Supergirl In DK2

A friend of mine recently had the opportunity to buy DK2 #1 for one dollar. He shied away because he remembered how much I had disliked the series. Apparently when the book was released back in 2001,  I said that it was so bad, 'it might change how you look at the first series'.

Now I think those are overly dramatic words by me back then. Dark Knight Returns is and will always be a fantastic book no matter how bad the sequel is. In the same way, The Matrix will always be a great movie even if the two sequels were horrible.

That said, I had to admit that I hadn't read the series since it was released. Could 10 years and more life experience by me change what I thought of DK2. Could I have 'missed something' the first time around? I hadn't thought about DK2 in years. I figured it was time to look at it again.

Guess what ... it was as bad as I remember, if not worse. My overall thoughts are at the bottom. But I was stunned when I saw that Supergirl was in the book briefly. I had completely forgotten that.

In the series, Lex Luthor and Brainiac basically run everything on Earth behind the scenes. They have either eliminated, captured, ostracized, or control all the super-heroes on the planet (outside of Batman of course). This includes Superman.

Brainiac has somehow got his hands on the bottle city of Kandor and has his robot troops patrolling the city. Should Superman disobey, Brainiac selects a Kryptonian family within the city and murders them. With the future of the Kryptonian culture and people at stake, Superman kowtows.

Within Kandor, the leader of the Kryptonian rebels trying to overthrow Brainiac's troops is none other than Kara. Unfortunately she is captive and helpless. In a bit of melodrama, Kara cries out biblically to Kal 'Why have you forsaken us?' That is Kara's one panel in the book.

Here is Superman being taunted by Luthor and Brainiac about the Kandor predicament (it is a hologram, explaining the perspective).

Boy, Brainiac looks like Xerxes from 300.

There are a couple more Supergirl-specific moments in DK2 I thought I would share. The heroes, once back together and working against Luthor, run an assault mission against Midvale Orphanage. The orphanage is a 'secret' government facility ... as secret as you can be with guards, cannons, and electric fences.

It turns out the orphanage is a Cadmus-like genetics lab run by Dick Wilson. Dick Wilson, in the Silver Age, tormented Kara in the orphanage. He 'became' Dick Malverne when he was adopted.

Of course, there is a 'Supergirl' in DK2. Superman and Wonder Woman's daughter Lara plays a very active role in the second half of the book, rebelling against her passive father and acting as an angry pro-active hero.

But overall DK2 simply does not work. I think that Miller had no idea what he wanted this book to be. Unlike Dark Knight where an overall plot weaved through the chapters, DK2 is simply all over the place.

First off, it barely has Batman in it. It's more of a JLA story set in the Dark Knight world.

Second, it seems like Miller didn't know what he wanted the story to be. Batman v Superman ideologically? Batman v Luthor who has in essence taken over the world? Batman rallying the world to recognize they are all slaves to nonsensical media? Superman v Brainiac? Batman actually luring the JLAers out of retirement to lead the world again? Batman v a reincarnated Joker (won't ruin the surprise if people want to read this)?

It's all of those and more, but not enough of any of them. It is like an omelette with too many ingredients. The egg (Batman) isn't enough to hold it all together. It reads like a disorganized almost incoherent mess.

Third, Miller just shoves way too much Sin City in the story. Now I like Sin City.  The problem is this isn't Sin City. And unlike Sin City, where the stories are pretty cohesive, here these bits stand out as 'why the heck is this moment here, it doesn't make sense'. Or 'why is he spending so much time on the half-dressed girl rock band; can't I have more Batman in this book?' Those moments are there, I assume, to make the people who bought DK2 because they are Sin City fans happy. But I bet those people hate all the superhero stuff.

As a result, I would once again recommend that people don't read this book.

There are some ... maybe a handful ... of moments that work, unlike pretty much the entirety of Dark Knight Returns which still rocks. 

