Lego Red Lantern Supergirl?

Every so often I am floored by the attention and adoration being heaped on Supergirl these days. As someone who suffered decades as a fan of the Maid of Might, I am surprised and thrilled to see that she is seemingly everywhere.

What is even more insane is that we aren't only seeing a TV-like Kara. There is merchandise and comics and now video games of all sorts of incarnations of Kara. One I was not expecting to see again was her Red Lantern form.

But Lego Dimensions on PS4 thought it would be a good idea to bring back the ringed Kara for this game. And I have to say, I am intrigued. Here is a link:
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2016/08/16/supergirl-lands-in-lego-dimensions-on-ps4/

Now I don't play video games so I won't be able to interact with this personally. But the screen shots and scenes look like a ton of fun. And the Red Lantern Supergirl seems to stand in stark contrast to the 'Cheerleader Supergirl' character who was just in the Cosmic Clash Lego movie.

So even within Lego there seems to be versions of Supergirl!

Review: Red Lanterns #40

What do you do when you are a good person, trying to do good, but grow weary of fighting a battle that is truly never-ending? What do you do when fatigue sets in? When you lose sight of all the good you have done, instead focusing on everything else that still needs to be helped? What do you do?

Red Lanterns #40 strives to answer those questions.

It shows us a Guy Gardner who has just about reached his limit. He is a good man. He is trying to purge the world of Atrocitus' plague of rage. But no matter how much he does, there is always more madness, more rage, more death and horror. And despite realizing that he will never be able to win this war, he plods on. He is broken man, despondent, exhausted, trying to do good but about to lose hope.

Landry Walker writes this brilliant issue looking at a super-hero burned out from the fight. This is the last issue of Red Lanterns and so why not make it a character driven issue, focusing on Guy, and giving us an open-ended finale. I worry if this gem will somehow be lost on the racks, the forgotten 'last issue' of a corner of the universe about the be rebooted.

There were parts of this issue that truly resonated with me. There are times where the grind is about to finally pulverize me and then suddenly I am reminded  to keep my eyes on the prize.

And as usual, Jim Calafiore's thick lined is perfect for this book.

In the last three issues, we have seen Guy trying to root out all the pockets of rage left by Atrocitus. We have seen him wade in the abattoir of a destroyed town. We have seen him battle a rage vampire. Around every corner is some depravity, some reminder of how cruel and terrible humanity can be.

Even Guy realizes that wearing a Corps ring changes a person. Makes them someone different.

Being a Red, seeing all the things he has seen, exposing himself to this mad rage has changed him. Look at this panel with Guy sporting this mane of hair, those sullen eyes, that crazed grimace. He has seen too much and fought too long. He has been changed.

And who wouldn't be when day in day out you are exposed to scenes like this, a blood bath in an ice cream shoppe, a crazed elderly woman floating over carnage.

Who wouldn't grow tired of this fight if you knew the next round was going to be just as horrific?

He turns to his sister for some solace.

He is trying his best to rid the world of anger. He has been absorbing this rage. He is trying to save people. But all he sees is the next fight.

His whole body language, his unkempt appearance screams he is losing hope. He knows he has to keep fighting ... but how do you pick yourself up when life is pulling you down?

His sister decides that he needs a little tough love. That seems like the Gardner way.

But this is a bit of a 'pull yourself together' speech. He can't rid the world of anger because sometimes rage is a healthy response.

And calling Guy a pretentious jerk is cutting. When did Guy decide he had the right to speak for the world? Guy might always be a jerk. But pretentious? Never. He's down to Earth.

It doesn't work.

Instead all this rage that Guy has absorbed seems to overwhelm him. He is ready to release it all back to the Earth ... all of it and more. And with the world on the verge of being engulfed in madness, Guy sends his sister and the baby from last issue into a orbiting life pod.

The thing that got me here was the image of Guy on the pretaped message.

When was the last time we saw a clean shaven, crew-cutted Guy? That is a different Guy, one that hasn't seen what the current Guy has seen, hasn't done what the current Guy has done.

From space, Guy's sister still tries to help him.

He is attacking this problem wrong. You need to not dwell on the darkness, not be overtaken by it, not give in to it. Instead, help the world and see the bright side.

It all comes down to this one statement. 'Don't give up on yourself.'

