Ron Randall Commission

A couple of weeks back I got the best surprise in the mail.

Darrin and Ruth Sutherland, of the R a D Adventures podcasts, sent me the Ron Randall commission above.

Darrin and Ruth are found on Twitter at @RaD-Adventures and podcast  at Trekker Talk, Warlord Worlds, Xenozoic Xenophiles, and other shows. They are just the nicest people on the internet, great friends and so generous.

I admit they introduced me to Trekker, a great comic by Randall. And they even introduced me to Ron (at least electronically) leading to this interview from earlier this year:
http://comicboxcommentary.blogspot.com/2018/02/ron-randall-interview.html

I've always been a fan of Randall's art and held out hope I'd run into him at a local con so I could get a sketch.

So imagine my surprise to find the package on my doorstep which had this inside. This is ust a lovely take on Supergirl.  She looks so young and happy, almost pensive.

I can't thank Darrin, Ruth, and Ron enough for this great gift, a truly wonderful addition to my collection!

Thanks again!

Ron Randall Interview

I recently heard that comic writer/artist Ron Randall was going to be producing another Trekker project and got pretty pumped about it. I discovered Trekker within the last handful of years (thanks to the excellent Trekker Talk podcast produced by Darrin and Ruth Sutherland) and love the book. Randall has had a long storied comic career and has crossed over into books I love, so I reached out to ask him a few questions. Enjoy!

1) You were the penciller on a number of issues of Supergirl during the period Kelley Puckett was writing the book. I also notice that Supergirl is a frequent commission request for you. Are you a fan of the character? Any recollections of your time on the book?

I am indeed a fan of Supergirl. That can be a bit demanding, as the character has undergone so many revisions/re-imaginings/reboots over the years.  But the core of the character and the concept has always been compelling.  And, I’ve always had a clear idea in my head of my particular “take” on Supergirl—how her character should “feel”—look, actions, movements, emotional responses, etc. In getting to work on that arc, “SUPERGIRL: WAY OF THE WORLD”, I felt my concept of the character fit perfectly. So, it has been one of the most comfortable, fun and rewarding experiences I’ve ever had while working on an established character.

Livewire Coming To Supergirl Comic??

Since the inception of the Supergirl title post-Rebirth, writer Steve Orlando has been doing yeoman's work trying to merge the continuity of the DC Universe Kara with some of the broader ideas of the Supergirl television show. So show specific ideas like CatCo, the DEO, and Jeremiah & Eliza Danvers.

Over on Twitter, Orlando tweeted that he was meeting with the Supergirl creative team (editor Jess Chen, artist Robson Rocha, inker Daniel Henriques, and colorist Michael Atiyeh) to discuss the next arc in the book. (Can I just say, as a reader always interested in the creative process, the idea of a summit meeting of the whole creative team is just fantastic!)

When I asked for a hint, Orlando said there could be some "shocking additions".

Given that proclivity to merge the show's sensibilities with the comics, I figure the shocking hint means we'll be seeing Livewire soon! And that makes me happy. Because I think the time is right to convert Livewire to an official member of the Supergirl Rogue's Gallery ... in the same way that the Silver Banshee seems to have gone that way.

And there is the history between the two!

Happy Thanksgiving! And Thanks To The Sutherlands

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone who celebrates the holiday!

The purpose of this holiday is for everyone to pause and give thanks for all the things in their lives.

Now I am thankful for my family and feel blessed to be part of the lives of my daughters each day.

But this year I am struck by how many friends I have made via social media. I have a passion for comics and on-line I have been lucky enough to find a circle of friends who share that love. I mean, I have only met a couple of you all in person but I feel like I know you all. I wouldn't dare list you all in fear of forgetting someone. But to the people I interact with almost daily on twitter and on my site, thanks for talking comics with me!

I did want to single out Darrin and Ruth Sutherland who are huge comic fans and run the TrekkerTalk website and podcast. They were at a convention recently and bought me a Neal Adams' Supergirl print and had him sign and personalize it for me! I have seen Adams at plenty of cons, actually seen this print and debated buying it, but have never bit the bullet. So to get this gift in the mail was just fantastic. Thanks so much Ruth and Darrin!

The Sutherlands social media links are:

Website: http://www.trekkertalk.com/

Twitter: @TrekkerTalk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trekkertalk

 

In particular, for Supergirl fans, the two discuss Ron Randall's run on Supergirl on a recent TrekkerTalk podcast.

 

Anyways, for all celebrating, feel free to feast on turkey and sides!

And thanks again to all my buddies here!

Supergirl Sighting In JSA All-Stars #17; Variant Costume

One of the fistful of comics I currently collect nearing cancellation is JSA All-Stars.

