Joshua Williamson On 'House of Brainiac' And Supergirl

Action Comics #1064 came out last week and was a stellar opening chapter to the House of Brainiac story. I was quite impressed with the execution. If the first issue is any indication, this looks like it is going to be a great arc.

Over on AIPT, Joshua Williamson did a very thorough discussion on his approach to Superman and this story in particular. This is a very in-depth discussion on many aspects of the House Of Brainiac. So it is definitely worth reading in its entirety. Here is a link:

https://aiptcomics.com/2024/04/09/house-of-brainiac-deep-dive/

One thing that is clear is that Williamson is thinking about all the characters in the super-family and discusses Superboy, Lena, and others.

He also talks about Supergirl. And that is the part I am going to focus on.

Supergirl Episode 321: Not Kansas

Supergirl episode 321, titled 'Not in Kansas', aired earlier this week and was a good chapter in this season's overall arc. We had progression of the Reign storyline with one of the best action sequences I have seen on the show. We had Kara realizing that maybe you can't go home again. We had some progression in J'onn and Alex's subplots which seemed like organic progression for their characters. And we had enough names dropped and homages to make this fanboy happy. Plus, there are a lot of callbacks to things from earlier in the season giving this a feeling of strong continuity. And those things really helped this episode rise up.

That of course means that there were a couple of things about this episode that potentially could have weighed it down. And there were. For one, the romance angle with Mon-El is here in full force and I honestly wish it was gone completely. He should have left in episode 318 but has instead stuck around. I actually had a visceral response to him later in the episode. And when an old man like me gets that fired up about a romance plot angle, you know things are going wrong.

And, I'll say again, the politics of this show are often delivered in a ham-fisted, preachy way that somehow takes me so out of the story that it is hard to get back in. This episode had a message about gun control but used actual guns and gun tech to discuss it. It is so obvious that it was a bit too on the nose. Comics and sci-fi work best when they use allegory to teach. Super-powered mutants can be used to discuss racism and prejudice. Prime directives can be used to teach about colonizing. This could have been a plot about plasma rifles or red sun grenades. It would have been less glaring.

It doesn't help that this gun subplot is crowbarred into an episode where I really want to spend time with Kara, on Argo. She is why I watch the show.

Still, I am going to give this one an overall thumbs up for the great stuff it did do. Settle in, this is a long one. On to the episode.

Review: Action Comics #883

Action Comics #883 was released last Wednesday and picked up the main storyline of Nightwing and Flamebird tracking down General Zod's sleeper agents on Earth. Frankly, I welcomed the re-focus.

After Codename:Patriot and The Hunt For Reactron, it was good to see Greg Rucka and new co-writer Eric Trautmann go back to some of this arc's original ideas. While Codename and Reactron were key to the characters for many reasons, I can remember how impressed I was with the first few issues of this run ... the Ursa issues where we first learned of Thara's mission ... so I am glad to see the title return to that plot and hopefully some of that momentum.

The issue starts out by introducing us to the current incarnation of Jax-Ur in the DCU. He is perhaps the most evil and frightening of the Zod sleepers. Tor-An was acting like a media mogul. Nadira and Az-Rel were playing Bonnie and Clyde.

But Jax-Ur? He is playing mad scientist on Earth. And worse, he is using humans as either lab rats or 'growth medium' for his experiments. We see him intervene in a crime in Iraq but not to save the victims. Instead, he chillingly lobotomizes the people with a heat vision beam through the eye, bringing them back to his lab. That is more frightening and creepy to me than seeing him simply kill them. The main technology he is working on is some sort of gene sequencer.

As always, it is the small details in comics that I enjoy. I liked seeing Jax-Ur wearing the Science Guild 'Byrne-ish' Kryptonian garb while in his lair. He is a scientist after all.

In the mean time, Nightwing and Flamebird are fighting some mini-Brimstones in Toronto. Thara defeats the last one with some up close super-breath. When Chris tells her it looked like she kissed it, she decides to lay a super-kiss on him.

As I said before in the preview post, I love this kiss panel. The sun-like art-deco symbol in the back just adds to the feel of the panel. I love that Chris' response afterwards is a mix of being stunned and dumb-founded. He looks like he is in love.

Unfortunately, this moment is broken up by the military who are still guning for the two. Chris seems surprised since they have changed their costumes and have been 'saving innocents'. That seems a little naive. These are two of the 'Metropolis Three', the 'villains' who crippled Metropolis. Some new clothes aren't going to change that. And Kryptonians are still banned from Earth as well. I would have enjoyed a scene where the two discuss changing uniforms and going more public but I guess I just have to roll with it.

