Review: R.E.B.E.L.S. #8

I am finally catching up with last week's reviews and that means a good look at R.E.B.E.L.S.

R.E.B.E.L.S. #8 was another very good issue in this underappreciated series. One thing that I liked about this issue was that it not only dealt with the current threat of Starro but set up some sub-plots as well. I feared that the comic might get into a 'let's see which race gets ruined by Starro this month' rut. While we do see Starro mopping up another intergalactic power, newer threads are started.

As usual, Tony Bedard does a great job with the dialogue as each character sounds distinct and fully formed. What is more impressive is how quickly you get a sense of the different cultures and races in the comic. Last issue Bedard showed the Gil'Dishpan xenophobia and how far they would go to keep others out of their mother ocean. In this issue, we see how overconfident the Khunds are with their military might.

But the issue starts with the R.E.B.E.L.S. team hiding out on Voorl, a sort of refugee planet for all those fleeing the Starro wave.

Vril Dox's son Lyrl has been hiding out on the planet with his mother, ex-L.E.G.I.O.N. member Stealth, but Wildstar is able to track him down. With the help of Tribulus, Lyrl is captured.

One character who I felt has been lacking in some characterization is Wildstar who hasn't really had much to say in the comic. It is clear that she is still so happy to be free of Starhaven's prejudice that she will do anything Brainian asks her to. This opening scene is told from Wildstar's perspective and we see some notes from her personal journal. It isn't much but it is more that we have seen recently. I think slowly but surely she is going to learn just what kind of person Dox is and that may lead to more begrudging and less blind loyalty to him.

While the family reunion is happening on Voorl, the Khund military fleet (called 'The Godfist' ... spectacular), begins to approach the Dominator homeworld which has become Starro's base of operations.

Like most people in this comic, the Khunds have completely underestimated Starro's power. The fleet admiral thinks this will be a simple military exercise. The Khunds will bomb the Dominator world from orbit and pick over the scraps for the spoils of war. That overconfidence is usually called hubris and never ends well.

I love the visual of a massive Starro taking up about a quarter of the Dominator planet, the eye visible from space.

But before we see the result of that battle, we return to Voorl.

I have talked all along about how Vril Dox is really the straw that stirs the drink of this comic. The scenes with him are clearly the best scenes in this book as we see just how ruthless and efficient he can be.

Here we see just what a strange life he has led. Dox acts rather coldly to the news that Stealth is dead, something which irks Bounder. I love this exchange where Dox explains how Stealth raped and killed him and therefore does not deserve his grief. Even better is the 'straight man' response by Strata simply saying 'It's complicated'. The fact that this little exchange is humorous let's you know just how complicated Dox is as a character.

It is these small things that make me like this comic so much.




For those of us who didn't collect much L.E.G.I.O.N. or any of the older incarnations of R.E.B.E.L.S., Ciji asks for and receives some exposition. Lyrl was born with complete intellect and attempted to take over Dox's empire only to be infantilized for his own good.

It does add to the mystery of this side mission. Why does Dox want to find Lyrl. Is it that he feels some paternal feelings towards him and wants to make sure he is safe? Is it that he thinks he can use Lyrl in his own agenda? Or does he fear Starro using Lyrl against him? I doubt Vril is doing this because he feels warm and fuzzy.

I also love how Hakk off screen yells how he fears no one. Again, some frivolity mixed into the action. This team is such a chaotic mix, Bedard must have a lot of fun writing them. There is infinite opportunity for stress, humor, and action.

We finally see why Lyrl accused Dox of killing Stealth. Early on in the Starro conflict, when the starfish took over Dox's robot army, L.E.G.I.O.N. androids where sent to Voorl to capture or kill Stealth and Lyrl. Stealth apparently sacrificed herself to allow Lyrl to run and hide.

Recent solicits show Stealth coming back as a Black Lantern.

Unfortunately this is the last we see of Dox this issue as we are brought up to speed on a number of other characters seen in the book.


First off, the Khunds simple plan turns out to be a misguided exercise. Shortly after the fleet surrounds the planet, Starro's metahuman army emerges from behind the moon and begins destroying the Godfist. Even the missile barrage is stopped from reaching the planet.

The look on the Khund Admiral is priceless. I almost wish he said 'inconceivable' as he hears how his troops are being routed.

You would think that Khunds might be more cautious given what Starro has accomplished so far. I guess this is what happens when you are overconfident.