All-Stars has always been a sort of fringe title for me, one that I enjoy just enough to keep buying. I definitely like Power Girl, Star Girl, and Cyclone as characters. But I could not care less for Wildcat 2, Citizen Steel, or King Chimera. On the JSA side, I love Wildcat, Jay Garrick, and Dr. Fate.

Matt Sturges has concocted some fun stories for the All-Stars and I have enjoyed the down time scenes he has written for the team such as sparring, training, and having strategy meetings. But the big draw for me on the title and really the reason why I have stuck around has been Freddie Williams III's art. I just think it is great, stylish and energetic.

So how could I not post about a brief Supergirl sighting in JSA All-Stars #17?

In the issue, a super-being called The Prince tries to convince Power Girl that he comes from an alternate timeline. In the other timeline, the greatest hero was someone named Regal who led the Justice Guild and made a perfect world. A villain named Dr. Hate, the Prince's mother and Regal's mortal enemy and lover, has changed history such that Regal never existed, the Guild never eradicated evil, etc.

The Prince is sad because he is stuck in this absolutely flawed world when he knew the paradise of the Regal-led world. In that timeline, he and Power Girl were friends, he was married to Judomaster, and everyone was on this massive super-hero team that looks like a mix of the JLA, JSA, Titans, and a couple of others. It is nice that most of his discussion about his predicament is with Power Girl who actually might understand his feelings and simply wants the Prince to relax so they can talk.

Anyways, Freddie Williams III gives us this great double page spread of this mega-team. Just spectacular stuff. And look on the top left.

Yep, that's Supergirl on the team! And in a different costume. It is a sort of mix of Silver Age (blue dress) and Matrix (pointy belt). One thing I do know, if I ever run into Freddie Williams III at a convention, I am definitely getting a commission.

And as a fan of the Matrix costume and the red dress, I actually thought this looked very nice.

Another thing that I think is interesting is how this costume (full shirt and blue dress) or some close version of it keeps popping up here and there. Could the belly shirt be on the way out?

Just a couple of months ago I showed this panel from Red Robin #19 where Marcus To had the Supergirl avatar in the UnterNet leading an future JLA and dressed like this.

Or this one I posted from Titans #30 by Fabrizio Fiorentino? This is, in theory, in continuity.

And then there was this version from Supergirl #32 by Ron Randall ... again, a Supergirl from the future.Yes, there is no belt here and the cape is different, clasping on to the S-shield but the full blue dress is similar.

And while those are all timeline twisted or future versions of Supergirl sporting the full shirt and blue dress, the current Kara has at least thought about it. Remember this great panel from Final Crisis #3 where we got a look into Supergirl's apartment. Here she seems to be designing new versions of the costume.

There in the lower left is a very rough sketch of the solid blue dress.

I doubt that any costume change is going to happen any time soon. But it is interesting that we keep seeing this particular motif pop up every so often. After being a staunch supporter of the red skirt, I have to say the blue skirt look is growing on me.

Review: Doom Patrol #15

Doom Patrol #15 concludes the 2 part story where the Chief is able to obtain Kryptonian powers by experimenting on a prisoner of war from the War of the Supermen.

The fall-out of the War of the Supermen hasn't been touched upon in too many comics outside of Supergirl. It would seem that such a true world war would at least be mentioned here and there. Maybe the brief nature of the war made it easier to forget. At least Doom Patrol touches on it as least tangentially letting us know about the whereabouts of one of the Kryptonians that Superman could not account for when the war ended.

The relationship between the Chief and the Patrol has always been edgy and dysfunctional since the Kupperberg/Lightle reboot so many years ago. It always seems to reach a breaking point where Caulder and the group comes to blows. Last issue we saw that the Chief felt as though his influence over the team was waning and that if he needed to accomplish his goals he would need to do it himself. Grasping the powers of the Kryptonian, he became addled, lashing out at his team and advising them not to try to stop him. Hmmm ... was he protesting too much?

Much like R.E.B.E.L.S., Doom Patrol is a low-selling title that is really high quality. Writer Keith Giffen and artists Matthew Clark and Ron Randall walk the fine-line between mainstream heroics and surreal Vertigo nonsense while keeping the core characters true to their origins. I hope that this title sticks around for a bit longer.

The setting for the book is Oolong Island, the high-tech island nation which formerly housed all the mad scientist super-villains of the DCU. The Chief and the Doom Patrol live on the island and use it as their base of operations, flying from mission to mission.

I always wondered exactly what Oolong got out of the deal. As we know, metahumans like the Patrol tend to be a magnet for disaster. Now I know. Caulder left a clause in the living agreement that in times of danger, the Patrol could be nationalized, becoming a part of Oolong's military defense. Unaware of these details, the Patrol are shocked to find that they have been enlisted to help keep the island safe from the chief.

