Wizard Superman Tribute Edition

One of my latest side quests has been scouring the shops, conventions, and warehouses I go to and see if I can find the old comic magazines that were published, especially around creators and topics that I love. I read Back Issue currently for similar reasons.

These magazines are almost time capsules of a sort. Reading creators' ideas about upcoming titles and stories and then comparing to them now that they are in the rear view mirror. In particular, Comics Interview, Comics Journal,  and Amazing Heroes are my faves as they seemed to take the material and the discussions seriously.

At the summer end's Time Capsule warehouse sale, I found a box filled with them and grabbed a few. That included this "Superman Tribute Edition" from Wizard Magazine. Now Wizard has it's critics (and I might be one of them). The book was more hype and journalism but at the time ruled the roost as THE comic book magazine on the shelves. 

But I will admit this one was solid, a magazine that kept out right before Reign of the Superman hit the racks. It was still polybagged, complete with collector card. The cover is a die-cut, chromium enhanced fold-out by Jurgens and Breeding showing the Doomsday fight. 

The table of contents shows this was a mix of historical retrospectives (both pre-Crisis and post-Byrne), a mini sort-of who's who, and a very interesting article looking vaguely at the four 'Supermen' who made up the Reign. The creators can't go into too much detail as the books hadn't been released yet, so speak a bit veiled. Very interesting hearing them talk about these characters so entrenched now.

But I'll cover the Supergirl specific stuff in the book for this site (not that there is much).

Return Of Superman Cards!

Hat tip to my blog friend @FKAJason (who runs the excellent Captain Atom Blog Splitting Atoms)  for sharing the Supergirl relevant cards from The Return of Superman card set from 1993.

As I have said in the past, the Matrix Supergirl prior to the Reign of the Supermen storyline was something of a muddle, a being totally being used in all ways by Lex Luthor. Prior to that she had been insane, wandering the cosmos, and then finally a slave of Brainiac.

But once Superman died and Funeral For a Friend and Reign of the Supermen happened, Matrix started to turn more towards the light. She started to question Lex's motives. She totally realized the hero that Superman was. She decided she would become the hero and defender of Metropolis. And she followed him into the battle against the Cyborg Superman.

This card has a great art by Jackson Guice. I love ... and I mean love ... Guice's take on Matrix. Just great.

I love how this card stresses the fact that Supergirl has become Metropolis' new defender.

And I also love that they simply say 'born in a lab on a faraway planet' instead of trying to explain the Pocket Universe in the small amount of text space they were given.

"Her brillian psionic powers make her a formidable opponent for any who cross her path!" Nice.

And there is this card titled 'Boy Meets Girl!' which uses the cover art of Adventures of Superman #502.

This was something of a high water mark for the Superman books. Guice was on Action. Here we see Tom Grummett's work on Adventures. And the running arc of the four supposed replacement Supermen was a done very well.

The idea that one of the replacements was actually Superman in some way was a very good mystery.

And given the unclear future for Superboy given his impetuous nature, this card correctly states these two could be enemies, friends, or something more.

Thanks again to @FKAJason for sharing these! And I am glad that Supergirl got some mention in this card set!

Supergirl Saves A Secret Identity, Sort Of Like The Show

On last week's episode 'Blood Bonds', J'onn J'onzz shape shifted into Supergirl so Kara and the Maid of Might could be seen together, thus squelching Cat Grant's suspicions that the two were the same.

The stand-in is a tried and true comic cliche. Whether it's Superman subbing for Batman, a Superman robot subbing for the real thing, or Dick Grayson dressing like Batgirl while Commissioner and Barbara Gordon look on, secret identities have been protected like this for decades.

But had Supergirl ever done a favor for someone like this?

Would I ask the question if the answer wasn't 'yes'?

Action Comics #692 came out in September 1993 and was a sort of epilogue the the Reign of the Superman mega-arc in which Superman returned from the dead to defeat the Cyborg Superman.

There were a lot of loose ends to wrap up after such a huge story which impacted both the Superman universe and the DCU as a whole.

One of the biggest threads was how to explain where Clark Kent was during this whole story. How could the secret identity of Superman be saved? And how could there be any sort of rational explanation of where Clark had been during all this time?

"And who, disguised as Clark Kent' was written by Roger Stern with art by Butch Guice, Denis Rodier, and Glenn Whitmore. And, as I have said elsewhere, I love Butch Guice's version of Supergirl. She is willowy, lovely, strong.

