Back Issue Review: Supergirl #5

At the end of Supergirl Season Three, Kara exposes herself to Harun-El, a proxy for black Kryptonite. The last episode closes with a clone/copy of Supergirl wandering in the icy plains of Siberia

This isn't the first time we have seen a version of Supergirl split off after Black Kryptonite exposure. It certainly isn't the first time that we have seen a 'Dark Supergirl' emerge as a personality or doppelganger. Heck, on the show itself we have seen evil Red K Supergirl as well as Earth-X Overgirl.

I know the show runners have talked about Mark Millar and Dave Johnson's Red Son as a template for next season. But I try to look back at Supergirl history as it pertains to the character's current continuity. And that means I should look back at a Black K created Supergirl identity.

Unfortunately, that means looking back at Supergirl #5 from the 2005 series. 

Now I am going to be up front. This isn't a good comic book.

It certainly isn't a good Supergirl story. And there are a lot of things about it that I loathe. In fact, it was the bananas approach to this volume that prompted me to start the blog lo so many years ago. I couldn't stand by and think that there were people who only knew *this* Kara. So buckle up for a bumpy ride.

You need to remember that in 2005, Supergirl was a hot commodity. Jeph Loeb and Michael Turner had brought her back in Superman/Batman. Turner was a red hot artist and his lengthy, all torso, waif of a Supergirl was vivid, grabbing the attention of people. This was the return of Kara Zor-El, cousin of Kal. Her book exploded onto the shelves, initially selling a ton.

The title was helmed by Loeb as writer for the first arc. Ian Churchill had a cleaner line than Turner but brought the same aesthetic to the art, a sort of prurient peep at an ultra-thin, barely dressed Supergirl, pouting and punching her way through the DCU. Loeb had her angry at the world.

Supergirl #5 ended the first arc and had two initial covers, with Turner and Churchill swapping classic and dark Supergirl figures. It sold well enough to get a second printing, all Turner. And it rather muddily ended the story in which an evil Kara emerges from Supergirl to attack anyone who crosses her path.

Are you still here?

Okay, onto the events of the book.

Back Issue Box: Superman #173

Strange Visitor is coming to Supergirl and she doesn't look happy.

But who is she?

I have reviewed Strange Visitor's first storyline earlier this month here and here.

So what about the end of her story?

Superman #173, written by Jeph Loeb with art by the dynamic team of Ed McGuinness and Cam Smith, is one of the final chapters of the Worlds At War mega-arc which traveled through the Superman (and other DC books) in 2001. The simple plot is that a Galactus-style galaxy eater named Imperiex is coming to eat Earth. The enemy of my enemy is my friend so Darkseid has brought Apokolips into our solar system to team up to defeat Imperiex. But things look dismal. Simple Imperiex probes have been incredibly difficult to defeat, let alone the main man himself. The heroes need a secret weapon. Someone will need to sacrifice themselves (as the cover says).

So where does Strange Visitor and her electric blue energy come into play. For once, the cover actually mirrors the inside!

On to the issue.

Supergirl Tidbits

Just a couple of quick hits of things I have noticed that I feel warrant some coverage but not big enough to deserve a whole post.

So here are some quick hits!

Item #1: Steve Orlando has been bringing a lot of DC history into his books, in particular Supergirl where we have seen Lar-On, Strange Visitor, and other nods to the past.

Here in Justice League of America #15 he has Ryan Choi comment on an experiment performed at the New Athens Experimental School. Of course, this was the school where Linda Danvers was a guidance counselor in the Superman Family run. Nice nod to the past!

December Solicits

The DC Comics solicits for December were released last week and there were the usual surprises, mostly in omissions.

For those looking to see all the solicits, here is a link to Newsarama:
http://www.newsarama.com/25886-dc-comics-full-december-2015-solicitations.html

This was a somewhat weird month to consider given the recent announcement of books being cancelled and some creative teams being changed around. This also is a book heavy month with annuals and such. So this might be a time for me to consider putting some holiday gift money I get towards comics.