Michael Turner Mini-Statue

The Michael Turner Supergirl mini-statue finally came out last week. If you are a fan of Turner's work and Supergirl design, it is a very nice piece. Supergirl definitely has the large eyes and Turner torso. It evokes his work nicely, even the highly detailed hair. That also means the shirt and skirt are smaller than we have recently seen in the book.

The statue comes in two pieces. The first is the Kryptonian crystal like base. The second piece is Supergirl, a crystal piece connected to her cape which fits into the base.

One of the complaints that I had heard about the large size version of this statue was the fragility of the crystal base. I have read that the smallest crystals at the edge of the base snapped off easily. I suppose I could see that as being a worry here as well.

It is bigger than I thought a "mini" statue would be.

The design of the statue gives the illusion that Supergirl is flying or floating which also adds to the appeal of the statue.

I also like the 'movement' of the cape here as well. The feel of the cape moving adds to that 'flying and floating' aspect of the statue.

The statue is priced at $79.99 so it is a bit pricey. But much more affordable than the full-size version which runs for about $300 on EBay. Since I will probably never get the full-sized statue, I am glad to have this one in my collection.

And more statues are on the way. The Adam Hughes' Women of DC, the Superman Family mulit-pieced statue, and the Amanda Conner Supergirl bust are all scheduled for release this year.

Review: Superboy #4

Jeff Lemire and Pier Gallo keep their creative feet on the gas pedal in Superboy #4, moving the action and the plotlines forward. The book's multiple plot threads feel like a web ... each seem separate but together they form a mesh of craziness over the lazy country town of Smallville.

Of course, the key here is to keep Superboy sort of off center. He wanted to be in Smallville so he could experience what Superman did. But those peaceful days aren't going to happen for him. By throwing weirdness after weirdness at Conner, all while keeping the 'aw shucks' 'country store' background of Smallville, both Superboy and the reader are thrown off kilter.

Remember Morrison's JLA? That was the big seven in big stories but there was just enough Doom Patrol craziness in those stories to make them fresh. That's the sort of positive dissonance I am feeling here.

Last issue, Psionic Lad came back in time to get help from Superboy. Unfortunately, he was followed by an armored patrol hellbent on bringing him back to his right time. And these troops aren't lightweights. Their armor can be upgraded, including Kryptonite defense shields and stronger weapons.

Just when it looks like they might defeat Superboy, Simon arrives on the scene. At the same time, the 'hunting party' decides they need to beat a hasty retreat. The assumption is that there is something about Simon that is scaring them, making them leave. Does Simon have some power that he isn't aware of that they can sense? Do they recognize him?

I have always felt that Simon will eventually become evil. Maybe these guys know him from history and don't want to face off against a Luthor-equivalent. Or Simon's presence might be a red herring. Maybe it's Lori that frightens them.

That theory is more plausible when why Lori didn't get knocked out by Psionic Lad's psychic wake is explained. She has latent psychic powers!

I was thrilled when Geoff Johns reintroduced Lena Luthor to the DCU in Adventure Comics, even if it was tragedy. The Silver Age Lena had ESP. So it is a nice little homage to have Lori also have powers, even if they are untapped. Could a space brain appear in the title next?

Maybe it was Lori's abilities that scared off the time travelling police.

With the battle in the school over, Conner, Simon, and Psionic Lad leave the clean-up to the authorities.

Away from the school, Psionic Lad tries to explain his predicament but thinks it would be easier to simply share it telepathically.

I have to say that I raised an eyebrow here. Superboy's life hasn't exactly been a peaceful one like Clark's. There have been betrayals and lies and even death. You think he would need a little more proof that Psi-Lad was on the level before he let the telepath enter his mind. I am not saying that Superboy needs to be paranoid. But this complete trust just seemed fast.

Psionic Lad shows the near future to Con and Simon in a series of images. Smallville has become a fortress, ruled for decades by a super-villain who has enslaved the populace. Psionic Lad was one of a number of super-heroes who tried to defeat the overlord. Unfortunately all were killed except him. As a result, he fled to the past to be mentored by Conner.

