Michael Turner art. This was basically right around the time the Supergirl story arc finished in Superman/Batman so it is pretty sparse on facts. And while I am not the biggest Turner fan, there is no denying his vision was crucial to the inception of the last Kara.

Looking for more Secret Files character pages? Head to these fine sites!

• Aquaman @ The Aquaman Shrine
• The Atom @ Power of the Atom
• Doctor Fate @ Tower of Fate
• Firestorm @ Firestorm Fan
• Green Lantern @ The Indigo Tribe
• Hawkman @ Being Carter Hall
• Martian Manhunter @ The Idol-Head of Diabolu
• Renee Montoya @ Who is the Question?
• Phantom Stranger @ I Am The Phantom Stranger
• Steel @ DC Bloodlines
• Suicide Squad @ Subject: Task Force X
• Wonder Woman @ Diana Prince
• Zatanna @ Justice League Detroit

And here is the cover of the Superman Secret Files and Origins 2004 issue for anyone interested in hunting it down.

Enjoy!

Michael Turner Mini-Statue

The Michael Turner Supergirl mini-statue finally came out last week. If you are a fan of Turner's work and Supergirl design, it is a very nice piece. Supergirl definitely has the large eyes and Turner torso. It evokes his work nicely, even the highly detailed hair. That also means the shirt and skirt are smaller than we have recently seen in the book.

The statue comes in two pieces. The first is the Kryptonian crystal like base. The second piece is Supergirl, a crystal piece connected to her cape which fits into the base.

One of the complaints that I had heard about the large size version of this statue was the fragility of the crystal base. I have read that the smallest crystals at the edge of the base snapped off easily. I suppose I could see that as being a worry here as well.

It is bigger than I thought a "mini" statue would be.

The design of the statue gives the illusion that Supergirl is flying or floating which also adds to the appeal of the statue.

I also like the 'movement' of the cape here as well. The feel of the cape moving adds to that 'flying and floating' aspect of the statue.

The statue is priced at $79.99 so it is a bit pricey. But much more affordable than the full-size version which runs for about $300 on EBay. Since I will probably never get the full-sized statue, I am glad to have this one in my collection.

And more statues are on the way. The Adam Hughes' Women of DC, the Superman Family mulit-pieced statue, and the Amanda Conner Supergirl bust are all scheduled for release this year.

News From Blog Friends Part 1

I really appreciate it when folks who frequent this blog share their Supergirl news with me. It really makes me feel like there is a community here.

So I figured I would spread the news that some blog-friends have forwarded to me recently. There will be several posts today spread out over the morning. We'll start of with Gene who recently went to the 2011 Amazing Arizona Comic Con and met a couple of creators from the initial story that brought the Kara Zor-El Supergirl back to the DCU: writer Jeph Loeb and colorist Peter Steigerwald.

As usual, I'll have some comments. Take it away Gene!

Jeph Loeb said that he had not seen the Superman animated episode "Little Girl Lost" before he wrote Superman/Batman: Supergirl. Loeb said that the late Michael Turner played a big part in making the story what it is, and that his artistic contribution made DC Comics more supportive in reintroducing Supergirl as the hero they grew up with.

When I asked him why Wonder Woman did not just ask Superman to take Kara to Paradise Island instead of forcibly taking her in the park, Loeb explained that in his view Wonder Woman is like Thor. As a near god like hero, Wonder Woman does not feel she has to ask anyone for something she feels that has to be done.

After I asked Loeb if there was any interesting behind the scenes stories about writing Supergirl, he said that before drawing the story, Michael Turner had zero knowledge about the DC Universe. After reading "Crisis on Infinite Earths" and other research, Turner actually surprised Loeb by telling him that Harbinger was still alive, was living on Paradise Island, and was the same age as Kara.

Loeb loved the recent Superman/Batman: Apocalypse movie and noticed how they changed Harbinger's part in the story by having her share her premonition before Wonder Woman took Kara to Paradise Island.

How interesting that having Michael Turner on board is what may have nudged DC into re-introducing this Supergirl to comics.

