Review: Monkey Prince #12

Monkey Prince #12 came out this week, the end of this series which I discovered on the back end. I came for the Supergirl guest star but I stayed for the good story.

Writer Gene Luen Yang and artist Bernard Chang continue to bring a tremendous story to life here. I have really been entertained by this young hero learning the ropes, guided by a mentor, finding his place in the DCU. Add to it a super-villain family and a mysterious origin and  you have a great mix of character pieces to build on. 

But there also was a sense of joy here. And a solid sense of humor. Monkey Prince talks the way I would talk if I was a teenager who suddenly had powers and was rubbing elbows with Supergirl. He relishes his powers with a sense of wonder and fun. 

I guess I would say this reads like classic Spider-Man to me. Quips and kicks flying!

I have always been a fan of Bernard Chang's art and he really shines here. I love the mythic aspects and the action. And his Supergirl is just glittering. I loved him when he was on the Supergirl book back in the day so it is great to see his take on Kara again.

In fact, if there is one thing to complain about here, it is the treatment of Supergirl in this last issue. She is taken out ... albeit by magic ... and needs rescuing. She never gives up. She keeps fighting. But it would have been great if she wasn't the weak link.

On to the book ... and then onto the back issue boxes for me to get the first eight issues.

Bullet Review: Monkey Prince #11

I recently reviewed Monkey Prince #9 and Monkey Prince #10 on the site because Supergirl was a guest star. I was pretty impressed by those issues for a number of reasons. Certainly, Supergirl was fantastic in the book, given proper treatment. Second, the story was a fun, rollicking adventure with great action and dialogue by writer Gene Luen Yang and artist Bernard Chang. The story had more Kryptonian ties than just Supergirl. Lastly, it was a great tie-in to Lazarus Planet. 

So when Monkey Prince #11 came out this week, I grabbed it. Maybe Supergirl would still be in it. Regardless, the story and art grabbed me in the prior issues and I wanted to read more. High praise and shows what a good guest star can do, introduce you to a new book and make you buy it.

This issue was a bit of a revelation for the book. There is no Supergirl, not a big surprise. But the premise of the book (at least that I could glean from the issues I have read) is that Marcus' father, the Monkey King was thought to be an evil presence. Now that might not be true.

Even more interesting, the origin of our title hero not only feels a little more like Superman's but has some direct ties to Krypton. Very interesting for me!

As always, Bernard Chang just brings it on art here. The panels and action sequences are dynamic, innovative, and crazy in a good way! I really like his work and this seems the perfect book for him.

This will be a quick review!

Review: Monkey Prince #10

Monkey Prince #10 came out this week, the second part of his team-up with Supergirl and basically a prelude to Lazarus Planet:Alpha. Monkey Prince is definitely going to have a role in that crossover given the main villains, so I was glad to see that the main cover was adorned with some trade dress promoting it as a Lazarus Planet tie-in. I do think DC missed an opportunity here. Lazarus Planet:Alpha was a critical hit. DC really should have tossed the 'prelude' word on the cover to bring in more eyes. 

Writer Gene Luen Yang does a great job of pushing the title's storylines forward, embedding this story within the Lazarus Planet storyline, and shine a bright spotlight on the guest star Supergirl. Seriously, in some ways this reads like a Supergirl book with Monkey Prince as the guest. I love the interaction between the two as well. Supergirl is definitely the veteran here. She is amazing in this issue and it makes me wonder what a Yang/Chang Supergirl solo book would read like. 

While the Lazarus Planet:Alpha issue was able to stand alone perfectly, this issue truly builds on that story, filling in some of the questions I asked when I read it. So kudos to Yang. 

As always, Bernard Chang delivers beautiful art. This issue (and I assume this book) is a mix of big action and silliness. That is a tough line to walk. And yet somehow Chang is able to deliver monstrous battles and clone dandruff scenes effortlessly. 

If you like Supergirl in Lazarus Planet:Alpha, I would recommend seeking out this issue.

On to the book!

2022 In Review: Best Of Supergirl Comic Moments #10-#6

Welcome to day two of my look back at the year 2022 and Supergirl. 