ACTION COMICS #47
Written by GREG PAK and AARON KUDER
Art and cover by AARON KUDER
The ebony powers of the woman known as Wrath are unleashed on Superman. Will the Man of Steel fall to the dark side?

So you are going to see something of a theme in many of the Superman solicits for this month. They all are about him getting darker and darker. We have seen Wrath both emit wrath and absorb power from the anger of people.

I like Kuder's art and this cover, a mix of deep blacks and burning oranges in colors looks good. But this should be a Halloween cover!

SUPERMAN #47
Written by GENE LUEN YANG
Art and cover by HOWARD PORTER
Variant covers by LEE BERMEJO
What would happen if the powers of all of Superman’s foes were contained in one villain? You’ll find out when you meet the Amalgam of Composite Superman Foes—and this is one nightmare a semi-powered Man of Steel may not survive! Join series writer Gene Luen Yang and guest artist Howard Porter for an unforgettable new epic!

Composite Superman is a silly character.
The Amalgam of Composite Superman Foes? Sounds insane. Like an Amazo of Superman villains? Let's start rattling them off!

This won't be the cover (clearly JRJR) but it also has a sort of 'Little Match Girl' feel to it. Woe is me!

SUPERMAN ANNUAL #3
Written by GENE LUEN YANG
Art by DAN JURGENS and BILL SIENKIEWICZ
Cover by ARDIAN SYAF and VICENTE CIFUENTES
“Man of Tomorrow. Man of Yesterday.” Superman and Vandal Savage have been on a collision course for centuries. As Kal-El struggles to survive against this barbarian’s attacking hordes, we reveal the events that led to Vandal Savage’s creation—and his unexpected connection to Krypton. Immortals gather to put an end to the Last Son of Krypton so Earth may live!

A line from Batman/Superman last week was a villain saying they had been waiting 2000 years for revenge. So could this be the story where Superman fights Savage in the past? Where that revenge is born?

I like to think of Annuals as the end of arcs, not middle chapters. Will I be that lucky?

BATMAN/SUPERMAN #27
Written by GREG PAK
Art by ARDIAN SYAF and VICENTE CIFUENTES
Cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
To defeat Vandal Savage and his barbarian hordes, Superman must become more and more brutal. And when he reaches the point of no return, it may be up to Red Hood to take him down. Plus, Gordon makes a shocking discovery about Savage’s ultimate plan!

So first Superman is getting dark in Action.

Now in this book, he is getting more and more brutal. So much that Red Hood is the hero of the book.

Yeesh.

SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN #24
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art by DOUG MAHNKE and JAIME MENDOZA
Cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
It’s the team-up you never expected, as Superman and Parasite take on those other energy suckers, the Pale Riders, to free Firestorm! Meanwhile, Wonder Woman fights an unstoppable behemoth that can contain—and consume—her powers!

I do like the name Pale Riders as energy suckers!
And including some old school Firestorm is always welcomed.

Add Mahnke and Paquette art, I'm happy.

SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN ANNUAL #2
Written by KEITH CHAMPAGNE and PETER J. TOMASI
Art by YANICK PAQUETTE, CHRISCROSS, MATTHEW CLARK and others
Cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
Forged in the fires of battle, their union is one the world fears and hates—and some have tried to tear it asunder! Now witness the trials of the romance of Kal and Diana, and how it all came to be. See the first kiss and last breath of Superman and Wonder Woman in this epic tale that recounts the most dangerous love story of all.

I am wondering if this Annual will be a retrospective of the relationship because it has ended.
The background faces seem to say that despite the 'Jim Lee'-esque kiss in the foreground.

The book still sells well. So I doubt it will go away even if the relationship ends.

SUPERMAN: LOIS AND CLARK #3
Written by DAN JURGENS
Art by LEE WEEKS
Cover by STEPHEN SEGOVIA
Who—or what—is Blanque? What is being held in this Superman’s Fortress of Solitude? And what is Intergang, and why is their discovery dangerous to Lois? Whatever the answers, neither Clark nor Lois want their son to learn the truth...

We haven't read any of this series. I don't now what Earth this couple is on, etc.