I don't know if I completely buy his Wonder Woman explanation. Diana is also a friend of Superman. I still think she could have talked to him. And I am glad that Loeb like the recent movie adaptation of the story.

I then went to the Aspen Comics booth where I talked to Peter Steigerwald about coloring Supergirl. He was very happy to help bring back the Supergirl he remembered as a kid, and enjoyed coloring the environments of Gotham City and Metropolis. He said that Superman does not belong in Gotham the same way that Batman does not belong in Metropolis. There is no blue in Gotham, and that Superman was the only thing that was blue when he was in that city. Batman always stood in the shadows when he was in Metropolis. Paradise Island was always covered in rainbows. He dirtied everyone's color when they were on Apokolips because they were diminished in Darkseid's dark aura.

Steigerwald says that coloring the Supergirl story was the highlight of his career and that he can't pick a single favorite part of it because he has so many favorite scenes from the story. Although he has not had a chance to see the recent animated adaptation, he is pleased to see Michael Turner's style come to life from the movie trailers that he has seen. Michael Turner was completely responsible for the style and color of Supergirl's new costume, he always consulted DC Comics about it, and that he had a good time making his version of the new Supergirl. 

As an added bonus, Teen Titans writer J.T. Krullwas sitting next to Peter Steigerwald. When asked if Supergirl will appear in Teen Titans soon, Krull replied that there are no immediate plans, but nothing is impossible. Supergirl is one of his favorite characters, and he really enjoyed Sterling Gates' recent run. He has only seen the first episode of "Young Justice" and that he thinks it will be a great show.

Nice insight in the coloring process, something I think I know too little about to always comment on.

And how great that Krul loves Supergirl and Gates' take on her. I would love to see Supergirl interact with the Titans now and then.

Thanks again Gene for sharing!

Apocalypse Thoughts - What Should Be In The Movie

Well, after mulling over the original Supergirl origin story from Superman/Batman, and musing about what shouldn't be in the upcoming Apocalypse movie, I thought I would post what I hope will be in the movie.

Some of these have already been confirmed when the trailer for this movie was leaked late last week. Unfortunately, the trailer has been pulled from many places on the internet. I wonder exactly how that happened. Could it have been a miscommunication? A calculated 'mistake' to drum up publicity? A realization that maybe it should have been 'released' at SDCC? For whatever reason, I hope people got a chance to peek at it before it was yanked.

EDIT: So far this site still has it up. Click here.

Here are the things I hope are in the movie, again in the order in which they appeared in the story, not by importance.

1) Superman's joy - This story was way before New Krypton. It was before Last Son. So one of the things that I liked about this was Superman's utter happiness in realizing that he isn't alone in the universe, that he isn't the Last Kryptonian.

I'll add to that Superman's immediate love of his cousin. The characterization of Superman really felt right on for this arc, even his occasional foray into being over-protective. After all, who would want your long lost family member to be hurt in any way, even if it is while just sparring with Artemis.


2) Army of Doomsdays - When Darkseid invades Paradise Island in his attempts to kidnap Supergirl, he sends an army of Doomsdays to soften up the troops. It made sense from a continuity point of view as Luthor had given Doomsday to the Lord of Apokolips. These weren't your standard Doomsday; they were eliminated somewhat easily. Still, an squad of Doomsdays was a sight to behold.

This one was confirmed in the trailer.


3) Big Barda - Turner drew her more like 'Tall thin Barda' rather than 'Big Barda'. But I really love Barda and Mister Miracle as characters. Both are victims of Apokoliptian training and torture who let love save them. In this story, Superman and Batman needed warriors to help bring the fight to Darkseid. Who better than Barda.


4) Batman defeating Darkseid - Sure Superman is the one who in the end pounds Darkseid. But it was Batman who orchestrated Supergirl's release as well as the 'non-aggression against Kara' pact. I don't always need to see Batman standing up against the most powerful characters in the DCU. In this story it worked because he out-thought Darkseid, commandeering Darkseid's own weapons and holding them as an ultimate threat. I love how Darkseid respects the threat since it came from a human.

