Review: Superman #40

Superman #40 came out this week, starting a new storyline by writer James Robinson and artist Doug Mahnke. We all have heard the news of Brian Michael Bendis going all-Byrne on us when he joins DC, taking over all the Superman books. Knowing a bold, new direction is just around the corner, I'm not surprised to see a side story in the book. Why would Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason continue to world build if they aren't holding the reins anymore?

And Robinson's story feels quite familiar. There is a Silver Age sentiment to the idea of Superman saving a planet about to suffer the same fate as Krypton. Back in those days, this would be told in 18 pages or so. Now it is an arc. And, as we are now in 2018, I anticipate that it won't be as black and white or cut and dried as those simpler stories. Here there is a clear science vs religion component. And my guess is that the 'protagonist' isn't going to be pure. These are cynical times.

I've talked up Doug Mahnke for years here and have loved his work since first discovering it on Major Bummer. But what I love in this issue is his treatment of Jon. Jon looks like a kid. He's all gangly with limbs all awkward and everywhere. Jon has great kid expressions, from fear to snark. I wouldn't mind seeing Mahnke on a Super Sons issue at some point.

On to the book!

Who's Who Laurel Gand

I have been a long time fan of the Fire and Water Podcast Network. And in particular I have been a big fan of their Who's Who show, even joining in as a guest host on several Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes episodes.

Starting next week, Rob and Shag will begin their look at the 'loose leaf' Who's Who from the early 90s and I am very excited. I collected these when they were released so can't wait to relive them. Unfortunately, my binder of M-Z has been lost to time!

Anyways, to honor their hard work in this endeavor I thought I would review a Who's Who loose leaf page. But I already have reviewed the Supergirl one. And if you look hard enough here, I have also reviewed the Silver Banshee and even Maxima.

So this time I thought I would review Laurel Gand, the Supergirl analogue for the 5YL Legion run. For those who don't know, I reviewed the first 50 issues of the 5YL Legion over on the Legion of Super-Bloggers. I loved that run and I loved Laurel. Even though Matrix was around, I thought Laurel really captured the spirit of Supergirl.

And I love this Keith Giffen art. She is tall, proud, powerful. And I love how the red cape is a bit more of a darker, less primary red color. She was the muscle of the team. And that Darkseid head in the background has to be referencing the Great Darkness.

Just gorgeous.

Supergirl Episode 313: Both Sides Now

Supergirl episode 313, titled Both Sides Now, aired this week and continued to do a fine job of both propelling the Reign storyline as well as building up the internal theme of humanity, that is being humane, as being a strength required in these days.

This time the focus of the story is on Purity, the second of the World Killers, and how more in tune she is with her human side. Throughout the story we see a struggle between those halves, about who is in control.

And we also see how anger and fear and feeling worthless can lead someone down a path to being a monster. This time the magnifying glass is on Alex. In a sort of turnaround, it is Kara who is espousing the importance of reaching out and being human now. And it is Alex who is acting the cold, calculating, cruel agent. That is not what we saw in the early episodes of the season. Of course, Kara is healing now. And Alex is was with Maggie then. I suppose this is a way the writers can show that we are complex creatures with complex feelings. And it is only through love and support that we will remain compassionate, lifting each other up as we all stumble through life.

Not that this episode was all just a philosophical exercise in love and hate. There was a ton of action in this episode that kept things brisk.

Lastly, I must sound like a broken record by now but Melissa Benoist and Chyler Leigh continue to crush it week in and week out. In this episode in particular Chyler Leigh shows us the hardened soldier who is denying her feelings as she metes out what she thinks is justice. Just powerful.

On to the show.

Supergirl Curse of the Ancients

This news is somewhat stale. But sometimes that means people who missed it the first time around will see it! So why not post.

The second Jo Whittemore novel based on the Supergirl show was previewed over on Entertainment weekly a while back. That included a look at the cover as well as several pages of the text. Here is the link:
http://ew.com/books/2018/01/10/the-flash-supergirl-book-covers/

I reviewed the first novel Age Of Atlantis here and very much liked it. So I'll be glad when this one comes out. I love how much writer Jo Whittemore packs into the pages, from references to inside jokes to action. Even in the handful of pages that were previewed we get some fun.