But a new villain? Intergang? Jurgens and Weeks? That cover by Segovia?

I am hopeful and happy!

JUSTICE LEAGUE 3001 #7
Written by KEITH GIFFEN and J.M. DeMATTEIS
Art and cover by HOWARD PORTER
The world is overrun…and we lost?! For the past few months, they’ve slowly taken over the U.P. space. Now they’re simply exterminating any and all threats in their occupied territory. No one is safe. And we mean NO ONE!

So last issue's solicit was that someone was going to die.
Now no one is safe?
I keep looking at these solicits waiting for the 'Final Issue' blurb.

But once again we have no sight of Supergirl on the cover or mention of her in the solicit.

DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS #6
Written by MARGUERITE BENNETT
Art by LAURA BRAGA, BILQUIS EVELY and others
Cover by ANT LUCIA
Having defected from Russia, Supergirl and Stargirl arrive on the Western front. In Berlin, Batwoman has to learn that she can’t fight every battle, while Zatanna consults her favorite rabbit, the former John Constantine. Meanwhile, Harley and Ivy race across France, taking on every Nazi they encounter.

I have enjoyed the Bombshells comic immensely.
It was only a matter of time until Supergirl and Stargirl were going to defect. So happy to see them on the side of the American Way.

Can't wait to see the addition of Ivy.

And Selena on the cover! Wow!

DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS #7
Written by MARGUERITE BENNETT
Art by MIRKA ANOLFO
Cover by ANT LUCIA
Presenting the Batgirls! While Batwoman is away in Europe, a group of young women decide to pick up her mantle and protect the streets of Gotham City themselves!
New allies are recruited throughout the city as the girls uncover an orphanage that’s imprisoning children and using them to help build deadly weapons to aid the Nazis. Do these raw recruits have what it takes—or are they out of their league?

I love the idea of Batgirls. But no Stephanie??

Still ... can't wait for this issue!

SUPERGIRL VOL. 1: THE GIRL OF STEEL TP
Written by JEPH LOEB, JOE KELLY, GREG RUCKA, JUSTIN GRAY and JIMMY PALMIOTTI
Art by IAN CHURCHILL, NORM RAPMUND, ED BENES, AMANDA CONNER and JIMMY PALMIOTTI
Cover by MICHAEL TURNER
In these stories from SUPERGIRL #0-10 and 12, Kara Zor-El, Superman’s cousin from Krypton, adjusts to her life on Earth, crossing paths (and trading blows) with the JSA, the Teen Titans and the Outsiders along the way. But while she’s facing off against other heroes, her cousin’s nemesis Lex Luthor has uncovered a truth that could change the Girl of Steel forever!

Let's see ...
She is angry. She dislikes Superman. She fights all the heroes. She abandons Candor. She wants to dance instead of being a hero. I don't know if the 'Kill Kal-El' theme starts in these issues but their roots are here.

So let's reprint these stories in anticipation of the positive looking show being a hit.

And let's not have a monthly comic despite all the press about the character.

This makes no sense to me.

No sense.

Anyways, I will look to the optimism of an impending new year. Let's stay hopeful. Hopeful that Superman becomes Superman again. Hopeful that a Supergirl book comes out. Hopeful that good comics find their audiences and survive.

Eddie Berganza Editing Super-Books

It has been announced over on Bleeding Cool that Eddie Berganza, former Executive Editor at DC Comics, has now been announced as a group editor, and specifically has taken over the editorial reins for all the Super Books. Here is the link to that brief piece as well as the key blurb: http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/12/05/eddie-berganza-taks-the-superman-books-back/

One of the announcements made at DC yesterday was that Berganza would take over editing all the Superman books.

Now one thing that I have been asking for has been 'eye in the sky' editor for the super-books. Someone who will make sure that the tone and characterization for these characters remains consistent from book to book.

Just this month, I read Supergirl #14 and Superman #14, subsequent chapters in the same crossover, with such different voices and tones in the characters that they could have taken place in alternate universes. I have hoped that someone would tidy up the post- Morrison continuity, knowing that Action Comics would take place in the 'now' rather than 5 years in the past.