The Chief has bigger things on his mind than just the island. Suddenly infused with God-like powers, he decided to push the envelope. Sweeping over the world, he gathers all weapons and dumps them in the arctic. Not just nuclear weapons ... not just weapons of mass destruction ... ALL weapons. We see huge piles of missiles, guns, and bombs. It is all very  retro-Superman. How many time have we seen Superman try this stunt (usually just the nuclear warheads). He laughs at how easy it was ... and wonders why anyone with super-speed (Supergirl included) wouldn't do this.

Despite that this may be a cleansing of some sort, the Chief realizes that the super-hero community won't allow it. Most heroes agree that they cannot dictate the ways of humanity, only defend what is decided upon. Knowing that these 'heroes' will only re-distribute the weapons, the Caulder knows he needs to take a few more steps.

Throughout the story, the Chief slips into Kryptonese spouting some hackneyed Superman quotes. Here he slips in a Mighty Mouse reference ... 'Here I come to save the day!'

If the heroes won't act against the will of nations, the Chief goes to the nations themselves to try to keep the weapons where they are. Crashing into the UN, he tells the leaders of the world to not thwart his will. If they do, he will strike back.

He says he is 'the will and the way' in Kryptonian. Smacks a bit of hubris.

Back on Oolong, the Patrol has recovered enough from the Chief's earlier assault to be back in the action.

There is a tense scene on Oolong as the Patrol and the Oolong government try to come to grips with what to do next.

Professor I.Q., a D-list tech-villain living on the island, notices the Kryptonese statements and wonders if the K-transfer not only included powers but fears or psychological trauma as well. Maybe that is why the Chief is acting so erratically.

The Patrol realizes that in many ways the Chief is their responsibility. Gearing up to fight him, Robotman asks President Cale for whatever weapons she has to take down Superman. In a nice bit of continuity, Cliff says he knows the island has such weapons because of Black Adam. Remember, in 52, Black Adam razed Biayla and then flew to Oolong to battle. Oolong was prepared.

Ambush Bug teleports the Chief to the war-torn landscape of Biayla to face off against the group.

Amazingly, Cliff first tries to end this diplomatically, trying to talk him down. But the Chief wants no part of it. He has an agenda and he doesn't need foot soldiers any more.

I love how he says 'Kneel before Caulder' in Kryptonese. Maybe some Kryptonian traits really have sunk in?

When Caulder tries to flee, the heroes do attack.Cliff once again gets beheaded after trying to give the Chief vertigo with sonics. Larry sends the Negative Being into Caulder to try to disrupt his neural pathways only to have his shell body threatened. Rita takes a heat vision blast to the face.

It is clear that the Chief could end this in seconds but seems to be holding back. He begins ranting about the nature of family, how children always rebel and leave the home. In his own weird way, the Chief is telling the Patrol that he loves them. I doubt he would pull punches with any other group. My guess is he would have no problem with immolating the Teen Titans.

 Suddenly the Patrol gets some help from Millicent, the AI computer that the Chief has been using.

She tells the heroes that Caulder is basically insane from stimulus overload. She can help them defeat the Chief if they can keep him nearby.

Larry, picking up the 'jilted father' vibe from Caulder's mad speech, calls Niles' "Dad" stopping him in his tracks. But it is clear that Chief is mad. At first he embraces the Negative Man, then threatens to destroy him, swinging from love to hate and back in seconds. It's funny but this is probably the closest we have seen of the 'real' Chief even if he is insane. All the things we are seeing have been in him even if buried beneath his brusque facade. I think he does love the team as children even if he does send them on suicide missions routinely.

But he is insane.

He feels emotionally abandoned by the team (remember we have seen him watching films of the team talking about how they have begun to hate the chief). He feels he is the groups savior ... their god. In a great panel (I should have posted it), he yells that he created the Patrol in his image (God complex) but the panel shows the scarred visage of Rita. Is that the Chief's self-image? A damaged ugly freak? I love it when words and art mesh in comics.

Finally, the Chief picks up Cliff's head to have a final quarrel. It is hear that we see how the Kryptonian's trauma has effected the Chief. He begins saying how he lost his world and couldn't bear to lose his last friends. Some of his feelings are the Chief's ... but some are this unnamed Kryptonian soldier's.

Luckily, the Chief built in a fail-safe device in Millicent to take himself down if he should ever lose control. With Cliff so close, his optics emit the shut down code, rendering the Chief comatose. It is a bit deus ex machina ... but how interesting that the Chief was self-aware enough to know he might need to be removed some day.

Like Vril Dox, the Chief is a wonderfully layered and not very likable character that I love reading about. He must be fun to write.

Despite all of what has transpired, the Doom Patrol actually defends the Chief, arguing that his madness was more from the Kryptonian influence rather than from within.