And maybe ... just maybe ... this speech jars something in Guy. There is always hope. Before he lets the rage consume him, he needs to have hope in humanity. Of course he has hope. Otherwise, why would he keep fighting?

In a truly cathartic page, Guy vomits all the rage away, ridding himself of all of it.

That second panel is just sublime, just enough of a tint of blue in to give us that hint of hope.

With the rage gone, we see the Red Ring on the ground.

And then we see Guy again. Suddenly he is ... well ... he's Guy again.

And then we see the classic Guy smirk with hope to find a ring and use it for good. No more weariness. No more pain. No more rage. No more self-loathing. No more despair.

The name of this story is 'Hope'. Classic.

Overall grade: A

Review: Red Lanterns #39

Red Lanterns #39 came out last week, the second of Landry Walker's brief run on the book, a run that will end next month with its cancellation of the book. It is a shame that this title is coming to a close because I would love to see just what Walker would have done had he been given more time on the book.

Last issue was a downbeat story with Guy inheriting a world he feels he deserves, a chaotic realm of pain and destruction. And this issue starts out similarly. About halfway through I was wondering just where this book was going. Would it be three issues of a depressing commentary on the human condition?

Then Walker turns the pages a bit, showing that love can still conquer all. And there is hope at the end of the book. This is why I would have loved to see where Walker would take the book.

But we know that this book is ending. In fact, this last page would have been a perfect open-ended finale to the book. It will be hard to top this.

As I have said in all my reviews of Red Lanterns, Jim Calafiore's art is perfectly suited for this book. Thick-lined, occasionally muddy, sometimes ugly ... just perfect.

Of course we open up with this odd, almost comedic splash page. Guy getting punched out by a baby.

Now it is a demonic baby. So it is sort of scary. But this is still a baby.

And it echoes the 'one punch' famous scene with Batman.

We flash back a bit.

Guy is walking across America, being drawn to areas of rage and death, the fallout of some Atrocitus attack.

I have to say, for some reason the first thing I thought about was Grounded. That was J. Michael Straczynski bad story where Superman walked across the country.

Guy enters the tiny town of El Sobrante. And there in the city center, is a cute baby sitting on top of a dead person. When Guy starts to analyze the baby, a giant rage demon comes up behind him and basically beats the snot out of Guy.

There are some interesting things to notice in the fight. One, the demon seems to be protecting the baby, or trying to separate Guy from the baby. Second, in the middle of the battle, his red energy seems to simply dissipate.

Luckily, Guy survives the battle. He wakes up in the home of an elderly couple who took in his unconscious body and cared for him. I love how they are afraid of the baby, asking Guy not to talk about the little tyke. It reminded me a little of the Twilight Zone episode 'It's a Good Life', where Billy Mumy plays an omnipotent kid.

Again, even here, Guy doesn't seem to have rage ... and as a result he has no red energy.

After a little legwork, Guy heads to the baby's home. He is Danton Dexter Dibble III. His parents died when the town was attacked by Atrocitus, crushed by the rubble.

And somehow, Danton has the ability to absorb everyone's rage. And that rage feeds this being who has possessed him in some way.

This is exactly what a rage demon should look like! It's ugly and spiky and smiling. Excellent.

Now I assumed that this thing was some manifestation of Danton's rage, that this thing was in him.

But Guy makes a point, at length, to say that this thing is a parasite. Danton absorbs the rage and this thing feeds off it. And when Guy decides to battle this thing, it possesses Danton.

This leads to 4 great pages of brawl with trucks being tossed, building being leveled, and Guy being punched.

There is only one way to end this. Guy queues up a loop of home movies, of Danton being loved by his mother. And that pain from missing her, that love of her, cuts through Danton's rage. Calm for a moment, Guy is able to suck the demon out of Danton and then eliminate it.

With the battle over, no one in the town wants to take over care for Danton. He has inadvertently brought so much pain to the place. And so Guy has no choice to become Danton's caregiver. Time to 'get in some trouble'.

Isn't there just a twinge of hope here? Guy as a dad, walking into the horizon? This is a great counterpoint to last issue. And this would be a great ending to the title!

We have one more issue with Walker at the helm. I am very interested to see what he has for us.

Overall grade: B+/B

Bullet Review: Red Lanterns #38

It was a decidedly non-Super week last week from DC Comics. And in some ways, it allowed me to look elsewhere for a bit. Sometimes it is good to break things up a bit and stretch my reviewing legs a bit more. And why not use it to look at books done by creators I like.