One thing that stands out in this book are the page layouts, the panel construction. I thought this two page spread with the images floating around was very nice.

And is it me, or does that overlord seem Kryptonian? At least in fashion? Is that Superman? Conner? Their physiology could keep them alive that long.

After the tour of the future, Simon suggests that Psionic Lad help with the present. The telepath tries to read the mind of Farmer Gilliam, the man strapped to the device back in issue #2. Unfortunately, he is only able to get some fleeting moments although they do include the demonic looking Quakers that we have seen before. So no real new information on that mystery.

This was another great page layout with Gilliams face making up the background with these visions surrounding it.

Much of the rest of the issue is Conner and Lori talking about their relationship, which is sort of an odd one.

For one, Lori is upset that she was left behind when Conner, Simon, and Psionic Lad left. She was also part of that encounter.

Lori is shown smoking, is dressed provocatively, and seems angry. I think she is trying to find who she is. She certainly isn't the typical Smallville teenager. In some ways, she reminds me of Roxy Leech from the earliest Conner adventures.

They also try to address their growing feelings for each other. Even if he isn't with Cassie right now, Conner feels he shouldn't be with Lori. I'm completely with Conner on this one. He's "Luthor's Son". She's "Luthor's Niece". That's a little too close on the family tree for an amorous relationship, isn't it?

Lori doesn't think so.

And what's Krypto sniffing? There are too many panels showing that to make me think it is simply background.

And then my distrust of Psionic Lad turns out to be on the money. One of the alleged dead super-heroes from his time contacts him, asking him if the plan is moving forward: the plan to kill Superboy! I knew that guy was no good!

There certainly are a lot of moving parts in this book right now. Some threads are moving along quickly; others are simmering. But all of them make me think Smallville is a pretty strange town to live in despite the Norman Rockwell exterior. It's sort of like Leesburg in Peter David's Supergirl, the town situated over a bubbling chaos stream. My guess is the Quaker storyline is the long term story, with the smaller episodes like Psionic Lad sort of budding off of that. I know we are only 4 issues in but this book just feels right, a good mix of stright forward super-heroics with a twist of the bizarre.

Pier Gallo's art really shined this issue. Both the page layouts and the more standard panels really look sharp.

Overall grade: B+/B

Review: Superman 80-Page Giant 2011

The Superman 80-Page Giant 2011 issue came out last week and, much like last year's 80-pager, was an unexpected treat to read. Touted as including 'seven fresh stories' by the 'industry's most promising talent' on the official DC solicit, it didn't fail to please.

Unlike last year's version which featured almost exclusively Superman stories, this issue read more like an old issue of Superman Family, looking at all the other super-characters. In some ways I thought it was ironic given that Superman hasn't headlined in Action in over 2 years and currently is only starring in 'Grounded' and heck, that isn't even really Superman in my mind. So why should this book be any different?

And like last year's version, there are some creators here who are much more established in the medium than I would expect to find in a Showcase-esque book like this. I wonder how long some of these stories have been finished, waiting for enough to be accrued to make an 80-Page Giant.

The more I look at the Dustin Nguyen cover, the more I like it. It is a very nice medley of the Superman mythos.

Superman 80-Page Giant 2011 includes a solo Supergirl story which I will review for the bulk of this post. But I will touch on the other stories as well.

'The Bloodsucker Moxie' was written by Joe Caramagna, with pencils by Trevor McCarthy, and inks from Andre Szymanowicz. I haven't heard of any of these creators so this really felt like an 'up and coming talent' sort of story. Nice punny title, playing on the 'Hudsucker Proxy' Coen brothers movie title.

The story takes place at a carnival where Linda Lang is meeting a young man for a date. There were some nice flourishes as we open the story such as Supergirl having a hard time with texting and also her desire to find a funnel cake stand. I love funnel cakes!