The issue starts with Superman scouring Metropolis for any survivors still caught in the wreckage and debris of the Doomsday brawl. Amazingly, he is able to uncover Clark Kent, apparently alive and well after being caught alone in civil bunker during the fight. Thus, Clark was buried alive but with supplies to live relatively normally.

Lois leaps into her husband's arms, thrilled to see him again. And then Jimmy decides to capture the moment by taking a picture of Superman, Lois, and Clark all together.

How is that possible?

Well remember this is the time period where Supergirl was Matrix. This is the pre-Linda Danvers merge Matrix so she had all of her powers, including shape-changing.

When Clark, Superman, and Lois all in the Kent's apartment, we see that Clark isn't really Clark. Clark is Matrix. She subbed in for her friend to keep this secret identity protected.

Nice middle panel set there with the eye changing to let us, as readers, know that the whole body is morphing. A lot is happening to get from Clark to Mae but much is unseen. Nicely done.

We again learn that shape-changing into something larger or more massive is a strain. But she was glad to do it for her friends. She can only hope that Clark and Lois will be as happy as she and Lex are.

Despite that smiling second panel, you can sense that thing aren't perfect between Matrix and Lex. There are things she'll need to work out. The Supergirl mini-series is only 2 months away which will end that dysfunctional romance.

Lois thanks Supergirl as she flies off. And Supergirl wishes that the all live happily ever after. Which, of course, doesn't happen.

Anyways, the idea of someone standing in for a super-hero to keep a secret identity safe is a tried and true trope. I thought I would share this particular story where Supergirl helped out Superman. It was the first thing I thought of when I saw J'onn helping Kara out in the show.

Review: Batman/Superman #3.1 Doomsday

Batman/Superman #3.1 Doomsday came out last week and was one of the more intriguing books during Villains' month. Written by Greg Pak and drawn by Brett Booth, the book isn't necessarily about Doomsday as much as it is about the El family and General Zod.

Sure, we see Doomsday, hear how he earned his name, even learn a bit about his origins. But he seems more like a plot device than a character, something to move the plot along ... like a bomb threat or a natural disaster.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about the book is the setting, Krypton several years before its destruction. We hear from all the Els about what Doomsday meant and how he effected their world. We see a loving Zor-El (something I didn't think existed anymore) and strong Lara. And then, in a sort of story curve ball, we hear about a prophecy for the El family, one which struck me as the most beautiful segment in the issue. It weaves some of the problems I have with the current DCU in with some nice Reign of Superman homages. 

Booth brings his usual style to the book, a kinetic feel to the action sequences, a soft touch to the personal moments. But the prophecy pages stand out, drawn as a sort of 'stained glass' giving it a mythic feel. Wonderful.

The book opens with Jor-El and Lara with Zor-El and Alura celebrating 'Remembrance Day'. But no one seems happy about it. This is a solemn day, remembering a day of disaster ... a Doomsday.

I actually like this play on words. Doomsday is a day which becomes synonymous with the creature that brought on that day.

One thing that does seem a bit out of place is the interaction between these four in comparison to the prior peeks we have seen recently. Things have seemed strained ... maybe hateful ... between the El brothers but here they are together and actually quite cordial to each other. Maybe they are on their best behavior sort of like visiting relatives you dislike on holidays?

Lara was on hand as a military person on the actual Doomsday. I still am getting used to this bad-ass version of Lara. She sees the Doomsday creature land in the city, destroying buildings, killing indiscriminately, impervious to anything Lara throws against it - hand blasters and such. She says Krypton had become complacent and it showed when Doomsday arrived.

I love this panel progression by Booth. We see the current Lara remembering, the cityscape in the background. And then suddenly we are in the past, her cowering in the same panel spot, the cityscape in flames, the panels rougher. Such a smooth transition.

Doomsday seems unstoppable until Colonel Zod shows up. Armed in ancient weaponry, he holds his own against the creature. But while he battles, the city falls down around them. Thousands were killed.

So is Zod the hero?

Or is this some sly commentary on the ending of Man of Steel?

But it is interesting that Zod somehow had access to weapons that seem to work.

Before we hear how this fight ended, the group hears a squeal from inside.

It's from Kara! She's inside.