The Omega Men begin forming an uneasy alliance with the Psions. The Psions have experimented on some Starro drones and have mutated them. These dark stars (a little insult at Darkstars, the space police force?) will augment a beings strength, will allow them to appear as Starro slaves to other Starro slaves, but leave the person with their free will.

With the ability to move 'unseen' amongst the Starro army, the Omega Men can reach the homeworld and attempt to assassinate Starro or at least perform some guerilla warfare.

I don't trust the Psions at all but I guess 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend'.



While hiding out on Voorl, Strata asks Wildstar to track down her husband and son who have become refugees.

Using her tracking skills, Wildstar is able to find the two easily. I wonder if *this* family reunion will lead to Garv joining the R.E.B.E.L.S. or of Strata leaving the team.



As I have come to expect, Starro has little trouble in defeating the Khund army. Despite begging to be a lieutenant, the stubborn Khund admiral is reduced to a face-hugged slave.

What is interesting is just how powerful Starro's general Strife is shown to be. I can only see Tribulus giving him any sort of challenge.

If the only plot this issue was the fall of the Khunds, I would worry about how this comic's plots might become routine. That's why the addition of subplots this issue really strengthens the title.



And now bolstered by the dark stars, the Omega Men slip through Starro's orbital defenses and make their way to the Dominator homeworld.

After the relatively stream-lined plot of the first seven issues, I really liked the more diverse action this issue. With a book with as huge a cast as this book, Bedard is really doing a good job of keeping all the juggled balls in the air.

Sure I would have liked to see more of Dox and the R.E.B.E.L.S. this issue but it was important to show what is happening throughout the sector. By establishing new threads this issue, we are set up for the next several months of the book. I hope DC will give the book the time it needs to weave all these stories into one big tapestry.

That said, I do think that showcasing the individual R.E.B.E.L.S. is important. I appreciated the closer look at Wildstar this month. I would love to hear some of Ciji's back story too.

Lastly, I have to gush a bit about Andy Clarke's detailed artwork here. The book has a particular feel when he is on pencils and it fits this book perfectly. I see that Claude St. Aubin is listed as next month's artist. I was happy to see that Clarke is drawing the Blackest Night crossover issue.

Anyways, another month ... another fun issue.

Overall grade: B+

Sales Review: August 2009

Despite the uneven economy, comic sales remained strong this last August with Blackest Night and Dark Avengers issues dominating the top spots ( http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/15822.html ). Blackest Night, Green Lantern, and Green Lantern Corps ranked #1, #4, and #12 respectively. As a true marker of the power of the crossover, Blackest Night:Superman sold almost twice as many issues as the nearest Superman comic (Superman: World of New Krypton). The Superman titles as a whole seem to have nestled into selling 30-40K sold each month.

I thought that the Codename:Patriot crossover might bring a bigger increase in sales to the super-titles as it seemed like a natural jumping on point for new readers. It seems as though there was only the most modest of boosts in all the titles.

As always, ICv2 does a great job of breaking down sales. Here is the list of the top 300 ( http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/15820.html).



I have talked in the past about the stable sales on Supergirl and Supergirl #44 continued that trend selling 33,819. In fact, sales were up a modest 3% from Supergirl #43 which sold 32,849. I know I dream of days when Supergirl will sell 50,000 issues a month but I am thrilled with the way this book is performing.

While the Codename:Patriot crossover might explain some of this bump in sales, as a Supergirl fan you have to like it whenever sales go up. With the crossover streak continuing through Hunt For Reactron, I hope sales will continue to rise. This is all great news.

And let's not forget that we are heading towards Supergirl #50 which I hear will be a double-sized issue.


And what about my personal cause celebre R.E.B.E.L.S. ?

Unfortunately, sales continue to drop.

It will be very interesting to see sales on the title in November. In that month, R.E.B.E.L.S. is a crossover issue with Blackest Night. Also, stores get promotional Indigo rings based on how many R.E.B.E.L.S. issues they order. I expect to see sales quadruple that month. Moreover, my local comic book store won't give out the promotional rings unless you buy the comic it is associated with. If all stores do that then people will need to buy R.E.B.E.L.S. to get their toy surprise. I can only hope people read the issue and latch onto the book.

I know I keep ringing the R.E.B.E.L.S. bell on this Supergirl blog. Thanks for bearing with me.

