Granite State Comic Con: Talent Caldwell Commission

I figured I would post the other commission I obtained at the Granite State Comicon.

I saw that Talent Caldwell was going to be at the convention and thought he would be an interesting commission to grab. Caldwell's style is from the Michael Turner and J. Scott Campbell school. I think his style can be beautiful although at times it can border on cheesecake.

But after reviewing his art on some of the pages of Supergirl #39 and more recently Batgirl #8, I realized that I should try to grab a commission from him. I am very happy I did.

I really like the piece above. As always (and after getting as many commissions as I have), I love seeing a unique take on the character. This point of view, looking down on Supergirl, is a novel approach for my collection.

I also like the fact that he added her current belt to the more Matrix-y style costume that I love and request in commissions. It is a nice melding of the old and the new. I am very happy with this piece, an excellent addition to my growing collection.


So in the end, I am very happy I went to the Granite State Comicon. I grabbed commissions from two artists whose work I really enjoy. I was able to meet some other artists and grab some signatures from the surprisingly impressive Artists Alley, and I bought a lot of comics.

I hope that future cons are as great as this one. If they are, I will be there!

Here is a link to the con's website for people who want to check out info on future shows:
http://www.dmcomics.com/site2/granitecon.html

Supergirl Cameo In Batgirl #8

I am always thrilled to see Supergirl appearing in titles outside of the Superman Family ones. And I am especially happy to hear from others who let me know where I should be looking for these cameos.

So let me thank blogfriend Bookwormwithanattitude for cluing me in on Kara's cameo in Batgirl #8. I definitely would have missed this otherwise.


It's a brief appearance ... just one panel.

In the story, Red Robin and Batgirl are in a confrontation with the League of Assassins who have blanketed Gotham City in a media blackout. Luckily, Oracle is able to get through and send Supergirl out to smash the satellite emitting the jamming signal, allowing Tim and Steph to beat up on the assassins.

It's a nice little spot showing that the friendships between Supergirl and Oracle (as seen in the 2008 DCU Holiday Special) and Supergirl and Steph (as seen in World's Finest #3) are part of the fabric of the characters. I especially like how Oracle's codename for Supergirl is 'bluebird'.

As for the rest of the book, I have to admit that I don't usually get Batman titles and so I only know a bit about Steph and her history. That said, the chemistry between her and Tim Drake in this issue was solid. Even without knowing the details of their history, their exchanges crackled. I don't think I'll be adding this title to my pull list (I get too many comics as it is), but I might stop by every know and then. It seems that this title is really about Batgirl becoming a hero, one of the big themes I like in Supergirl.

Anyways, thanks again for the info Bookworm! This was a fun issue to read.

Review: Supergirl #39

Supergirl #39 came out yesterday and is the penultimate chapter of the 'Who is Superwoman?' storyline. The issue was written by Sterling Gates and the bulk of the pencilling was done by Jamal Igle.

One thing to note is that inking was done by Jon Sibal rather than usual inker Keith Champagne. Sibal seems to use a finer line and adds more detailing and cross-hatching than Champagne does. It gives the Igle pages a crisper feel than we have seen before.

Also, we see a couple of pages done by Talent Caldwell, the scheduled artist for next issue. Caldwell's art is stylistically similar to J. Scott Campbell of Danger Girl fame. It is a departure of the feel Igle has given the book this last half year, a bit flashier.

As for the story, this was a very interesting issue with some new clues revealed about Superwoman's identity and some suspects essentially eliminated. But as important as these revelations were, what I liked about the issue was the continuing growth of supporting cast and some smoldering subplots.


We had already been privy to the opening scene from the book last week in a preview. Just a quick recap. Superwoman is able to stop Reactron from killing his ex-girlfriend Lori Murphy. We see that her heat vision is a little different from the usual straight lined lasers.

In a startling development, Superwoman states that she has saved Murphy because she needs Murphy's death to look like a accident. She then rips open a gas line and creates a conflagration in the apartment.

