Supergirl Episode 20: "Better Angels", the Finale

Supergirl Season One ended this week with an episode aptly called "Better Angels". I advise you settle in because this review is long. It is as much a look at this one episode as it is the whole series. And I couldn't be happier.

How do I put into words how happy this show has made me? Apparently by writing a lot. Because this show has understood Supergirl and what she represents from the beginning. Like many television shows, it grew stronger as the season progressed. The characters became more fleshed out. The plots became tighter. The themes and direction became more polished. And the stars simply shined.

I have tried over time here to showcase what I love about Supergirl. Her optimism. Her hope. Her sense of justice. Her fierce determination to do what's right. Her fears of not being good enough. It all comes together in a young hero striving to do what's right and occasionally failing. It is that 'never give up' that defines Supergirl as much as her array of powers. From Supergirl's difficult first appearances to her contemplating a darker justice to inspiring others, this show has captured it all.

It isn't perfect.

But what is.

What I have got this year has been 20 episodes which respect my favorite character in a new and fresh way. It is a show I can watch with my daughters without hesitation. It has super-heroics and brightness and hope. And it has character growth. The characters in this finale are very different from the ones we met in the premiere.

Right now we don't know if we are getting a Supergirl Season Two. I sincerely hope we do. But even if we don't, I have this season. It is a gem.

On to the show ...

Review: Adventures of Supergirl #7

Adventures of Supergirl Chapter 7 came out yesterday and was absolutely delightful. New Supergirl fans will surely love this chapter where Kara fights in the battle field of her own mind. But for old time Supergirl fans, this was a walk through history.

One of the things writer Sterling Gates has always emphasized is that he wants to respect the history of Supergirl. When other creators and fans scoffed at the idea, Gates (in his original run) was building up a rogues gallery, was weaving in some of the Supergirl movie ideas, and respecting Kara's presence in comics.

Another thing we have seen in Adventures of Supergirl is Gates dropping in Easter Eggs and homages in the story. From name drops of Kupperberg and Igle to Kryptonian culture to panels reminiscent of X-Men, sharp eyed readers have seen some comic history hidden in plain sight.

This issue is the best of all worlds. By having Kara fighting in a dreamscape, Gates can directly reference tons of Supergirl history while moving the plot of this book. Heck, even the villain of the chapter, Psi, is a throwback to a classic Supergirl villain. I'm going to do my best to point out the historical bits. But if I miss any, please chime in.

All that is brought to life by artist Emanuela Lupacchino and inker Ray McCarthy. Lupacchino has to show her range in all the crazy environments of the story. We roam from bedrooms to battlefields, from reality to the astral plane.  And Lupacchino totally shines. I love seeing her versions of all the Supergirls.

And Hi-Fi on colors brings a blazing palette to the book. Nothing is as unnerving as those looming pink eyes of Psi.

On to the book...

Review: DC Comics Bombshells #11

DC Bombshells #11 came out last week and finally brought all the characters together, on the European front, and fighting Nazis, Atlanteans, and demons. I have been waiting for this since the book began. While all the different plot threads have been gripping, I have been hoping we would see a League style brawl. And thankfully we got there.

Writer Marguerite Bennett has talked about how each thread have had a different sort of feel. Wonder Woman was a romance story. Supergirl and Stargirl starred in a propaganda film. Batwoman was in a spy story. Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy starred in a humor short. But now, together, they all are in a war story.

And we get to see everyone involved. I have been waiting to see Big Barda and Dr. Light jump in the fray and those two might have the best moments in this issue. As a long time Barda fan, this made me very happy.

The art on the book is done by Mirka Andolfo and Laura Braga. Both have shined throughout this book. And their styles are close enough to make this book feel like a consistent effort. The action is wild. The romance is sweet. Everyone is beautiful and strong. Just great.

If I have one quibble, it is that Supergirl seems a bit off here. She doesn't have much to do in this issue. She seems timid and frightened at times. While we have seen the fears of loneliness she has kept hidden before. But she is a warrior. I would hope she could move beyond her insecurities when the moment called upon it.

On to the book...

Review: Batman/Superman #31

Last week, I gushed about Superman #51 and how it brought back a Superman I could recognize.

Where had that guy been these last couple of years?

It looks like he might be here to stay.

Batman/Superman #31 came out this week and put a smile on my face. Because not only was this, once again, my Superman. It was also my Batman. And my Alfred. And even my Supergirl.

Writer Peter Tomasi transports me back to a world where Superman wants to help people. A Superman that cares for his family and wants Supergirl to carry on for him if he isn't around, an idea that is straight up Silver Age goodness. A Superman that may be inspiring others to do good as well. This Superman is dying, a story we have seen in all the eras. And he wants to put his affairs in order.

To do that he needs Batman's help. In The Truth, we saw James Gordon fighting Superman. On the big screen, we see Superman ready to skewer Superman with a spear. In the last 20 years we have seen time and time again Batman want to fight Superman. Here we see Batman as a friend. Sure, they have different methods. But Superman and Batman are clearly friends, firing friendly verbal barbs at each other while trying to help each other.

And yes, finally, we see Supergirl back in the main DCU. She has been invisible in the books since the end of her own title lo so many months ago.