5) The Welcome Party - Perhaps my favorite moment of the story was the welcoming party when Superman introduces Supergirl to the heroes of the DCU. From the beginning comments by Superman when he states that it seems that the heroes only unite for funerals to Supergirl hoping to become a hero worthy of the costume, I thought this scene was great. Hopefully this scene remains relatively intact. I think it would be great for all these characters to be in the background, a way for DC to expose new viewers to the pantheon of super-heroes.

Let's hope the high points of this story stay intact! I can't wait for this movie to come out.

Apocalypse Thoughts - What Shouldn't Be In The Movie

With the DCU movie Superman/Batman:Apocalypse (based on the new Supergirl origin story by Jeph Loeb and Michael Turner) scheduled for a September release, I figured it was time to take a look back at the original arc from Superman/Batman #8-13.

In particular, I figured I would reread the story and see what I hope will be in the movie but more importantly what I hope won't be in the movie.

I tend to be a curmudgeon, so I figured I would do the 'what shouldn't be in the movie' post first.

As always, I would love to hear what everyone thinks. I bet there is stuff that irked other people. And I promise, there will be a 'what should be in the movie' post so we can celebrate the strong parts of the story.

So in the order in which they appeared in the story, here are the top 5 things I hope I don't see.


1) Naked Kara - Didn't it just seem gratuitous? I never understood why Kara had to be in her birthday suit in her spaceship. But because of that, we got to see some peekaboo shots of her throughout the first issue of the arc as she emerges from the water, wanders around Gotham, and awakens in the Batcave. I really really hope to not be subjected to this sort of stuff in the movie.

Luckily, from a comic point of view, this was retconned when Gates/Igle showed Kara's "real" escape from Argo City.

2) Batman's trust issues - I understand that Batman is paranoid and that he wouldn't automatically assume Supergirl was who she claimed to be or accept her into his life. But this storyline went a little overboard. He didn't believe her. He thought she was dangerous. He grilled her with questions, interrogating her. He wondered if the message sent with Supergirl to Earth said she would bring trouble to the world rather than be a treasure to it. Even after some time interacting with her, he simply didn't believe she was who she said she was. It felt overdone in many places.

I won't mind this in a small dose because it makes sense. But let's not have it permeate the plot like it did in the comics.


3) Thong straps - I suppose this is similar to #1, but I hope that I don't get an eyeful of Supergirl's underwear in the movie. In the comic, they say Lois bought her this outfit ... Lois! And how can Clark just calmly walk beside her. If that was my little cousin, I'd be pretty uncomfortable. Does that make me too old-fashioned?

Anyways, keep the hip-hugger jeans if you must, but let's not see the thong straps.


4) The death of Harbinger - Not many current fans know or understand who Harbinger is, let alone the casual fan who might pick up the movie. I don't think she is a known enough character to even introduce in the movie. from a dramatic perspective, there will be no emotional punch gained from her death if people have no prior understanding of who she is.

I like Harbinger. But I hope she isn't in this movie at all.


5) Superman's speech as he fights Darkseid for the last time - I was cringing when I read this speech the first time and I still cringe when I re-read it. Is Superman really going on and on and on with Darkseid about the majesty of a home run? The thrill of being asked to the prom? The joy of slow dancing. Do you think Darkseid has an inkling about what any of that means?

And even if he did ... would you ever talk about going to the prom while you slug it out with Darkseid? Ever?

(cringing)

While in some other instance Superman might actually say that speech, it just doesn't work here.

And now a bonus ...

What I fear won't be in the movie.

1) Wonder Woman and Paradise Island - I hope it isn't true. I hope I'm wrong. I would love to see Wonder Woman in this movie. But when the voice of Wonder Woman wasn't announced and when she and the Amazons weren't mentioned at all in any of the promotional material, I wonder if Diana is simply being written out.

The movie could work if Batman trains Supergirl (as opposed to training happening on Paradise Island - and the text says 'Batman takes her under his wing'). I assume that Barda and the Female Furies will remain in the movie since the New Gods are all over the Blu-Ray release promo. Maybe adding Wonder Woman and Paradise Island would be too much for this; keeping to that rigid 75 minute run time might not work if the Amazons play as big a role as they did in the book.