Really? Man, there is a whiff of Stockholm Syndrome here ... willing to go to bat for this man who has done so much damage to them. Yes, the Kryptonian definitely had an effect but there was definitely some Caulder in this episode.

But there is one last wonderful twist here. As Caulder's catatonic body is pushed into cold storage, we get to read some of his journal entries. He realizes that the Patrol has begun to hate him, even wondering if he was responsible for their personal disasters (a wink at Morrison's run). 

To stop the Patrol from wallowing in self-loathing, he has been stoking the fire of their hating him. A common enemy would make the team stronger. So ... was all of this ... the weapons, the understated 'fight', the 'shut-down switch' ... just a ruse to help unite his 'children'? Or was their Kryptonian madness? Or was their real madness? Or some melange of all of it? Who can say ... but it sure is fun to think about.

I have said it before and I'll say it again. I thought Grant Morrison made it impossible for me to like any other version of the Doom Patrol but his. Kudos to Keith Giffen for letting me read and enjoy new stories of these characters I love so much. If only DC will keep the title afloat.

I think Matthew Clark and Ron Randall do a good job tag-teaming the art in this issue (as they do each issue). I wonder if it would be possible to have each do alternating complete issues. I'd like to see that.

Overall grade: B+

Review: Doom Patrol #14

 I have sung the praises of the current Doom Patrol title in the past over here. I thought the content of Doom Patrol #14 was just Kryptonian enough to warrant a post and review here.

As a long time fan of the group (especially the Morrison stuff, although the Drake/Premiani stuff stands up), I have suffered through reimaginations and reboots of the team. But none have grabbed me post-Morrison until this version.

Specifically, I think Keith Giffen understands that the Doom Patrol needs a couple of things to work with. They need to have bizarre adventures and there needs to be a sense of fatalism, a sense of impending doom as it were. Giffen has put those things into this book. And rather than shying away from the team's confusing and often contradictory history, he embraces it. How can there have been so many versions of the Negative Man? How can there be so many incarnations of this team? How can all of their stories fit into current DC history? Who knows how? Who cares? This is the Doom Patrol ... that is all the answer you need. Bizarre stuff happens. And that is how Giffen sees it. We see bits of Morrison here, but also Arcudi, and Kupperberg, and even Drake. The Doom Patrol's continuity is a soup. Deal with it!

Oh, one other thing you need from the Doom Patrol ... you need the Chief. And more and more, in more and more versions of the team, the Chief has been portrayed as a master manipulator, convincing people to act as his agents, all while being a boor. He is willing to put anyone on the front line and in peril to achieve his goals. Sounds a little like Vril Dox, doesn't it? I wonder what it says about my personality that I like reading books with these sort of Machiavellian leaders.

But unlike Dox in R.E.B.E.L.S., the Chief doesn't 'stir the drink' here. No, in this book it is the members of the Doom Patrol that I want to read about. I care about these characters. And in this incarnation, the team is the original three - solid Cliff 'Robotman' Steele, crazy Larry 'Negative Man' Trainor, and traumatized Rita 'Elasti-Girl' Farr. Rita just recently learned she is more like Proty than human. While Crazy Jane, Danny the Street, and Bumblebee have all been in the book, the stories have revolved around the inital team members. So while I want to see Dox scheming and victorious in R.E.B.E.L.S., I want to see the Doom Patrol triumph despite the Chief.

Doom Patrol #14 starts with a general recap of recent issues in to form of a Beverly Hillbillies style ditty sung by fourth wall busting Ambush Bug (another erstwhile team member and the obvious comic relief on the team).

Immediately we see how Giffen acknowldges and accepts all that has come before. From Morrison's run, Mr. Nobody (now Mr. Somebody) has possessed Mr. Jost, the benefactor from Arcudi's run.

These recaps are usually best done in issues where I expect there to be an influx of new readers ... an event cross-over, a new art team, a bold new direction. So it seemed strange to see it here. I think the same 11K readers have been with this title the whole way.

The most sympathetic character in the book is Rita. Not only has she learned that she isn't necessarily human but rather a blob of malleable protoplasm in the shape of Rita Farr, resurrected/cloned by the Chief, but she also has learned that her ex-husband Steve Dayton, the telepath Mento, has been using his powers to make Rita perform ... unsavory ... acts. Overwhelmed by the truth of her origins and outraged by these violations by the perverted Dayton, Rita lashes out, nearly killing Mento. Only a timely save by Cliff stops Rita from becoming a murderer.

The issue before this one was a great introspective on the character of Rita and is worth reading.

Watching from afar ... always watching from afar through the hardwired eyes of Cliff ... the Chief replays a recent conversation that the team has had after surviving their fight with Jost's/Somebody's Front Men team.