Zor-El is sent in to comfort her and he assumes she was listening in on the scary Doomsday discussion.

This is about as friendly and paternal we have seen Zor-El act since the New 52. Sure, it is clear he had a special relationship with Kara in the early Green/Johnson issues but always around battle training.

We know that Zod is in the Phantom Zone at this point because he tells Kara that he can't get to her (sort of like a Boogey Man). Remember that Zor unknowingly helped Zod with the fake Char attack (as seen in the Zod issue). Even then he seemed moody and angry with his brother. So, while welcome, it felt a little off from the villain we saw in Cyborg Superman.

I am not against this in any way. I like this Zor-El, hugging his daughter and telling her he will keep her safe. This is better than the desperate man who experimented on his daughter or the bitter man willing to risk his family's lives to one-up his brother.

Still, Kara is bright and doesn't believe in the immutable happy endings her father tells her. And so he relays to her the prophecy of the house of El.

Booth's art changes to this more angular, darker, even more stylized motif, again giving it some sort of mythic feeling.

We hear of the Knight of El, sent from his home, always using his powers to help. Always.

That's Superman.

But the people the Knight helps fear him and shun him and hunt him. I can't help but think that this is also some commentary about the current DCU. In the current New 52 world, Superman is feared by the populace, hunted by the military.

Still, when a monster ... Doomsday ... arrives, the Knight does what he must do; he helps, he saves. But then he dies. So Pak is bringing into continuity the idea of Superman dying at the hands of Doomsday.

I like the aftermath of his death. People suddenly realize what they have lost with the death of their knight. They stood alone in a dark, cruel universe. Is this also Pak talking about the New 52. That if the true Superman, the ideal Superman 'dies' then the universe is a grim place.

But that death inspires. The 'glory of the word of El' ... they help, they die, others rise to do the same.

I love this splash page, a sort of riff on Reign of the Superman. When Superman dies, others rise. There are Supergirl, Power Girl, Superboy, Steel, even an Eradicator kind of guy.

I love this page, Supergirl smack dab in the center as the logical legacy.

Just great stuff by both Pak and Booth.

Now maybe I am transferring my own issues with the New 52 onto this myth. It could easily be interpreted as a Christ story with a death, and followers arising preaching the good word.

Still Kara can't get past the uplifting ending to this myth. She wants to hear the 'true story'.

Look at this loving Zor-El again, calming her fears, tweaking her nose, telling her he will always keep her safe.

I loved this scene.

The story does take a darker turn when we see that the reason Kara squealed is because somehow Zod is able to communicate with her from the Phantom Zone.

He created Doomsday to scare the Kryptonian populace into picking up the sword. He also created the Char threat to do the same! How many plots did he have to strike terror into the heart of Krypton. Not only did he slaughter real Char, he slaughtered his own people ... both at Doomsday's hands and his own from the aftermath of the battle.

Zod is creepy, saying he wants blood ... maybe Kara's. He says he will kill Zor-El if she talks.

I wonder how long this went on in her youth. Poor Supergirl ... psychologically terrorized by Zod's phantom on Krypton. Lied to by her father. Alone on Earth. Why must DC do the worst it can to her?

I do like that we see some of the fire in even a young Kara. She defiantly stands up to him. Great pose.

But Zod isn't thrown off. He is close to being free. Doomsday is in there with him. And that El myth ends with the death of the Knight. Things are not well.

I thought this was a very good issue. I love that it is set on Krypton with a young Kara and a loving Zor-El. This is more a Supergirl story than a Superman story. I love the 'myth' sequence, bringing into play some elements of Reign of the Superman and commenting on the current New 52. I like that the threat of Zod and Doomsday is suddenly real and palpable.

And I am a big fan of Brett Booth. I loved his Supergirl in his Justice League run. And I think this Doomsday is a monstrosity of spikes and brawn. On top of that, we I love the switch in styles to create that storybook feel to the Word of El.

It is hard for me to believe I almost didn't pick up this book. I am a believer in these creative teams.

Overall grade: B+

Back Issue Box: Adventures of Superman #502

The DCnU versions of Supergirl and Superboy met for the first time over in Superboy #6. So I figured that it would be cool to go back and look at the first time other incarnations of the characters first met.