I really hope that I am wrong. I liked how the Trinity were all involved in Supergirl's origin.

I guess we'll find out in September.

Supergirl In Next DC Animated Movie!

In what has to be considered absolutely fantastic news, it appears that the next DC animated movie will be based on the Supergirl origin storyline from Superman/Batman #8-13. That certainly looks like the Darkseid-corrupted Supergirl in the lower left.

The official news broke on the Superman home page. Here is the link:
http://www.supermanhomepage.com/news.php?readmore=8148

The movie will be released on September 28, 2010. There will be a single standard edition DVD, a double-disc Special Edition DVD, and on Blu-ray disc.

I have said for the past couple of years that this is a great time to be a Supergirl fan and this is further evidence of her popularity.

And thanks to blog friend Mauricio Hunt for pointing me to this TV Guide article:
http://www.tvguide.com/News/Look-Summer-Glau-1019973.aspx

Here we get a sneak peek of what Supergirl will look like in the book. Also, Summer Glau is revealed to be doing her voice. Summer Glau! Too fantastic!

Here is what Bruce Timm had to say about Glau's performance.

"It was a fun part for her to play because it wasn't one-note," Timm says. "She could be young and bratty, like a typical teenager, and then show a little bit more maturity, then get feisty, then scared. She's got quite a gamut of emotions to act out."


I have to tip my hat to blog-friend Gene who speculated this movie was being made when he saw that the Turner-based action figures were resolicited for an October release. That is some serious prognostication!

Sales Review: February 2010

The sales numbers for February are up at ICV2 and as expected the anniversary issue Supergirl #50 did very well. Here is the link: http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/17020.html


Supergirl #50 ranked 48th among comics selling 33,338 issues. That is an increase of 20% from issue #49. It also is the highest amount sold since issue #44, the beginning of Codename:Patriot.

It also outsold every one of the Superman titles, which creeped in right behind.


Of course, this issue had a lot going for it to spur sales up a bit.

It was the magical number fifty.
It had a Michael Turner cover.
It had a variant cover by Josh Middleton.
It had a story co-written by Helen Slater.

There was a lot of publicity and buzz around this. Hopefully some of the folks who tried out the issue will stick around for the future.


As for R.E.B.E.L.S. #13, it continued to dive in sales after the Blackest Night bump.


The penultimate issue of the Starro saga sold 11,836.

My guess is their might not be any middle ground with the book. You either love it or not. There might not be a 'I like REBELS' crowd. Anyways, I look forward to see what happens post-Starro.
I will review the last chapter of that story soon.

Review: Supergirl #50 Part 1

There was a time when I doubted this Supergirl title would make it. There was a time when I thought the powers that be simply had no handle on the character, that they were making her unlikeable and therefore economically insolvent. I thought for sure Supergirl would be cancelled.

So it was with some joy that I bought Supergirl #50 this week, 2 copies no less. It has been 17 issues since the Gates/Igle reboot and Supergirl matters now. So all this pomp ... the extra-sized issue, the Turner cover, the variant cover, the Helen Slater/Jake Black back-up ... it was all icing on the cake. I am just happy this title is surviving and thriving.

I will review the main story here and the Slater/Black/Chiang back-up feature tomorrow.

One quick word about the cover. While I prefer Josh Middleton's and Jamal Igle's takes on Supergirl, there is no denying the splendor of this Michael Turner cover. Turner helped recreate Supergirl and I have always appreciated what he did for the character. Moreover, on a recent interview on iFanboy, Sterling Gates revealed that this cover art was originally a personal piece Turner did for Dan Didio. Didio took the framed piece off the wall to be made into this cover.

The Josh Middleton variant cover is also spectacular ... not that I'm surprised. I am running out of superlatives for his work.

Here, I loved the frightened expression on Supergirl's face. That conveys so much emotion.