One of the running themes in the story is how uncomfortable Supergirl is with some of the customs on Earth. Things like fumbling with typing while texting is a universal woe. But asking if going into the freak show at a carnival is an 'Earth ritual' sounded a bit off for someone who has been on Earth for so long.

So was her being so easily swept into the freak show by a boy named Troy (not who she was going to meet). After her dealings with Power Boy, I doubt she would let herself be led anywhere.

Still, I suppose it could happen if you aren't even aware that it is happening.

Inside the Freak Tent, Troy and Kara look at a shelves of unknown oddities. The green jar on the second shelf holds a Fordovian bloodsucker, something Supergirl recognizes.

Again, the 'This is your ritual?' sounded a bit flat. Supergirl has been on Earth for years; this made it seem like she just landed.

Anyone else recognize the outfit Linda is wearing?

Looks like McCarthy used this publicity picture of Laura Vandervoort when she was first announced as Supergirl on Smallville as a reference.

I liked McCarthy's art in this story a lot. It really seemed fresh and slick.

In the Freak Tent, Linda's date Brendan shows up, saving her from the boorish Troy. I like how he used the 'she's crazy' excuse to pry her away. Reminded me of when Aladdin does it to save Jasmine from having her hand cut off.

I also like the art of Brendan here; it is quirky enough to remind me of early Chris Bachalo, his Shade the Changing Man stuff. That's high praise.

Linda's expression on the top panel also reminds me of Bachalo.

When Brendan calls himself Linda's boyfriend, Linda is shocked. She's confused. And she's happy. She seems to like him.

Since Linda has never really dated, this sort of confusion about relationships didn't bother me as much as the other 'Earth custom' talk. I think all teenagers are confused about love initially. So this dialogue felt very natural.

But before the obvious imminent kiss can happen, someone screams.

Turns out Troy has released the Fordavian Bloodsucker, a sort of space octopus which is killing humans (including poor misguided Troy) but finds Kryptonian blood irresistable.

Linda ditches Brendan in the Freak Tent and battles the monster, eventually frying it with her heat vision. The battle sequences are drawn well with a nice dynamic feel. No bike shorts here though.

The story ends on a bit of a downer and again seems just a tiny smidge off. Brendan doesn't want to be with Linda if she disappears like she did without explanation. He ends it before it even began.

Supergirl calls herself a stranger to the planet, a freak. Sounds more like Supergirl around #34, not the one who got to where she was emotionally in #59. Of course, most people will still say that the thing that makes Supergirl appealing is her emotional vulnerability despite her physical invulnerability. If this is someone's first Supergirl story, I bet it was a very touching ending.

For me, it reminded me of a Silver Age story that I can't 100% place, one where Linda ditched Dick Malverne in the hall of mirrors at a carnival so she can save the day only to have Dick react much like Brendan.

Overall, I still think it was a good Supergirl story. The art was very nice.

The rest of the issues stories are of similar quality or better.

Jor-El stars in 'First Time for Everything' by writer Beau Tidwell and art by Cafu. Now Cafu is pretty established at DC, having drawn pieces of the New Krypton storyline and working on THUNDER Agents. I haven't heard of Tidwell.

The story has Jor-El defying the Science Council to get proof that the planet's core is unstable. I have read prior incarnations of Jor-El acting like an action hero so this felt right. I will say that his rigging an elevator to become a rocket did stretch my suspension of disbelief. It felt a bit too 'Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.'

I did love the ending though. Analyzing the Kryptonite he has obtained, Jor-El realizes that he is right and the planet is doomed. He was hoping he was wrong. The last panel with him slumped in his chair looking defeated is fantastic.

'Quarter-Life Crisis' is a rather existential story starring Jimmy Olsen, written by Abhay Khosla with very nice art by Andy McDonald. It was my favorite story of the book. The story starts with a great panel invoking some of the more painful Superman covers from the 60s and 70s, those covers where Superman isn't helping people and instead laughing at them. As Jimmy crumples before him dying, Superman stands over him, arms folded, saying 'Everyone dies! Especially you Jimmy Olsen!'