Back in 1993, the comic world was still reeling from the Death of Superman, we had just held a Funeral for a Friend, and the Reign of the Supermen was just starting to fall. Adventures of Superman was the home of Superboy and had a great creative team of Karl Kesel writing and Tom Grummett and Doug Hazelwood on art. In Adventures #502, this Superboy met Supergirl.

It is interesting to revisit this issue almost 20 years later. We had only just met this Superboy. He didn't know anything of his origins. He didn't really understand his power. And he looks oh so 90s cool with his fade and leather jacket. And like any young man with incredible power, he is pretty sure of himself.

As for this Supergirl, this was smack dab in the middle of the 'Pawn of Luthor' period for the Matrix Supergirl. You could start to feel the tide turning a bit for her. She had handled herself very well in Funeral and later in this arc goes against Luthor's wishes to aid the re-invigorated Superman. In just under a year, she'll star in her own mini-series and leave Luthor's side for good.

But all of those revelations come later. Right now, Metropolis doesn't know how to handle the Supermen claiming the name. And Luthor certainly wasn't going to stand on the sidelines. And so he sends his lackey in.

Getting back to the creative team, I think Kesel had a really great handle on the Superboy character here. He really has 'The Metropolis Kid' vacillate between overconfidence with and uncertainty of his powers as well as showing the impulsive nature of being a super-powered teen with few role models.

Perhaps the best thing about that happened is this book is what didn't happen. The two didn't fight each other! 

And Grummett was the perfect person for this book. The Kid's adventures weren't as serious as say Steel's or the Eradicator's. So Grummett's more cartoony feel suited the book wonderfully. And I think he draws a very good Supergirl, fresh faced, young, and optimistic.

The issue starts with Superboy saving a convertible filled with young ladies from crashing off a Metropolis bridge. But then he himself needs a hand when he almost loses control of the very car he was saving. Luckily, Supergirl is there to save the day as well.

I thought this was a very nice splash page with a sort of unique composition, a hero saving a hero hoisting a car. There is a wonderful vertical feeling here with some unsteadiness implied by the art.

Of course, Superboy is a little distracted by Supergirl's ... umm ... charms. It is something of an innocent and natural response from a 16yr old boy who probably can't help himself. And it does open up the dialogue for the oft-used 'chest choking' joke.

Supergirl invites Superboy to have dinner with her and Lex and he agrees.

Of course, Superboy already has something of a working relationship with WGBS and reporter Tana Moon. So Moon is, of course, upset that Superboy would agree to meet with a rival.

Much of Supergirl's behavior is rooted in her allegiance to Lex. But I did like how she feigned ignorance of Moon and said she only got her news from WLEX ... all while on a live WGBS news feed. Matrix was sort of sly in her own way.

But again, she is simply a pawn of Lex. Here she is trussed up in a form fitting evening gown, vamping a bit to try to get Superboy to join Team Luthor. Lex seems to be parading her out as just another possession of his. I have said it before, outside of some glimmers of independence and heroism, this was a rough point to be a Supergirl fan.

Supergirl is charming however, getting Superboy to verbally agree to leave WGBS behind, work for Lex, go out patrolling with her.

Unfortunately, Superboy is pretty gullible and easy to manipulate. After Luthor's dinner, he meets with GBS president Vinnie Edge and formally agrees to be a WGBS exclusive newsmaker. On top of that, Edge hires the odious Rex Leech to act as Superboy's handler and agent. Leech is a pretty slimy character interested in turning a quick buck.

And Rex has a daughter Roxy who proclaims Superboy is cuter than Bon Jovi, Luke Perry, and Robin all together. But this innocent 'boy crazy' introduction turns about to be just as much an act as Rex' professionalism. She isn't a bad girl, just always looking out for number one.

Superboy really is being led on a leash here. Edge is only interested in cornering the news market. And if that means manufacturing the news, he will. He hires a supervillain to attack Superboy all while Tana is following and filming.

One of the better side characters in this is Tana. She is against anyone using Superboy and yet she herself is using him. Throughout the arc she has to come to grips with her own ethics and what side of the fence she is standing on.

While moving a locomotive engine, Superboy is attacked by the Stinger. The attack was pretty easy to set up given that Stinger was given the wheres and whens of Superboy's day by Rex earlier in the book. Overwhelmed by the attack, Superboy has to ditch the engine and tosses it into an empty park. I like how Superboy realizes he's pretty lucky that no one was there, even if the workers all think it was planned.