But I also like the more technical aspects of the art here. How the the three dimensional nature of the piece really pops. You can see some of Kara sticking out of amber, that hand almost lunging out of the cover. I also like the slight blurriness of the areas that are encased, giving the viewer a feel that she really is embedded. Slick!

This was a 1:10 variant and my local comic book store had 6 copies on the shelf. That's a good sign of a little sales bump.

As seen in the preview on Newsarama, the issue starts with the resurrection of As seen in the preview on Newsarama, the issue starts with the resurrection of Superwoman and her retrieval by the military. This story started in Supergirl Annual #1.

We don't yet know exactly how Lucy has come back. Mirabai (who we haven't seen recently) wonders if it is Lucy's desire to live.

One thing for sure, I don't think she has come back unscathed. Her body is wracked with pain. She seems invulnerable. She kills a soldier with heat vision. And she's doing it all without the suit from which she initially derived her powers. She's enraged ... scared ... it isn't pretty.

I find it fascinating that General Lane can completely shift the blame for Lucy's condition away from himself. He was the one who put Lucy in the suit, sent her on her missions, had her fight Supergirl. And yet, it's not his fault that Lucy has returned this way. It is the Kryptonians' fault. Talk about rationalization and prejudice.

Even more intriguing, Lane says Lucy is now Kryptonian. It looks like she has their powers, but what does that mean?


Back in Metropolis, Supergirl is shown to be encased in amber in a great hive like building. She is rescued by Gangbuster and when she gets out she isn't happy.

It seems that between the surprise of finding Lana cocooned last issue and the power of the Insect Queen, that Supergirl was captured. I'm not surprised. Remember, this Insect Queen kept Superman under her power for 3 issues back in the Busiek run. She's that powerful.

Now, for all of us who have been waiting to see Supergirl pound on someone, this is the issue. This isn't the usual super-villain fight after all. With Lana involved, this is personal. And the anger on her face here is evident. Supergirl is irate. It's a powerful image by Jamal Igle.


Angry or not, the hive has numbers. Despite taking out some bugs, Supergirl realizes that the best plan is to escape.

Look at the size of that hive! Back at STAR labs, Supergirl learns how 2 days earlier, the hospital was engulfed in this hive. Some SciPo officers and others went in but did not come back out. The hive seems to be biding its time. In fact, STAR only found out that Supergirl was in the hive because they had sent in a reconnaisance robot bug. Two days of a giant hive appearing in the middle of Metropolis and no other super-hero came to look other than Gangbuster and Dr. Light?

What I liked about this scene is that despite the necessary exposition, Supergirl's thoughts are on Lana and her condition. She talks with Dr. Light about Lana's condition in hopes of saving her.


And here is my favorite moment in the book.

Supergirl and Gangbuster decide the best course of action is a stealth mission to rescue Lana. Unfortunately the insects hear them. Gangbuster asks Supergirl if she's ready to get the crap kicked out of her in order to save the world. Supergirl simply replies 'always.'

She has such a cooly confident look on her face ... it's perfect. Perfect. This is a Supergirl who will do what's right regardless of the risks. And it shows how much she has matured over the last year.

However, despite getting a few good shots in against some insect infantry, Supergirl is overrun by a swarm and brought before the Insect Queen.


It's Lana ... but it's also not Lana.

The Queen explains how she left a piece of herself inside Lana during her recent run-in with Superman. Over the last year that piece has been slowly rebuilding Lana cell by cell. She remained in Lana to stay close to the Superman family so she could make super-drones to protect her, something she tried back in the Busiek arc.

The Queen also decides to add a layer of emotional anguish to her conversation with Supergirl saying it was the Queen's will that made Lana befriend Kara. Thankfully, Supergirl realizes this is a lie and shrugs it off. This is another recent example (along with the Black Lantern Zor-El) of an enemy trying to take advantage of Supergirl's emotional vulnerability and failing. Hurray!


With the Queen within striking distance, Supergirl frees herself from the amber and calls in a STAR labs bombing run. She then unloads on 'Lana'.