I will say that I find the new costumes spiffy. I especially like the S-shield belt buckles. Chris considers himself a son of the house of El. And Thara is, in essence, the step-daughter of Zor-El and Alura. They both have the right to wear the family crest.

One of the better parts of this issue was Rucka's portrayal of Perry White.

When Jimmy Olsen's current girlfriend goes to the Planet to let the staff know that Jimmy has gone missing, Perry is the only one who actually listens. Not only that, you can tell that a reporter's blood still courses through his veins. He starts asking the right questions and looking for the right answers.

I was a bit surprised that Lois gave her such a curt response. But I guess she has a lot on her plate right now.

While Perry starts nosing around, we head to STAR labs and Dr. Light.

And there we see Jax-Ur in his 'sleeper' identity of Dr. Pillings. Reading his internal monologue, you can hear how he has been able to influence Dr. Light into following some of his agenda. I can see how this would be a strategic mole for General Zod. You would have access to cutting edge technology as well as learn of any potential anti-Kryptonian weapons being developed.

Look at that smile on him ... how can people not see he is evil? He looks like a cross between Dr. Hugo Strange and Dr. Sivana.

Perry is able to talk his way into Jimmy's apartment by posing as his uncle.

Showing how savvy a reporter he is, Perry notices that amongst all the photos of super-heroes on the wall is one of a camera factory. The 'odd man out' is the hiding place of Jimmy's notes.

Again, it was refreshing to see Perry do some legwork like this. On top of that, the 'Jimmy is dead' storyline hasn't been touched since the Jimmy Olsen special back in August! It is about time we had someone notice.

But for me the best part of the issue was this conversation between Thara and Chris. They might be in love but it is clear they don't quite understand each other.

We start off with a nice little recap of the list of sleeper agents and who has been dealt with. I think it is a little premature of Thara to simply write off Nadira and Az-Rel as being captured or killed by Project 7734. Weren't Thara and Chris similarly captured by the military as well only to be released? Wouldn't she, as a security officer, want more concrete proof that the two aren't simply lying low for now?

That leads the Chris asking about the Flamebird aspect of Thara. Doesn't it tell her things, talk to her?

Thara says that she is merely the vessel for Flamebird. Chris reminds Thara that it was Flamebird that kissed him at the end of the Hunt For Reactron, a kiss that healed him. Was that kiss from Flamebird? Or Thara?

Ahhh ... and here is the big reveal.

Thara says that was Flamebird kissing Nightwing. But Chris isn't a believer. He doesn't think he is Nightwing.

Thara's religious fervor has been one of the more intriguing aspects of this whole arc. Who believes her? Who thinks she is crazy? Where does the Flamebird entity end and where does Thara begin? It is all rich material to be mined and Rucka has done a good job of showing the different reactions that people have had to Thara's faith.

I can only imagine how Thara feels right now. She probably thought that Chris had been walking in step with her, that he felt he was Nightwing as much as she knows she is Flamebird. Does she feel betrayed? Or saddened that he doesn't believe?

Instead she shows faith. He might not believe he is Nightwing. He might think he is a 'freak'. But she thinks he is perfect.

Unfortunately, this tender moment is cut short by another of Chris' growth spurts.

Back at STAR Labs, Jax-Ur shows us just what he is hoping his gene sequencer will map ... Flamebird and Nightwing!

Cloning a god? Interesting. And how will Thara and Chris respond if they have to face their test tube doppelgangers?

But Jax-Ur must feel he is incredibly lucky when more DNA material is brought to him ... the actual genes of Flamebird and Nightwing.

That's Chris, now wizened and old. I wonder if this is some chrysalis cycle for Nightwing. Chris has never manifested Nightwing like Thara has with Flamebird. I wonder if this 'shell' body needs to die for Chris/Nightwing to be reborn, phoenix-like. I hope more and more of the mystical aspect of this storyline continues to be explored.

Overall, I thought this was a good issue to bring Action Comics back on track of its overarching arc in this 'year without Superman'. Sleeper agents. Flamebird and Nightwing. Chris aging. It is all upfront and center again.

And I have come to really appreciate Pere Perez' smooth art on the title. After the revolving door on pencilling here, I am glad that he has settled in.

Overall grade: B+

Review: Supergirl #46

Supergirl #46 came out this week and was the conclusion of The Hunt For Reactron. It was a pretty wild ride with lots of great scenes. Going into the arc, all the creators talked about the wild and huge action scenes and they weren't kidding.

And surprisingly I was right about something for once. We did get to see another manifestation of the Flamebird entity. And it/she did play a huge role in the eventual ending of the story.