Tomasi and artist Doug Mahnke really shine in this issue. Much like Superman #51, there are plenty of splash pages. The moments are worthy of big art. And Mahnke really brings some emotion to the quieter scenes. I am struck by the fact that this team was on Superman/Wonder Woman during The Truth. That was the most brutish interpretation of Superman during that arc, the exact opposite of the Superman we read here.

Where we these guys during the last couple of years?

On to the book.

DC Rebirth Previews - Supergirl

The DC Comics Preview book came out this week, finally giving us some information about the upcoming Rebirth books and answering a few questions.

I have said it before. I'll say it again. I am more optimistic about #Rebirth than I ever was about the New 52. This seems a more thought out, more controlled, and more imaginative take on the DCU than the 52 ever was. Hearing about the books and teams and ideas as well as flipping through this book, it just feels like this is more thought out. The New 52, while diverse in books (monsters, westerns, anthologies, etc.), the tone seemed monochromatic. Things were dark.

These books seem more nuanced, more varied, and some joy.

And what about Supergirl? Well, Steve Orlando has said all the right things. So how is DC marketing it?

Supergirl. What’s her deal?

Supergirl is back and working for the DEO (Department of Extranormal Operations) to defend National City from those who would do it harm, As Kara Danvers, average American high school student, Supergirl must balance her life as a superhero with her new life on Earth But some demons from her Kryptonian past are coming back to haunt her, and Kara will find herself making the toughest choices of her young life!

APPEARING IN: SUPERGIRL from writer Steve Orlando and artist Brian Ching.

STATUS QUO SHIFT: From depowered wandering soul to repowered superhero!

WHY THEY WEAR THE SHIELD: To continue the legacy of her cousin, Superman, and make her adopted home a better place!

Well, first off, things seem pretty aligned with the television show. The DEO. Living in National City. Calling herself Kara Danvers. All of that folds into the show's premise seamlessly. Still, this is a younger Kara. She is a teenager, not a young woman. And while it is implied she is still trying to adjust to Earth, at least she has embraced the planet as home. When we last saw her in the old book, she was bleeding from a cut on her finger so at least we will have some resolution given that the mention her as being 'depowered wandering soul'.

But that last line is the clincher for me. Kara wants to continue to legacy of her cousin. So she likes and respects and wants to emulate Kal. And she wants to make Earth a better place. That is much better than hating the world like she did when written by Lobdell and others.

I would have preferred Linda Danvers. But otherwise I can't complain about this. Sounds great.

So what do you all think?

Supergirl Episode 19: Myriad

Supergirl Episode 19 'Myriad' aired this week, the penultimate episode for this first season. It seems like just yesterday we were seeing the poster put on the WB water tower and (not) watching the leaked pilot. And here we are a week away from the finale ... maybe a show finale. We still don't know if there will be a season two.

Now there is a lot to like about this episode. There is some action. There is a great cliffhanger. And most importantly, there is a lot of Supergirl philosophy in the dialogue. Do the ends justify the means? How do you fight evil without becoming evil? What is stronger than fear? And are heroes perfect and infallible? These questions and concepts are what make me love Supergirl as a character. So seeing the writers, producers, and actors showcase these ideas makes me very happy.

That doesn't mean this is a perfect episode by any means. There are a lot of plot holes that you need to just gloss over. If you think too hard about things, you're bound to start thinking about ways this episode could have played out more realistically. But if you can buy super-powered individuals, phantom zones, living internet women, and aliens living among us, maybe you can look past some plot lapses.

As usual, the acting on the show is wonderful. Melissa Benoist really shows range again. She is frustrated, scared, and angry. She is doubtful at time, resolute at others. Calista Flockhart shines as well. As Cat she has to play the cold, distant boss. And yet, we have seen her open up and be vulnerable. A scene where Cat and Kara talk about hope is the high point of this episode.

On to the show.

Supermegafest Spring 2016

Last Friday, I went with a couple of friends to the Supermegafest Comic-Con in Marlboro Massachusetts. This is one of those comic-cons in name only. There was an artist alley and there were a few guests worth heading out to see. But this con is heavy on pop culture celebrities and that seemed to be the main draws.

In fact, I don't know if I would have gone but a close friend of mine is huge fan of the movie The Warriors. Three cast members were in attendance at the con. My buddy was pumped to meet them and so three of us headed west. Comic guests I was hoping to meet were Alex Saviuk and Graham Nolan.

Now, because of #adultlife, we went up for the opening of the show, 4P Friday and could only stay until early evening. That meant we were the first to thumb through the exhibitors' comic boxes. That was great. The bad part of going early and leaving early is that not all the guests even showed while we were there. I only got to briefly see Saviuk and have him sign my copy of Flash #275. But Nolan, Mike Grell, and Bob Budiansky were never seen. Bummer.

That also held true for the celebrities. I was hoping to see Dina Meyer and talk about Starship Troopers and Birds of Prey. But she wasn't there during our stay. Luckily, The Warriors cast was there.

Without any big purchases or commissions lined up, it meant the money I bought could be spent on ... gasp ... comics. Thought I'd share the big purchases, including a Supergirl cameo I wasn't expecting. Lastly, pay no attention to the price tags on the issues. All prices were renegotiated.