Calling herself a Lang, calling Lana family, Supergirl rips off one of the Queen's wings and gives her a right hook that sends her sprawling.

She ripped off one of her wings!! Fantastic!

It is perhaps the strongest ... the most physical ... the angriest we have seen Supergirl in a while. It rivals her fight with Superwoman.

But more than that, it is her confidence that shines here. She stands over the Queen saying she doesn't scare easily.

How wonderful to see Supergirl so self-assured as she doles out a thumping!


And best yet ... she's victorious!

Somehow Supergirl was able to help design a de-bugging device to strip Lana of her insect DNA.

When the Queen says she will make Supergirl's life hell, Kara quips that Alura does that enough. I loved that as well.

The device is turned on and cures Lana. And without their Queen, the other insects are defeated.

Okay, it was a bit too easy of an answer, a bit too deus ex machina to have this machine designed and built in so short a time ... with Kara having designed it too! But it is about time that Supergirl got to win one. This was a hard-fought and brutal win complete with bloody fists and quick thinking ... but that's what made it beautiful.

And then we take a bit of a left turn.

After all the 'Lana' family' and 'I'm a Lang' and 'Lana's my mentor' talk, Supergirl turns around and tells Lana she is leaving her life because she can't trust her. Kara is still stung by Lana keeping her illness secret.

It's a complete 'about face' emotionally. I suppose once the stress of rescuing Lana was over, once she knows that Lana is safe, Supergirl can reassess things ... that the pain of this secret can surge. With everything that has happened in her life, Kara needs to trust those closest to her. And she doesn't feel that with Lana right now.

It still read a little funny given all the prior dialogue in the book.


Lana tries to explain her secrecy in a way Supergirl can understand. All of New Krypton and all of Earth needed Supergirl. Supergirl was too important to get wrapped up in the problems of one person. Lana feels she did the heroic thing by keeping her illness to herself, to not distract Kara.

But Supergirl still thinks it was wrong and flies off saying she no longer wants to be a Lang or even human.

This response feels like a regression for Supergirl in her recent character growth. But all of this is happening right before The Last Stand of New Krypton and War of the Supermen. Is this Lana/Kara split just a way of setting up Supergirl's sympathies and fidelity in those books? An easy way to set up some conflict to be resolved between the super-cousins?

And speaking of not wanting to be human, back at Project 7734, we hear that Lucy is an amalgam of "all" the alien races whose powers were in the Superwoman suit ... all their powers and weaknesses.

Hmm .. all the aliens? Not just Kryptonian?

With that announcement, Lucy decides to fry the physician with an apparent electrical blast and declare herself ready for active duty. (I know lightning powers aren't inherent in the race, but maybe Lucy has some Winathian genes in her now?) Lucy seemed like a bit of a loose cannon before but I don't think she would have indiscriminantly killed a doctor like this. She seems insane to me right now.

Well what a great main story in this anniversary issue. Not perfect ... but memorable and worthy of an important issue like this.

First off, I absolutely love Supergirl's personality during the fight portion of the book ... determined, strong, unflappable. Kudos to Sterling Gates. In his time on the title, he has really solidified Kara's persona while having her mature into a competent young hero. It really is hard to believe that this is the 17th issue in his and Jamal Igle's run. It feels like just yesterday I was waiting for Supergirl #34 to hit the stands.

But more than that, it was good to see Supergirl unleash her powers on someone and outright win. This isn't a half-win ... like when Superwoman explodes in defeat or Reactron escapes ... this was victory.

On top of that, I also enjoyed the re-introduction of Superwoman as a viable and permanent member of Supergirl's rogues' gallery. An insane and powerful Superwoman is a terrifying opponent.

And, as usual, Jamal Igle's art wonderfully complements the story. Supergirl's expressions and body language bolster her dialogue perfectly. So whether it is that cocked eyebrow in the 'always' panel or the angry pose when she breaks free of the amber or her slumped shoulders when she is talking to Lana, the art just adds such volume to the scenes.

The one smudge in the issue is just that rapid decision to abandon Lana and Earth. It just felt off a bit.