But the best thing for me is that we are nearing the closure of the Reactron storyline. He has been kicking around since the early days of New Krypton. And while he has been a great villain for Supergirl ... murderer of her father, specific powers to thwart her ... he has been a bit overexposed.

But I am getting a bit ahead of myself here.

Remember that the last chapter ended with Thara, Chris, and Supergirl shackled in red sun fetters and powerless before a raging Reactron.

Luckily, at the beginning of this issue Chris realizes that his tactile telekinesis is uneffected by red sun radiation. He is able to disassemble the devices on both himself and Thara, leading to close quarter combat that temporarily disables Reactron. They then release Supergirl from her chains.

I wish that a more thorough description of Chris' powers comes soon because it is getting a bit too confusing for me to anticipate what does and does not effect him. So green Kryptonite has been shown not to effect him as much as a usual Kryptonian. But gold Kryptonite does effect him. And red sun radiation does depower him ... except his telekinesis. It just seems like the rules are a bit loose with him and may be bent a bit to help move the story along, to fit whatever situation he is put into.

Also I like that Reactron's sadism ends up being a big part of his downfall. He had a chance to simply eliminate the 'Metropolis Three' when he fried Squad K. Instead, he seems to revel in his abilities, talking about how he wants to take his time and savor his pounding of the heroes. And that gives the heroes time to react.

I thought this was a funny little moment. Chris and Thara are sizing up Reactron and how they will square off against him. They body language makes them appear much more analytical as they discuss the range of the gold K blasts and how they will proceed.

And then Supergirl appears between them and shows none of the calculating restraint that they do. She pounds her fist into her hand and talks about 'kicking his butt'. It is a great for a couple of reasons. One, it shows just how confident Supergirl is in this fight. But more importantly, in contrast with Flamebird and Nightwing, it shows that Supergirl has a much greater personal stake in this fight. She has reasons besides clearing her name to get her hands on Reactron.

Despite having three Kryptonians fighting him, Reactron does remarkably well. He points out the upgrades that have been made to his suit since the last time they fought.

For one, the gold Kryptonite seems much more solidly embedded in him, to the point that Chris' telekinesis is unable to remove it. Furthermore, he is able to know shoot a gold Kryptonite beam from his chest rather than simply expose Kryptonians to the rock. Suddenly he has a very powerful and debilitating range weapon.

I love the Supergirl panel above where she is starting to use her heat vision. That is just a great heroic pose! Arms flexed, cape billowing, eyes glowing ... just wonderful. Unfortunately she is unable to immolate Reactron with it. He shoots her with the gold K beam, stripping her of her power.

Thara actually jumps in front of Reactron's next nuclear bolt, a killing shot aimed for the suddenly vulnerable Kara. It is of such power that it knocks Thara out of the fight.

During the battle, Lois actually shows up to witness and report the fight. With Thara out of the mix and Chris and Kara depowered and unconscious, it looks like Reactron is going to murder four more people. No one seems to be able to stop him.

I have to say I think the part of this fight where Lois engages Reactron in combat and actually wounds him by jabbing her pen into his neck seems out of context here. It may have been done to showcase Lois' bravery but instead it somehow weakened the threat of Reactron. Much like Chris it is hard for me to get a true sense of Reactron's powers. Sure I get the gold K and nuclear blasts. But is he even semi-invulnerable? Would a bullet to the eye kill him? Does the suit give him protection thus making the parts of his body uncovered (like where Lois jammed the pen) vulnerable? The fact that he is able to shrug off some Kryptonian attacks but can get hurt by a pen seems incongruous.

And hey ... the bike shorts are blue this issue. Was this a decision by the creative team? Or a coloring error?

And finally one of my predictions turns out to be correct! (Okay, technically I predicted the Flamebird entity would be what freed the three from the red sun chains, but this is close enough).

With Reactron about to kill Chris and Kara, Thara suddenly transforms into the Flamebird avatar. And she is one angry goddess.

With relative ease, she turns the tables on Reactron easily defeating him. She even seems impervious to gold Kryptonite! She yanks the rock from Reactron's chest and turns it to ash. I guess demi-gods don't need to worry about radiation.

This was a great splash page and a intriguing scene. It appears Thara cannot control when the Flamebird entity decides to manifest. The two times we have seen it have before have been when Thara or Chris have been in imminent danger.

Once the shoe is on the other foot and Reactron is suddenly helpless, he starts singing like a canary.

Suddenly some big pieces of Project 7734 are revealed ... and revealed with a respected member of the press in attendance. Lois now knows about Metallo, Mirabai, and the fact that General Lane was behind the sewer system bombing.

Between the bravado, sadism, and cowardice, I have come to really dislike Reactron. He is a true villain. There does not seem to be anything redeeming about him.