It is clear how much the members of the team love each other, how despite the chaos in their lives they rely on each other, love each other, rely on each other, look to each other as a foundation upon which to build their lives.

It is charming and natural to see how they have become a family. Thrown together in combat situations, the relationships forged are tremendously strong.

And yet the Chief is put off by this. At one point, he was the thing holding the members' lives together. They needed him. Now with this vocalized loyalty and support to each other, the Doom Patrol doesn't need the Chief. And without his 'minions', the Chief is suddenly powerless. Maybe he is jealous that he is shut out.

The Chief speaks with such for the team, as if their friendship with each other is a burden to him.

Suddenly, without operatives, he needs a new plan. And so we are made privy to just how diabolical the Chief is.

We heard at the end of War of the Supermen that maybe some Kryptonians were unaccounted for. Now we know about one of them. Vivisected, this poor Kryptonian has become a lab rat for Caulder.

This is horrific. Villainous. Evil. Inhuman. Suddenly we are looking at the Chief in a new light ... a terrible light.

The reason for the experimentation is clear. The Chief wants to learn the 'how's' of Kryptonian physiology in hopes of obtaining their power.

Interestingly enough, the Chief's analysis shows no major difference between human and Kryptonian cells. There is no obvious cellular reason why Kryptonian cells should absorb yellow sun rays and become gods.

With no difference in form, there can only be a difference in essence. Yeah, I don't understand it either.

And ironically, Caulder's computer knows what he doesn't. The Chief cannot live in a vacuum. He needs the Doom Patrol.

The look on the Chief's face is priceless when he is called on it. He knows it too ... maybe he doesn't want to admit it, but he knows he needs them. To him, it is probably weakness that he needs them. But that silent panel is great, speaking volumes.

But with only a metaphysical cellular 'essence' standing in his way to co-opt Kryptonian power, the Chief is able to grasp it. He suddenly becomes Super-Chief. The flood of information ... sensations ... now that he has Kryptonian abilities seems too much to comprehend, to process even for a mind like Caulder's.

This read a bit like Morrison's Luthor at the end of All-Star Superman. Lex was bombarded when obtained Superman's capabilities as well. But there, Lex seemed to ascend. Here The Chief descends into madness. It was interesting for me to compare the two responses.

But insane and drunk with power, the Chief lashes out at those he feels have betrayed him.

In short order the Chief immolates Larry, beheads Cliff, and bisects Rita.

Brutal and scary. How the heck did we win a war with 100K of people like this?

The Negative being rushes to a spare Larry-body the Chief has held in stasis. Cliff's head and brain are still operable. Rita has no internal organs but is on the ground. It is amazing that they all survive. But that survival also takes away some of the ability of Giffen to create suspense in the future. If the Doom Patrol can survive this, what can't they survive? What cliffhanger will now leave me hanging, worried about the team?

I suppose the Chief could finish them off but he doesn't. Maybe some of that unrecognized, unacknowledged love for his friends is still in there despite the madness.

An insane Chief with Kryptonian powers is a cool concept. But somehow this felt a little premature for this to play out in the book. It took Grant Morrison over 3 years before he showed Caulder's true colors, showed him to be the villain he was. Here we are only at issue #14. How do you come back from this storyline with the Chief still part of the book? Why would any of the team let him back into their lives? I like the friction between the Chief and the team ... but not like this.

Of course, with poor sales it might be now or never for Giffen. This is a good issue NOW. I'll have to worry about the future of the title later.

And I am enjoying this title. It isn't Morrison's Doom Patrol, a run revered by me. But it is a good version of the Doom Patrol and I can't ask for more than that.

The mixed art of Matthew Clark and Ron Randall is fine here, although Clark's line work is a bit more suited for the warped world of this book. That vivesection scene was gruesome.

Overall grade: B+

Review: Superman World Of New Krypton #12

And so the 'Year Without Superman' comes to an unofficial end with Superman:World of New Krypton #12 being released last week. It is, of course, unofficial as this storyline is far from over ... continuing next month albeit in a new title and an new #1 issue in Superman:Last Stand of New Krypton.

So because this is merely another chapter in this storyline, everything is not tied up neatly with a bow. Some of the long lingering plots are brought to resolution but even in those plots some stuff remains unsaid. But this is the last issue so there are some nice revelations here.

In fact, it seemed like this issue felt a bit rushed. Despite the big reveal, we are still moving on; some details that I would want to know are left unfinished and will be dealt with later. I don't know if that is going to be true. But it feels that way right now.

On to the review.

The military guild had just fired upon Superman, Adam Strange, Tyr-Van, and Tam-Or when the last issue ended.

