Mike Maihack & Social Distancing

First off, let me say that I love you guys.

Last Friday I posted how the lack of new comics and the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic might slow down my posts here. The outpouring of well-wishes, good thoughts, caring comments, and recommendations for desired posts was really inspiring and just the sort of shot in the arm I needed.

And one of the things I learned was that Mike Maihack had come out with a couple of new Supergirl/Batgirl comics that I hadn't covered yet. I have been a champion of Maihack's work. His SG/BG strips always bring a smile to my face.

So imagine my delight when he did one commenting on the sort of social distancing we are doing in this COVID-19 pandemic. Here is the link to the comic 'Self-Isolation':
https://www.deviantart.com/mikemaihack/art/Self-Isolation-835377632

In it we see  the cool, calm, and ever-collected Babs knitting as she waits out an isolation period in Gotham. Meanwhile, extrovert Supergirl is going out of her mind feeling cooped up.

Babs recommends knitting and Kara agrees to give it a shot. But super-speed knitting isn't the way to slowly, gracefully pass the time.

There is a lot to like about this, from the tiny Streaky drowning in new knitted wares to Kara talking about her new outfits, a frequent joke in these strips.

But for me, this hit home. I am like Kara, an extrovert. I like going to work, walking around and chatting, and hanging with friends. And this time of social distancing is a bit challenging. And I know that with virtual meetings, Twitter, texting, and FaceTime we aren't ever really alone, I still feel cooped up.

Anyways, this was another winner. I'll have another Maihack comic to talk about probably next week. And thanks again to the anonymous commenter who pointed this out to me! So much fun!

Review: Supergirl #40

Supergirl #40 came out this week.

That should be my review.

Supergirl is my favorite character.
This book is so terrible I am glad that the book starring my favorite character is being canceled.
The character assassination has to stop.
And maybe something surgical like this is the best way to end it.

Because this book is horrible.

It isn't a Supergirl book.

Why am I not surprised?

I actually don't fault writer Jody Houser or artist Rachael Stott. I wouldn't mind seeing what they would do with an honest-to-goodness Kara book. But they were handed this abomination and are probably trying to do their best with it.

I am a Supergirl fan.
I am glad Supergirl is being canceled.
That's simply wrong.

Supergirl Blogging In The Time Of COVID-19

Well, things sure are different in the world as I write this on the morning of March 27th 2020.

We are in the midst of a global pandemic with COVID-19.

The United States seems to be catching up to the rest of the world in terms of advocating social distancing, establishing a 'lockdown' on nonessential services, and promoting safety and sanity to the people. The shelves of grocery stores are barren in some places. Good luck finding bread, meat, orange juice. or toilet paper. For me, I was surprised to see that cooking oil is also a hot commodity.

And, oh by the way, the comic book market has basically dried up with Diamond Distributors stopping the shipment of new books indefinitely. My own LCS has closed their doors given my state's proclamation about nonessential markets. I was able to get this week's books. But that is going to be it for a while.

Will new books continue to be released digitally? Will the print copies all come out in a glut when the trucks start rolling? Or will the whole industry just hit the pause button?

And, oh yes, my 'real' job hasn't necessarily slowed down. In fact, it may have ramped up a bit.

Which leads me to this site ... and what I should do ...

I currently have the following books I will need to review: Supergirl #40, Action Comics #1021, Legion of Super-Heroes #5, Batman/Superman #8, and Amethyst #2. I also will probably do a quick peek at the Event Leviathan hardcover collection.

In a cursory look back, it looks like reviews of new books makes up about 40% of my material here!

Also, it is hard to know if any news about comic books will be coming out until the companies decide what they are doing.

I still have the new episodes of the show I can review. I have plenty of old stories I can review. And I probably can put together some think pieces. I also have a grandiose idea of reaching out to some creators but I am sure they are just as busy and stressed as the rest of us.

But the reality is that this site may slow down a bit during this pandemic and moratorium on comics. This site is many things but most of all it is a creative outlet for me and a way to stay in touch with friends and Supergirl fans. So I am not shutting the doors. But it may slow down to a 2x a week place for a bit.

Anyways, the hope is some time in the near future, things return to normal and I'll be firing on all cylinders.

In the meantime, let's all truly take the mantra of Supergirl to heart and bring 'hope, help, and compassion for all' into this wonky world!