And Flamebird feels the same way. She wants to kill him right there.

What I great response from Supergirl! What a great way to show how mature she has become over the last months.

She knows that Zor-El would not want revenge.

Zor-El would want justice.

And with Reactron now powerless, Supergirl can bring him back to New Krypton to answer for his crimes. Sure, Alura will probably condemn him to death but at least there would be a semblance of due process.

Reactron is imprisoned in a crystal much like To-Var was at the beginning of the Flamebird/Nightwing arc.

And so there isn't much left to do except tie up the loose ends.

Thara and Kara have a nice moment where they forgive each other and restart their friendship. Kara apologizes for not believing Thara that she was Flamebird. Supergirl also thinks that this tangible proof of the old Kryptonian gods means that Zor-El may be in a better place. I am glad that the two have reconciled and hope that their friendship is explored for as long as Flamebird remains active in the DCU.

And yes, Supergirl is seen crying again but this time it makes sense and does not seem to have been done for a cheap emotional punch.

And it is fun to see how easily they slip back into a comfrotable and amicable relationship. I thought this was a nice moment as the issue nears its end, showing how they can joke and kid with each other. Just last issue they were trying to beat up each other. Too fast to be such chums? I don't think so.

It does seem a little breezy given that Kara's father's killer is trapped in a little crystal just a room away. But you can't be heavy and morose all the time. I like the Supergirl/Flamebird friendship. So it was a good little exchange to show them acting like friends.

Before Thara leaves though, she reveals to Supergirl (off-screen) just what is wrong with Lana.

So the issue ends on something of an ominous note. Supergirl is going to New Krypton with Reactron. But when she comes back, she will have a talk with Lana that 'won't be pleasant'. That's weird.

Okay, let's start hearing the guesses about Lana's illness again. This issue Lana says she has been having headaches, nosebleeds, and has been vomiting. My initial guess is brain cancer. But it has to be more than that right?

Anyways, I thought this was a nice ending to the Hunt For Reactron storyline ... a brief arc which moved both Supergirl's and Flamebird's stories forward. I look forward to seeing what Alura's idea of justice is.

Overall grade: B+

Review: Action Comics #882

The Hunt For Reactron continued to steamroll ahead in this week's Action Comics #882. As has been the case for the first two chapters of this storyline, Sterling Gates and Greg Rucka continue to do an excellent job of co-writing, melding their styles seamlessly while keeping the voices of their respective characters consistent.

And, as with the chapters before hand, this book is a great mix of plot progression and wild action sequences.

What I like most about this arc so far has been how it has really looked at the relationship between Kara and Thara. The two were best of friends but things have been strained between them. Will their being framed by General Lane bring them back together or widen the rift. I have been waiting to see more of their friendship since we met Thara way back in the New Krypton Special.


Another part of this issue that I really liked was how Squad K was portrayed. Each prior time we have seen them, Squad K has been shown to be somewhat 'quick to act', poorly trained cannon fodder. While they may be heavily armed, they have barely slowed down any Kryptonian they have come face to face with and have often looked foolish.

So when the issue starts with Squad K's Colonel Hazard fighting General Lane about the inclusion of Reactron into his group, it was the first sensible thing I have heard him say. That sudden respect for Hazard increases when he shows how he has read Reactron for the sociopath he is. Hazard wants to bring the Metropolis 3 to justice. He knows Reactron is simply out for blood.

Unfortunately, Hazard is outranked and overruled by General Lane. Reactron is suddenly on the team. The General then hears that Lois has fallen off the grid. And since she has interacted with Nightwing and Flamebird in the past, the Squad heads to Metropolis to hunt her down.



As was the plan, Chris and Lana have gone to meet Lois to tell her everything that has happened. Chris tells Lois about Reactron and Metallo's involvement with the destruction of Metropolis' water supply. With the mind games and military involvement, Lois senses her father's style. This friction between the members of the Lane family is an intriguing subplot.

I liked how Lois notices that Lana is looking ill. Whatever it is that Lana has been hiding, it is becoming more and more apparent. While I thought early on her illness was simply cancer, I now get the sense that this is going to be something more.

Back in Lana's apartment, Thara and Kara begin to start the slow process of mending their friendship. Thara admits that she is sick of fighting with Kara. I love how Supergirl shows her the blood bloom petal from their visit to the Fire Falls (as seen in the recent Superman Secret Files). That petal is a physical representation and a symbol of their friendship. There is only one reason for Kara to bring it out now ... and that is to remind Thara of all they have been through.

I also like how Supergirl tells Thara that the petal was the only thing that made the trip to Earth with her. If the petal survived all that, surely their friendship can as well.