As I said before, Superboy is just learning the limits of his powers here. He still thinks he is simply a clone of Superman. He doesn't know about tactile telekinesis yet. He doesn't understand his lack of vision powers.

Since Superboy isn't exactly invulnerable, he is dazed and battered by some rather pedestrian attacks by the Stinger - bombs, cybernetic whips, etc.

Supergirl has actually been following the proceedings in invisible form and is about to step in and save the day when Superboy stops her. He lays out Stinger with one punch.

I think it again shows his somewhat brash and schoolyard persona. He doesn't want anyone's help.

The whole super-hero thing has been something of a game up to now for Superboy with people falling over themselves to be his friend. Suddenly, the whole thing becomes deadly real. Realizing he needs a distraction to escape, Stinger blows out the main support of the bridge, collapsing it and sending countless people to their deaths. Things aren't always rosy in the heroing games. Lesson learned. And great cliffhanger!

This initial meeting showcased the sort of naivete of both Supergirl and Superboy, as they both are just pawns in the nefarious dealings of megalomaniacs. But over the course of Reign, they mature, become part of the Superman family, and do their best.

For a Supergirl collection, this issue of low importance other than being the first meeting between Boy and Girl. It can be picked up pretty cheap in back issue boxes. And it does sport some great  Grummett art. I, for one, liked Funeral for a Friend and Reign of the Supermen and think both arcs are worth reading.

Overall grade: B

Review: DCU Legacies #8

Earlier this week DCU Legacies #8 was released, covering the next time period in the history of the DC universe. The issue sports a very solid cast of creators - Len Wein, Dan Jurgens, and Jerry Ordway are all on the main story, while Scott Kolins continues to draw the framework pages.

I freely admit that I am probably enjoying this more than most. I am DC history nut, and something of a continuity nerd, so I am really thrilled to see this timeline laid out before me. In particular, these last few issues have been fantastic for me, retelling the stories I grew up with, that I collected when I began to increase the scope of my collecting.

This issue covers the Knightfall storyline where Batman finally defeats the Jean Paul Valley Az-Bat. But the bulk of the issue retells the Funeral for a Friend and Reign of the Supermen stories which came after Superman died at the hands of Doomsday.

This time period in the Superman mythos is a very fruitful one with some excellent arcs. I thought the Death of Superman issues, the actual fight with Doomsday, were pretty pedestrian. But Funeral for a Friend and Reign of the Supermen were both very good. And not only did this time introduce us to Doomsday, but also major new characters - Steel, Superboy, and  the Cyborg Superman.

But one thing that stuck out for me in the earliest parts of this issue which covered the funeral portion of the story was the complete lack of the Matrix Supergirl. Supergirl was a major player in the Superman books back then (even if she was romantically linked to Lex). Heck, she was even a pall bearer at the funeral.

I was thinking 'if the pre-Crisis Supergirl got a couple of panels to shine in Legacies, why not Matrix?'

And then I saw this panel!

Hooray!!

Sure, it is one panel and no lines, but she is there. And if Matrix exists then it stands to reason that the Linda Danvers/Matrix Supergirl exists too!

Anyways, I am happy that we got this panel ... at least an acknowledgment that Supergirl was a major player in the Reign of the Supermen and Superman in general in the late 90s.

Here are a couple of Supergirl moments from Reign of the Supermen.

First off, here is the Legacies scene as it played out in the story. From Superman:The Man of Steel #25, written by Louise Simonson and drawn by Jon Bogdanove, here is Supergirl dealing with the presumed threat of the Kryptonian Battlesuit.

No one knew Superman was in the suit as it walked out of the ocean so this was pretty daring of Supergirl. I always thought that Bogdanove's 'in your face' style was an interesting and appreciated contrast to the other artists on the Reign of Supermen run.

Maybe my favorite Supergirl moment in Reign is this one from Action Comics #691, by writer Roger Stern and artist Jackson Guice. When Superman first returned he only had a fraction of his powers and was pretty vulnerable. Still, he leaped headfirst into battle without fear.

It is revealed that Supergirl was with him all along while he was in his weakened state, invisibly tagging along and protecting him. It showed just how much Superman had come to trust in Matrix. Clearly she was a key part of his strategic plan to defeat the Cyborg Superman. In a perfect little nod to the pre-Crisis Supergirl, this story is titled 'Secret Weapon'.

