Supergirl Episode 311: Fort Rozz

Supergirl episode 311, titled 'Fort Rozz' came out this week and was an excellent mix of plot progression, character development, and continuity. I have been very impressed with the show leaning into the overall theme of Kara reclaiming and embracing her humanity as this season progresses. Here we see that again in full force. I love it. But for me, the best thing about this episode was how much it leaned into the show's history. I love it.

The overall plot is Kara heading to Fort Rozz in space to gather information about Reign. She'll be powerless and so needs to call on former enemies for aid. Of course, Reign is a killer and so Supergirl hopes that the enemies of her enemy will remain her friends, regardless of the past. In essence, she is calling on their humanity (there's that word again) leading to someone making an ultimate heroic sacrifice.

Fort Rozz was a key point in season one, so hearing about it again was a great callback. And bringing back Livewire and Psi to be Supergirl's squad was a great touch. Livewire's character actually has grown over the three seasons and that dedication to the supporting cast is one of the things I love about the show.

But it is Yael Grobglas' performance as Psi which shines the most. From tiny physical affectations to haughty villain lines, she steals the show.

The episode isn't perfect. Some plot points seem a little contrived. Brainiac 5 is really obnoxious in this episode, dimming the awkward chemistry I liked so much from last episode. And a Alex/Ruby subplot, while having a couple of nice moments, seemed a little needless and forced.

On to the show.

Supergirl Episode 302: Triggers

 Last week, Supergirl season 3 started with a very solid premiere, sowing some plot seeds, introducing us to the big bads, and giving us excellent character moments for both Kara and the primary supporting cast. This week the second episode, 'Triggers', aired and built on that foundation. And we got old-school Supergirl villain Psi to come in to challenge the Girl of Steel. This season is truly off and running.

One thing that I very much liked about this episode was that the emotional anguish that Kara was feeling in the premiere is still present. Yes, she is working through her grief. But one night of apps at the alien bar (as last episode closed) isn't going to alleviate all her pain. This sadness and anger and (as it turns out) fear runs too deep to be so easily 'cured'. As usual, Melissa Benoist brings it, showing us all the emotions Supergirl is feeling. And as a bonus, we get extra Danvers sisters scenes. As I said last before, season 2 didn't  give us enough of these two. Benoist and Chyler Leigh have such easy, breezy chemistry. Why not take advantage.

But as much as I loved the character stuff, the fanboy in me squealed a bit to hear about Gayle Marsh from Skokie, Illinois. How far have we come as Supergirl fans that Psi and her particulars were on a television show?? And Yael Grobglas plays her with such a cold, calm, and cruel, observing all she does with just a hint of enjoyment.  It makes me happy.

On to the particulars.

Supergirl Show SDCC Trailer And News

Last weekend was the San Diego Comic Con and most of the Supergirl news revolved around the upcoming third season of the show. Search YouTube or Twitter and you'll get snippets of the many interviews and panels the cast did.

The big release for me was the sizzle trailer for the third season. That is available on YouTube here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaI6dcoRRQQ

The trailer makes it seem as if the season starts out in a dark place. We hear in a voice over say:

The decision I made, he couldn’t have made that sacrifice. But me, I couldn’t have lived with myself if I hadn’t. I will always make the decision I made. I am not a human. I tried to be but I’m not. Kara Danvers was a mistake.

It is clear that Kara is grieving over losing Mon-El, a decision she made. And her defense is to suppress her emotions, to deny her humanity, and become perhaps a colder, more calculating 'alien'.

And the scenes we see in the preview do a nice job of echoing that.

Perhaps with too many screencaps I break down the trailer.

Brian Ching's Psi Design

Over in Twitter, as I had in my review, I noted that the new Psi costume was reminiscent of the original version. That the expanse of white, sort of a negative space, was evocative of the vast amount of skin that the original Psi showed in the Daring New Adventures of Supergirl.

Brian Ching saw the tweet and then shared his design sketch for the new Psi and thought I should share it here for those who missed it.

You really can see how much of a feel for the original when you put them side by side. Unclear if Ching was trying to ape the Who's Who page, but it works for the comparison.

I've always been a fan of Psi, in all her incarnations, so glad to see her back.

Here is the actual tweet!