When Squad K arrives in Metropolis, the three young Kryptonians reunite as a way to face the threat as well as give Lana and Lois a chance to slip off. Interesting that Thara went into battle in civilian clothes instead of donning her Flamebird armor.

Another of the things that I have liked about the super-titles during this year without Superman is how all the writers know the big picture and keep continuity tight.

For example, here we see Colonel Hazard talking to the Guardian, telling him to that the impending fight with Metropolis 3 is a military issue and that the Science Police are not necessary or even wanted. It is clear if that the Guardian would be involved in this skirmish above his city. So Gates and Rucka do the appropriate thing and address the issue. If they hadn't included this scene I would have wondered why the SciPo hadn't joined in.

While Squad K and Supergirl, Flamebird, and Nightwing fight in the sky, Reactron takes to the streets and just starts destroying things. Nothing like a super-villain performing some indiscriminate property damage to move a story along.

Again, I am impressed with Hazard here as he stands up to Reactron, telling him to stop laying waste to Metropolis landscape.

Somehow I didn't get the ominous foreshadowing by Reactron the first time I read the issue. We haven't seen anything yet?

The battle between Kara, Thara, Chris, and the military goes underground into the demolished sewer system.

In a peculiar move, Chris tells Supergirl and Thara to stand down and be taken into custody.

As I stated above, the tight continuity between the super-books has been one of the more impressive things during this New Krypton run. I don't know if it is simply coincidence that Chris and Thara assume the same position that Kal did just last week in WONK. It is a subtle little hint (I think) of Superman's influence on Chris. The similarity in the scenes is uncanny but appreciated by showing how powerful a role model Kal can be and since Greg RUcka writes both titles I am going to say it was intentional.

What amazes me is that this plan by Chris almost works. Depowered with 'red sun shackles', Chris and Thara explain their side of the story, of Reactron's role in the sewer collapse, and the potential purpose of Reactron's sudden presence on Squad K. Reactron has been sent there by General Lane to tie up the loose ends permanently.

Hazard sees the logic behind it. You can see it on his face ... that what Thara says makes sense.

And that sudden flash of realization on Hazard's part makes him and his crew suddenly expendable, suddenly a new set of loose ends.

And Reactron shows how cold-blooded he is, frying his military comrades with a burst of energy. It is chilling to see. I hope he does face some Kryptonian justice.

And it is too bad ... I was just starting to like Colonel Hazard.

And with Squad K dispatched and the Metropolis 3 helpless, Reactron seems like he literally has things well in hand.

As for this cliffhanger ... well I think it is time for the Flamebird entity to manifest again.

I thought this was a very good issue. It was heavy on the action but I think that is totally fitting for this particular arc. Between those scenes though, small glimpses of great characterization happen. I thought the Kara/Thara scenes were very well done, showing how awkward they feel around each other right now.

I thought Pere Perez' art wasn't as polished as it was last issue, looking a bit scraggly and scratchy in some places. His most powerful panels were those which showcased Reactron's destructive capabilities. The energy really bristles on the page.

The writers and artists promised that Hunt For Reactron would be a fun and wild ride and it has been.

Overall grade: B+

Review: Action Comics #881

Action Comics #881 starts up The Hunt For Reactron crossover between Supergirl and Nightwing and Flamebird.

Unlike World of New Krypton which shied away from the immediate aftermath of Codename:Patriot, Action Comics #881 picks up right where that world has left off, with Mon-El presumed dead and any Kryptonian under suspicion for attacking Earth. With some simple illusion spells, Mirabai and General Lane have really turned the world against Superman and New Krypton.

The issue is co-written by Greg Rucka and Sterling Gates, so the main characters certainly act and talk like you would expect them to. Furthermore, Pere Perez provides the art and really does a great job. He has a very smooth and understated style that really jumps off the page. I know the art chores on Action has been a revolving door recently. I hope Perez is on the book for a while.

I have to admit that the one part of the book that falls a bit short is the opening scene.

Supergirl, Flamebird, and Nightwing all are teleported to an alley in downtown Metropolis. Slightly reeling from the transport, Supergirl attacks Thara yelling that Flamebird tried to kill her.

So this is the part that I don't understand from a couple of angles.

First off, why attack Thara? I understand that Reactron disguised Flamebird attacked Supergirl last issue, leading her right to Mirabia. In looking at Supergirl #44, it looks as though Supergirl see that it is Mirabai who has attacked her. It also seems that Supergirl would also see that Flamebird was actually Reactron as the panel shows the spell fading. Now I suppose I may be mistaken. Maybe Kara is unconscious in that scene and Mirabai is talking to an incapacitated Supergirl.