Supergirl Episode 515: Reality Bytes

My reviews of Supergirl episodes this season have been relatively consistent.

First, they are always a little late. Like this post covering episode 515, Reality Bytes, which aired a couple of weeks ago.

Second, I have been pretty effusive in my praise of the show really digging into its own past and bringing up moments from prior seasons. This episode is no difference, referencing the show's premiere, a key second season episode, and some overall themes of the show in total. I love that in this fifth season we are seeing just how far these characters have come.

Third, the season has progressed nicely plot wise. There has been brisk movement on the main plot lines each episode. Unlike prior season which puttered along, this season is on cruise control.

Fourth, overall I have been pretty pleased with the episodes. This season has been pretty entertaining. I have liked the multiple big plots. I have liked the characterizations. And the Lena/Kara story is the foundation it is all built on. I can't help but think we will see redemption in the end when Lena joins Kara against the combined might of Lex/Leviathan (Lex-iathan?).

But this episode puts the plots on pause a little. We get a baby step forward but not much more. Instead, we get a a major plot about transphobia. The show has never shied from a political agenda. Last season, maybe they overdid it. But here, given how the show hasn't been immersed in that this season, I enjoyed this more. Nicole Maines does a great job showing the current issues and concerns for the trans community.

If I have a quibble, it is that once again Supergirl seems to be a guest on her own show. She does almost nothing super in this episode. But that does give Alex and Dreamer a chance to shine.

On to the episode.

Review: Adventure Comics #410

'Help, hope, and compassion for all' is the mantra that Supergirl has espoused in recent years, an indelible addition to her mythos thanks to Sterling Gates in his Adventures of Supergirl comic from a few years ago.

But Gates didn't just make that up. Those sentiments have been evident in Supergirl comics since her beginning.

Perhaps one of the sillier stories to prove that is from 1971'a Adventure Comics #410 in which Kara befriends an alien visitor to our world, becoming basically a foster parent herself. No throwing this young girl with powers into an orphanage. Supergirl is going to show compassion and help this moppet. I was reminded of this story recently by friend Mart Gray.

So settle in for a rapid fire story of the early Bronze Age!

And let's see Kara at her best ... maybe ...

Also, this book is semi-important from a Supergirl history viewpoint. But you'll see why later.

On to the book.

Unexpected #196

For those of you who don't know, in my other life I am an emergency room physician. We are in the midst of a global pandemic here in the real world and so my non-'Comic Box Commentary' life is a little stressful these days.

But I am also a lifelong comic reader and there are stories that struck me as a kid and stayed embedded in my brain. There was a parental purge of unbagged books at some point in my life and I have tried my best to find and purchase again these stories from my youth.

One such story is 'The Devil To Pay" from 1980's Unexpected #196. As a kid, I devoured DC's horror comics. Much of my own fictional writing is built on a life of Unexpected and House of Mystery, quick hits of horror and violence, often with a twist ending.

And given all the sides of me - lifelong comic reader, ER doc in a pandemic, and a blogger - I thought I would break mold and cover this story here on a Supergirl blog.

So settle in while we see if Satan is the answer to a plague!

Review: Jimmy Olsen #9

Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #9 came out this week. This book remains one of the absolute delights on the shelves these days, a long form nonlinear story filled with all things Jimmy Olsen. You get zaniness. You get mystery. You get intrigue. And you get humor.

Now I am a grizzled comic reader. I've read a ton of books of all genres. And when I laughed out loud, literally, at two different points in this issue, I knew I had a winner.

And, unlike the Lois Lane book, this book has plot progression and pacing! Those two titles were bound to be compared, solo maxiseries of Superman characters out at the same time. But whereas the Lois book has, at times, plodded along, this book crackles with crazy energy. It's just brilliant.

Writer Matt Fraction has really woven a complex story of an Olsen conspiracy and assassination attempt mixed with flat out Silver Age lunacy. And even if I guessed this issue's big reveal a while ago, it still comes off great.

And artist Steve Lieber has to bring all this bizarre action to life visually. From Calvin & Hobbes style childhood reflections to living porcupines to tense conversations, somehow Lieber brings it all to life.

I don't want this book to end. So everyone needs to enjoy it while it is around. On to the book.