Review: Supergirl #11

 Supergirl #11 came out this week, the end of the Batgirl crossover which brought the Maid of Might into the Phantom Zone. This arc was somewhat rapid fire, ending a bit quicker and running a bit shorter than I anticipated. Blink and it's over. Maybe I have become so used to the 'stretch for the trade' story-telling these days? Looking back, writer Steve Orlando has mixed in long arcs, done in ones, and this shorter plot in the first year of this book. I like it!

And there is plenty to like about this story as it plants the seeds of the new Rebirth continuity. It is clear that after this arc, Batgirl and Supergirl are going to be friends and allies. Perhaps, if we are lucky, we'll get a World's Finest arc every year! There is also the addition of Psi to the catalog of Supergirl characters in the DCU. She ends up more of a friend than an enemy but we all know that can change. And lastly, there is another Supergirl show addition to the comic, one I welcome.

The art is done by Brian Ching and he does a good job of mixing in the the action sequences with the heart-to-heart emotional moments that are mixed in the issue. Ching is leaving the book and Robson Rocha begins on art next issue. Robson really has a dynamic style as seen on the cover. I am sad to hear that Bengal is leaving the variant covers.

On to the book.

Review: Adventures Of Supergirl #8

The television show Supergirl has ended and its future is still up in the air. Lucky for fans, the comic version of this incarnation of Kara is still going strong.

Adventures of Supergirl #8 came out digitally this week and continued to unravel this complex story which takes place during the early episodes of the program. We are three mini-arcs in here with three different villains who have attacked Supergirl. But rather than this being a 'monster of the week' sort of book, writer Sterling Gates has been weaving a big story arc through these supposedly separate events.

That is really what I love about this book. The idea that there is a big plot running through this that has been slowly revealed over time has been a great way to keep me engaged as a reader. Yes, the 'episodes' with Rampage, Vril Dox, and Psi have been wonderful as stand alone issues. But this deeper plot has me guessing and wondering. And that makes me happy as a reader.

This chapter finally lets us peek behind the curtain a bit, showing us who has been pulling the strings. It is a great reveal which works nicely with the television shows arc and answering a couple of questions I have had since the show started. Kudos to Gates for fleshing out the show's universe even more.

The art this chapter is by Carmen Carnero. I'll be honest, I had never heard of Carnero before this. But her stuff is powerful. There is a fine lined sensibility and photo-realistic feel to the work here which fits the serious tone of this chapter. I hope to see her work on other books.

On to the book.

Review: Adventures of Supergirl #7

Adventures of Supergirl Chapter 7 came out yesterday and was absolutely delightful. New Supergirl fans will surely love this chapter where Kara fights in the battle field of her own mind. But for old time Supergirl fans, this was a walk through history.

One of the things writer Sterling Gates has always emphasized is that he wants to respect the history of Supergirl. When other creators and fans scoffed at the idea, Gates (in his original run) was building up a rogues gallery, was weaving in some of the Supergirl movie ideas, and respecting Kara's presence in comics.

Another thing we have seen in Adventures of Supergirl is Gates dropping in Easter Eggs and homages in the story. From name drops of Kupperberg and Igle to Kryptonian culture to panels reminiscent of X-Men, sharp eyed readers have seen some comic history hidden in plain sight.

This issue is the best of all worlds. By having Kara fighting in a dreamscape, Gates can directly reference tons of Supergirl history while moving the plot of this book. Heck, even the villain of the chapter, Psi, is a throwback to a classic Supergirl villain. I'm going to do my best to point out the historical bits. But if I miss any, please chime in.

All that is brought to life by artist Emanuela Lupacchino and inker Ray McCarthy. Lupacchino has to show her range in all the crazy environments of the story. We roam from bedrooms to battlefields, from reality to the astral plane.  And Lupacchino totally shines. I love seeing her versions of all the Supergirls.

And Hi-Fi on colors brings a blazing palette to the book. Nothing is as unnerving as those looming pink eyes of Psi.

On to the book...

Final Psi Sighting: Secret Six #17 & #18

Just when you thought it was safe to forget about Psi, the misunderstood empath from The Daring New Adventures of Supergirl, I show one more Psi-sighting. I have really gotten a big kick out of this look back at the character, spurred by the reintroduction of her to the New 52 by Sterling Gates in Forever Evil: A.R.G.U.S..

So we have seen her fight Supergirl as a dupe for Mr. Pendergast, trying to stem the tide of Decay. Then we saw her turn on Pendergast. We have seen her die on a mission for the Suicide Squad. And we have seen her resurrected as a Black Lantern.