As a last ditch escape effort, Strange activates the Zeta beam technology, bouncing the groups away from New Krypton and then blipping them back somewhere else on the planet.

I thought the art here did a good job conveying that transient back-and-forth trip as the background panel transitions from Zod's secret military installation to the Starro conquered Kalanor to a New Krypton jungle. I especially liked the Starro panel as it sets this story in some feeling of current continuity. But kudos to Pete Woods/Ron Randall for this use of the double splash page.

Unfortunately, the teleportation trick was a bit too slow. Labor Guild Tam-Or has been shot in the chest and dies.


Commander Gor is able to track down Kal and his group and prepares to open fire, to execute the 'traitors'.

I liked the following moment. It might be empty rhetoric but I liked how Kal stood up to Gor, telling him that he is more dangerous without his powers. Gor seems like something of a bully, someone who would back down to intimidation like this. It really felt like Superman talking there.

Before Gor can pull the trigger, General Zod arrives and takes command. He immediately demotes Gor and dismisses Adam Strange. One thing I have appreciated about this book has been the characterization of Zod. Zod has never been portrayed as a outright evil, a mustache-twirling caricature of a villain. He has been someone willing to do anything to protect his people, even if the ethics behind his acts are blurry. He's complex.

Back at military headquarters, Zod and Kal start to break down the case.

Unfortunately, the details of the secret military base, the skinning of the silver skinned aliens, all that gets glossed over. Zod defends his keeping the base secret because he is preparing New Krypton for an upcoming war with Earth. It is clear that Lane and Zod both feel the other is the aggressor here. Both are arming themselves for a war that both seem to be racing each other to start. Unfortunately, Kal's time on the planet hasn't stopped this march to war from happening.

I assume the mystery of this installation will be handled elsewhere.

Again though, at least the way Zod talks here, he sounds more like the hero of New Krypton, the defender of his people rather than an expansionist.


But most of the talk about Zod's secrets is pushed to the side. Instead the discussion turns to the murders that are happening and the link between the victims.

In what is a nice deductive leap, Kal realizes that Alura may not have been the target. Maybe Lyra Kam-Par was always the intended victim. Maybe Ral-Dar and Tam-Or and Lyra were all part of a secret group, all being manipulated to undermine New Krypton rather than strengthen it.

The only link to all the victims, the only person who could also be part of such a cabal is Councilor Wri-Qin, the physician head of the Science Guild.

So this is an interesting twist. For one, Zod seems to have nothing to do with any of the events which have shaken New Krypton. I thought he would eventually be revealed as a co-conspirator as a way to force him into absolute power. But also, I thought that much of what was happening, while initially weakening New Krypton, would be by a pro-New Krypton group to spur the planet to action. Instead it is shown to be a group of traitors to the planet. And Lyra Kam-Par, always someone who has looked guilty of something, is part of them. She is privy to Alura's actions of course and probably has Alura's ear.

That said, Wri-Qin has been someone so tucked in the background his reveal doesn't resonate. It's like a mystery novel revealing the secret killer and it's someone who hasn't been seen before.


When confronted by Kal, Wri-Qin decides to tell all.

It turns out that Superwoman had approached a number of influential New Kryptonians and persuaded them to weaken New Krypton from within. So much of the events of this mini-series: the Labor Guild revolt, the Laborers mystery illness, the assassination attempt of Zod - they were all orchestrated by this group to undermine New Krypton.

I was glad to see Superwoman play an important role here. For one, there had to be more to her plans than simply antagonizing Supergirl. This also explains how she could have hidden on New Krypton so easily; she had inside help. It is enough of a reveal to make me want to reread all of the scenes between General Lane and Lucy again. And now she's back! Now I am really looking forward to the return of Superwoman.

And Lyra Kam-Par as a traitor and saboteur. Nice! Is it just me or was Lyra drawn in a way that just looked like she was hiding something. It makes me think that the teams on the super-titles have internal continuity.


But what could Superwoman have offered them that could entice the group to mutiny?

She convinced them that war was happening and New Krypton was going to lose. If this Kryptonian cabal helped hasten the New Krypton loss, they would have places of power in the new government ruled by Earth.

Really?

A loss to Earth in a war? A place in a Vichy style government? A bit of a stretch.

But it is clear that Lane picked the right people to approach, people who wanted power beyond what they had and would betray their own people to get it. I can understand how Lyra and Tam-Or might buy into that. And Wri-Qin? He clearly wants more.

Another thing to this scene worth mentioning. Wri-Qin is able to overpower Kal by bombarding him with sunstone crystal beams, the equivalent of synthesized Gold Kryptonite. So another weapon exists that can easily incapacitate Kryptonians! No wonder Earth seems like a threat ... everyone has a weapon that can kill a Kryptonian these days.


