Comic Reviews by Walt

Why the World Doesn’t Need Supergirl

Writer: Sterling Gates
Penciller: Jamal Igle
Inker: Keith Champagne
Colorist: Nei Ruffino
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Associate Editor: Nachie Castro
Editor: Matt Idelson
Cover: Joshua Middleton (variant by Fernando Pasarin & Matt Ryan w/Brad Anderson)

This is the issue that I’ve been waiting for, since tracking down several back-issues on this title a couple months ago. I’d heard that the new writer was on-board for tying the title in with the two core Superman books, which caught my attention that this book would actually matter. Then I heard from others that recent issues of the book had actually been good. Combine the two, and I played that bit of catch-up so I’d already be somewhat current prior to this. And now that it’s here, how’s it hold to the hype?

Quite well, I must say.

We open on a full-page image of the being-put-together front page of the day’s edition of the Daily Planet, before zooming out to see Clark and Lois standing over it at a desk discussing it with Perry. Enter Jimmy and Cat to fill out the scene, and we see all parties involved discussing why the world may or may not need Supergirl, which also serves to contextualize the status-quo (and acknowledge recent events). The star of the book is found already in combat with the Silver Banshee, just before the combatants crsh-land in a baseball stadium and duke it out from there. When the crowd (perhaps understandably so) reacts badly to the ruination of the game, Supergirl flees–but not beyond Superman’s ability to find her. Spurred by his advice, Supergirl makes the rounds of her friends and confidants, before a couple new elements of her status quo are unveiled as the issue closes.

This issue pulls multiple duties. It’s the “next issue” in progression of the ongoing series–specifically, the thirty-fourth such issue. It has the duty of recognizing that thirty-three issues have come before it. At the same time, with a new creative team onboard, it has the duty of giving the reader a taste of what makes this creative team different and to that end serving as a bit of a “first issue.” I think it’s done a good job on both counts.

Offhand, I am not familiar with the writer. With just this issue to go on, there’s not much room for fair comparison. In and of himself, I found that the issue read quite well. We’re introduced to a decent-sized supporting cast. We’re introduced to the title character, we get to see her in action, and we also get to see her interact with a number of other characters. From what I know of Supergirl and her history in this incarnation, this indicates the writer has at least been familiar with elements from earlier stories of the last few years, and is willing to play in the context of what’s already come, rather than jettisoning everything and starting from scratch. I found the characters–except for Cat Grant–to be perfectly believable, and on the whole acting in-character (if only by way of consistency with depictions in other recent Super-books). I don’t “buy” this current Cat Grant–not if she’s supposed to be the same character (though several in-continuity years removed) I read in the early 1990s who had actually changed and grown.

I’m not particularly familiar with Igle’s art, though I’m not entirely UNfamiliar, either. The art works quite well on the whole, though several panels jumped out at me as being a bit inconsistent, specifically in the way ears were shown. Other than that, characters are all quite recognizeable and familiar, and I never found myself “lost” visually.

There were some small touches and moments with this issue that helped to make it particularly enjoyable, aside from just looking at the story/art. Number One is the use of the “footnote” as Supergirl twice refers to Kryptonian creatures. I’ve always hated the use of the “Kryptonian symbols” with a lack of translation such that I’d have to consult extra-textual sources in order to decipher something. Simply noting in-text/panel that something’s been translated ratchets up the enjoyability factor for me, plus the simple fact of there being footnotes reminds me of plenty of other comics I’ve enjoyed through the years.

I also really like that the writer doesn’t try to ignore what’s come before, but actually uses recent issues’ events as a springboard to motivate the title character in this issue, and lead toward some of what’s to come. Additionally, integrating characters from the Superman books shows that this book does not exist in a vacuum, and that Kara really is part of the “Superman family.”

Seeing Silver Banshee on the cover had me worried–she is (along with Skyhook) one of my absolute least-favorite opponents to deal with any of the Super-characters. However, she is almost a throw-away, a name-brand used for flair when an off-brand would serve the same purpose. Simultaneously, Gates (via flashback) does more to contextualize the Banshee than anyone else I can think of from my reading experience of recent years.

Finally, I enjoyed the cover itself. A lot of times I’ll let a cover slip by with little attention, but this one was enjoyable in itself. Letting the title–Supergirl–serve as a newspaper masthead, with the issue’s number and cover-date worked into the newspaper page is cool. That little “Since 1959” is stuck in there is just icing on the cake, a nod to the fact that Supergirl first appeared in 1959.

As “first issues” go, this one works very well, and certainly has me ready to follow it into this “New Krypton” story and beyond. It’s a great jump-on point for new readers, and ups my enjoyment considerably fromrecent issues of the book.

Recommended.

Story: 8/10
Art: 7/10
Whole: 7.5/10

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