So what did she do as a revenant? The sad answer is 'not much'.  Secret Six #17 and #18 were Blackest Night crossover issues, co-written by John Ostrander and Gail Simone. And art is done by Jim Calafiore, whose style perfectly fits the grimy mayhem of these issues.

The plot itself is an insane mix of action. Amanda Waller's Suicide Squad is trying to rein in and maybe even absorb the Secret Six, a similar group of super-villains. This brawl takes place on 2 fronts - one Belle Reve prison, the other in front of the Six's headquarters the House of Secrets. But added into the mix is a group of dead ex-Suicide Squaders, raised as Black Lanterns and led by the Fiddler. Brief alliances, back-stabs and treachery, retreats and attacks - it is all there in 2 crazy issues.

But I was so hoping that the Black Lanterns would have more lines. The Fiddler and Yasemine get the most. Psi unfortunately remains silent (Psi-lent?). And there would be so much fun there ... taking about decay, etc.

 Instead we see her (far right) tearing through Belle Reve guards and prisoners.

 And then taking the fight to the Secret Six outside the prison walls.

 Somehow this group - Bane, Black Alice, and my gal pal Nightshade - are able to hold them off until some back-up arrives. But these are Black Lanterns. Any physical damage done can simply be regenerated. This will eventually be a losing fight.

It is clear that both the Six and the Squad, now temporarily united against this common foe, have to retreat. They use Nightshade's shadow-path power to head to the House of Secrets.

Unfortunately, it is Black Alice (who has drained Nightshade of her powers) who opens up that path. And, like the novice she is, she leaves it open. Suddenly, the Black Lanterns, including Psi (over on the right) are there and ready to brawl.

Luckily, Amanda Waller has an ace in the hole. She has a partially powered old Manhunter robot. And she uses it as a Green energy grenade.

Now it has been a while since I read Blackest Night. Is this a valid weapon for Black Lanterns?

At least in this book, it is.

The Black Lantern rings connections are severed and the zombies blow away like ash.

And that my friends ... I promise you ... is the last we saw of that Psi.

I wish we could have had some lines from her in this form!

Outside of the Psi sighting, these issues are a wild romp. And if you see them in the 50cent box, you should buy them just for the action and some excellent moments. I wanted to share a couple.

First off, look at Nightshade just hammering away at Bane. He can't lay a glove on her. I love how she is shown to be strong and battle-savvy.

But this was my favorite moment.

Yasemine looks at Deadshot to see his emotional energies. I love how Deadshot has buried his emotions so deep inside his psyche that we only see cracks of will and rage. Just a nice little characterization moment.

So this certainly isn't important from a Supergirl point of view. Heck, it isn't even important from a Psi viewpoint. But it is her last moments. So, for completeness sake, I figured I would finish off the Psi-sightings.

Hope you enjoyed this look back at this purely Supergirl rogue.

Psi Sighting #4: Wait ... What??

With her reintroduction in Forever Evil: AR.G.U.S. , I have been reviewing the past appearances of old Supergirl rogue Psi. So far I have looked at her Who's Who page, her initial adventure in Daring New Adventures of Supergirl, and her death in the Doom Patrol/Suicide Squad Special.  You can read those peeks into the past here:  http://comicboxcommentary.blogspot.com/search/label/Psi

 I know you all thought it was over.

But I can't keep going back to Psi.

Despite being dead, she returned just a couple of years ago in the Blackest Night crossover event. In a story called Danse Macabre mixing the old Suicide Squad book and the 'Suicide Squad-like' Secret Six, writers Gail Simone and John Ostrander bring back some notable villains and characters who died as a member of the Squad.

I have to say I liked how DC resurrected some old titles for one last hurrah in Blackest Night. Suicide Squad was one of a handful that got dusted off for one last hurrah. And I love this painted cover by Daniel LuVisi.

And it is an interesting book pitting the Squad against the Six in a prison brawl. Who wouldn't want to see a fight between Catman and Bronze Tiger? Or a duel (albeit shortlived) between assassins Deadshot and Jasemin, neither of whom never miss? Add to that great art by Jim Calafiore and this was a fun issue for both Squad and Six fans.

But this is a 'Psi sighting' post. So where is she?

At the end of the book, the risen Black Lantern Fiddler, who spent times on both teams decides to make his own team of Zombies.

And so he resurrects those who died either at the hands of the Squad or as a member of the Squad.