And so you would think that an announcement that one editor would be running the super-books would make me a happy comic reader and Super-fan.

So the question remains ... is Eddie Berganza the right guy for the job? Is he the person I want editing Supergirl?

Well he was listed as editor on Action Comics #775, one of my favorite Superman stories of all time, which upheld just who Superman should be even in the current comic market.

And he worked with Mike Johnson over on Superman/Batman. That run included some great Supergirl moments in the Super-bat storyline and another of my overall favrorites Superman/Batman #62, 'Sidekicked'.

But ....

He was editor for the first 19 issues of the last Supergirl book. Remember this series?

She fought every hero she could.
She went to save and then abandoned Kandor.
She went crazy and bled crystals.
She paraded around her father nude, she snuck into bars because she knew a tight shirt would get her in, she was angry that a disaster interrupted her rave dancing. She bent over in front of Captain Boomerang and made a 'looking at her 'S'' joke. She was programmed to kill Superman.

Oh yeah, and she actually did kill her classmates on Krypton, gunning them down with her father..

She was not heroic, mostly bitter, difficult to like, and self-absorbed.

THAT IS NOT SUPERGIRL!

Has there been a lower point in Supergirl stories than those? I look back at those issues and cringe.

Eddie Berganza was the editorial voice on those books.

And currently?

Well, he is the editor on Superman.

In two issues he has had her fly at Superman and call him a liar; backtrack and consider Kon as an it, not a person, and contemplate killing Superboy; she has sarcastically called humans 'precious'; and she has become H'El's dupe.

The Supergirl in the issues Berganza has been editor on is vastly different than the one we have seen in her main book. She has done things opposite to what she did in her own book.

Is that who Berganza thinks Supergirl is? Is he going to want to bring back the bitchy Loeb/Kelly Kara, the one that fans abandoned? 

And I haven't even mentioned what Superman is like in those books.

So one editor is a good idea for family-wide continuity.
But I suppose it needs to be the right editor.

I don't know right now if Eddie Berganza is the right editor.

I guess time will tell.

But suddenly I am worried about Supergirl.

Review: Supergirl #2

It has been something of a slow news week for the Super-comics and it also is the 5th Wednesday of the month which means only a few comics are coming out. So I figured I would look at more 'Supergirl meets Superboy' moments.

I reviewed the Silver Age meeting here. And I just reviewed the Matrix/Metropolis Kid meeting here. And so I thought I would look at the first meeting of the last incarnations of the characters. And that means a  closer review of  2005's Supergirl #2 written by Jeph Loeb and penciled by Ian Churchill.

I have a lot of issues with Loeb and his initial run and this issue showcases a lot of what I didn't like. Loeb certainly did do his best to make Supergirl powerful which is a good thing. But he may have made her too powerful for me. This is when there was some debate that she might be more powerful than Superman (who I just think needs to be the yardstick for the DC universe). But when Loeb has Kara effortlessly bash her way through everyone, it eliminates any concern for her, any feeling of conflict.

But more than her power level, I didn't like the personality of Kara here. She is moody, emotionally labile, but with a default mode of anger. She rarely acted heroic and was constantly fighting heroes. There was no sense of goodness or hope or compassion in this Supergirl. And that just didn't feel right.

As for Ian Churchill's art, I am of two minds. I think he really draws faces extremely well. But his sense of body composition veers to the impossible. And there is way to much cheesecake in these issues for me as well.

At this point in her life, Supergirl had barely met Superboy, just a one panel introduction in the last issue of her origin story in  Superman/Batman #13. After fighting Power Girl in Supergirl #1,Kara flies to Smallville to seek out Superboy. At this point, Superboy has gone into self-exile and simply wants to be left alone. So what will happen when 2 angry and isolated young 'heroes' meet for the first time?

Well, if you are a seasoned comic reader, you will know that they will fight.

As I said, Superboy wants to be left alone and doesn't take kindly to Supergirl's arrival, flying up to meet her before she can even land.

This being the Loeb Supergirl, rather than try to talk to him and figure out why he is so angry,  Supergirl antagonizes him, prompting a fight.