But honestly, the rest of the book is so great I am willing to see where the story goes.

I mean Supergirl ripped off the Insect Queen's wing! It doesn't get much better than that.

Overall grade: A/B+

Supergirl #50

I usually wait to post about upcoming month's solicits once Newsarama have posted them all.

But ...

I am pretty sure that Supergirl #50 warrants its own post. Especially since this issue sounds like it is going to be huge for a number of reasons. Here is the link to the February super-titles. I'll be discussing them all soon: http://www.newsarama.com/comics/091113-superman-february-2010-solicits.html .

And now the actual solicit.

SUPERGIRL #50

On sale February 17 • 56 pg, FC, $4.99 US
Written by Sterling Gates, Helen Slater & Jake Black • Art by Jamal Igle, Jon Sibal & Fernando Dagnino • Cover by Michael Turner • Variant cover by Joshua Middleton

Special celebratory 50th issue! Sterling Gates and Jamal Igle reunite to tell an epic, oversized battle royale between the Girl of Steel and a mysterious, diabolical new foe! Still reeling from last issue’s harrowing events, Supergirl is put to the test when she uncovers a terrible secret about her friend and confidant, Lana Lang.

Plus! A look into a day in the life of the Girl of Steel written by Jake Black and Supergirl herself, actress Helen Slater!

Featuring a cover by the man who redefined Supergirl for the 21st century, Michael Turner, SUPERGIRL #50 is an extra-sized extravaganza you won’t want to miss!

So ... where to start.

How about the Michael Turner cover (seen above)? Turner's work and his take on Supergirl have been talked about a lot on this blog. I am one of those readers who think his Kara looks a little too skinny and a little too long. But there is no denying that Turner was one of the most important figures in the renaissance of Supergirl. I think it is a nice homage by DC to put a Turner Supergirl on this issue's cover. If you like Turner, this will certainly grab your eye. From a sales point of view, there are a lot of Turner fans who will most likely pick up the issue based on the cover alone.

The cover is such a big deal that The Source had a seperate post on it. Here is the link:
http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2009/11/13/end-the-week-with-a-look-at-the-cover-to-supergirl-50-by-michael-turner/

Add to that a variant cover by Josh Middleton and the outside of the issue looks like it will be a selling point. I think Middleton's covers for the book have been really spectacular so I am looking forward to seeing what he does for this anniversary issue.

But there's more ...

The issue is a whopping 56 pages and brings Sterling Gates and Jamal Igle back together on the book. It sounds as if Lana survives the 'harrowing events' of Supergirl #49. And battle royale with a diabolical new foe? That means a new addition to the Supergirl rogue's gallery. I wonder if it is a brand new foe or a reimagination of an older Supergirl enemy.

Lastly, the issue includes a second story written by Jake Black and Helen Slater. Helen Slater!! Much like the Donner movies are an influence on many Superman creators, it seems like the Supergirl movie is an influence on the current Supergirl team. How nice to include Slater in the festivities. I have no idea how good she will be as a writer/plotter so it will be interesting to read.

Really though ... the bottom line is that between the covers and the story and Helen Slater (!!), this issue seems like it is an 'event'. And I think this title deserves that sort of publicity.

It is going to be hard to wait these next 3 months.

Iconic Supergirl Covers

Over on Comic Book Resources 'Comics Should Be Good', there have been several columns looking at the most iconic covers of a variety of characters. Last week, they listed their top 5 iconic Supergirl covers. Surprisingly, I agreed with the top 2! Here is the link: http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/09/03/top-five-most-iconic-supergirl-covers/ But I did think they missed out on a couple and so I thought I would do my own ranking.

It was hard to pare it down to only 5 so I have 2 honorable mentions. I also think it is important to remember this is 'iconic' covers not best covers, so I took into account how the covers played out on the whole comic landscape.

So here we go:

Close but so far from the official list: Supergirl #50 (1996, PAD version); Adventure Comics #381, Final Crisis #3

Honorable Mention #2: Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #23 (Adam Hughes variant cover)

There is something majestic about this cover by Adam Hughes who downplays his cheesecake factor here. Smiling, happy, basking in the sun while riding a meteor ... this image invokes all the right feelings about Supergirl.