And so this is officially Landry Walker week here at Comic Box Commentary. I already looked at Danger Club #6. Today I'll look at Red Lanterns #38.

I read Red Lanterns during the Red Daughter arc and was impressed with the tone of the book. In that arc, the Reds seemed to be troubled souls who were trying to defend the universe from threats so no other person would feel like them, filled with rage at injustice. It was different than what I thought it would be ... a grindhouse comic of torture. While the Reds were definitely anti-heroes in the issues I read, there was this undercurrent of empathy. They wanted to spare people their fate. And as a result they were sympathetic. I felt sort of hopeful for this group, like maybe they could move on themselves.

When Supergirl left the team and the New God arc started, I left the book. But I wanted to see what Walker would do with the character, even if it is only for a couple of issues before the title is canceled.

There is definitely something of a tone shift here. This is about as bleak a comic that I have read in a long time. There is no hope here. Guy, who always seemed angry at himself, loathes himself. Even if this is a downbeat issue, it is of high quality. I felt moved by this issue, wallowing in the darkness Walker delivers.

Jim Calafiore is on art here and his inky muddy style works very well here.

We out far, looking at a hopeful image of a sun rising over the Earth. And we read how Simon Baz looked at Guy as a hero, saving many more than he has hurt. But the optimism of this opening sentiment is quickly dismissed. Guy thinks it is folly.

And then we head down deeper, honing in our focus to a city in flames. Guy is no hero. He lives in a word where cities burn and people die.

It is a nice progression of images and themes.

Sometime after Red Daughter, Atrocitus has infected a whole city with Red Rage but didn't give them any rings. As a result, the place became an abattoir, a place where enraged insane people are destroying everyone and everything. Relief corps are overwhelmed. And Guy feels so powerless, he initially sits in the destruction drinking.

But then that feeling of responsibility takes over. He uses his ring to read the minds of one of the anger-zombies and is overwhelmed with images of destruction and death.

I love the 'spoiler alert' that the world is screwed up.

But one image seems to be at the epicenter. Guy goes into the city to discover a place where the rage victims were being triaged. But without any clear ability to help these people, they were left to their own devices and turned on each other.

This is a vivid image. The bodies are piled on top of each other. Again, bleak. You can imagine that Guy might think that this is the base of humanity ... rage and violence and a compulsion to kill each other.

Drowning in self-hatred, realizing how he has failed, Guy decides he needs to help these people. An explosion of rage will burn them out, leaving charred carcasses.

So maybe to help them, maybe to punish himself, maybe a little bit of both ... Guy allows himself to be pummeled by the rage-infected crowd.

And this internal monologue is just profound. Somewhere along the way, Guy lost himself. He betrayed himself. And he can't get revenge against himself.

He feels he deserves this.

Heavy stuff.

And with that fervor, the zombies burn themselves out, leaving a city of remains.

This city of death is the Guy's world.

I love this framework sequence. We are back to the images from page one. But instead of pulling all the way back out to the sun on the horizon, instead of getting to the optimism, Walker stops us. We stop at the depressing image of a city in flames. Because there is no hope here ... there is no new day.

I read comics for entertainment. And I read a variety of books. They don't all need to be sunny. I like a sad story as much as a happy one ... if high quality.

This was a depressing issue. It shows how grim and blighted a world filled with super-powered amoral people would be. And it shows how living a life like Guy's could burn the goodness out of anyone.

It is a powerful and dark issue. Well written and well drawn.

Overall grade: A- (if you are in the mood)

Character Designs: Kenneth Rocafort's Red Lantern Supergirl & Yildiray Cinar's Blaze

The Red Daughter of Krypton trade paperback came out this week. It includes Supergirl #26-33, Red Lanterns #28-29, and Green Lantern #28. It is a shame it doesn't include Red Lanterns #30-31 because Kara plays a pretty big part in those issues. Still that is 10 issues for $17.99 and for a great arc.

I always hope that there will be extra matter in these trades. This trade includes the covers as well as the uncolored versions of the covers if you want to see the line work.

But there are 2 pages in the back that I would say is true new material. At least ... I don't think I have seen these elsewhere.

First off, here is Kenneth Rocafort's Red Lantern design for Supergirl.