Yesterday, I took a look at the non-comic Supergirl news for the past year as well as the Honorable Mentions for the best comic moments of the year.

Today we begin the look at the top ten Supergirl moments in comics for 2022. I'll cover numbers ten through 6 today and the top 5 tomorrow! As I mentioned yesterday, Supergirl fans have to be pleased that our favorite hero has been shining in World's Finest and Action Comics. So you should expect a healthy dose of both of those titles in this list. Both of those titles have really been stellar this year.

And I'll reiterate that Zala, the Supergirl analogue in Dark Knights of Steel, is not included in this list. I very much like that book. It is worth reading with the best Harley Quinn I have read in a while. 

On to the list!

Bullet Review: Monkey Prince #9

No big surprise that I picked up Monkey Prince #9 this week. With a guest star like Supergirl and a fantastic variant cover by Inhyuk Lee featuring her, it was a cinch that I'd pick it up and cover it here. I mean, look at how cute this cover is.

I also wonder why I haven't been reading this book to begin with. The writer is Gene Luen Yang, whose work I liked on New Super-Man and The Terrifics. I sort of liked his work on the Superman book. The art is by Bernard Chang, whose work I have loved just about everywhere. Whether Supergirl or Wonder Woman or Demon Knights or you name it, I love Chang's art. Seriously, I loved Chang's Kara and even have an original Chang Supergirl page hanging in my office.

The two treat Supergirl with a lot of respect. She is smart and pro-active. She is clearly established. And she doesn't suffer fools lightly here. I'm very happy with her here.

But I don't know if I can comment as easily about the main character. I know, I am jumping on board at Monkey Prince #9. 

Everybody's comic is their first comic. This is my first Monkey Prince. I know nothing about his origin, his powers, his motivations, or anything, I am usually against recap pages but I sure could use one here. Or maybe even a little origin box around the issue's title. But nothing.

The issue opens with the Monkey Prince's parents are scientists who work for LexCorp. A trio of demonic beings, calling themselves Generals, break into LexCorp to find Bizarro clones to eat in hopes of getting powers. Crazy opening scene ... but one I could barely follow.

The Monkey Prince's mother, Laura, has her neck snapped by one of the Generals. The Monkey Prince's father takes her to Prince's maternal grandfather, a super-scientist with a penchant for transplanting brains and healing injuries. Can the Prince's mother be saved?

But wait there's more. 

Bernard Chang Art

A while back on Twitter, artist Bernard Chang ran a couple of contests to promote his work on the book Demon Knights.

The first promotion involved Demon Knights #16. If you purchased 6 copies of the book and could prove it on Twitter with a picture of you holding the issue and a scan of the receipt, Chang would send you one of the original art pages. There was even a drawing to see who would get the splash pages.

Now I am a big Bernard Chang fan from his work on Wonder Woman, Supergirl, and DC Comics Presents ... before his Demon Knights stuff. So I was going to do it. Alas, when I got to the comic store that afternoon, only 5 copies were left on the shelf so I was shut out.

The next month, Chang ran a different contest. If you bought 2 issues of Demon Knights #17 (with the same caveats of proof of purchase), he would send you a panel or 2 of original art. Chang was going to cut up his art pages to send to fans. Now I thought that was a great way to try to drum up some publicity for a great (if low-selling and underappreciated) title. Chang even asked that you give the second issue to someone who doesn't read the book ... a sort of 'pay it forward' move.

I bought the two issues and sent along the proof. I told Chang my favorite Knight was Sir Ystin and asked, if possible, that I get a Shining Knight panel.

Well the package arrived 2 weeks ago and inside was this 2-panel 1/3 of a page. That is 2 great panels of Sir Ystin, the steed Vanguard, and Exoristos. What an absolute treasure! Fantastic.

But there was more ...

Included inside was an entire page of Supergirl #62, one of the James Peaty books beautifully drawn by Chang.

He said he recalled my reviews of Supergirl and wanted to give me something of that run.