I always loved Guice's Supergirl. She seemed so graceful when he drew her.

Anyways, at least for one panel, that incarnation still exists in the current DCU. Much like the pre-Crisis Supergirl panels, I think DC simply wants to acknowledge the breadth and complexity of continuity. Some people may have vague memories of people who simply no longer are around. Congratulations to Len Wein for putting this story together and celebrating the DCU.

And I didn't even mention the Frank Quitely drawn New Gods second story! That was a great second feature and a sympathetic look at Orion; it would have been worth the cover price itself.

Overall grade: A

Bullet Review: Outsiders #26

With a cover trumpeting 'Superman and the Outsiders', rumors of a 'bold new direction' (I am a sucker for such stuff), respect for Philip Tan's art on Green Lantern, and curiosity about Dan Didio's writing ability, I picked up Outsiders #26.

I will admit that the potential link to the Superman titles was the big selling point. If not for that I don't think I would have picked up the issue. In fact, I have never really read The Outsiders at all despite the fact that includes a couple of my favorite B-listers: Metamorpho and The Creeper.

So this was the chance for DC to grab me. It sort of worked.

Now remember that I come into this issue with only passing knowledge of all of these characters. What I know of them is what I have been able to glean from their appearances in other comics like Final Crisis crossovers, etc. 'Bold new directions' should be easily accessible to new readers who shouldn't feel lost. Unfortunately, I felt a bit lost.

First off, we meet a clearly unhinged Geo Force. He is dealing with a lot of issues and seems to exhibit a manic/depressive mood with a borderline personality. He seems to polarize his teammates, some who will follow his lead of the team, others questioning his actions. I can understand those questions since it is implied in this panel that Geo Force tried to gore himself with a sword to the neck.

But even in this first scene, we see Geo Force talking to Roy. As a new reader I was trying to figure out why Red Arrow/Arsenal was in Markovia. Turns out that this Roy is Owlman. Again, as someone trying this comic for the first time in an issue marketed as a good jumping on point I shouldn't be confused. Maybe those little character boxes we have seen in Legion of Super-Heroes, R.E.B.E.L.S., and in Matt Fraction's Uncanny X-Men would have been helpful here.

As confused as I was about Geo Force's overwhelming angst, I was more confused about Katana and her compulsion to kill anyone who stands against her.

This is again part of the problem of jumping in. Maybe Katana has always been a killer and I have been misled by my few interactions with her in other comics. But it seems off, even to Black Lightning who joins her on a mission against coastal pirates.

This isn't to say I didn't like this characterization. To be honest, the ruthless Katana was the most compelling character in the book. But I wonder if long-time readers of the book and fans of the character would agree.

What is clear is that the team seems to be in disarray with an unstable leader at the top. Katana and Metamorpho seem to agree with what Geo Force is doing. Black Lightning, Owlman, and the Creeper seem unsure.

Team dynamics and personality conflicts are important plot points in team books like this.



But the big news was the final panel. The Eradicator is back and is now a New Krypton liaison to Markovia. Furthermore, Geo Force has decided to not only upset team dynamics, he also decides to rock the international relations by declaring Markovia as a sanctuary for Kryptonians on Earth (something in direct opposition of the UN declaration).

Now my knowledge of the Eradicator unfortunately ends around the time Reign of the Supermen ended. So I don't know much of his career as an Outsider or why he hasn't been around in a while. But this is a tantalizing hook for Superman fans.

I do think it was tough to drop into this book and these characters' storylines and histories without much preceding knowledge. I have to say I felt a bit lost in some of the interactions.

Philip Tan's art seemed rushed in some places. That said, the Katana battle scene on the boat crackled and were the strongest art pages of the book.

But overall, I don't know if this worked for me as a new reader. I will probable give the book a couple of more issues because of the link to New Krypton. But if that wasn't here, I don't think this issue sold me enough to keep reading.

Overall grade: C


I always seem to hearken back to Birds of Prey #56 as a great example of a 'bold new direction' issue. First off it says 'bold new direction' right on the cover! The cover art is attention grabbing ... Black Canary poised in battle.

I had only passing knowledge of Black Canary and Oracle before this issue. I had not collected Birds of Prey before this and only knew the characters from appearances in other books. Still, this issue showcased their powers and personalities in a clear way so that I didn't feel like I was lost. It also had a great cliff-hanger that made me come back for more. I collected Birds of Prey for the next 4 years (until Gail Simone left) because of this issue. I have since followed Simone to most everything else she has written. That is what a 'bold new direction' issue should do. Grab you and not let go.