Now that top panel is great linework by Ian Churchill, very expressive.

After an exchange of punches and heat vision, Superboy grabs Supergirl. But she tosses him off  like a rag doll. And here is where all that buried anger Loeb had Supergirl have surges. She "will not be bound again!" It was this underlying attitude that bothered me most with this Supergirl. She doesn't even want the name Supergirl, implying it was forced on her by Superman.

And here is one of many examples of my problem with Churchill. Supergirl's skirt looks the size of a napkin, riding so low on her hips it should simply fall off, her torso elongated.

And remember, Loeb has made her extremely powerful. Without breaking a sweat, she defeats Conner, smashing him in the face and dislocating his jaw. In the prior issue she took out Solomon Grundy with one punch while the JSA as a team couldn't touch him. She beat up Power Girl. In 2 issues, she'll take out most of the Justice League.  There is little feeling of threat or conflict here. I don't mind a powerful Supergirl, she should be in the top tier of the DC pantheon. But I need some to think that things could go wrong to become invested in the character.

I say that big moments deserve big art in comics, but not here. We already had the double splash of her escaping Superboy. Did we really need a splash here.

Now here is a redeeming moment of this character. It isn't all bad in the Loeb issues. After this initial brawl, Supergirl extends the olive branch, relocating Conner's jaw and asking if the two can start over. 

This is an example of the frenetic personality Kara had in these issues. I mean she went from fury to happy in a couple of panels.

But this is also an example of a hero on the journey, making a mistake and trying to correct it.  That's okay.And remember, Conner did initiate this.

Unfortunately, the Titans suddenly arrive and a new fight opens up. The Titans attack both Kara and Conner.

Now I have talked about how this Supergirl was too angry and too powerful. Here is a great example.  She shrugs off Wonder Girl's magic lasso attack (despite it being magical). And Kara is filled with so much anger, she is able to usurp control of Cassie's god-given magic lasso. Just like that she sends painful feedback into Wonder Girl. It is sort of ludicrous. This was a lasso given to Cassie because of her heritage and magical. It simply shouldn't work for Supergirl.

And I don't know if this moment needs a splash page.

The skirt is drawn so short that it is distracting. But my big pet peeve on the artowork here is how Churchill draws legs. Look at those taffy like calves, stretched to pencil thinness. Look at those ankles ... or lack thereof. Impossible.

So she batters Conner. She shrugs off Wonder Girl's end move.

And then Supergirl's inner darkness is so great that she cannot be contained by Raven's soul self. In fact, Raven seems more shaken by Supergirl being in her than Supergirl is for having been enveloped by Raven. So everyone's end move is useless. You would think that Raven should have some effect.

But someone whose father is a demon, who has battled with evil herself is repulsed and shaken by Kara's soul. What a horrible way to portray Supergirl. This 'is she evil' stuff wore thin pretty quickly.

So why did Titans come?

Cyborg says that they detected something heading to Kent Farm at high speed. They had to investigate.

But isn't there a better way to protect their lives and anonymity than by brawling in their corn field. Wouldn't this attract more attention?

With everyone arguing about Conner's self-exile and Supergirl's arrival, Kara suddenly become morose. Look at the glum Supergirl sulk away because 'everybody wants her to go away'. So we have even more labile emotions.And no nuance her ... she goes from full fury to full happiness to full fury to full despondence.

It was hard to figure this Supergirl when all this was happening. She had wild swings in her responses. But anger and hate seemed to be her fallback mood. Who wants to read that book?

Thank goodness these mood swings were explained away by Kryptonite poisoning.

I will say there is one nice moment here when Conner calls Kara his cousin for the first time. Kara seems touched by the sentiment, like maybe someone does care.

But before, she can leave Starfire arrives ... even more fun over the Kent crops! She wants Supergirl to go with her to the Outsiders. She has some answers for Supergirl. This, of course, allowed Loeb to let Supergirl beat up on that hero team in the next issue (even if while sparring). But that was the theme of these early issues, angry Supergirl looking for answers and beating up heroes. It just didn't work.