What a great page showcasing so much of that arc. We have 2 panels of Linda Lang walking with Jaime (Blue Beetle) Reyes and Damien (Robin) Wayne. We also have 2 flashback panels of Supergirl walking through the villain's wrecked lab coming across a 'New Kryptonian' who was being dissected.

Just a great page.

But there was more!

There was also a page from Supergirl #61, most noted for her confronting the 2 boys who were trying to get her picture and phone number by placing themselves in harm's way. There is also a panel of Alex regarding the robots he sent to fight Supergirl, returned to him in a flaming ball of wreckage.

I have to thank Bernard Chang for sharing such goodies with me. The Shining Knight panels alone were a great surprise in the mail. But tack on 2 great pages of Supergirl art and I was giddy!

Nick Spencer On His Supergirl Run

In the aftermath of the Andy Diggle and Joshua Hale Fialkov, other creators who have been editorially squashed by DC Comics have started to come out of the woodwork and fan the flames. One of them was Nick Spencer who lasted one half of one issue on Supergirl, here on  Supergirl #60.

On his blog, Spencer wrote about his proposed story arc. Here is that link:
http://nickspencerly.tumblr.com/post/45862702793/by-the-amazing-amy-reeder-the-unpublished-cover

And here are the major parts of that post and the proposed story.

The idea for the story was pretty simple: Kara learns how to be a leader. She had, to that point, been almost exclusively used as either a solo character, or in a supporting role on a team. I felt like someone wearing that ‘S’ on their chest would find people looking to them for answers when things got bad.

The story beats that really stand out, to me:
I know I wanted to have a scene where the fight gets really hectic, and Impulse runs away, with Kara really calmly and sympathetically talking to her about it, just the two of them, in the aftermath. That was supposed to be the big moment that Kara comes into her own.

The entire team (except for Kara) were gonna get captured, and Kara would go to Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman for advice— and from there, putting together ANOTHER team to rescue them (I forget who all was on that one- Black Alice, Klarion, Shining Knight, Arrowette, I think).

The whole thing would climax at the launch party for the Flyover app, and the last scene was Impulse pulling Damian onto the dancefloor.

So I don't know exactly what here was so objectionable to the editors. My guesses? The villain was to be a Luthor/Brainiac hybrid which might have been being saved for Superman. Or maybe this story, creating a team, losing a team, talking to the Trinity, creating a new team, saving the day was deemed too cumbersome?

With blood in the water, every major comic site covered Spencer's news and used it to prove DC editorial overreach existed back then ... even though there was not as much news of editorial overreach back then. We didn't hear these stories then which makes me think something must have been amiss for this to have happened. Now I do fault DC for giving the reins to Spencer too early if they hadn't heard all the details of his story. Isn't that the role of editors? 

As for that issue, the one thing that struck me about it was that a lot of time was spent showcasing not only 'Alex' (the villain) but his college friends. It seemed overly long and wasted space, almost like Spencer needed to show how pithy and snappy his dialogue could be. Those kids weren't part of the big story so why do I care that one of them has a new girlfriend?

Anyways, given the feeding frenzy against DC (something I am taking part of) I am not surprised to see how many people have come out and said 'I would have read that story about Kara becoming a leader!'

Yeah?? Where were you back then??

Because the truth is, James Peaty's story, which picked up after Spencer left, did just that. So they should go back and get the back issues because there are some great moments in Peaty's story. And the art by Bernard Chang is so beautiful. I have reviewed those issues (Supergirl #60-64) on this site so folks can go to those posts if they want. But let me give you some highlights.

Here is Damien Wayne telling Jaime that he is listening to Kara because she has proven to be a true leader. She has passed his internal test of earning respect. Damien!!

And then in the battle with Dubbilex (the stand in for the Lex/Brainiac villain), Miss Martian admits that she looked up to Supergirl ... was in awe of her.

Best yet, the whole counterattack against Dubbilex has been masterfully orchestrated by Supergirl. Despite all his intelligence and planning, he is soundly beaten by Kara. He was simply 'outsmarted'.