'Supergirl As A Lantern Recruit' Poll Results

As always, I would like to thank everybody who voted in the last poll 'Which Lantern Corps Would Recruit Supergirl?' This poll was really an intellectual exercise since it was relatively unlikely that Supergirl would ever don a ring during Blackest Night. So I was pretty pleased to see 45 people took the time to vote.

Still, it was interesting to see the results and especially to read the comments that were made. For a while it was a three corps race with Indigo (compassion), Blue (hope), and Green (will) all getting a number of votes in the early going.

However, as the week went on, it was clear that most people felt that Supergirl was best described as a character of compassion or hope. The Indigo and Blue Corps both got 31% of the vote and ended tied for first.

I have said many times that Supergirl is an intriguing character because even her most diehard fans can have very very different takes on her overall character. I still get a little bit surprised when I am reminded of this internal strife among Kara's fanbase.

So it was interesting to see Red (rage) get 5 votes, Violet (love) get 2 votes, and Yellow (fear) and Orange (avarice) each get a vote a piece. Supergirl as an agent of fear? Hmmm ...



But Blue and Indigo were the clear-cut front runners. So I thought I would put their 'team pages' down (from Blackest Night:Tales Of The Corps #1) as well as some other commentary on each corps by Ethan Van Sciver (from Blackest Night:Tales Of The Corps #2).

The members of the Blue Lanterns are described here as being 'some of the most holy and righteous beings in the universe'. Its rings constructs soothe its targets based on their target's hopes. They charge green rings and decharge yellow rings.

Van Sciver describes the Blue Lantern symbol as a ring growing downward inward arms like a hug. Their costumes are rounded and organic and 'only the noblest, kindest-looking creatures' are eligible for the Corps.

I do think the current Supergirl is a hopeful person, looking forward to a better universe and trying with all her might to do her part. While recently some of her best intentions have resulted in some disastrous results, she has not become despondent and has continued to strive to improve herself and her worlds, remaining hopeful that she will succeed.

Supergirl as a Blue Lantern makes sense.



The Indigo Lantern Corps team page is completely devoid of information. Not much is known of them.

We had only seen them in a brief story in Blackest Night:Tales of the Corps #1. In that story, the members seem to be able to absorb the energy from other Corps rings and then use that energy to seem to do 'what needs to be done' for the person they have drained. In this story, the drained green energy from a Green Lantern is used to (apparently) mercy kill the GL who was dying in pain. The yellow energy drained from a Sinestro Corps member is then used to rebound back on the Yellow Lantern, images of great fear forcing him to retreat. In Blackest Night #3, they seem very knowledgable about the war of light and how to defeat the Black Lanterns.

Van Sciver describes the Indigo Lantern symbol as a simple shape representing caring and giving. The symbol is 'humble, as it represents compassion, charity, concern for others at the expense of self.'

I think the Gates/Igle Supergirl has come a long way from the Loeb/Kelly Kara from early in the title. That Supergirl seemed quite isolated, interested more in being left alone or lashing out violently against anyone who did her wrong. Since Supergirl #34, we have seen a Supergirl who has wanted to help people, who has wanted to be a hero, and who has done that despite having the opportunity to live a life of ease on New Krypton. This Kara clearly has the concern of others ahead of herself.

Supergirl as an Indigo Lantern makes sense too. I'm conflicted.

I guess the DCU will never know which Corps would try to recruit Supergirl.

Thanks again to everyone who voted. I think these polls are a lot of fun.

Sunday Smorgasbord

I usually take Sunday's off from blogging, but so much news has come up about Supergirl that I felt I needed to post about it sooner rather than later. So these are more like bullet news items rather than any in-depth analysis.

First off, World's Finest #3!

Newsarama has posted the December super-title solicitations on their web site. Here is the link: (http://www.newsarama.com/comics/090918-december-2009-superman-solicitation.html ). As I usually do, I will post a December solicitations post once all the comics have been listed so I can include Cry For Justice or Tiny Titans or other pertinent stuff. But this one was too cool to wait.

WORLD’S FINEST #3

Written by Sterling Gates

Art by Jamal Igle

Covers by Phil Noto

The Toyman has crafted the ultimate killing machine to protect himself from the Kryptonian menace, and Oracle has sent Supergirl and Batgirl to stop it. But when Supergirl faces off against the Kryptonite Man while the new Batgirl takes on Catwoman, they both find themselves in over their heads.This looks like a job for... Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers, both by Phil Noto, that can be ordered separately. Cover A will feature Supergirl. Cover B will feature Batgirl.