And we get another splash page, this one a pin-up shot of Kory.

Now this issue embodied a Supergirl that you didn't want to piss off, that didn't love humanity, that was hell on wheels. And this is despite having acclimated to Earth.

Frankly after rereading this issue, I realized that this Supergirl better fits the pre-release DCnU description of the Green/Johnson Supergirl. The current Supergirl is light years away from this. Even when confused and lost, the current Kara just seems to have more depth, more goodness, stopping when she thinks she is endangering innocents.

Since this was one of the first issues of the last incarnation of Supergirl, I suppose they are of medium importance to a Supergirl collection. They really set the tone for the first 20 or so issues. It is probably available for under $5.

But reviewing this reminded me that I didn't like this book very much back then.

Overall grade: C-

News From Blog Friends Part 1

I really appreciate it when folks who frequent this blog share their Supergirl news with me. It really makes me feel like there is a community here.

So I figured I would spread the news that some blog-friends have forwarded to me recently. There will be several posts today spread out over the morning. We'll start of with Gene who recently went to the 2011 Amazing Arizona Comic Con and met a couple of creators from the initial story that brought the Kara Zor-El Supergirl back to the DCU: writer Jeph Loeb and colorist Peter Steigerwald.

As usual, I'll have some comments. Take it away Gene!

Jeph Loeb said that he had not seen the Superman animated episode "Little Girl Lost" before he wrote Superman/Batman: Supergirl. Loeb said that the late Michael Turner played a big part in making the story what it is, and that his artistic contribution made DC Comics more supportive in reintroducing Supergirl as the hero they grew up with.

When I asked him why Wonder Woman did not just ask Superman to take Kara to Paradise Island instead of forcibly taking her in the park, Loeb explained that in his view Wonder Woman is like Thor. As a near god like hero, Wonder Woman does not feel she has to ask anyone for something she feels that has to be done.

After I asked Loeb if there was any interesting behind the scenes stories about writing Supergirl, he said that before drawing the story, Michael Turner had zero knowledge about the DC Universe. After reading "Crisis on Infinite Earths" and other research, Turner actually surprised Loeb by telling him that Harbinger was still alive, was living on Paradise Island, and was the same age as Kara.

Loeb loved the recent Superman/Batman: Apocalypse movie and noticed how they changed Harbinger's part in the story by having her share her premonition before Wonder Woman took Kara to Paradise Island.

How interesting that having Michael Turner on board is what may have nudged DC into re-introducing this Supergirl to comics.

I don't know if I completely buy his Wonder Woman explanation. Diana is also a friend of Superman. I still think she could have talked to him. And I am glad that Loeb like the recent movie adaptation of the story.

I then went to the Aspen Comics booth where I talked to Peter Steigerwald about coloring Supergirl. He was very happy to help bring back the Supergirl he remembered as a kid, and enjoyed coloring the environments of Gotham City and Metropolis. He said that Superman does not belong in Gotham the same way that Batman does not belong in Metropolis. There is no blue in Gotham, and that Superman was the only thing that was blue when he was in that city. Batman always stood in the shadows when he was in Metropolis. Paradise Island was always covered in rainbows. He dirtied everyone's color when they were on Apokolips because they were diminished in Darkseid's dark aura.

Steigerwald says that coloring the Supergirl story was the highlight of his career and that he can't pick a single favorite part of it because he has so many favorite scenes from the story. Although he has not had a chance to see the recent animated adaptation, he is pleased to see Michael Turner's style come to life from the movie trailers that he has seen. Michael Turner was completely responsible for the style and color of Supergirl's new costume, he always consulted DC Comics about it, and that he had a good time making his version of the new Supergirl. 

As an added bonus, Teen Titans writer J.T. Krullwas sitting next to Peter Steigerwald. When asked if Supergirl will appear in Teen Titans soon, Krull replied that there are no immediate plans, but nothing is impossible. Supergirl is one of his favorite characters, and he really enjoyed Sterling Gates' recent run. He has only seen the first episode of "Young Justice" and that he thinks it will be a great show.

Nice insight in the coloring process, something I think I know too little about to always comment on.