Back Issue Box: Supergirl Annual #2

When Brainiac 5 was added to the Supergirl show's cast, I was thrilled. The Brainy/Supergirlromance is such a big part of her history. For many (including me), Brainy is her true love, her destiny. So to see it potentially played out on the small screen is a treasure.

Usually on this blog, I try to build on current Supergirl news by looking into similar stories in her past. So I wanted to cover some aspect of the Querl/Kara romance here. There was a problem though. When you have been blogging about Supergirl for nearly 10 years, you cover a lot of material. I have already covered much of this romance already. Just click the Brainiac 5 link and you'll get a ton of posts about Brainy and Supergirl, from his earliest appearances to team-ups and smooches in the Legion to his response to her death.

So with all those stories already covered, I decided to look at their relationship during a different sort of time in the DCU. Supergirl Annual #2, from 1997, was one of the PulpHeroes Annuals. These annuals riffed on the classic pulps in some way, whether it be pot-boiler hard-nosed mysteries to old school Sci-Fi to lurid romances. This issue focused on the latter, labeled Young Romance and looking at Supergirl's romantic relationships. What makes this interesting is that this is the Earth Angel Supergirl and (I believe) the Archie Brainiac 5. These two don't have the history of the Pre-Crisis pair. This isn't the classic Kryptonian Kara. And this is a Brainiac 5  stranded in the (then) 20th Century. It takes place in my ten years away from the Legion post-Zero Hour! So how could these two be in love?

Turns out they really aren't. The creative team of writer Tom Peyer and artist Anthony Castrillo play on the historical aspect of their romance by giving us a sort-of romance story. For old timers like me, at the time, it was like finally scratching an itch. I got to see Brainy and Supergirl together again.

Post-Crisis DC And Supergirl's Death: Mike Gold and Legends

One of my favorite DC mega-crossovers ever was Legends, the first crossover after Crisis on Infinite Earths. The purpose of Crisis was clear; it was designed to redefine DCU, streamline it. Legends was a different story, it was a Crisis of the Soul (I believe one of the first potential titles for the book). But it also was the fertile soil of the new DC, a place from which a ton of highly successful, highly creative titles grew from. The 'bwa-ha-ha' JLA, the Suicide Squad, the Wally West Flash, the Ted Kord Blue Beetle, the George Perez Wonder Woman ... all of them popped up from this book.

And what a murderer's row of creators to be working on the book - John Ostrander, Len Wein, John Byrne, and Karl Kesel! That is an insane amount of talent to be on one book. And each of them went on to have a big part in many of the new titles that followed in the aftermath of Crisis.

I hadn't reread Legends in some time. The promise of it being reviewed on the new DCOCD podcast as well as having store credit at a bookstore after a holiday return, I decided to purchase the 30th anniversary trade.

While I loved the mini, it is important to remember that this was early in the post-Crisis DCU. There was no Supergirl in the universe, not even a memory.

Supergirl Episode 312:For Good

Supergirl episode 312, titled 'For Good' came out this week and was a decent episode, nudging the Reign storyline forward and showcasing Lena Luthor in a very interesting way.

Ultimately though, I think I will sound rather blase about this episode. Not that this was a bad episode. But the prior two episodes were big screen thrillers, filled with comic book action and definitely building on the season theme of humanity and compassion being important for heroes. This episode did the same but writ small. So there was a bit of a let down feel. I suppose that's a good thing as it means the prior episodes shined so much.

And that's a shame because as a Lena episode this is fascinating. Remember last season where we all ruminated over her holding up a chess piece, wondering what that foreshadowed? Well, this episode gives us much more to chew over. The title 'For Good' probably was meant to assure us that Lena is now working for good permanently (or for good .... nice play on words). But, for me, it raised the specter of her going bad once more. Maybe season four?

Finally, I think it is a shame that Morgan Edge was taken off the board as a bad guy so quickly. There is a lot more story for someone like him in this season. He, and guest star Lillian Luthor, represent the inhuman human, the normal people who lack the compassion that Kara displays, that will win the day in the end.

I haven't even mentioned my favorite scene in the episode so I guess that's my cue to get down to it.