It turns out that a mad scientist has cloned 100 Jimmy's, each of whom has a day or so to live. Superman and Jimmy begin tracking down the Olsen corpses, seeing what they have accomplished. I loved these two panels, which hearken back to wacky Olsen stories of the Silver Age. I mean, handcuffed to a demon hand with a treasure map in your back pocket! That's a busy day. I love the dead-pan Superman reply. 'Not too shabby.'

In the end, Jimmy wonders why he needs to get into these adventures. What is he looking for in life? What would make him happy? It turns out the Jimmy tagging along with Superman is also a clone. He looks upon the real Jimmy who arrives as the clone is dying and tells him 'no more excuses'. It's time to live.

Deep stuff at the center, but Olsen absurdity at the periphery ... this story just worked.

Lois Lane stars in 'Credit Check' written by relative comics veterans Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover, with art by recent 'Grounded' interlude artist Amilcar Pinna. I like Pinna's art much better here, showcasing both Lois and Lana without veering towards aping Ed Benes as he did in that Superman issue. Funny that that issue also starred Lois.

This issue shows just how good a reporter Lois is as she works her investigative magic to discover that 'Kasten Broadway' is a fake name, an invented person. Moreover, 'Kasten' is actually the son of an Intergang boss who wants to leave the family business to be an actor (the pseudonym now makes more sense).

For me the highlight of this story was the conversations between Superman and Lois on the phone as she continually tells him that she is fine and doesn't need help. And he keeps wondering how she gets herself into the trouble she does. It read like a happy couple who know each other very well and love each other unconditionally.

'Bad Moon Rising' was  written by Aubrey Sitterson with art by very established team of  Eddy Barrows and JP Mayer. In it, Superboy gets a bit fed up with being in Smallville, feeling trapped by the banality. Luckily, as he storms around the town, he runs into a werewolf who is munching on some cattle.

The two battle only to take a breather and realize that they have more in common than they thought. The werewolf was merely letting off some steam just as Superboy was trying to do. Creighton (the wolfman) promises to stop eating live cows; the two decide to grab a burger together. I suppose a kindred spirit being in the town will help Superboy's outlook on life.

I love Barrows' art. The fight sequence is stunning. For the long time Superboy reader, this might feel off since he seems so comfortable in Smallville in both Adventure and his own title. Again, for the first time reader, this probably answers the question 'why would he stay in Smallville' more succinctly.

My second favorite story in the issue was 'No Go Away Glad, Just Go Away', a Bizarro story written by Steve Horton with art by Dan McDaid. It is a great Bizarro story because he wants to sit still and be left alone, the exact opposite of 'Grounded' where Superman is constantly moving and wanting to interact with people. In the end, all of Bizarro world tries to get his attention and interact with him. Finally, Bizarro warms up to the reception and does what seems natural to him ... he leaves the planet. Funny!

My favorite moment in this story was the arrival of BizarroGirl. She has freed herself from her cave and wants to hang out with her cousin. When he tells her to take off, she delivers a super-low blow. Her curt 'hello forever' retort was perfect ... umm, imperfect? I am glad to see BizarroGirl again and hope she sticks around as a part of the DCU.

The art is appropriately rough and works here.

'Old Men Talking In Bars' by writer Neil Kleid and artist Dean Haspiel has Perry White and Wildcat trading stories about how much they love but are also frustrated by their sons. It includes a nice flashback story of Perry's first story which involved Wildcat.

It's an okay story but it just didn't grab me the way the other stories did. Part of it may be that Haspiel's art just doesn't work for me.

I always have low expectations for books like this figuring they most likely represent a hodge-podge of talent cobbled together. But the last two Superman 80-Page Giants both were top notch.

Overall grade: A

DC Comics Year By Year

I was thrilled this holiday season when Mrs. Anj bought me the DC Year by Year: A Visual Chronicle.