Simone and Ostrander make the readers do a bit of research, giving only the secret identity of those rising. So I need to dig a little to see that his team includes Squad enemies Manticore, Ravan, and Shrike. It also includes prior Squad members Punch, Mindboggler, and someone who took up the mantle of the Atom.

Oh yeah ... and in the background is Gayle Marsh of Earth. You know her better as Psi!

So looks like I have one more twirl around the dance floor at my look at this character. At some point soon I will review Danse Macabre!

Psi Sighting 3: Doom Patrol/Suicide Squad Special #1

I just finished my look back at times 'Supergirl met Supergirl', a long box review from all the ages of Supergirl.

At the same time, because of her reappearance in Forever Evil: A.R.G.U.S., I also have been looking back at Supergirl villain Psi. Her biggest appearance was in the first three issues of Daring New Adventures of Supergirl (reviewed here: http://comicboxcommentary.blogspot.com/search/label/Psi). She did make a couple of appearances after that first battle though, most notably in the comic I am reviewing today -the Doom Patrol and Suicide Squad Special #1 from way back in 1988.

This is a crazy issue, co-written by  Suicide Squad scribe John Ostrander and Doom Patrol writer Paul Kupperberg with art by then relative-newcomer Erik Larsen. Hawk (of Hawk and Dove) is captured by contras in Nicaragua. The Suicide Squad is called in to rescue him or eliminate him if necessary! And it is Ronald Reagan who sends them!

An anti-Amanda Waller subset of the government would like to beat her group to the punch. One of them is owed a favor by Valentina 'Negative Woman' Vostock. That agent calls in his marker and the Doom Patrol are suddenly on their way to try and rescue Hawk as well.

This is a 45 page slugfest as the teams fight each other, fight contras, and end up fighting the Red Rockets. There is also the usual inter-team squabbling. But this review is supposed to be look at Psi so I will be concentrating on her moments.

The first thing to realize is this isn't the 'classic' Suicide Squad. Ostrander and Kupperberg send in Rick Flagg and the farm team. No Deadshot. No Captain Boomerang. No Bronze Tiger. No Nightshade.

Instead we get The Thinker, The Weasel, Mr. 104, and Psi. I suppose the addition of Mr.104 is a nice twist. He is an old Doom Patrol villain and that adds some fuel to the fire. And the Weasel here seems more like a lycanthrope than a frustrated professor in a suit (which I thought he was).

Anyways, Psi is able to use her powers to scout the area psionically and detects the Doom Patrol is in Nicaragua as well. And she is able to use her powers to mask the Squad's presence. Psi was always a troubled soul in Supergirl. Here we learn that she joined the Squad in hopes of them restoring her memories.

Too bad Nightshade wasn't there. I really like that character!

The Doom Patrol is on the island and it is the main team (at the time): Robotman, Celsius, Tempest, and the Negative Woman. So at least we have some 'big names' in the book.

The two teams work their way closer and closer to the prison; it was inevitable that the two would face off. It is a classic movie moment ... the two teams stealthily working their way through the streets (as stealtily as you can with a Weasel and guys dressed like the Squad is) only to turn the corner and run smack into each other.

Before either team can talk, Mr. 104 leaps to attack the Patrol. And, as is typical in these comics, the two teams of 'heroes' end up brawling. So much for a quiet mission that doesn't cause attention.

Remember Psi was strong enough to take on Supergirl. She also was conflicted in her desire to harm people.

I thought this was a great shot of her blasting Negative Woman, hoping to convince Val to step down rather than get hurt. Psi must be holding back here because she briefly defeated Supergirl with a move like this. Negative Woman shouldn't be able to shrug off that amount of power.

As I said above, the Rocket Red Squadron shows up, hoping to take Hawk back to the USSR and interrogate him. The old rubric 'politics make strange bedfellows' holds true. The Squad and the Patrol have a common enemy and so team up.

In the earlier battle, The Thinker ends up being killed and Rick Flagg throws on his helmet. Like Mento, a suddenly boosted brain makes him addled. He veers to evil and out of control.

As for poor Psi, she never did have great control over her powers or her empathy. With all these super-personalities around her, her mind is overwhelmed.

And that psychic pain means she can't concentrate to use her powers. As she flees the scene, she is blasted from behind by a nameless Rocket Red.

She took on Supergirl. She was immensely powerful. But in the end, she wasn't invulnerable. An energy blast is enough to take her out.

And it kills her!!