Early in the story I actually wondered if Superwoman was a good character forced into doing bad things, someone where the ends justified some questionable means. All those feelings of sympathy go out the window here. To kill an innocent woman like this puts you in the realm of evil regardless of blackmail by General Lane.

In the meantime, Kara has recovered enough from her battle with Superwoman to continue her mission to apprehend Reactron. She flies through Metropolis at high speed so she cannot be seen. She is essentially an outlaw on Earth now given the UN edict that Kryptonians are not allowed here. That message is trumpeted on the Planet billboard to the right, the Cat Grant 'Kryptonians Go Home' headline right in Supergirl's face. It's a very nice and dynamic splash page.

Kara calls upon the one human she knows she can 'absolutely trust', Lana, to help her. It is an interesting line since we know that Lana is hiding her illness from Kara. Will this deception harm their relationship, make Kara question the trust she has given Lana?

Lana is researching the addresses of all the Lori Murphy's who reside in Metropolis. Kara has hunted down 6 of 8 of them, none of them the one linked to Reactron. She is given the address for our unlucky victim, an apartment on the corner of Binder (named for Otto Binder, writer of the first Supergirl story) and Mooney (named for Jim Mooney, legendary artist of Supergirl in the 60's).

I did like this interaction between Lana and a planet worker where she shows some protective maternal instincts. When the gentleman describes Linda as hot in a 'sexy librarian' way, he is quickly chastised by Lana.

Unfortunately Kara arrives only in time to see the emergency crews picking up the rubble. She lingers long enough for a military surveillance drone from Project 7734 to film her.

In the meantime, we cut to Inspector Henderson who is still working on the Agent Liberty murder. It's a quiet moment which gives us some insight into his character. He talks about how unsolved mysteries haunt the police. His old Captain used to lament an unsolved murder of young boy killed by the sound of a woman's voice.

Hmmmm ... sounds like Silver Banshee to me. I like how the Banshee is slowly becoming more of a Kara rogue than a Superman villain.

Henderson is informed that Liberty's suit's memory has been recovered.

With Murphy dead and no new lead to follow, Kara heads back to her and Lana's apartment. Reluctantly, she contacts Alura to report. When Kara tells her mother that she was stymied in her mission by Superwoman, Alura begins her usual rant of emotional torture.

Alura tells Kara that she has 'one more chance'. That this mission was a test to see how 'useless' Kara is. She tells Kara that her best 'isn't good enough'. Bullied and frustrated, Kara tells Alura to shut up, smashing the communication device.

We have seen Alura be this cruel in the past. But this is a pretty concentrated dose of bile questioning Kara's worth. Alura's is a very conditional love, if it is love at all.

The result of this negative barrage is for Kara to finally break down and cry. She voices the horrible thoughts she has been thinking, wishing that Reactron could have killed Alura instead of Zor-El.

Some critics will lambaste Kara's tears as further evidence of her weak character. And I have to say if I don't see Kara cry for a year I'll be pretty happy. That said, tears make sense here. Kara thinks her parents are dead. They are found miraculously alive. Then her father is killed before her eyes. And now her mother has descended into madness and sadism.

On top of that despair, she finds herself wishing her mother was dead.

Or course tears will come.

It is nice to see that Kara has Lana to lean on for some support.

Somewhat jarringly, we switch to the Caldwell pages. We see Superwoman in Project 7734. She tells a soldier that her suit blocked Reactron's kryptonite blasts as she thought it would. She also says she hopes she never finds out what would happen if the suit didn't hold.

Sounds to me like she is worried about Kryptonite. So I think her 'who said I was Kryptonian?' line was a little subterfuge. She is Kryptonian!

She is given her new mission: work with Reactron to capture Supergirl!

Here is a good example of Caldwell's version of Kara.

Inspector Henderson contacts Lois Lane to send Superman to Police HQ to discuss the Agent Liberty murder. With Kal off Earth, Lois sends Supergirl instead.

When a police officer attempts to arrest Kara for violating the UN edict, Henderson tells him to stand down. He knows Supergirl wasn't involved in the deaths of the SciPo officers. And he needs some help. If Superman isn't available, Supergirl will do.

