Matrix Monday: Showcase '95 #2

My on again/off again Matrix Monday series returns today as I finish the Showcase '95 story written by Charles Moore with art by Stuart Immonen. In part 1,a newly sentient AI, housed in a robot body came to Earth to collect crystals in which to download his essence. Along the way, he ran into Supergirl and felt that the Matrix body would be a more suitable receptacle.

This was a story that focused mostly on the true form of Supergirl, really showcasing the purple gloppiness of the Protomatter form. In some ways, focusing on that aspect of her on the heels of her self-title mini-series felt like a step backwards. In the mini-series, Matrix seemed to grow as a person. Here I was reminded a bit too much that she is 'other'.

The art by Immonen is very good. I have always been a fan.

On to the book!

Matrix Monday: Showcase '95 #1

 Last Monday I covered the finale of the 1994 Supergirl mini-series. In the end, the Matrix Supergirl finally left Lex Luthor and found a mentor with Lex's ex-wife Elizabeth Perske.

In the immediate aftermath, Action Comics #700 came out with Lex attacking Metropolis. Oh, yeah, and then something called Zero Hour happened. Matrix was involved like everyone was in that event but did not have a big role. She receded a bit into the background.

Then 1995 rolled around and early on Supergirl was a bit more visible. In January of 1995, she was the cover star of the David Michilenie/Butch Guice  Action Comics #706 , a nice fill-in which reminded folks that she was part of the super-family.

She also was the cover star of Showcase '95 #1. The Showcase books at this time had yearly themes and 1995 was the year of Superman characters to headline the book. So this issue we get not only Supergirl but Alan Scott Sentinel and Argus. This also was a sort of try-out book for DC. Not only were more minor characters given the spotlight but newer talent were given a shot.

It is a weird convergence that she headlines two books in one month.

That is a great cover by Tom Grummett sporting a beautiful Supergirl.

And yes, I had this one signed by Tom Grummett a couple of years ago in Boston.

On to the book.

Supergirl Who's Who: Team Superman #1 1998

I am such a fan of DC Comics Who's Who entries feeling they are a great way to introduce readers to characters and a universe. I wish that DC would put out a New 52 Who's Who series but my sense is they don't even have a good enough handle on the new universe's timeline to put out an encyclopedic look at their characters.

Back in the pre-internet days, these Who's Who pages were also one of the only ways to learn about characters. And I thought for dedicated Who's Who issues, I would read about characters whose books I would never really touch. In this day when character information is just a google search away, I still think there is room for a Who's Who series.

As for DC, they haven't done a dedicated Who's Who since the 'loose leaf' format one from the mid-1990's. Instead, they would often slip some Who's Who pages into Annuals or special one-shots. In this instance, I thought I would post the Supergirl Who's Who page from the Team Superman Secret Files #1 special from May 1998.

What a beautiful page with text by Peter David (who was writing the book at the time) and drawn by Stuart Immonen! I don't know of any other instances where Immonen drew Supergirl. I have liked his work since the 5YL Legion reboot.

This issue came out just three months after Supergirl's flame wings and angelic powers had first manifested. So we barely touch upon what her powers are.

But one thing I love is that whole second paragraph which sums up what I loved about this book and about Supergirl in general. Linda got to see the world 'through the eyes of a being who only looks for the best in others.' That is a perfect line to describe Supergirl. And, of course, as this was Matrix, the merging with Linda gave her some humanity and a soul that needed to be redeemed. Just wonderful stuff there.

Moreover, this issue has a bunch of other Supergirl-centric Who's Who pages!
Buzz & Linda by Peter David and Amanda Conner
The Danvers by Peter David and Derec Aucoin
Leesburg Friends (Cutter Sharp, Mattie Harcourt, and Dick Malverne) by Peter David and Yancy Labat
Wally (the God Boy) by Peter David and Leonard Kirk
Comet by Peter David and Leonard Kirk
Twilight by Peter David and Amanda Conner

If people want me to review these as well let me know.

I have also covered official Who's Who pages and other similar sort of informational text on this blog in a number of places here: http://comicboxcommentary.blogspot.com/search/label/Who%27s%20Who

And I will admit that I have been thinking about Who's Who a lot lately because of how much I have been enjoying the Who's Who Fire and Water Pod Cast which has been taking a look back at the original Who's Who series from the late 1980's. Run by Rob from Aquaman Shrine and Shag from Firestorm Fan, the podcast is well worth listening to if you are a DC fan.