Even though they were fighting just a few pages before, Negative Woman goes to Psi to comfort her.

At least in those death throes, Psi suddenly remembers her past. She remembers her name, her parents, her life. Kupperberg gives her decent death scene.

And nice last panel with Val mourning her. But why that Rocket Red is just standing there and not fighting more doesn't make much sense.

Alas, Psi ... we barely knew ye.

And element of the USSR is concerned about this international incident so sends another Russion agent - the Cossack - to get to Hawk. In the meantime, Flagg, mad with Thinker power, ends up killing the Weasel. That act snaps him back to sanity and he removes the helmet. Hawk is freed by the Cossack but ends up in the hands of the Squad. And both teams scurry their separate ways, heading back to the states.

This book is a wild read. It is nearly all fighting with just a smidge of political intrigue mixed in. Everyone fights everybody. The city is left in rubble and three members of the Suicide Squad end up dead! Otherwise, this is a throwaway mission which didn't impact either books long term plans.

I like seeing early works of artists whose style have morphed over time. I am a Doom Patrol fan so I have much of Larsen's work on the title. You can see some of his 'Savage Dragon' sensibilities on the pages here and there.

But the main reason to review this was to showcase Psi and her tragic death. She was never a true villain. She was powerful, but susceptible to people hoping to exploit her. And that trust in others led her to her death.

This isn't an important issue for Supergirl fans ... or really any fans. Even Psi fans. But if you want nonstop action and the occasional death, and you see it in the quarter bin, you should pick it up.

Overall grade: C-

Psi Sighting 2: Daring New Adventures Of Supergirl #3

Given her return to the DCU in Forever Evil: ARGUS, I am in the middle of my look back at the Supergirl villain Psi.

Today, that means reviewing Daring New Adventures of Supergirl #3, the last part of Psi's biggest splash in the DCU.  Psi, the mutant psionic powerhouse, has given Supergirl a run for her money on the first two issues of Daring New but it is clear that she is conflicted. Psi might have been raised with with a warped view of life but she seems to know right from wrong. In DNAoS #2, Supergirl basically talked Psi out of laying waste to Chicago. But Psi is also a bit unhinged and seems a bit naive. Last issue ended with her blasting her deluded mentor Mr. Pendergast with her power, inadvertently changing him into the monster Decay.

Powerful, psionic, and just a little unhinged ... no wonder Psi is a great character and rogue for Supergirl.

The art for the book was done by the standard team of Carmine Infantino and Bob Oksner with the usual flair. But for me, the most interesting thing is the cover done by Keith Giffen and Klaus Janson!! There is a sort of early horror comic cover feel to this with the monstrous Decay looming in front of a full moon. I love that he is standing on the word Decay, a bit of Eisner or Steranko. And lastly I love that the word Decay is decaying more under his feet, his own touch eroding the word. Supergirl is almost an afterthought but I love her springing into action.

I have praised this title in the past for portraying a happy, confident Supergirl ... comfortable in her own skin and ready to be the defender of Chicago. And I love that Paul Kupperberg gave Linda's life a big chunk of time in this book as well. She had friends, her schoolwork, and a romantic life as well.

This opening splash page to the issue is a great microcosm of that. We see a smiling Supergirl rushing to get to school on time, happy that she stopped Psi from destroying the city. She even pats herself on the back! 'Way to go, Kara baby!'

And we see more of her life at the University. Linda is majoring in Psychology and is meeting her advisor, Dr. Barry Metzner. Metzner turns out to be something of a disorganized mess, his office a maze of tall stacks of loose papers.

But something about that is endearing to Linda. She even calls him cute! I love that second panel, her finger to her mouth ... a classic Supergirl personality quirk which has carried through from Jim Mooney's Action stories to this day.

In the end Metzner offers Linda a job to be his assistant/secretary, a job she accepts. Metzner continues to putter through the title, eventually becoming a villain!

As for Mr. Pendergast, he has completely embraced his new life as Decay! It is a little weird that he loathed the idea of Decay only to do a complete 180.

It is always interesting to look back at these issues which I read in my youth. I can remember thinking this scene in which Decay basically erodes or digests a homeless alcoholic was absolutely terrifying. In the scene, the man screams until he is nothing but a bunch of bones and rot. Seeing that pile of remains was horrific and pretty graphic for the time. It is somehow sad that this scene would actually be considered understated in this comic world where people get disemboweled, beheaded, etc.

He lumbers through the town, wilting and dissolving everything in his path.