But secondly, and more importantly, why the heck would General Lane let these guys live? If you are Project 7734 and you hate Kryptonians and you have three Kryptonian heroes depowered and captured ... wouldn't you just kill them? Or at least keep them captured so that you could continue to impersonate them and destroy their reputation? Why release them at all so that they can hunt you down for revenge? It is sort of the James Bond problem ... why put him in some intricate trap when you can just put a bullet in his brain.

There seems little reason for these three to be roaming free.

Their fight spills out into the streets and we have this excellent 2 page spread showing the effect of Lane's propaganda against the young heroes. My scan is only a portion of it!

Standing smack dab in the middle of a Time Square equivalent, the Kryptonians see their faces splashed across the huge electronic billboards, branding them the murderers of Mon-El and enemies of the world. Labelled 'the Metropolis 3', they are said to have been laughing when Mon-El died and that Metropolis has needed to ration water because of the attack on the sewer system.

It is a great shot. By keeping the heroes small, you really get a sense of the immense feelings against the heroes. It is shown physically, but you also get a sense of how psychologically powerful the anti-Kryptonian sentiment is.

The Science Police show up with some advanced weaponry and brawl with the heroes, actually inflicting some minor damage on Supergirl and Flamebird. Realizing that they have been set up as killers and that the Science Police won't listen to them, Supergirl grabs the unconscious Thara and flies off with Chris following behind.

I don't know how I feel right now about this fight. A Science Police squad just shouldn't be able to hold their own in a fight against three Kryptonians. This should have been over in seconds. And yet, you need to have conflict in comics. I suppose in the grand scheme of things, the only thing the Science Police did was delay them for a few seconds. I can deal with that.

The arc is named The Hunt For Reactron so we finally catch up with Reactron. While Metallo is pressed and dressed in his military uniform, Reactron is in costume and stuck in the Project 7734 headquarters.

For some reason, Reactron is leaking radiation and is stuck off the battlefield until his condition has been stabilized. The source of the leak isn't known and so Reactron is probably off the grid for some time.

One thing that Gates has done is show us just how much of a sociopath Reactron is. You get the sense that he resents Metallo who is heading to a high-powered meeting in the Pentagon while he is stuck in the lab. He blames Mirabai's spells for causing the leak. And as we see above, he has developed an unhealthy hatred of Supergirl. He is a great first member of Supergirl's personal rogue's gallery.

My guess is that Reactron doesn't really like 'strict bed-rest' and is going to bust out the headquarters on his own.

Supergirl, Nightwing, and Flamebird have sped off to Paris. We see Thara meditating as she listens to not only international news transmissions but also the conversation that Kara and Chris are having below. Remember, Kara hasn't seen Chris since he went back into the zone as a school-aged kid.

At first Thara is happy to eavesdrop as she hears Chris confess to Supergirl that he has fallen in love with her.

But then things become a bit ugly. First, all the news programs seem to be focused on the horrors of the Metropolis attacks. But worse, Kara is telling Chris about Thara's obsession with the Flamebird/Nightwing myth and how she fears that Thara may be insane.

Sometimes it is the small things in comics that are the best things. Take this revelation, for example, where Supergirl tells Chris that she has apartments all over the globe acting as mini Fortresses of Solitude. Look at how happy Kara looks spinning around one of her homes. I love the small touches like the painting of Zor-El, the happy face pillow, the teddy bear, and the hologram of her parents seen there. Much like the famous apartment scene in Final Crisis, this gives us a little look inside Supergirl.

The three begin to try to figure out who framed them. But Thara let's it be known that she heard everything Supergirl said about her visions. The tension is pretty thick.

Meanwhile ...

Lois can't seem to get in touch with her suddenly living father.

She then tries to convince Cat Grant to not go on Morgan Edge's show, a propaganda tool that Project 7734 has used to its utmost potential.

Grant's response is chilling ... a reminder of how fascism is so tightly meshed with fear. Cat tells Lois that anyone who sides with the Kryptonians are probably going to be looked upon as an enemy of the state as well. Brrrr ... Cat is diabolical.

Back in Paris, Supergirl finally puts some of the pieces together, realizing that Reactron must have been part of this set-up since they all lost their powers briefly. She even figures out that illusions must have been part of the plot against them. It is great to see Supergirl shown as a detective, using her intellect to figure this sort of stuff out.

Supergirl figures the time is right to become pro-active, to go and get Reactron and this time bring him to New Krypton for justice. Thara warns Supergirl that bringing Reactron to Alura is basically sending him to an execution.