Now I have never been shy about my love of Phil Noto's art. (I could always post my Phil Noto commission again!) I think his stuff is spectacular and I love this cover. He just draws a great Supergirl and that middle panel of Kara with the light effect softening her features is wonderful. Now for a second I thought the orange cat in the upper center might be Streaky but my guess is that is more an art element about Catwoman.

I do like the choice of villains here. I thought the Toyman would become a Supergirl rogue given his connection to Cat Grant. And we get a Supergirl/Batgirl team up again! Looks like I'll have to dust off one of their Silver Age team-ups for a back issue review.

Now in case you skimmed the above solicitation, you'll see that Jamal Igle is drawing this issue! So we get to see how Igle interpret's the new Batgirl. He talks about it and his work over the rest of the year on his blog: ( http://jamaligle.blogspot.com/2009/09/announcement-2.html).

Since it's already been revealed via Newsarama, I can talk about it. I will be taking three issues off from Supergirl starting with issue #47. However as announced I will be drawing World's finest #3 featuring Batgirl, Supergirl and Catwoman. After which I'll be back on Supergirl in time for issue # 50. So I'm not on Supergirl but still drawing Supergirl.. I told you it was a little weird.

So no Igle on the Supergirl title for issues 47-49. Matt Camp has been listed as the artist for Supergirl #47 so I wonder if he will be doing the three issues. I am happy to hear that Igle is not off the book entirely (that would suck) and will be back for Supergirl #50 which I assume will be something huge. I don't know much of Camp's work other than the Mon-El/Jamie Harper story in the recent Superman: Secret Files book.

Now Supergirl #45 is coming out next Wednesday and DC is doing it's job to promote it, showcasing the first several pages on The Source ( http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2009/09/18/the-hunt-for-reactron-continues-in-supergirl-45/ ).

Looks like a great brawl between The Metropolis 3 and Squad K. I like how throughout this opening scene we hear Morgan Edge and Cat Grant's rhetoric. It reminds me a bit of how much media overlays were a big part of The Dark Knight Returns and how much that influenced the story. The art here really sizzles too.

Jamal Igle talks a bit about the upcoming issues on his blog as well: ( http://jamaligle.blogspot.com/2009/09/supergirl-45-preview-in-stores-wednsday.html )

There's also another little surprise for the eagle eyed readers in this issue. I'm so stoked with the way this issue and issue 46 have turned out so far.

Hmmm ... looks like I'll have to keep my eyes peeled. Gates and Igle have put small homages to the Supergirl movie in the book before so I wonder if it is movie-related. Maybe a Popeye's Chicken?

And lastly, Matt Idelson give us a tour of the Superman office again in the latest post on The Source (http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2009/09/18/matt-idelson-takes-you-inside-the-superman-offices/). There is lots of good information and preview pics there, so definitely check it out.

I had to post this page by Jamal Igle from Supergirl #46 as we see Supergirl, Flamebird, and Nightwing taking on Reactron. It's the fight we all have been waiting for. Looks sharp!

I promise to review the second half of Reactron's first appearance in Daring New Adventures of Supergirl sometime in the next couple of weeks once Hunt For Reactron is going full swing.

And that my friends is a full plate of Supergirl goodness for your Sunday brunch!

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+

Dan Didio 20 Questions And Changes In Adventure Comics

You know, just days after I gush about how much I am enjoying the current Adventure Comics title by Geoff Johns and Francis Manapul, Dan Didio talks about how much the book is changing in his latest Newsarama 20 questions ( http://www.newsarama.com/comics/090914-didio-20answers.html ). Here is part of the discussion.

The change was in the works already before Paul stepped into the mix. And the change started at the moment we decided Francis was going to be the artist on The Flash.What we're planning to do with The Flash ongoing series, we needed to get Francis and Geoff off the Adventure Comics series so they could concentrate on The Flash ongoing. So we knew we had a change there. We just weren't sure exactly where and when.

So it sounds like The Flash (and I am assuming it is Barry) just trumped Adventure in importance by DC or in desire by the Johns/Manapul team. It's a shame because both their script and the art seemed perfectly suited for Adventure in these first 2 issues.