As a DC Comics fanatic, this really was a great book. As the title suggests, the book reviews each of DC’s 75 years, showing the year’s highlights and even saying what month each event occurred. It comes in a nice slipcase box and has an unbelievable Ryan Sook cover which has Sook’s take on many of the biggest DC moments. Why Sook isn't on a monthly ... or at least doing covers ... is beyond me. That guy has serious talent.

Anyways, spanning from the 30's to late 2010 and loaded with great pictures and commentary, it is a great book. And, happily, it does a nice job handling Supergirl's place in the DC universe.

My apologies for some of the blurry scans. Scanning inner page parts of a big book is tricky.

First off, from May 1959, Supergirl's initial appearance in Action Comics #252.

That year also had the first Hal Jordan Green Lantern appearance in Showcase and the Suicide Squad's first story.

Next, in November 1972, we have the first solo Supergirl title's release. It is a shame that the three years she headlined Adventure Comics only gets a mention. And in the same vein, it is odd that this 10 issue run is highlighted instead.

1972 was a great year, We had the release of Swamp Thing, Kamandi, and the Demon.

In  November1982, we had the release of The Daring New Adventures of Supergirl. It might be nostalgia more than anything but I still love this series. Supergirl really acted like a solo hero here, an independent and confident young woman.

1982 had other great moments as well. Firestorm and Swamp Thing had new titles released. Teen Titans were just on fire with the introduction of Brother Blood and Komand'r.Camelot 3000 came out with stunning Brian Bolland art. And, my personal favorite moment, The Great Darkness Saga ran in the Legion.

Of course, 1985 had the release of Crisis on Infinite Earths. And October 1982 had the release of Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 and the death of Supergirl. Crisis still resonates today 25+ years later! And the Supergirl image is the image of that series.

Outside of all the unreal moments of Crisis, 1985 also had the introduction of Superboy-Prime, the release of the first Who's Who, and thefirst appearance of John Constantine to the DCU in Swamp Thing.

It felt like forever, but it only took DC 3 years to bring back a Supergirl character. In April 1988, the Matrix Supergirl was thawed out of the ice of Antarctica, leading to the famous 'pocket universe' storyline.

While Matrix wears my favorite version of the Supergirl, those early years with the character were pretty rough.

1988 was a prolific year. The Hellblazer title came out ... and is still chugging along. I love those early Delano stories. We also had Grant Morrison's Animal Man! And the DC reprint of V for Vendetta. And the Death in the Family Batman story. And the Killing Joke came out! What a great year!

It took 8 more years before Supergirl got her own title again. It was August of 1996 that this original take on Supergirl got published.

This time, Peter David took the concept of the Matrix Supergirl and put it on its head, fusing her with a troubled young girl named Linda Danvers and taking 'the two who are one' down a path that was as philosophical as it was super-heroic. David also infused it with as many Supergirl Easter Eggs he could. Love it or hate it (and I loved it), it was innovative.

Some of the highlights of 1996 include the release of Kingdom Come (fantastic!), Superman getting married, and the somewhat idiotic DC vs Marvel mini-series. Lobo losing to Wolverine? Wonder Woman losing to Storm?

The last Supergirl-centric entry in the book is from October 2005 and the release of the latest Supergirl series.

It's not that long ago ... but 2005 was a busy year too.Morrison's Seven Soldiers story and mini-series were released (some were hits, some were misses). The Waid/Kitson Legion reboot came out and would soon be headlined by Supergirl. And Infinite Crisis began, changing how people look at Alex Luthor and Superboy Prime forever.

I love this book and thumb through it every so often. It's cover price is $50, but that's what online 40% off coupons are all about. It is a treasure trove of info for a DC fan.

Justice League #50 And The HERO Initiative

DC Comics and the HERO Initiative announced a joint project involving creator drawn sketch covers of Justice League #50. Here is the link to the HERO Initiative page discussing the project: http://www.heroinitiative.org/NewsDetail.asp?NewsId=254

For those who don't know, the HERO Initiative is a charity providing financial support for comics creators in need. I haven't donated through their site but I do give whenever I see them at conventions. As they say, everyone needs a golden age.