And how great that Krul loves Supergirl and Gates' take on her. I would love to see Supergirl interact with the Titans now and then.

Thanks again Gene for sharing!

Apocalypse Thoughts - What Should Be In The Movie

Well, after mulling over the original Supergirl origin story from Superman/Batman, and musing about what shouldn't be in the upcoming Apocalypse movie, I thought I would post what I hope will be in the movie.

Some of these have already been confirmed when the trailer for this movie was leaked late last week. Unfortunately, the trailer has been pulled from many places on the internet. I wonder exactly how that happened. Could it have been a miscommunication? A calculated 'mistake' to drum up publicity? A realization that maybe it should have been 'released' at SDCC? For whatever reason, I hope people got a chance to peek at it before it was yanked.

EDIT: So far this site still has it up. Click here.

Here are the things I hope are in the movie, again in the order in which they appeared in the story, not by importance.

1) Superman's joy - This story was way before New Krypton. It was before Last Son. So one of the things that I liked about this was Superman's utter happiness in realizing that he isn't alone in the universe, that he isn't the Last Kryptonian.

I'll add to that Superman's immediate love of his cousin. The characterization of Superman really felt right on for this arc, even his occasional foray into being over-protective. After all, who would want your long lost family member to be hurt in any way, even if it is while just sparring with Artemis.


2) Army of Doomsdays - When Darkseid invades Paradise Island in his attempts to kidnap Supergirl, he sends an army of Doomsdays to soften up the troops. It made sense from a continuity point of view as Luthor had given Doomsday to the Lord of Apokolips. These weren't your standard Doomsday; they were eliminated somewhat easily. Still, an squad of Doomsdays was a sight to behold.

This one was confirmed in the trailer.


3) Big Barda - Turner drew her more like 'Tall thin Barda' rather than 'Big Barda'. But I really love Barda and Mister Miracle as characters. Both are victims of Apokoliptian training and torture who let love save them. In this story, Superman and Batman needed warriors to help bring the fight to Darkseid. Who better than Barda.


4) Batman defeating Darkseid - Sure Superman is the one who in the end pounds Darkseid. But it was Batman who orchestrated Supergirl's release as well as the 'non-aggression against Kara' pact. I don't always need to see Batman standing up against the most powerful characters in the DCU. In this story it worked because he out-thought Darkseid, commandeering Darkseid's own weapons and holding them as an ultimate threat. I love how Darkseid respects the threat since it came from a human.

5) The Welcome Party - Perhaps my favorite moment of the story was the welcoming party when Superman introduces Supergirl to the heroes of the DCU. From the beginning comments by Superman when he states that it seems that the heroes only unite for funerals to Supergirl hoping to become a hero worthy of the costume, I thought this scene was great. Hopefully this scene remains relatively intact. I think it would be great for all these characters to be in the background, a way for DC to expose new viewers to the pantheon of super-heroes.

Let's hope the high points of this story stay intact! I can't wait for this movie to come out.

Apocalypse Thoughts - What Shouldn't Be In The Movie

With the DCU movie Superman/Batman:Apocalypse (based on the new Supergirl origin story by Jeph Loeb and Michael Turner) scheduled for a September release, I figured it was time to take a look back at the original arc from Superman/Batman #8-13.

In particular, I figured I would reread the story and see what I hope will be in the movie but more importantly what I hope won't be in the movie.

I tend to be a curmudgeon, so I figured I would do the 'what shouldn't be in the movie' post first.

As always, I would love to hear what everyone thinks. I bet there is stuff that irked other people. And I promise, there will be a 'what should be in the movie' post so we can celebrate the strong parts of the story.

So in the order in which they appeared in the story, here are the top 5 things I hope I don't see.


1) Naked Kara - Didn't it just seem gratuitous? I never understood why Kara had to be in her birthday suit in her spaceship. But because of that, we got to see some peekaboo shots of her throughout the first issue of the arc as she emerges from the water, wanders around Gotham, and awakens in the Batcave. I really really hope to not be subjected to this sort of stuff in the movie.