I love the exchange above. The tension between Thara and Kara runs pretty deep. Supergirl still blames Flamebird for Zor-El's death. Here she finally call Thara on it saying that Alura does her duty unlike Thara who was not acting as a good security chief while Zor-El was being murdered.

I know it is a bit exaggerated but I love Thara's expression in the lower panel. You can almost hear her saying 'Oh no you didn't!!'

I don't think it is really logical of Kara to hold this resentment against Thara. After all it was Commander Gor who literally brought Reactron and Metallo into Kandor. I think Kara is still hurting with Zor-El's death and needs to transfer that pain somewhere. Thara is an easy target.

In fact, there is a sense of sibling rivalry here as Thara reminds Kara that she was Zor-El's surrogate daughter for years inside Kandor and that she has been just as hurt as Kara by his death.

I don't think Supergirl likes that response. There is almost a sense of 'I loved Dad more' or 'Dad loved me more' competition here. Their emotions overflowing, they bring their battle out to the Eiffel Tower. And before Nightwing is able to drag them back inside, the public has called for help.

Here comes Squad K.

Now I have to admit, every time Squad K shows up they are either quickly dispatched or completely unorganized. I don't hold them up as a serious threat. But this can't help turn public sentiment ... to see Supergirl battling the Earth's defenders.

I have to say I really liked this issue. For one, from the beginning (when Thara said she 'earned' her title) there has been a lot of friction between Kara and Thara. When you add their mutual history as a 'daughter of Zor-El', Zor-El's murder, and Thara's religious fanaticism, I really felt like their relationship was a powder keg ready to explode. It was good to finally see their relationship explored.

Secondly, I really like how every time we see Reactron he acts creepier and creepier. I cringe when I read his lines as he seems like a completely antisocial misogynistic psychopath. He is a great arch-villain.

As I said above, it was interesting to see Kara's French hideout.

And I will say again, I really like Pere Perez' artwork here. Smooth, flowing, economic with his lines ... I thought it was excellent. In some ways it reminded me of Cliff Chiang's superior and yet minimalistic art.

All those things were enough to at least offset the inanity of General Lane's releasing the Metropolis 3. Why the heck would he do that?

Overall grade: B+

Hunt For Reactron Preview

It has been a great week for Supergirl previews over at the DC Blog, The Source. We have seen pages from the Supergirl Annual#1, Cry For Justice #3, and now some peeks at the early chapters of the Hunt For Reactron storyline. Here is the link: http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2009/09/01/what-is-the-hunt-for-reactron/

And here is some of the text by Super-family editor Matt Idelson.

“Greg Rucka and Sterling Gates co-write SUPERGIRL #45-46 and ACTION COMICS #881-882 as they reach the climax of a few long-simmering threads, not the least of which are Supergirl and Flamebird’s blood feud, Kara’s first encounter with Nightwing, and, like the title says, the hunt for Reactron, killer of Zor-El. Well, that last part isn’t in the title, but you know what I mean. Oh, and since this is coming right out of ‘Codename: Patriot,’ everyone on Earth and their mother are gunning for these heroes.”

I am sure that in the end, Kara and Thara will reconcile their feud and work together to bring in Reactron. At least I hope so. I would hate for Kara to lose her best friend because she is transferring her anger about her father's death onto Thara.

But with Codename:Patriot and all the confusion around those events, I am not surprised to see them fighting initially. And the whole 'oh I confused you for a villain now let's team up' comic storyline is about as tried and true as it gets.

I have to say that if this page from Action Comics #881 is any indication, Pere Perez' art is going to be very very good. His style also seems to complement Jamal Igle's as well. The issues will transition smoothly.

And then we are treated to this double page spread by Jamal Igle from Supergirl #45.

Spectacular.

I am hoping that after this storyline that Reactron sort of fades into the background for a while. He is a great arch-villain for Supergirl and will be for some time. But we have seen so much of him this last year. I am ready to see some new rogues face off against Supergirl.

We have already heard that the overall New Krypton storyline is going to spill into 2010. Remember when for a short period of time World of New Krypton was listed as a 15 issue series rather than 12? I can't wait to see what the landscape of the Supergirl title looks like once this over-arching story is over.

Review: Superman Secret Files 2009

Superman:Secret Files 2009 came out this week and sported a new red-colored triangle and numbered zero. Codename:Patriot is clearly being marketed by DC as a jumping-on point for the super-titles.

With plotlines weaving through 4 titles, Secret Files tried to tee things up for a new reader by mixing in Who's Who style pages, maps, and short stories to try to not only catch the new reader up to date but add something for the hard core reader.

I think the latter is a bit trickier for the creators. I don't necessarily need a Who's Who page to tell me who General Zod is. But a map of Metropolis and a Kara/Thara story might grab me.