I think Rocafort's style is visually stunning, beautiful. And I have to say, I liked these designs. For one, it eliminates two parts of the Supergirl costume I don't like - the red crotch panel and the knee-holed boots. But I think the mix of red and black is slick. And I am glad she wore a mask, as I think this whole trip to the Red was sort of a mask, a role Kara was playing to get away from her life.

We also get a page of Yildiray Cinar's design of Blaze.

It's funny, I don't know if we ever saw Blaze in a panel with someone else. So to see her towering over Shay Veritas puts her in a whole new perspective. She looks like she's 12 feet tall here.

I also like this look as Blaze looks totally demonic. Her arms are thin, her legs stocky; both are wiry. Her torso is emaciated. And that frizzed hair and huge horns. This is the look of a devil. And it works.

As I have said, I didn't go into Red Daughter a happy fan, thinking it was going to be terrible. But it worked wonderfully as a redemption story. I was glad to pick up the trade for easy re-reading.

January 2015 Solicits

The DC solicits for January 2015 have been fully released and there is some interesting wrinkles to the new year. Here is a link to Newsarama's coverage: http://www.newsarama.com/22499-dc-comics-full-january-2015-solicitations.html

It is interesting to me that DC books seem to be dropping from my pull list. I came to the realization that I know almost nothing about the New 52 DCU outside of the super-books.

I read Justice League United. I read Smallville (which is being canceled). I read Wonder Woman (which I will drop when the Finch's take over). I read Multiversity (a mini-series). I read Batwoman (which I fear is nearing cancellation).  I read Sensation Comics (which is outside of continuity).

So I am glad to see that I will be adding another DC title to the mix. On to the solicits.

SUPERGIRL #38
Written by MIKE JOHNSON and K. PERKINS
Art and cover by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO
THE FLASH 75 Variant cover by MICHAEL OEMING

Supergirl faces her toughest class yet at the Crucible Academy – Humanity 101. Plus, a conspiracy surrounding the clone known as Superboy begins!

The first thing that hits me in the face about this solicit is the cover. Is this a new costume design? A Crucible Academy uniform? I am glad to see the 'red crotch guard' disappear. Although the yellow disks and goggles seem a little off. Maybe this is some suit to wear in a battle situation.

But the idea that the 'toughest class' is Humanity 101 makes me worried that Perkins/Johnson are taking a step back from where Bedard has brought her. If she can't understand humanity, is she isolated again? Angry? Not considering Earth as her home?? Please tell me I am wrong!

JUSTICE LEAGUE UNITED #8
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art by NEIL EDWARDS and JAY LEISTEN
Cover by ANDREW ROBINSON

The penultimate chapter of “The Infinitus Saga” is here as the fate of the future is decided in a battle between Justice League United and the Legion of Super-Heroes!

My guess is that the cover shows the Thanagarian fleet being brought into the mix. Is that Hawkman? Or just a Thanagarian general?

Sad to see no Legionnaires on the cover.

ACTION COMICS #38
Written by GREG PAK
Art and cover by AARON KUDER

The Horror of Smallville has been unleashed on the world! Superman must stop the evil undead threat of the Ultrahumanite from crushing humanity!

I am thrilled to see Pak and Kuder listed on the credits. And there is no crossover attached! Add a horror element and the Ultrahumanite! And that cover is creepy. Hope the book picks up the momentum it had before Doomed.

SUPERMAN #38
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and wraparound cover by JOHN ROMITA, JR. and KLAUS JANSON

An extra-sized special issue of the world’s greatest hero brings in the New Year with a new costume, new powers and new friends and enemies! The epic team of Geoff Johns, John Romita Jr. and Klaus Janson conclude their first arc with twist after twist that will send Superman onto a new path and force Clark Kent to making a shocking decision! Plus: John Romita Jr. draws Batman!

Now here is an interesting solicit.

A new costume?? Are we bringing back the red trunks? Are we streamlining Superman to look like the Man of Steel movies. What will it look like?

New powers? New friends? New enemies?

I hope that Johns stays on the book long enough to bring his ideas to fruition so we don't get another soft reboot.

BATMAN/SUPERMAN #18
Written by GREG PAK
Art by ARDIAN SYAF and SANDRA HOPE
Cover by ARDIAN SYAF and DANNY MIKI

Superman uncovers the identity of the unseen terror that has been destroying targets related to him, while Batman seeks to protect Lois Lane! This time the truth will hurt in more ways than Superman could imagine!