Luckily, from a comic point of view, this was retconned when Gates/Igle showed Kara's "real" escape from Argo City.

2) Batman's trust issues - I understand that Batman is paranoid and that he wouldn't automatically assume Supergirl was who she claimed to be or accept her into his life. But this storyline went a little overboard. He didn't believe her. He thought she was dangerous. He grilled her with questions, interrogating her. He wondered if the message sent with Supergirl to Earth said she would bring trouble to the world rather than be a treasure to it. Even after some time interacting with her, he simply didn't believe she was who she said she was. It felt overdone in many places.

I won't mind this in a small dose because it makes sense. But let's not have it permeate the plot like it did in the comics.


3) Thong straps - I suppose this is similar to #1, but I hope that I don't get an eyeful of Supergirl's underwear in the movie. In the comic, they say Lois bought her this outfit ... Lois! And how can Clark just calmly walk beside her. If that was my little cousin, I'd be pretty uncomfortable. Does that make me too old-fashioned?

Anyways, keep the hip-hugger jeans if you must, but let's not see the thong straps.


4) The death of Harbinger - Not many current fans know or understand who Harbinger is, let alone the casual fan who might pick up the movie. I don't think she is a known enough character to even introduce in the movie. from a dramatic perspective, there will be no emotional punch gained from her death if people have no prior understanding of who she is.

I like Harbinger. But I hope she isn't in this movie at all.


5) Superman's speech as he fights Darkseid for the last time - I was cringing when I read this speech the first time and I still cringe when I re-read it. Is Superman really going on and on and on with Darkseid about the majesty of a home run? The thrill of being asked to the prom? The joy of slow dancing. Do you think Darkseid has an inkling about what any of that means?

And even if he did ... would you ever talk about going to the prom while you slug it out with Darkseid? Ever?

(cringing)

While in some other instance Superman might actually say that speech, it just doesn't work here.

And now a bonus ...

What I fear won't be in the movie.

1) Wonder Woman and Paradise Island - I hope it isn't true. I hope I'm wrong. I would love to see Wonder Woman in this movie. But when the voice of Wonder Woman wasn't announced and when she and the Amazons weren't mentioned at all in any of the promotional material, I wonder if Diana is simply being written out.

The movie could work if Batman trains Supergirl (as opposed to training happening on Paradise Island - and the text says 'Batman takes her under his wing'). I assume that Barda and the Female Furies will remain in the movie since the New Gods are all over the Blu-Ray release promo. Maybe adding Wonder Woman and Paradise Island would be too much for this; keeping to that rigid 75 minute run time might not work if the Amazons play as big a role as they did in the book.

I really hope that I am wrong. I liked how the Trinity were all involved in Supergirl's origin.

I guess we'll find out in September.

Supergirl In Next DC Animated Movie!

In what has to be considered absolutely fantastic news, it appears that the next DC animated movie will be based on the Supergirl origin storyline from Superman/Batman #8-13. That certainly looks like the Darkseid-corrupted Supergirl in the lower left.

The official news broke on the Superman home page. Here is the link:
http://www.supermanhomepage.com/news.php?readmore=8148

The movie will be released on September 28, 2010. There will be a single standard edition DVD, a double-disc Special Edition DVD, and on Blu-ray disc.

I have said for the past couple of years that this is a great time to be a Supergirl fan and this is further evidence of her popularity.

And thanks to blog friend Mauricio Hunt for pointing me to this TV Guide article:
http://www.tvguide.com/News/Look-Summer-Glau-1019973.aspx

Here we get a sneak peek of what Supergirl will look like in the book. Also, Summer Glau is revealed to be doing her voice. Summer Glau! Too fantastic!

Here is what Bruce Timm had to say about Glau's performance.

"It was a fun part for her to play because it wasn't one-note," Timm says. "She could be young and bratty, like a typical teenager, and then show a little bit more maturity, then get feisty, then scared. She's got quite a gamut of emotions to act out."


I have to tip my hat to blog-friend Gene who speculated this movie was being made when he saw that the Turner-based action figures were resolicited for an October release. That is some serious prognostication!