Here is the Who's Who page for Supergirl. Her origin is reviewed with much of the text dedicated to the post New Krypton events. Remember, this is supposed to help out any new readers. One thing I did note was the fact that her 'Kryptonite poisoning' wasn't mentioned. I really think that we are looking at a new age for Supergirl. The early issues of the title have been acknowledged, dealt with, and probably won't need to be mentioned again.

I also wonder how an artist comes up with 'THE' pose for a character on one of these pages. You want the art to reflect who the character is at their core. Here it looks like Jamal Igle chose 'graceful' as the central feeling. Supergirl also looks happy, something else I like to see. That is really beautiful art.

But he easily could have chosen a more action-y pose, fists clenched, eyes glowing.

Similar pages are throughout the book including ones for the Science Police, Daily Planet staff, and Nightwing & Flamebird.



The main story for me in the book was the Kara/Thara Fire Falls story that was mentioned in the last issue of Supergirl. 'Blood Sisters' was written by Sterling Gates and Greg Rucka with art supplied by Fernando Dagnino.

It is something of a flashback story, taking place right after Zor-El's death. Remember, at that time Thara was head of Kandorian Security and therefore in charge of protecting Zor-El and Alura.

Clearly, Kara's would be an emotional wreck in that initial mourning period. She loved her father, thought he was dead, got reunited with him suddenly, only to have him die in her arms. I know I would be distraught and probably angry.

As a result, this initial lashing out at Thara makes some sense. Of course Kara would be looking to blame someone for her father's death and Thara is an easy target. Unfortunately, Thara can't explain why she wasn't right there to save Zor-El. I think she was on scene. Could she have been elsewhere in the guise of Flamebird and as a result not next to Zor?

While Supergirl storms off, Thara remembers a day from their past.



There are a lot of small flourishes in this story that I really liked.

For one, while I haven't been floored by Fernando Dagnino's art in the past, I thought this was his strongest effort. I especially liked how he was able to draw the younger versions of Kara and Thara while having them still resemble their older versions. I bet that is tougher that it seems. This isn't a generic kid; this is clearly a young Kara.

Second, I like how the future Guilds that each chose is foreshadowed in their actions here. I always assumed that Kara would pick the Artist's Guild. But in this story, Kara is clearly a scientist. We see her crack open her robot nanny and reprogram it, allowing the girls to slip off unsupervised to the Fire Falls.



And we have heard all along how devout Thara is as a person. She was part of the Religious Guild for a while and obviously is a holy enough vessel to house the Flamebird force. So it made sense to see her want to pray at the Fire Falls rather than immediately go exploring like Kara wants to.
Kara is overwhelmed by the geography and local fauna. Thara is overwhelmed by the grandeur.

I really liked how we are shown these early seeds and how they have blossomed in each young woman. Small touches like this really make for a satisfying product.



While Thara is meditating though, Kara gets into some trouble as she nearly gets eaten by a native giant bird. Luckily Thara is able to help rescue Kara. Thara douses the bird in some blood bloom juice, a known flammable liquid. Kara then ignites the bird while Thara lifts her to safety.

Hmmmm ... a flaming bird ... a Flamebird? Is there some importance to that for Thara's history? Or is it simply foreshadowing?

Safe at last, the two girls become literal blood sisters, holding their cut hands together and holding onto half of a blood crystal as a memento, a symbol of their friendship.

A friendship that appears over when Supergirl storms away from Thara after Zor-El's funeral.

I know that we have a couple of upcoming issues where Supergirl and Flamebird fight. I know that is coming. But I hope that there is more to their feud than just this rift. In the immediate aftermath of Zor-El's death I can understand Kara lashing out at everyone and everything. I would hope that with time that she would calm a bit, realizing that it really isn't Thara's fault.

Overall though, I thought this was a very good background story for both characters.

Just because I am an Ursa fan, I thought I would show some of her story written by Greg Rucka and pencilled by Pere Perez.

The story shows the Black Zero unit in their fight against Brainiac during the Kandor incident. There is a brutal two page spread showing the bloodshed and battle raging.

The story shows how that loss clearly that effected Ursa mentally. How that battle scarred her psychologically and made her lose her sense of self. With no internal compass she latched onto General Zod, defining herself through him. And with Zod near dead, Ursa wonders who she would be without him.

I don't know if I need all my villains to have some tragic background that made them the way they are. I actually don't mind having villains be villains simply because they are evil. But I thought this story helped soften some of the edges of Ursa just enough to make me feel a bit for her.

I went into this issue with no expectations. So I was pretty pleased with it, getting more out of it than I expected. The maps alone are worth perusing.

Overall grade: B+