Before Wri-Qin can do anything significant to Kal, the Red Shard unit shows up and takes the Councilor into custody.

Poor Lieutenant Nar. She is one of those ancillary characters that has some depth. I like how she has slowly turned to see things from Kal's point of view, how she has become more fair in her assessment of things. But I think it is clear from this panel she has more to say to Kal. It has been hinted that she has developed feelings for him. And that look of some emotional pain as she flies away seems to say that as well.

It is small moments like this, one extra panel to flesh out a background character, that make me love comics. No words, just that expression as she flies away, Kal not even looking at her ... that is great comic art.

But Kal is not happy. Despite the big news that the Labor Guild will now have a place on the Council (with Tyr-Van being the representative), Kal thinks that he hasn't made any difference on the planet, that his time here was wasted.

I love Zod's response. Adding the Labor Guild to the Council is a major change. If Kal can't see that, he has a bigger ego than the General. That rings true.

Still, for any of the New Kryptonians to betray there people ... Kal can't understand it.



And he won't have much time to contemplate it. Brainiac's ship arrives!

So this mini-series is over. And a new mini-series will begin.

There were some very good moments in this issue, mostly the conversations between Zod and Kal. And the Superwoman reveal was nice.

But the big reveal about the traitors felt a bit rushed. I would have liked a few more details about the events they manipulated. Did Tam-Or really agree to sicken his own people? Was this group behind the purported attack on the Thanagarians? I would have liked to see more of this and let's say less of some of the guest stars that walked through this mini-series. Were Jemm or Adam Strange really necessary to tell this story?

I think I will need to reread this mini-series in its entirety and in one or two sittings to get a better sense of whether or not clues were sprinkled through.

Overall grade (issue): B+/B
Overall grade (series): B+/B

Review: Superman World Of New Krypton #11

Superman: World of New Krypton #11 came out yesterday. While Rucka, Robinson, Woods, and Randal continue to do move the "assassination plot" forward, several other subplots were not mentioned. Furthermore, some new plots were added to the overall story. This just didn't feel like a penultimate issue.

And frankly it isn't.

This series ends in March. Superman:Last Stand of Krypton starts in April. And that after that 3 issue miniseries, we will jump right into War of the Supermen.

I have to stop thinking that there is an 'ending' coming in #12. I have to realize that this is the eleventh issue of two year huge story. But it is hard for me to do so. As I read this issue I kept wondering, how will everything be wrapped up next month?

It is that problem of expectations as a reader. I have enjoyed this series but know I feel a bit let down that it looks like many of the things started here are not going to end here.

Let's move on to the issue.


The issue starts a the exact moment that last issue ended, with an assassin training his weapon onto Alura. The opening conversation between her and her assistant Lyra Kam-Par again shows how complicated a character Alura is. While Lyra is dealing with the emotions of Mar-Li's murder, Alura is somewhat coldly already planning how they will replace him on the council.

At times we have seen Alura being completely dispassionate almost emotionless and at times we've seen her overwhelmed by her feelings. She's so complex that I really look forward to seeing her in these titles. At first I hoped she would simply go away because of the cruelty that she showed Supergirl. But she's far too compelling now.

But before the conversation can go any further, the assassin strikes. Unfortunately he misses his target shooting Lyra through the chest.

It's too bad. I thought that Lyra could be an interesting character in Kara's future. She could have become an adversary or rival given that she seems to have more of a relationship with Alura than Kara did. I guess we'll never see those stories I had in my head. I thought she might end up as the next Lesla Lar.


The Military Guild investigates the crime scene. Unlike the first murder where the weapon was an exfoliation device specific to the Labor Guild, the weapon here appears to be a military style rifle. Lieut.Nar finds the weapon quickly and that there is genetic residue consistent with Labor Guild leader Tam-Or.

It seems out of character for him to become an assassin. But that said, Kal feel somewhat responsible for the two victims. Remember, Kal was the one who convinced Alura to free Tam-Or despite his kidnapping attempt earlier in the series.

I do like that this feeling crops up early in Kal's mind. It is classic Superman... an utter respect for life and a sense of responsibility for your actions.


The ruling council on New Krypton is in taking these assassination attempts lying down. They want to be proactive. But they are definitely conflicted. While they are convinced that Tam-Or is responsible for the shootings, they aren't sure if he's acting alone or in conjunction with allies from Earth. As a result, they feel that the Labor Guild should be squeezed for information about Tam-Or's whereabouts. It makes sense that they would respond like that given it were representatives from their guilds that were attacked.

Surprisingly, Alura is a voice of reason here. Understanding that the Labor Guild is responsible for the day-to-day running of New Krypton, she realizes that they cannot be held accountable for the actions of one man. After all, the Military Guild were not judged in their entirety due to the actions of Ral-Dar in Codename:Patriot. And once again, Alura fascinates me. You would think she would be more enraged since she was one of the targets. And she has talked to about laborers poorly in the past. And yet here, she is defending them as a group.