There is a sort of  'Days of Future Past' Uncanny X-Men 141 feel to this cover. Does the 'truth hurting' mean that someone will actually be injured or killed?

SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN #15

Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art and cover by DOUG MAHNKE

Wonderstar’s destiny is starting to become clear – and his path may lead to the end of humanity! Will Superman and Wonder Woman be able to prevent him from becoming what – or who – he’s meant to be?

Wonderstar? Who is he?

I am hoping that Tomasi/Mahnke can bring me back. This book is once again on the endangered list. Will I drop it?

SMALLVILLE SEASON 11: CONTINUITY #2
Written by BRYAN Q. MILLER
Art by IG GUARA, J.P. MAYER and JULIO FERREIRA
Cover by CAT STAGGS

Lois and Clark are forced to team up with a most unlikely ally – but how can they trust Lex Luthor? Then, the Manhunters attack! Batman, Wonder Woman, and some of Superman’s past allies defend Earth by fighting alongside Superman – united!

I am so sad that this book is ending.

This is the Crisis. This is some commentary on DC rebooting things over and over. And it is fun. And it has Clark and Lois. And a classic Superman. And a great Supergirl. And I only have a little bit left.

And then this ...

RED LANTERNS #38
Written by LANDRY WALKER
Art by J. CALAFIORE
Cover by SCOTT HEPBURN

Guy carries the guilt of the lives lost in the Atrocitus War, and while he’s dedicated his life to finding redemption through safeguarding Earth, can a man carrying a death wish truly be a hero?

People who have visited this blog for a while know that I love Landry Walker as a writer. Whether it was Batman The Brave and the Bold or Danger Club or the beloved Supergirl Cosmic Adventures in the Eighth Grade, he has written some great stuff.

So I was pretty surprised to see him as the new writer of Red Lanterns. I wasn't planning to read this book anymore with the Corps basically dismantled and Supergirl not in the book. But looks like every time I think I'm out ... they pull me back in!

This was a nice surprise and looks like I'll be adding a DC book to my pull list after all.

Tony Bedard Interview

We recently learned that Tony Bedard's run on Supergirl will be over shortly and that writers Kate Perkins and Mike Johnson will be taking Kara down a new creative direction. 

I have loved Bedard's run on the book as he understood Supergirl and made her more like the character that I love, even in the midst of her becoming a Red Lantern and joining the JLU. I had the opportunity to interview Bedard recently, asking him about his take on Supergirl, his current run, and where he was hoping to take her. It was hard not to be a fanboy. Here is the interview.

Anj: You have had a couple of short runs on two different incarnations of Supergirl, a brief run on Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes, and even had her in R.E.B.E.L.S.!  Have you always  been a fan of Supergirl? What do you think of her as a character? What are her key attributes or character qualities?

TONY: I started reading comics relatively late in life, around the age of 15. It was the mid ‘80s and the first thing that really hooked me into superhero comics was Marvel’s SECRET WARS. I was so jazzed by it that when I heard DC was also doing a mega-event called CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS, I dived into it. So, ironically, my first exposure to Supergirl was her death in that series. But it left a lasting mark and I have always deeply felt her importance, even at times when she didn’t seem as important to whatever “big thing” was happening in comics. As for getting to write SUPERGIRL during the “Amazons Attack” event, and also getting to write a few issues of SUPERGIRL AND THE LEGION OF SUPERHEROES, that was sheer, wonderful luck. So, while I’ve always liked the Supergirl character, I’ve just been fortunate that they asked me to write her this many times. For me, her key attributes are the things that come with wearing that “S” on your chest – the responsibility to use your gifts for the benefit of others, the humility and self-sacrifice to serve the greater good even though you’re powerful enough to just take what you want. And I think Supergirl should have a brightness and optimism that matches her youth. She is filed with promise and potential. She should be an aspirational character, a role model. I think this can be maintained, even when you’re trying to fill her stories with teen angst and the sense of confusion and isolation that comes with being a teenager.

Anj: That vision of her as a young hero, learning the ropes while understanding what her responsibilities is mine as well. And yes, I think she should be an aspirational character as well.