Here is the part of the release statement.

The Hero Initiative, a charity dedicated to helping comic creators in medical or financial need, most proudly announces their new partnership in the Justice League Of America #50 project with DC Comics. This is the first collaboration with DC comics ever and Hero is chomping at the bit to pull the collection together. The call has gone out and dozens of artists are putting pen to paper. DC has generously donated 100 blank-covered cardstock copies of Justice League Of America #50 to Hero, and work is being created by well-known stars such as Jim Lee, Alex Ross, George Perez, Jason Bone, Jim Valentino, and many many more.


"We're thrilled to be working in new ways with DC Comics, and showcasing some of the greatest artists and greatest characters in the world," said Hero Initiative President Jim McLauchlin. "And of course, sales of the covers and the collected book will go toward helping many other comic creators in need."


All 100 original Justice League America covers will be published in a book slated for release in 2011, and a public viewing of all covers will be scheduled as well.

Now as exciting as that sounded, I was also thrilled to hear that Jamal Igle was doing one of the covers and posted it on his deviant art page. Here is that link:
http://jamaligle1.deviantart.com/art/JLA-50-Hero-Initiative-cover-189455753

Unlike the other covers shown which have renditions of the 'Big Seven', Igle (as shown above) actually uses the stars of the issue, the current lineup. That means one last look at a Jamal Igle Supergirl. What a great cover!

My guess is the original issues/covers will be auctioned out of my price range but the idea of a separate book showcasing the covers interests me, especially knowing proceeds go to a good cause.

I did think I would post one more of the covers shown, as shown on the HERO site, this one by legend Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez. Why show this one? Well, that looks like Supergirl not only among the Big Seven, but sort of leading the charge against this giant eyeball.

How cool is that?

Anyways, the HERO Initiative is a great charity and worthy of support. I think I'll end up with the JLA book once it is solicited.

Supergirl To Appear On Smallville Again

In what comes as no surprise to me, Laura Vandervoort will reprise her role as Supergirl on Smallville. Here is the link of the scoop from tvline: http://www.tvline.com/2011/01/smallville-scoop-supergirl-returns/

I have gone back and forth on this issue many times. I think Laura Vandervoort does a great job of playing Kara when the script allows her to. She is strong, determined, and heroic when she is written correctly.

The problem is that the show sometimes forgets what to do with her. She has been mind-wiped, duped by Lex, and sometimes acted rashly.

Still, I think that for the most part, Vandervoort has done a great job with the role. I wouldn't mind seeing her reprise the role in other forums - spin-off, movie, etc.

I reviewed the episode she was in this season when it came out (here is that link: http://comicboxcommentary.blogspot.com/2010/10/smallville-supergirl.html ). In that episode, she really was as close as we have got to a live action Supergirl since Helen Slater. Her costume was just missig the S-shield.

But the announcement that she is coming back only adds to my concern that they are setting Kara up to be possessed by Darkseid in the finale. In the episode she was in earlier, it was reiterated over and over that the biggest threat to Earth would be if Darkseid possessed someone with Clark's abilities. And since Clark being possessed won't happen, the threat (to be a viable conflict) needs to have that level of power.

Could it be Supergirl? Sure.

Great ... another rendition of Dark Supergirl, this time the vessel of Darkseid.

But I heard that General Zod is also back for an episode coming up. Maybe Zod returns and gets possessedby Darkseid, making him the big bad.

But then I can imagine him killing Supergirl, letting Smallville ape the Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 cover (I can totally picture that in my mind, the League members surrounding Welling), spurring Clark to finally accept his destiny as Superman.

So I foresee Supergirl as either being the villain ... or killed.

That is the pessimist in me rising to the surface. Maybe Smallville will treat her right. Maybe.

I can only hope.