I think Henderson is going the become the 'Commissioner Gordon' equivalent of this book, working behind the scenes with Supergirl despite the new laws.

He shows Supergirl the new evidence he has found. The last image Agent Liberty's suit recorded was Superwoman's face, red eyes smoldering.

Since she is wearing the family crest of the House of El, it makes sense to question Superman or Supergirl about who she could be.

Before Kara can answer, Lucy Lane comes storming in. She was tipped off by someone that Supergirl was at the Police Station, that Henderson was harboring an illegal alien.

Lane thinks Supergirl and Superwoman are working together. After all, Superwoman has just been seen flying in Metropolis with Reactron. It is too much of a coincidence that both Supergirl and Superwoman are together.

I do think it is interesting that Lane doesn't seem to know about Superwoman and Reactron's mission. Maybe Lucy isn't aware of all of her father's nefarious plans.

It also is pretty clear that Lucy is not Superwoman. She can't be in two places at the same time.

This news of Superwoman and Reactron working together is all that Kara can stand. She prepares herself to meet them. Next issue, Superwoman's identity is revealed.

This was another very solid issue as we careen towards next issue's conclusion.

The Superwoman mystery is close to bubbling over. With Thara eliminated and now Lucy Lane eliminated, the list of suspects is smaller than ever. Add in the implied weakness to Kryptonite and I think we are looking at some version of Alura or Kara be it clone, Black K creation, or time split duplicate. My very first guess was Kara evil clone. I switched a while back to Alura clone. I am sticking with that guess.

I also liked the increasing presence and growing characterization of the supporting cast. The scenes with Lana and Inspector Henderson really fleshed out who they are and what their current relationship with Supergirl is.

Sterling Gates seems to have a great handle of Supergirl's voice as none of her lines seem stilted or forced. While I would have been fine without seeing Kara's tears, I think they fit the moment.

The art really continues to sizzle. I have said before how I think Jamal Igle draws the best facial expressions. This issue is no exception. You really can sense what characters are thinking just from the look on their faces. He also adds a kinetic energy to the action sequences as well. You really can feel the force behind punches, the heft needed to carry Reactron, etc. I have to admit I like Jon Sibal's inks a smidge more than Keith Champagne's. But I always prefer a thin lined approach.

So, with Thara and Lucy seemingly out of the running, is it worth running one more 'Who is Superwoman' poll?

Overall grade: A-

May 09 Solicits

Newsarama showcased DC's May solicitation earlier this week ( http://www.newsarama.com/comics/090217-may-2009-dc-solicitations.html ). While the big buzz is over the 'Battle for the Cowl' (including a hint that Babs might walk again!?), the Super-family remained pretty busy. And, as usual, there was a little surprise and another disappointment.


SUPERGIRL #41
Written by Sterling Gates
Art by Talent Caldwell
Cover by Joshua Middleton

The dramatic conclusion to “Who Is Superwoman?” Superwoman’s identity stands revealed, leading to a knock-down-drag-out fight the likes of which Metropolis will be talking about for years to come! Supergirl will wish she'd never found out who was under the hood as Superwoman and Reactron join forces against the Girl of Steel. How can Supergirl possibly survive?

Well, so much has been added to the mix with Wednesday's #38 ... review coming soon I promise. But we get the conclusion of the Superwoman story with what sounds like a major brawl.

The art is being done by Talent Caldwell this issue. I put him in the Michael Turner, Scott Campbell style of art, a big difference from Jamal Igle. No worries though, Igle has already said that he is back next issue. This was a planned rest issue to work around a vacation he had planned.

ACTION COMICS #877
Written by Greg Rucka
Art by Eddy Barrows & Ruy José
Cover by Andrew Robinson

Nightwing and Flamebird have beaten back Ursa’s first assault. But Round Two is about to begin! Forget brutal – now it gets personal.

So it is Flamebird and Nightwing against Ursa's machinations on Earth.

Interesting cover as it looks like they are about to work over/torture someone for info. Could this be the 'anti-hero' super title with Kal on New Krypton?