Councilor Zo, the Military Guild representative, shows his prejudice against the Laborers during this argument. He even insinuates that Superman might be aiding or abetting Tam-Or since Lara was a laborer. After all, how could Tam-Or be evading the Military for as long as he has?

This tension about the Labor Guild and its place in Kryptonian society has been one of the better elements in this miniseries.


With Adam Strange at his side, Kal flies to the medical facility to talk to Tyr-Van again.

While there, Kal notices that In General Zod is almost completely recovered. In fact, news of the murders have reached him. Initially I thought that Zod would champion the idea of putting the Labor Guild under the thumb of the military. But much like Alura, he surprises me. He doesn't think that Tam-Or is capable of these assassinations. Moreover, Zod finds it strange that Tam-Or would be so meticulous in the first murder and so sloppy in the second leaving behind a incriminating weapon. It doesn't make any sense.

This entire time, I have felt that Zod was in the background pulling all the strings. But this conversation puzzles me. There is no advantage for him in saying this if he is behind the framing of Tam-Or.

So who else could be behind all of this? I wonder if it is Commander Gor - he would have a beef with both General Zod (for not choosing him to command the army in Zod's absence) and with Commander El (for running the Army in Zod's absence).


But Kal is there to talk to Tyr-Van to see if the Labor Guild member might know a place where Tam-Or could elude detection.

The conversation is short and bitter. It is also powerful. Tyr talks about how people trusted Kal to make things better for the people of New Krypton ... but things seem worse with him around. That is the last thing Superman would ever want to hear. But it is true that the overall tone of this book has swung from optimism to pessimism, from joy hope to sorrow and anger.

Still, Tyr knows a place and decides that he must continue to have faith in Superman.


I was glad to see some continuity here especially since it plugs R.E.B.E.L.S.

Tyr flies Kal and Strange to a hidden military facility which is lead-lined and soundproofed.

In this laboratory-appearing building, the Labor Guild members herd capture silver-skinned alien beasts. Some get sent to the Science Guild alive for evaluation and experimentation. Most simply get flayed of their skin. Their are hundreds of 'pelts' hanging here.

Kal knows nothing of the place. And Tyr wonders why the commander of the army doesn't know about a military facility.

I wonder what the pelts are capable of. Cloaking? Enhanced invulnerability? Since this is military, their must be a use for them in battle. This has to be the work of Zod ... maybe he is pulling the strings.

Still, the addition of a whole new wrinkle to this story with just one issue left seemed off. Then again, this isn't the second to last issue of this large story arc ... just the second to last issue of this mini-series.


Tyr was right though. Tam-Or was hiding out here given the buildings defenses against super-senses.

Initially, Tam-Or comes out threatening Kal. He says 'he warned me you'd be coming'. Who is he? Zod? Gor? Someone else?

Kal tells Tam-Or that he believes the Labor leader is innocent and they should work together. Despite the recent events, Tam shows faith in Kal and lowers his weapon. It is clear Tam is not a soldier.

So who is behind these killings? I still think it could be Zod who hopes all this instability gives him the opportunity to declare martial law, dissolve the Council, and invade Earth. But could he have set all these gears in motion before his assassination attempt? Or, as I conjectured a while back, could he have set up his own murder attempt to stay 'behind the scenes' and beyond reporach while he worked his evil?

But time seems to be running out on the investigation. Before Tam can say anything about who tipped him off, Councilor Zo, Commander Gor, and squad of troops breaks into the building.

Zod has resumed command and demands that all traitors be killed.



And that starts with Kal and this group.

I am really of two minds here. I thought this was a good issue in that it progressed this assassination and conspiracy plot forward nicely. And I am still guessing as to who is behind the whole thing. As a long time reader, I crave surprises and mysteries ... so this is all good.

Still I feel as though I have been sold something of a bill of goods here since all the storylines brought up in these first 11 issues (make up of the council, mysterious illnesses, Zod's background maneuvers, the role of the Religious Guild to name a few) can't all be resolved next month. And if they all are then the whole thing will feel like a rushed ending. On top of that, we know that the subsequent miniseries - Last Stand - will involve a fight with Brainiac, so a whole new major plot will be added to the mix.

Should this have been named a 15 issue mini-series so I wouldn't be so wrapped up in it ending too soon? Will the renumbering bring in new readers and prop up the lagging sales on this title and interest in the Superman titles? Will we ever learn all the things we want to? I hope so.

So as an individual issue, I would grade this a B+/B. As a penultimate issue, I would grade it a C/C-. So, I'll combine.

Overall grade: B