Supergirl 'Probably' Renewed

The news hit the internet around 1230p yesterday. 

Supergirl had been renewed for a season 2!

For many of us waiting to hear something, this news was joyously received. For me, the show has been even better than I anticipated. How could it not be renewed?

So I got on line and started clicking away heading back to the source article, this one from Deadline:

http://deadline.com/2016/03/les-moonves-cbs-plans-renew-new-series-1201716171/

CEO Les Moonves was at the Deutsche Bank Media, Internet & Telecom Conference and said the following:

“We have about five new shows on this year. Of those five, I believe all five of them will be renewed, and we own four of them.”

"I believe all five of them will be renewed."

'Believe will be renewed' and 'will be renewed' are two very different statements.  He didn't even name drop the series.

Still this has to be considered good news, right?  

Luckily, Deadline did a little more for fans and asked for a bit more information.

We have reached out to CBS for clarification: The network has introduced five freshman series so far this season — Limitless, Code Black, Life in Pieces, Supergirland Angel from Hell. Three of them — Limitless, Code Black and Angel from Hell — are owned by CBS. Angel from Hell has been canceled. Two other shows are debuting this spring — Rush Hour and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders; CBS owns Criminal Minds. That means that there are three CBS-owned series in contention for renewal — Limitless, Code Black and Beyond Borders — and likely at least one outside series of those already on the air – Life In Pieces and Supergirl — tipped for a pickup too. 

So there are indeed five new shows this season, Supergirl being one of them, and if Moonves believes five will be renewed, that is good news.

Somewhere along though, the math gets fuzzy for me. One of the original five has already been canceled. Two other shows have been introduced. That kicks us up to six new shows. 

Still, that means Moonves believes that five (of six) will be renewed. I like the odds.  

 The show has been solid. It's ratings are steady. It has had action sequences and emotional beats. The show runners seem to understand Supergirl as a character. This has been *my* Supergirl. It is can't miss television for me and the Supergirls at home. 

I am hopeful this means we'll see more.

But there are times that I am a 'glass half empty' sort of Supergirl fan. Until I get something more concrete, I'll just have to believe that she show is returning.   

Review: Adventures of Supergirl #4

Adventures of Supergirl:Chapter 4 came out digitally yesterday, starting a new mini-arc within this 13 chapter storyline. Writer Sterling Gates continues to have a great hold of the characters' voices. This is still a show Supergirl who is early in her career and so still working out the wrinkles of being an active hero. So seeing her response to difficulties here, both inflicted and self-inflicted is spot on.

The new villain is Vril Dox, an old frenemy of Supergirl's from the R.E.B.E.L.S. days and close enough visually to Brainiac 5 to make their encounters a bit more juicy as a fan. This storyline dovetails a bit with the recent Indigo episode, focusing on computer threats.

Jonboy Meyers comes on board as artist and brings a very stylized look to the book. I'm used to a more cheesecake-y take with Meyers but he reels that in nicely here. There is a jagged sort of electricity here to the proceedings, best scene in a panel shown below. And that Cat Staggs cover is electric. I like the mix of photo-realism with Supergirl/Benoist mixed with the pixel-y Brainiac screens.

Gates continues to shine, no big surprise. There is a wonderful mix of character moments, nice little riffs on his prior runs, homages, and action that really makes this crackle.

Back Issue Review: Adventure Comics #285

You know we are living in good times when Monday night is 'Supergirl night'. The show has become that ingrained in the fandom.

And that is great ... except for the times that there isn't an episode being aired on Monday. There is no show tonight.

Realizing that there'll be something of a 'show hole' to fill, I thought I would look into the back issue box to see if I could come up with something relevant. And given that the Kara/Alex relationship is such a key component of the Supergirl show, I thought I would review Adventure Comics #385. It is a cover which dares to see if you "Can solve the secret of Supergirl's Big Sister!"

What?
A big sister? Read on, true believers!

Review: DC Bombshells #10

DC Comics Bombshells #10 came out this week and was another wonderful issue in a wonderful title. I started buying this book because a version of Supergirl was a character in the cast. But I have been floored by how entertaining it is. This issue has no Supergirl in it. But I didn't notice or really care. Because the two halves of this book are so strong, that it didn't bother me.

Writer Marguerite Bennett has brought a lot of depth to the characters in this book. Everyone reads as fully-formed and three dimensional. And in this issue, Wonder Woman shines like a star. It has been a while since I have read a Wonder Woman book where I felt inspired and awed. But this Diana gets there.

The second half of the book focuses on Batwoman and it is also poignant and powerful. But I almost wish I had read it at a different sitting than the Wonder Woman scene. Because I was so blown away by Diana that I don't think the emotional weight of the Batwoman segment hit me until I reread it.

The art remains superior on the book. Laura Braga has been handling the Wonder Woman scenes. She brings a nice sharp look to the proceedings. We veer from WWII battle to Lord of the Rings, but it works. And Marguerite Sauvage brings a breezy feel to the heavy Batwoman pages but it has a magical sensibility which works with the plot.

Moving on ...

Supergirl Shrine: Itty Bitty Supergirl

Hat tip to my buddy Uncle Screensaver for tipping me off that Hallmark came out with a limited edition Supergirl Itty Bitty.

Itty Bitty's are small plushy figures of pop culture figures and there have been plenty of DC Heroes as part of the series. But I am glad to see Supergirl finally immortalized as an itty bitty, most likely because of her heightened popularity with the TV show.

I think this is wonderful little figure in the red skirt costume. It is close enough to the television costume to be appealing to those fans as well.

Supergirl Episode 15: Solitude

Episode 15 of the Supergirl show was aptly named 'Solitude'. Not only do we get to see the Fortress of Solitude, we see each character dealing with relationships which have or are about to splinter. Early in the show, Supergirl learned the lesson 'Stronger Together'. This episode is her learning that lesson again.

No doubt, there is plenty of character progression here for all the characters. Everyone's solo stories and plots are moved forward here nicely. But there is also the progression of the overall arc as well. We learn about some of Supergirl's past. We learn about Fort Rozz and Non. And we see some of Non's plans.

Sandwiched into all of that are a wheelbarrow full of Easter Eggs, homages, and pop culture references. I will try to cover those that resonated the most with me because I don't think I could comment on them all.

If I have had one quibble with this show, it is that occasionally things feel rushed. Again, everybody's plot moved forward here, some more quickly than I anticipated. But with 5 episodes left and no second season announced yet, the writers probably feel they don't have any breathing room to let things simmer.

I may be burying the lede here but it was great to see Laura Vandervoort on the show. She was wickedly delicious as Indigo, a rather passionate living computer.

Review: Superman Lois And Clark #5

We all know that #Rebirth is around the corner and as a result we'll have a new status quo in the Super-titles. We already knew that Superman Lois and Clark was truncated from 12 issues to 8 issues, meaning it will end right before the new reality of the DCU. So we are officially on the back half of this title.

And that is what makes Superman Lois and Clark #5 such an interesting issue. Writer Dan Jurgens is still giving us flashbacks to deepen the history of the couple on Prime Earth. There are subplots that have been simmering on the back burner for 5 months. Jurgens is even adding new subplots! It makes me wonder if Jurgens was really thinking about this series as a 12 issue maxi. Or maybe even an on-going.

It is a shame because this is a very good series giving us the Lois and Clark I think many (if not most) of us want.

Lee Weeks isn't on art this issue. Instead Neil Edwards provides the interiors. Edwards did some of Justice League United and has a nice style, clean and straightforward. I love his quiet home Lois and Clark scenes the best as the flow off the page nicely.

On to the issue.