Is it me or has the Flamebird/Nightwing mystery really taken a back seat to the Superwoman mystery?


SUPERMAN #688
Written by James Robinson
Art by Renato Guedes & José Wilson Magalhães
Cover by Andrew Robinson

Mon-El’s role as Superman’s stand-in for Metropolis is threatened by a sudden and mysterious power loss. How can he be the hero he needs to be without any special abilities? Meanwhile the Guardian and his Science Police go to the rescue of a missing member of the Legion of Superheroes. And who is the spy within the Science Police ranks?

It looks like we will finally find out how Tellus ended up in Area 7734.

But I hope the powerless Mon-El is a one issue or short story arc. The powerless Superman/Protector of Metropolis storyline has been played to death.


SUPERMAN: WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #3
Written by James Robinson & Greg Rucka
Art by Pete Woods
Cover by Gary Frank Variant cover by Eric Canete

With Superman now drafted into New Krypton’s Military Guild, it seems that General Zod finally has the Man of Steel under his control. But when given a command to commit an act of brutality against his fellow Kryptonians, Superman must choose between following orders and following his conscience – at the risk of being branded a traitor by his own people!

I have to say that I am getting excited more and more for this title.

There is such an opportunity for a character-driven Superman storyline. I know he has been raised on Earth. But how does he emotionally deal with this sudden insertion of Krypton in his life. How does he walk next to Zod daily? Cope with his insane Aunt?

This should really be a psychologically driven examination of a man torn between 2 worlds. Sure, Kara is going through the same thing but from very different perspectives. Sure I think there will eventually be a fistfight between Zod and Kal. But the story that gets them there is the one I want to read.



SUPERGIRL: COSMIC ADVENTURES IN THE EIGHTH GRADE #6
Written by Landry Q. Walker
Art and cover by Eric Jones

How will Supergirl ever wrap up all of the cosmic craziness that has developed since her arrival on Earth? Arch-frenemies, scheming faculty, an intergalactic orange kitty and a flying horse are just a few things that come her way in this final, action-packed issue!

Hoo boy. We all have been clamoring for a Comet sighting in this book, probably since the first issue. Now, not only do we see that Comet will make an appearance but that there is an 'Infinite Earths' theme on the cover as well. This could be a poster!



The positioning of Kara and Comet looks like the mirror image of Action Comics #293, one of Comet's first appearances. With all the other homages to Supergirl's past, I can't imagine it was coincidence.

But strings of Earths? Could Walker and Jones be channeling Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 for the last issue of the mini-series?

I can only hope that the title is popular enough to warrant a sequel! I am going to miss this title when it is over.


And now the surprise.

TINY TITANS #16
Written by Art Baltazar & Franco

Art and cover by Art Baltazar

It’s another ordinary gym class with Coach Lobo for the Tiny Titans until Supergirl and Kid Flash decide it’s the perfect day for a race around the world. The race isn’t theirs alone as some of the other Tiny Titans decide they don’t want to be left out. And see just what happens when the Atom and the Molecule compete in a shrinking contest.

As if casting Lobo as the school gym teacher wasn't enough comedy gold for an issue, he forces Supergirl to race Kid Flash! Sounds like more fun than the Batgirl/Supergirl tea party!

But why do I love this issue already?


Because the cover clearly is an homage to this Bob Oskner covered Limited Collector's edition. Even the breakdown of the fans on each side is sort of similar.

It is these small winks to the older readers, in Tiny Titans and Supergirl:Cosmic Adventures that truly makes the books for All Ages.

And finally the disappointment. Guess what wasn't solicited again! That's right the James Robinson/Mauro Cascioli Justice League featuring Supergirl has still not been solicited! It was announced nearly a year ago!

It has reached a point that Dan Didio actually needed to comment on this publicly saying that it was a mistake to announce the title until they had more issues done. Now I am sure that Cascioli's art is going to be unbelievably good. But this isn't a mini-series ... this is an ongoing monthly. Maybe they need to announce who the regular artist will be after the first arc now.

Maybe I wouldn't care so much if I wasn't looking forward to the title so much.

Let's hope we see it in June.