I know Supergirl's role in that Legion (heck that iteration of the Legion itself) was brief and may be forgotten over time, but this cover simply works.

It ended up on a t-shirt and made into a poster.

Honorable mention #1: Action Comics #252

I don't know how her first appearance didn't break the top 5. The comic itself is a hard to find collector's item and an obviously important piece of Superman's lore.The image of Supergirl flying from the rocket as she lands on Earth has been replayed on other comics, Supergirl #75 (1996 series), Many Happy Returns TPB cover, and Supergirl #1 (3rd printing, 2005 series).

This image has also been immortalized as a DC Direct statue and even a Supergirl bobble-head doll.

Number 5: Superman Adventures #21

There was a time when the DCU was being actively promoted by and influenced by the DCAU and Bruce Timm was the architect of those changes.

When he introduced Kara In-Ze to the DCAU, it introduced Supergirl to a sector of fans who may never have known that Supergirl existed. Garbed in a white half shirt and red combat boots, this version of Supergirl became a big part of both the Superman animated series and the JLU series as well.

Her costume became so synonymous with the character that Peter David had his Linda Danvers don the white shirt to streamline the look of the character. Gone was my beloved Matrix version of the uniform.

This cover, done by Timm, was the first appearance of that Supergirl in comics. It has since become a t-shirt and poster. The animated Supergirl has also been seen in numerous toys and statues.

Number 4: Supergirl #1 (2005)

I had to include on Michael Turner image since his is the current look for Supergirl. Plus, it had been 20 years since the original Supergirl left the DCU in Crisis on Infinite Earths and so for many fans this is *THE* Supergirl.

This version of Supergirl #1 is such a striking cover that this is the image that pops into my head when someone says 'Michael Turner Supergirl'. The shading and blurring out out of the colors at the extreme margins of the picture gives it an ethereal feel.

This image also made it onto a t-shirt.

Number 3: Action Comics #285

I had to pick a Silver Age image to represent and Action Comics #285, the issue where Supergirl is revealed to the world, is one of the more famous covers. Personally, it is my favorite.
Supergirl had matured over the 2 plus years after she was introduced and basically solo'd in this comic.

This issue also has cameos from John and Jackie Kennedy as well as Nikita Kruschev.

This cover made it as the cover image for Supergirl Archives Volume 2, Showcase Presents: Supergirl Volume 2, and onto a t-shirt.

Number 2: The Daring New Adventures of Supergirl #1

This happy cover by Rich Buckler is another one of the key images in my mind of the character.

When people say 'pre-Crisis' Supergirl, this is the image that comes to mind. The 'hot pants' costume is the Bronze Age costume in my mind, not the headband look.

When you reread Daring New Adventures, Supergirl is very confident and strong and acts as the sole major superhero in the Chicago area. Those are good memories for me.

This cover was immortalized as a U.S. postage stamp, perhaps the most widely visible representation of Supergirl in the mainstream public.

I really love that cover and was glad to get a Rich Buckler commission for my collection.

Number 1: Crisis on Infinite Earths #7

While I know this cover represents the death of the Earth-1 Supergirl, there is no denying that this is the most famous Supergirl cover, instantly recognized by the most casual fan as Crisis #7. Everyone knows it.

At the time, Supergirl's death represented the shocking new reality that no one was safe in COIE. Sure all of Earth-3 died, as did some Western stars, and some other B-listers. But this was the big time, a huge character in the DCU falling. Worlds will live ... worlds will die, indeed.

This cover was made into a DC Direct statue.

But more importantly, it has been emulated many times on comic covers, a mark of how striking it is. We have seen versions of this in many places Supergirl #79 (1996 series), Superman: The Man of Steel #10, Firestorm #21 (2004 series), Valor #18, Fallen Angel #16(volume 2) and even Major Bummer#12. With all those homages, it clearly is the most iconic Supergirl cover.

So what does everyone else think. Any other cover that should cracked the top 5?