Anj: You wrote three issues in the last incarnation of Supergirl, between Joe Kelly and Kelly Puckett’s runs. The issues were also crossovers with Amazons Attack as well as Countdown. What can you tell us about those issues? Did you ask to write them? They also seems to be an attempt to rehabilitate her character after a rough portrayal in Amazons and prior stories where she was angry and isolated. Were you hoping to make her more likable back then?

TONY: The Amazons Attack issues were offered to me out of the blue. As a former editor, I know that when you plan these big events, somebody is bound to drop out, or a creative team gets shifted around, and suddenly you have to get some issues covered. So when the editor called asking if I could pinch-hit on SUPERGIRL, I was only too glad to step in. The funny thing is that I hadn’t been keeping up with SUPERGIRL at the time and didn’t realize that she’d been portrayed as angry and isolated. I just wrote her as I thought she should be. As I’ve said in previous interviews, I want my Supergirl to be likable and upbeat. So even though she was screwing up, crashing Air Force One, etc., I still wanted her underlying character to be wholesome, well intentioned and sympathetic.

Anj: I love that the way she acted in those issues was your 'default' Supergirl. That is fantastic. I loved those issues and thought that maybe DC had asked you to soften her edges given the upcoming run.  

TONY: But when I think of those issues, what really stands out to me is how great it was working with Renato Guedes. Holy crap, that guy is amazing!  He drew Supergirl like a human being, and he put those biker pants under her skirt. Thank you, Renato! Maybe I’m just old, but the LAST thing I want from a SUPERGIRL comic is one of those upskirt shots. I remember seeing a few people online complain that he had made her “too fat.” Unbelievable. He made her look like a real girl is what he did.

Anj: Yeah, his stuff is great. I loved how he drew Supergirl here and when she appeared in Superman when he was drawing that book. And don't remind me about the bike shorts debacle. Like you, I thought they made perfect sense.

Anj: I was a big fan of R.E.B.E.L.S. and reviewed it monthly here. I loved that Supergirl was part of the opening issues. Were there plans to ever bring her back to the book? Do you miss Vril Dox?

TONY: I miss Vril Dox every day! I even tried to sneak him back into the DCU in the Villains Month BRAINIAC issue. But I don’t think we’ll be seeing a New 52 REBELS series any time soon. As for having Supergirl appear in that series, having written Kara in the 30^th Century already, she seemed like the best person to deliver a message from Brainiac 5 to his forefather Brainiac 2 (Vril Dox). It was just a guest appearance, but I felt really good about the way Brainiac 5 sent his message: having her actually write it on a blank DVD with her heat vision. Cute trick. Y’know, I’ll always be grateful that DC let REBELS go as far as it did. I think it was 28 issues. It was one of those times where something was liked internally and they really gave it a chance. Maybe if the DCU follows in Marvel’s movie footsteps, then REBELS could be the Guardians of the Galaxy surprise movie hit of 2022…?

Anj: Can you talk about how you ended up on the current Supergirl book? You have gone on record as saying that you wanted to make the angry and isolated New 52 Supergirl more likable and relatable. Did you seek out the assignment? And what were you hoping to bring to the book? Did you know early on that it was going to be a short run?

TONY: This was another instance of DC calling me and offering me the gig out of the blue. They knew I was looking for a new project, but I didn’t specifically lobby for SUPERGIRL. To be honest, it’s hard to get a gig you’re going after unless it’s a completely new pitch, like I did with R.E.B.E.L.S. (Yes, I know I was just trying to re-launch the criminally under-appreciated L.E.G.I.O.N. ’89).  Once they gave me SUPERGIRL, what I was hoping to bring to the book was a supporting cast and a lighter tone -- a moment for Kara to get past her resentment and embrace her new home. What DC wanted was to build up her rogue’s gallery and to play up the “stranger in a strange land” aspect. I tried to give them what they wanted and get the stuff in that I wanted. It ended up a bit of a mixed bag, but looking back I’m pretty happy with the run, even if much of it was dealing with characters and situations that I sort of inherited.

Anj: Knowing how you had treated her in all the prior runs that we've talked about, I was thrilled to hear you were on the book and what your approach was going to be. 

Anj: But then shortly after the announcement of you coming on board, we got the news about Red Daughter. Did you have to adapt your plans dramatically because of the new plot direction? How closely did you work with Red Lanterns’ writer Charles Soule on the arc?