Look at how strong Supergirl looks as she sort of rubs in her victory.

And in the end, Supergirl knows she is ready. She is the leader of her generation and ready to take a place in the majors.

So if you are saying 'I missed out on a great story' because of Nick Spencer's post, go find this arc.

Anyways, hopefully DC gets there act together and lets creators breathe a bit.

NYCC 2012

October is universally a busy month for me with a number of annual family obligations and an 'always in October' work conference that takes me away.

As a result, the New York Comicon is sort of like Shangrila for me. I just don't think I am ever going to get there. Each year I keep wondering if I can go even for a day. But it just never materializes. There are always always an inordinate number of creators I'd like to meet. Add to that the panels and announcements and it sounds like a fantastic time.

The Con starts up tomorrow. While I can't get there, I hope you can get there and seek out these Supergirl events and some of her creators who will be in attendance.

Here are some events:

DC COMICS – THE NEW 52: Superman

Date: Thursday, October 11
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Location: 1A10
Speakers: Bob Wayne , Grant Morrison , Mahmud Asrar , Matt Idelson , Rags Morales , Scott Lobdell
Description:
Since the launch of the New 52, Superman has been flying higher than ever! Join Group Editor Matt Idelson and SUPER talent Mahmud Asrar (Supergirl), Scott Lodbell (Superman), Rags Morales (Action Comics), Grant Morrison (Action Comics) to take fans new and old up, up and away with a sneak peek at what’s in store for Superman.

I have been told that Mike Johnson will be in attendance and on the panel (even if he isn't listed on the NYCC website).

So the very fact that Morrison is going to be there makes this a can't miss part of the convention. I do find it odd that this panel is happening so early in the con. It is almost as if it isn't important enough to be part of the main days of the NYCC.

Still, I would have lots of questions to ask these guys. And I can't wait to hear wait Matt Idelson has to say this time. The last big con panel I read about he said Superman was a loner who didn't know who he was himself to feel comfortable with taking on mentors.

Also, Johnson and Asrar will be signing at the DC booth on Thursday 5-6 and Friday 10-11. Stop by and let them know what you think of the book!

Mahmud Asrar will have his own table at Booth Y8. I think Asrar's art has been fantastic on the Supergirl book and also hope to get a commission from him as well some day. It would be great to talk to him about the current book and his perspective on the character.

Incredibly, Al Plastino, the artist of Supergirl's first appearance in Action Comics #252, is going to be at the con on Saturday. For those looking, he'll be at the HERO Initiative booth (#1575-77) on Saturday only! I have some of those Action 252 reprints - the Silver Age Classic one and the Millenium edition one - that I would love to get signed. But just to meet the guy!

And other more recent creators will be there as well.

Josh Middleton, cover artist for the early part of the Sterling Gates/Jamal Igle run on the book will be at Booth O10.

Jamal Igle will be at Booth C1. I am hoping to run into Igle soon at one of the more local shows coming up. Jamal is working on his creator owned project Molly Danger and I can't wait to talk to him about it. It sounds like the perfect book for me to get the supergirls at home.

Supergirl cover artist Amy Reeder will be at Booth B1. I loved Reeder's take on Supergirl. She is also working on a creator owned one shot called Halloween Eve.

Bernard Chang, who drew some of Bizarro Girl and all of James Peaty's 'Good Looking Corpse' arc will be at Booth C8. I really love Chang's art and thought he drew a great Supergirl. I keep hoping I will run into him somewhere to get a commission. Chang was just recently named the ongoing artist on Demon Knights. I can't wait to see his take on that team, especially Sir Ystin.

Lastly, Amanda Conner will be at Booth M1. I loved Conner's sweet Supergirl in Wednesday Comics. I dreamed once of getting a commission from her but it sounds like she doesn't do them at cons anymore. Still, her art is so slick that it would be great to chat with her again.

If anyone who visits here goes to the con, please post anything and everything you have seen!

Supergirl Creators At SDCC

The time has once again come upon us ... San Diego Comic Con is happening this week. I look at this convention as sort of a 'bucket list' deal for me. I suppose, one day, I will go. But it isn't going to be any time soon.  I suppose I would be in the minority there and actually devote my time to the comic aspect of things as opposed to all the other media congregated there.