And we were going back and forth on which issue it was because Geoff had a really wonderful Superboy story that he wanted to tell that, unfortunately, will have to be pushed to a later date.But my goal now is to get those guys going on Flash as soon as possible. And then when all the changes started to occur, Paul was our only choice for the series.

So this is where I scratch my head. So a 'wonderful' Superboy story is being pushed back so Flash can come out. Why the rush for the Flash ... unless DC thinks they need to capitalize on Flash:Rebirth and/or Blackest Night.

I am interested to see if Paul Levitz can recreate some Legion magic.

We're going to see Conner's, probably, gradual leave from that book. But that's not to say Conner won't be joining a team book soon, or appearing in another series of his own at some point.

So where does that leave all of these things started in Adventure ... the life in Smallville, the Lex Luthor stand-in, etc. This book is only 2 months old and already everything about it is changing. Is a Superboy book really around the corner? Didio sounds too vague to make me think that is imminent.




Oh ... and I can't help but be thrilled that *my* question to Didio about critical success and sales, specifically in regards to R.E.B.E.L.S., was chosen! It is sort of like seeing a letter printed in a comic letter column in the old days.

I am glad that Didio is behind R.E.B.E.L.S. too!

Review: Wednesday Comics #11

Wednesday Comics #11 was released yesterday and, as the penultimate issue, most strips cruised towards their finish lines. Also, more than any other week, this Wednesday Comics is loaded with huge panels which really make use of the expanded page space. As a veteran reader, I have been really thrilled to see artists taking advantage of this unique format and creating these massive pieces of beautiful art. Some of the strips this week were really breath-taking.

As for the Supergirl strip, things are shaping up for an explosive ending ... but we have to get there first.

This week's opening emotional panel shows Supergirl as 'irritated', looking out from under her bangs, and indignantly holding up a 'no littering' sign.

It is a perfectly adorable panel showing a cute and strong Supergirl. It is no easy feat to convey both of those characteristics in a picture but Amanda Conner continues to shine here.

Much like in Cosmic Adventures, there is definitely a feeling that this is a young Supergirl, with a lot of optimism. It is clear she thinks that once she is able to let these aliens know they are doing some harm to Earth that they will simply stop doing it. I won't say it makes her naive ... more like inexperienced. She seems shocked that the aliens first response is to draw their guns. Shouldn't they want to talk to her first?

It all fits with the whole innocent feel of this strip.

Unfortunately, the aliens react with violence and pummel Supergirl with their rifles, nearly knocking her out.

But just as it appears Kara will be overwhelmed, she spots Krypto and Streaky flying in to the rescue. And they don't look happy to see Supergirl being shot.

I expect this comic to end hilariously and explosively. That ship looks an awful lot like a dog bone!

Anyways, the whole vibe of this strip is of a sweet, innocent, adorable Supergirl and this chapter delivers that wonderfully. Of course the concept of 'shoot first talk later' is going to seem nonsensical to this version of Supergirl. As usual, the art here is top notch especially in the panels where we see Supergirl trying to gesticulate her intentions.

Sadly, there is just one more week ...

As for the rest of Wednesday Comics, there was a lot of newsprinty goodness happening. Batman's strip nears its conclusion by implying that Luna has figured out who is under the cowl. Kamandi has a memorable and sad moment as a cast member meets their fate. Deadman realizes that the innocent women aren't so innocent. And the big bad under Trident's mask is revealed in Teen Titans.

As I mentioned above, there is a lot of super-sized action this week as artists really stretched their muscles with giant panels. Wonder Woman, which had suffered from a microscopic layout earlier in the series, has a spectacular vertical panel which dominates the page. Green Lantern also has a massive panel of Hal in a space battle while smaller panels flank him. Korgo ends up on display in a museum in Strange Adventures in a panel that takes up a third of the page. And Hawkman continues to show just how small the hero is when compared to a dinosaur.

I went into Wednesday Comics excited for the Simonson/Stelfreeze Catwoman/Demon strip which has been serviceable but not overly memorable. This week's bonus panel comes from that strip as Stelfreeze gets to dazzle by showing just how big a gout of hellfire Etrigan can belch.

One more week. While I haven't loved every title in Wednesday Comics, I have loved the project as a whole and hope to see some reincarnation of it next summer. It was perfect beach reading. With sales hovering the thirty thousand range I wonder if the book was financially successful enough for DC to consider doing it again.

Overall grade: A