Despite hanging out with her housemate Joan and being 'weighed down' with all her class books, Linda knows what she needs to do. Her super-vision spies Decay and zips on her way.

Again, I have to applaud the great exposure of Linda's life and the interaction between both sides of her persona.

And Decay is pretty vile appearing, like a diarrheal form of Clayface. Yuck!

Remember, this is a Supergirl who is sure of herself, ready to jump into the fray to do what's right. She also is quick with a quip, another sign she feels pretty confident in her capabilities.

So with little delay, she flies up to Decay and takes the fight to him. She has had it with megalomaniacs hoping to rule the world.

And this panel progression is nice as you fill in the action in your mind, Supergirl swooping down in the first panel and making a hairpin turn to fly into Decay in the second.

But this is a Psi-sighting post ... isn't it?

Since Psi's power created Decay, she is linked to him. As I said, at times seems innocent, like a sheltered girl not exposed to the horrors of the world, or even the trials of every day life. Last issue, she seemed to feel pain from the destruction she was causing ... almost like an empath.

And here she feels mental agony from the devastation that Decay is causing. She is the cause of it. And she needs to end it.

I have to admit I also liked this little sequence, showing just how powerful Psi is. She doesn't fly through the window, shattering it. Instead she 'unmakes it', flies through, and then remakes it in her wake. Interesting.

The Decay fight with Supergirl is actually a decent brawl with Supergirl bashing him with cars, concrete walls, construction beams, and her fists. But everything just disintegrates in his grasp.

And here, his touch is sizzling even to Supergirl!

Psi finally shows up and decides to end things.

If she created Decay, she certainly can destroy him, even kill him.

But that doesn't happen. Instead of outright killing Pendergast, she simply strips him of his Decay form, returning him to normal.

And, like last issue, Psi is gone before the dust settles. So is Psi the hero of the piece, saving the day? Or is she a villain? I think she is a little bit of both. Psi seems like there is a good core somewhere in her. But she is clearly an addled young woman, prone to outbursts with her fantastic powers. It isn't a temper ... it is more like a hair trigger. I don't think Psi knows who she is herself. And that makes her scary.

As for Supergirl, she is almost a nonfactor in her own book. While it is great that she flies right into combat, she isn't exactly effective. Direct physical attacks were found to be useless early on. Why not try heat vision, freeze breath, or some other attack?


Psi truly disappeared after this issue, not being seen again in the DCU for 5 years. That means there will be another Psi-sighting in the near future.

As for me, the Supergirl/Decay throwdown was pretty standard superhero fare. What I liked best were the Linda scenes, a great part of this series.

Overall grade: B/B-

Psi Sighting 1: Daring New Adventures Of Supergirl #2

I am simultaneously running through two back issues themes on the blog so you have to bear with me. I am in the middle of a look at times Supergirl met Supergirl. But I am also running through a look back at the Supergirl rogue Psi since she returned to the New 52 DCU in Forever Evil: ARGUS. (You can read my first part here.)

Back in 1983, Daring New Adventures of Supergirl came out with the creative team of writer Paul Kupperberg and artist Carmine Infantino. The title opens up with a three part story with Supergirl fighting Psi and her mentor Mr. Pendergast. These early issues of Supergirl have the lead stories lasting 2/3 of the pages with a Lois Lane story by Tamsyn O'Flynn and Bob Oksner. So this three parter feels more like a two-parter in length.

One thing I like about Psi is that she seems to be bullied into being a villain. She herself seems innocent, led down an evil path by someone she thinks loves her. She also seems to have a mean streak in her, maybe because she is so abused that there is some wrinkle of retribution built into her. And she has powers enough to challenge Supergirl. It is a shame that her costume is so bad.

Rich Buckler does the cover here, a nice action shot. I will say that Supergirl escaping a pink energy silhouette of herself is a bit bizarre without knowing the story. The first year of this  book has a revolving door on cover artists. Buckler does the first two issues. Keith Giffen does the next cover. And then we have Ed Hannigan, Mike DeCarlo, Gil Kane, and Paris Cullins!

Onto Psi!

Last issue ended with Psi trashing Supergirl, leaving her unconscious, floating in a cocoon of psionic energy.

Remember, Psi is doing the bidding of her mentor/father figure Mr. Pendergast. And Pendergast is clearly insane, worried about the erosion of society at the hands of Decay. And Pendergast thinks the best way to eradicate this decay of civilization is to send Psi out as a weapon to level the city.