For those interested, here is the link to the Con's website: http://www.comic-con.org/

As for any Supergirl fans heading to the convention, it is a rare opportunity to rub elbows with a lot of the more recent creators who have written and drawn the character over the last several years. In many ways it is one stop shopping!

Mike Johnson will be in attendance and will be at the Superman Panel scheduled for Friday, July 13, 2012 from 11:15-12:15pm. Hopefully the usual sites will have a transcript.

11:15am–12:15pm DC Comics: Superman

DCE Panelist: Matt Idelson

Talent: Shane Davis, Mike Johnson, Scott Lobdell

Moderator: John Cunningham

Since the launch of the New 52, Superman has been flying higher than ever! Join Group Editor Matt Idelson and SUPER talent Shane Davis (Superman: Earth One), Mike Johnson (Supergirl), and Scott Lodbell (Superman) to take fans new and old up, up and away with a sneak peak at what’s in store for Superman.  Room 6DE

Sterling Gates will only be there on Friday and said he'll be roaming the floors. So keep your eyes peeled!

Jamal Igle will be at table CC-18 and will be sketching. Here is a link to his blog discussing his SDCC plans:
http://jamalligle.blogspot.com/2012/07/san-diego-comiccon-sketch-list-is-open.html

If you hit his table, you should talk to him about his Molly Danger project. He is even starting a Kickstarter to get the project the project off the ground as seen in the Bleeding Cool article:
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/07/09/jamal-igle-to-start-kickstarter-campaign-for-molly-danger-in-august/

 Jamal is one of the nicest creators I have met and I can't wait for Molly Danger!

Supergirl Cosmic Adventures and Danger Club creative team Landry Walker and Eric Jones will have a table at the Image booth and will have prints from Danger Club and Supergirl:Cosmic Adventures available. The Image area is Booth 2729.

Here is a link to Walker's blog where you can see the Club prints: http://xray-studios.livejournal.com/81589.html

Artist Bernard Chang will also be at the Con, at Booth 1223.

Chang drew some of the BizarroGirl story arc (one of my favorite overall Supergirl arcs), did great work on the James Peaty 'Leave a good looking corpse' arc on Supergirl, and has knocked it out of the park on a couple of DCUniverse Presents arcs including the current Vandal Savage one.

I met Chang at the Baltimore Comic Con 3 years ago and I regret not having grabbed a commission from him then.

Lastly, while not having worked on a Supergirl story, Oliver Nome will be at table CC-17 in Artists Alley. This is the Supergirl print he will have on hand. Just a great picture and worth grabbing.

DC posted their signing schedule here: http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2012/07/10/sdcc-signings-schedule 
And here are the pertinents:

Thursday, July 12
11am-12pm
Bernard Chang Jamal Igle





1-2pm
James Robinson - I loved his Kara in his Justice League run

4-5pm
Art Baltazar and Franco - aw yeah Superman Family Adventures Supergirl!

5-6pm
Bryan Q. Miller - loved his Steph/Kara crossovers

Friday, July 13
11am-12pm
James Robinson

Saturday, July 14
10-11am
James Robinson

12-1pm
Art Baltazar
Franco

2-3pm
Bryan Q. Miller

Sunday, July 15
10-11am
Bernard Chang

11am-12pm
Art Baltazar
Franco



Anyways, I don't know if anyone who frequents this blog is going to be at the SDCC but if you are and you hear any juicy Supergirl news, please post it! And if I missed any creators, my apologies!

2011 Year In Review Part Three: Wrap-Up And Top Ten Supergirl Moments

The new year is just around the corner and that means that 'Best of' lists for 2011 are everywhere. And, as I have done the last three years, I will join in the fun by looking back at the year and picking the Top Ten Supergirl moments that happened over 2011. Now I know I am long-winded usually ... and I am reviewing a year ... so bear with me. This is a long post!