TONY: I got to work fairly closely with Charles, since it was his idea to make her a Red Lantern to begin with! And I have to admit that when it was first presented to me, I wasn’t sold on the idea. I was trying to take her away from being angry all the time and we were going to make her a Rage Lantern?! But it didn’t take long to realize this might be the perfect pivot point for Kara. She couldhit bottom and then end up rejecting anger.  So I went along with it, and the great surprise was that by making her a Red Lantern, we gave her an instant support network and people to play off of and it turned out to be a great little storyline. I owe a lot to Charles, especially for making RED LANTERNS a fun, upbeat read. It made it easier to bring some of that fun to SUPERGIRL. 

Anj: I thought Red Daughter was handled very well and actually showed a more likable and friendly Kara despite the rage ring.  Was it hard to write a character who embraced rage while trying to make her a more heroic and positive person?

TONY: It was surprisingly easy. Kara had been searching for friends, for a place to belong. After a few really bad turns, she suddenly had a bunch of people who valued her power and wanted her around (except for Guy Gardner, who was wise enough to see she shouldn’t be one of them). It all worked out pretty nicely, with both moments to see her as a hero, and a great life lesson for Kara. Being a Red Lantern was one of the first times that people actually cheered for her. She deserved to be wanted for a change and she finally got a taste of what it felt like. 

Anj: You sowed the seeds of future plotlines which may never come to fruition. Can you tell us what you were planning with Blaze? Siobhan? Michael? Shay Veritas?

TONY: I was going to have Blaze create a trio of henchgirls called the Furies. Remember Siobhan’s roommate and her two friends? They were all orphaned in superhero battles and had sworn themselves to finding a way to make super-people pay. They were going to beat Supergirl and take her back to Blaze’s home dimension. Hilarity would ensue. I wanted to get Siobhan in there more, to make her and Kara a team. I had one issue where the newly Red Lanterned Kara fights Silver Banshee, and I contrasted their fight with flashbacks of Kara and Siobhan just having fun roommate moments. That remains one of my favorite things from the run: just letting her have a friend. Michael returns in my final issue, and we’ll see if they do anything with him after that. If not, it was enough that Kara met a guy who had every reason to hate life and yet retained a positive outlook. He was in many ways a good role model for her, and he didn’t want to trick or use her, which is nice for a change. And Shay I wanted to keep playing sort of mysterious. Is she really a friend to Supergirl, or does she view her as another science project? Shay’s still a bit of a cypher to me, which is okay if she’s played for mystery. But I liked doing scenes of her staff at the Block talking about what it’s like being stuck there, having to wear her face, alternating between admiration and resentment. It gave the whole Block set-up a little complexity.

Anj: Too bad we won't get the chance to read that Blaze arc. Sounds like a blast. Anyways, as a big Supergirl fan, I just wanted to thank you for writing such a great Supergirl, a young, positive hero still learning the ropes. While you have a couple of more issues on your run, any last words for Supergirl’s fandom?

TONY: I just wish the new team success. Kara’s had a rocky time since the New 52 launch, but I feel like right now she’s well positioned to move forward and become a true hero on her own terms. And I wish Emanuela Lupacchino all the success in the world! She’s an amazing artist and Supergirl couldn’t be in better hands, art-wise!

Anj: Thanks so much for taking the time to talk to Supergirl fans! Looking forward to your last 2 issues.

Bullet Review: Red Lanterns #34

Red Lanterns #34 came out last week, the last issue of a big 'Guy Gardner vs. Atrocitus' storyline as well as the last vestige of the Red Daughter storyline. I have said it many times before and I will say it again now. I did not expect to like this book or Red Daughter at all. But I did. In fact, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Writer Charles Soule makes these Reds tortured souls, angry at an unfair universe but channeling that rage into some form of good, some force for justice. And that camaraderie, as well as a peek into where rage can lead you, is just what the solitary, disaffected Kara needed to see to turn things around in her life. The art, dark and thick lined, by Andrea Sorrentino and Jim Calafiore, is perfectly suited for the book.

That sort of high octane action with surprisingly deep characterization is still seen here. But this issue read like it should have a 'Final Issue' tag on it. Everything is different at the end of this issue. I have no idea what this book is going to be like in November (next issue being a Futures' End crossover). And that makes me worried. Because it would be just like DC to take a book that seemed to be firing on all cylinders and pull the plug on the creative direction.

I won't get too deep into this issue but there are some moments worth reviewing quickly.