You could even point to Supergirl #34 as another good example.

That said, I am on board with the Outsiders for a bit. Hopefully things will become a little clearer for this new reader.

Geoff Johns and James Robinson on integrating Supergirl into the Superman family

Remember in the 1990's when Superman mattered and Supergirl was considered part of the family?




It just feels to me that DC is trying to make the Superman titles relevant again. It seems to happen about once every 10 years, that talent is brought to the titles and the stars align. I guess the last time I felt this way was with the Reign of the Supermen. While I know that the Death of Superman brought some publicity, I actually enjoyed both Funeral For a Friend and the Reign storylines. And the couple of years after those arcs were pretty interesting.

At the time, it just seemed like Superman mattered again. But that energy seemed to peter off for me. Since about 2004 I haven't collected a Superman title monthly outside of All Star Superman.

But then something weird happened. I was lured back into a Superman title. I was told that I should buy Geoff Johns' 'Legion' story in Action Comics. After all, that story included the "best" Legion I knew and was drawn by Gary Frank who drew such a lovely Supergirl in the early 1996 title.




So amazingly I enjoyed Johns' story! I even planned to pick up the Brainiac storyline; it started this week in Action Comics 866.




Then DC announced that James Robinson will be writing Superman and a JLA spin-off with Kara!

Johns and Robinson!? Now that is a confluence of talent to make people notice Superman again. Both have said they want to try to synch up the titles to do and overall bigger story. Integrated Superman titles! Reminds me of those little triangles they used to have on the covers so people could read there Superman titles in the right order. For example, Action Comics 677 was issue 20 for the year (see left side of pic).




And here is the key thing for this blog. They both seem to care about Supergirl! They both talk about how she should have a key part in the Superman titles and in Superman's life. How she needs to fit into the DCU.

In this month's Wizard (issue 201) this is what Robinson had to say:

Q: Will you be incorporating Supergirl back into the Superman world?

"There's stuff involving Kryptonina heritage that we will be working on strongly, which will affect all of them. No one's been trying to involve the creative team of Supergirl in with everything else and that is something we intend to change.

She could be a great character, and that's our goal - to make her a character that has her own identity. I don't really feel I know who she is apart from being this blonde, super girl, you know? She doesn't have personality quirks and a personality that Hal Jordan or Oliver Queen, or Dick Grayson have, so I think the important thing to do is to give her that.

Q: So you have been talking with Kelly Puckett about incorporating the books?

"Yeah. We discussed how to best make it into part of the DCU and of the Superman family as opposed to merely a book with a Superman logo on it."

Seems silly to be excited by the statement, but he wants to give Kara a personality! He wants her to be part of Superman's life. And, best of all, he wants to include Kelly Puckett in on the discussions so that there is a consistent vision of Kara!

And now, here is what Johns said on ComicMix today.

http://www.comicmix.com/news/2008/06/11/interview-geoff-johns-on-the-return-of-brainiac-in-action-comics/

"Then coming in October after “Brainiac” and “Atlas” are concluded, the books are all going to be linking up, including Supergirl. There will be some more announcements about Supergirl down the line but there is a big storyline that we’ll be telling in the last quarter of the year in the world of Superman that builds off of the things that happen in “Brainiac” and “Atlas.” "

Imagine, a big storyline and more announcements about Supergirl in the last quarter of the year. They actually have plans for Kara!

Here is the cover of Superman 679 (due in August), a nice Alex Ross Kara in the background.

If there is one thing most people can agree on, it is that there has been no clear direction for the Supergirl title. I like the Puckett stories, but based on message boards and blogs not everyone does. I didn't like the Joe Kelly stories at all, but I have read plenty of people on-line who did.

What I think everyone can agree on is the lack of consistency on the title.

Maybe this is the answer. Maybe having the super-book creators talking to each other will make the difference.

I have enjoyed Kelley Puckett run. And the fact that two great writers like Johns and Robinson are going to work on Superman, include Supergirl, and work with Puckett is great. That they have plans for her, important plans that will link her to the Superman titles, well that is fantastic.

As a Kara fan, I am very optimistic. Anyone else?