2011 was a crazy year for comics in general and it was no different for Supergirl. It was something of a wild ride.But one thing I have to say, she remained in the spotlight of the DCU, not only in comics but outside of comics as well. I haven't always been able to say that so any year I can, it has to be a good thing.

Supergirl remained an active topic in the merchandise world with no less than 4 statues solicited by DC Direct. While the Michael Turner mini-statue was in some ways a re-solicit, we also got a full size Adam Hughes Women of DC statue, an Amanda Conner based Women of DC bust, and a Supergirl portion of a Superman Family multi-statue. We even had a Polly Pocket Supergirl as well and Heroclix of Supergirl, Superwoman, and BizarroGirl. Obviously, she must be a pretty popular character to warrant such merchandising.

And in terms of other media, we learned that she will be part of the DC Nation block on Cartoon Network. She will be part of the Super Best Friends shorts, produced by Lauren Faust of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic fame. That is a great way for the character to branch out to a new audience. Love the costume too.

But this post is about Supergirl in comics. In 2011, the 'old' Supergirl title had two major arcs. The first, by writer James Peaty and artist Bernard Chang, seemed to pick up right where Sterling Gates/Jamal Igle's run left off, with Supergirl still sort of reeling and regrouping from New Krypton, wondering about her place in the world. While the villain's motives were murky, the characterization of Kara was spot on making this a big success in my mind. The next arc by writer Kelly Sue DeConnick and artist ChrisCross had a lighter feel to it, a bit more of a  fun and rollicking story. But in the end that feeling and the story's conclusion was perfect for it to be a capstone for that incarnation of Supergirl. And James Robinson and Paul Cornell had her play major parts in the adventures of the Justice League and the Reign of Doomsday.

And then the relaunch happened and we had another Kara crash land on Earth, feeling lost and alone and confused. Early publicity material made her sound unlikeable but so far so good as this Kara tip toes her way into the DCnU.

So with all that going on it was tough to pick my top ten moments. I had plenty of them. But here they are:

#10 - "She's Magnificent" - Superman/Batman Annual #5, James Robinson and Miguel Sepulveda

As blog friend John Feer often says 'there is nothing like some Kara-tharsis!' And the Reign of Doomsday was a perfect storyline for that sort of unbridled action where Supergirl got to cut loose. In this scene, after having just shaken off the anguish of Dark Supergirl (more on that later), Supergirl just lays the hammer down on Doomsday coming within a cat's whisker of defeating him. This was just great. And Miguel Sepulveda's art (aside from the high heeled boots which I really dislike) captures the moment perfectly.

But what really kicked this into the top ten over any other moment of strength is Batman's response when he sees Supergirl on the offensive. Grayson can only say 'She's magnificent' as he watches her batter Doomsday. I have to concur. She is. And I think James Robinson really loved her as a character as well.

#9 - "Super Intuition" - Supergirl #65, Kelly Sue DeConnick and ChrisCross

Kelly Sue DeConnick's short arc was a fun, up-beat story filled with laugh and love. It really was something of a breather after the somewhat heavier arcs that preceded it. This was Kara hanging out at college, meeting friends, and meeting a guy she was attracted to.

But DeConnick also put some Supergirl history into her story, sort of nods to the past. Stanhope was the school that Supergirl was visiting. And here we have a mention of super-intuition! Super-intuition was one of Kara's goofier and less defined powers of the Silver Age. So to see it again, even as a bit of a snark by Supergirl, was greatly fun. I appreciate any time creators recognize Supergirl's history and translate it to the current continuity.

#8 - "Grounded Facepalm" - Superman #713, Chris Roberson and Eddy Barrows

So I could probably write books about the problems that I had with Grounded as a storyline. In particular, J. Michael Straczynski's early issues were cringe-worthy, making Superman act like an elitist jerk more than a hero.

Handed the reins, Chris Roberson did his best to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Roberson's issues had Superman reconnecting with his friends and family and getting a better understanding of his role on Earth. That said, Roberson could have had Supergirl and Superboy play a bigger role in that psychological healing. Instead, we only have this brief moment from Superman #713 before a complete stranger helps Superman (lost opportunity there for Kara to help her cousin in my mind).