In some ways, it reminds me of Ra's Al Ghul's sentiment in the movie Batman Begins. When the decadence of society makes it lose its moral compass, only destruction will set things to right. Bizarre.

Now this is an odd splash page to begin the issue as both Psi and Supergirl are small components, in the background. Instead the foreground is rocky debris from Psi's attacks which are used to write some exposition. Still, I wonder if this would have worked in the reverse angle, Psi and Supergirl in the foreground with the readers looking over their shoulders down at the carnage below.

Pendergast is psychically linked to Psi as this battle going on. It is clear that Psi is uncertain if what she is doing is right while Pendergast continues to browbeat her into doing his evil work.

One thing that I love about the Kupperberg Supergirl is that she is very confidant and very determined. This is a fully actualized Supergirl, at the end of the journey and a hero.

So when seeing the destruction that Psi is causing, Supergirl struggles against the psionic bonds and smashes her way out. Throughout Daring New, Supergirl is pretty chatty in combat and here she continues (starts?) the trend by talking how she has power. Nice panel.

And then Supergirl tries to talk some sense into Psi.

How can Psi be trying to save the world by destroying it? By killing people??

And then Supergirl tells Psi that others have claimed to be trying to cleanse the world but were really only after power. Insert your genocidal dictator name here.

It is a great scene with Supergirl laying the smack down physically and verbally.

As I said, Psi seems unsure about this whole thing. And after hearing the wisdom of Supergirl's words in one ear and Pendergast's rhetoric in the other, Psi basically becomes unhinged. And with that internal tension, Psi lashes out, blasting Supergirl away from the fight scene and disappearing.

Praise to colorist Ziuko for using a nice palate of pinks and purples when showing Psi's powers.

With the battle over for the time being, Supergirl heads back to her apartment to relax a bit.

And look what we have here!! A supporting cast!!!

We already met housemate Joan Raymond and building ne'er-do-well John Ostrander (!). Now we meet Joan's roommate Cheryl and her boyfriend. This sort of connection to the world is what has been missing in the current title and the first portions of the last incarnation.

And Kupperberg does a nice job of always fitting in some of the more quiet moments in Linda's life. So we see her in class, working as an assistant to a professor, and here collapsing from exhaustion after the fight with Psi.

I think these small moments add such depth to comic characters. It is why I like Clark moments in my Superman. It is why I liked the Wally West Flash so much.

It turns out that Pendergast is more than just a little nutty. He has raised Psi since she was a little girl. She has tremendous power. He has basically brainwashed her into believing his warped view of the world.

But after one failure he decides she isn't worth the time any more. He decides to absolutely berate her, calling her a failure, beneath him, and not worthy to be his agent.

Then he pulls a gun on her!

Seems a bit shortsighted no? First off, Psi just went toe-to-toe with a Kryptonian. One loss doesn't mean she is worthless. Maybe she just needs some more indoctrination into his beliefs. She seems the perfect weapon!

Secondly, she just went toe-to-toe with a Kryptonian? Did he think a pistol will be effective? Did he think she would allow herself to be killed??

As expected, a psionic as powerful and frankly as unhinged as Psi is, isn't going to allow herself to be shot.

She unloads all of her hate and uncertainty and pain into Pendergast. Again, great use of color here. And you really love the art of that second panel. You really feel Pendergast blistering away under Psi's blast.

But, like many times in comics, this doesn't turn out the way Psi anticipated.

That's right! Instead of it killing Pendergast ... it transforms him.

And Pendergast, who has spent his life fighting against Decay, becomes Decay himself!

That is crazy town!

And now that he has power, Decay lashes out against his former protege. The design of Decay works though ... he looks like a gloppy pile of feces. I bet he stinks to high heaven!

I have to say that while these stories feel simpler, my appreciation for them has grown immensely over the years. Supergirl is independent and strong, loves her cousin, has a supporting cast, and a rogues gallery. Kupperberg is able to inject human moments nicely with superhuman.

But the purpose of this post is to discuss Psi and I think this issue shows what she can do nicely, why she made a great villain for Supergirl. She is immensely powerful. Her psionics can be used for physical attacks and mental attacks. And she is just innocent enough and unhinged enough to be dangerous.

I have a couple more Psi sightings to go through, including the finale of this story! Thanks again to Sterling Gates and Neil Edwards for bringing her back.

Overall grade: B+