We do get a quick scene with Supergirl at the beginning. With Atrocitus spawning an army of Earth Red Lanterns, Guy decides to take the fight off planet. Needing some time, he asks Kara to scatter the troops. And she does so with a classic move - the sonic book of the super-clap.

It was nice to see Supergirl with the Reds, as her time with the group should matter. But I also was glad to see her listen to Guy and stay on Earth, leaving the fight to the opposing Corps.

First off, I am glad Skallox did not betray Guy but instead was an undercover agent, worming his way into Atrocitus' Corps. I want Guy to be the leader here so to see he actually convinced Skallox to go along is good characterization for Gardner,

My favorite character in the book has been Bleez. She has been shown as a tortured soul, filled with self-loathing. She hates who she has become; she doesn't want anyone living her tortured life. She wants justice.

But she is also a good friend and a great warrior. When Guy tells her to leave Ysmault, to save herself from the approaching horde of Reds, she calls him an idiot and swears to stay.

She has really been a revelation in this book.

And then there is the Judge, the extremely powerful Red Lantern who has just been observing.

She finally uses her powers on Guy, judging him and finding him innocent. With the right side of the battle chosen, she immolates herself. She kills herself, but also eliminates the Earth army.

It is sort of a shame that the Judge is gone. She had potential.

But the big moment occurs when Guy and Atrocitus finally face off. It is a battle of will and rage.

Guy decides to let his ring ..formerly Atrocitus' ring ... decide who will lead the Reds. It is a true gamble. by taking of the ring, Guy is dying. He is opening himself up for an attack.

But then ... the ring chooses him!

And Guy is able to remove the rings off of Atrocitus and Dex-Star. He absorbs the multitude of Red Rings which powered the Earth Ragers. And he is able to control the rage, regain some composure, and become the true leader.

It is a great moment for Guy!!

It seems like with all this stuff behind them, that this title is ready to move forward. Guy is the leader; Atrocitus powerless. It should be the time for this established team to fight on, with only themselves to worry about.

Instead, Soule (or maybe DC) blow the thing up. Guy will remain a Red, but temper his anger, keeping the ring around his neck. He will remain on Earth. The others are to defend the rest of the sector.

Who wants this group split up?? And  The Judge and Zillius are gone too fast, too soon.

I am hoping this is a feint.

Even with Supergirl out of the picture, I thought I would still be on board with this book. And I will get the next couple of issues to see if things take a step backwards, or veer from the current direction.

But enough worrying about future. This was a very good ending to a very good prolonged run. The characterization of all the Reds was solid. But the faceoff between Guy and Atrocitus was perfect.

Overall grade: B+

Sales Review: July 2014

July sales have been posted and there is some good news to share! As always, ICv2 covers the market best. Here is the link to their top 300 comics:http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/29385.html

And overall this has been a week of great news. Starting with the Supergirl variant issue announcement and recapping the Boston Comic Con, I have been in a happy place. So will sales news continue that momentum?

Supergirl #33 was the final part of the exciting Red Daughter storyline. This is the arc which hopefully helps Kara turn the corner, head towards heroism and a healthier life, and end the black hole drag of angst which has plagued the book for most of its history since the New 52.

This arc was fantastic, especially the Red Lanterns issues. Tony Bedard and Emanuela Lupacchino are established on the book. And we see Kara shedding the ring. So far so good!

But would sales be effected?

The book slipped in terms of ranking down to #131, a product I think of one-shots, weeklies, and mini-series.

I say that because the book sold more this month than the last, up around 400 units. In this day and age of chronic sales erosion, this is amazing. Especially since it didn't come with some sort of massive reboot or creative team shake-up. Is this word of mouth?

Are the slightly increased sales from Red Lantern readers? Will new readers stick around?

I usually review the sales of a title I like which is lower than I like. But this time I thought I would do something different.

Batgirl #33 is sitting pretty at #79, selling just north of 37K, a number I wish Supergirl was selling at. I want us to remember this number. Because Batgirl #36 is one of those creative shake-ups. This is the soft reboot of the character, skewing to a younger Babs and looking way more kid friendly. The new creative team of Brenden Fletcher, Cam Stewart, and Babs Tarr have been receiving massive praise for the new feel and look of the book and it hasn't even been released!

What number will Batgirl #36 hit? I am guessing more than 100K.