Still, I love this moment because it actually summed up my feelings for this arc. After several issues where Superman seems to be on the road to recovery he suddenly decides to stop being Superman out in the open. Kara's response is perfect ... the face palm. That is exactly how I felt that moment. I just wanted this arc to end, I wanted Superman to act like Superman again. And to have him take a step back had me rolling my eyes.

So plant that face in your palm Supergirl! I was right there with you!

#7 - "Bizarro Girl Action Comics #252 Redux" - Tiny Titans #42, Art Baltazar and Franco

I have gushed about Supergirl in Tiny Titans too many places to count. And this year was no different with Supergirl having several great moments in the book.

This panel stood out as the best of the best. Here BizarroGirl arrives on Earth. But this panel is clearly an homage to Supergirl's first appearance in Action Comics #252. Even the dialogue is a riff on that classic picture. As I said before, creator acknowledgments of Supergirl's history are greatly appreciated. I feel as if the creators recognize her and her history as meaningful when it is done. So this was wonderful.

But add to that that it is BizarroGirl arriving here just added another layer of awesome. She is a great character. And she is a new rogue for Kara and a remnant of the Gates/Igle run. I am glad that there is some permanence to the character.

It is sad to see this comic ending.

#6 - "Outsmarted" - Supergirl #64, James Peaty and Bernard Chang

In 'Good Looking Corpse', James Peaty had Supergirl facing off against Alex, the petulant, smarmy, and overconfident clone of Dubbilex. Alex dripped superiority, laughing in the face of pathetic humanity as he plotted.

So this was just a fantastic comeuppance by a Supergirl who had, over the course of the arc, realized that she is a leader, a worthy eventual successor of Superman, and finally in the big leagues. It is a different sort of Kara-tharsis, more subtle but almost more devastating. That is a powerful looking Supergirl, towering over the fallen Alex, almost gloating, as she says 'this must be a new experience for you .. exposed, powerless, outsmarted'. It is the most cutting insult she could give him. And it was Supergirl who did the outsmarting, beating him at his own game ... and maybe rubbing it in just a bit.

Now that is a great Supergirl moment.

#5 - "Big Brother" - Justice League #60, James Robinson and Daniel Sampere

The relaunch of the DCU meant the dissolution of James Robinson's Justice League. One thing I loved about that run was the relationship that Robinson set up between the Dick Grayson Batman and Supergirl. From the beginning Robinson said that they would have a big brother/little sister relationship, not a tawdry one.

Throughout the run it was great to see Dick take Kara under his wing, trying to get her to open up a bit, to befriend him, to trust him. And it was fun to see Supergirl become so protective of him, rushing to his defense a number of times while shouting 'Grayson'. It just seemed natural that Dick, who grew up in the shadow of a legend, tried to find his own way, and inherited a legacy would be the perfect confidante for Supergirl, someone who constantly compares herself to her cousin and finds herself lacking.

This hug, as the team is disbanding, was a quiet moment showcasing that familial love the two had. They'll always be there for each other. Hmmm, this would also be a good World's Finest comic too.

#4 - "Forgive Yourself" - Superman/Batman Annual #5, James Robinson and Miguel Sepulveda

One of the most compelling parts of Sterling Gates' run was the psychological fallout Kara suffered in the aftermath of New Krypton. She went missing. She cut her hair. She swore off being Supergirl. She was grieving on the inside, suffering survivor's guilt, and trying to figure out the best way she could shield herself from more pain as well as make sure she didn't cause anymore harm.

Those themes were re-examined by James Robinson when he had Kara again take on the mantle of Dark Supergirl. This wasn't the evil Dark Supergirl that was seen in the earliest Loeb/Churchill issues. This was a bratty and superficial Supergirl, someone trying hard to ignore her feelings but hiding behind a facade of irreverence. But it was clear that wasn't her.

In the Superman/Batman Annual #5, Dark Supergirl is told that she is dying. The only way to be cured is to save herself psychologically. She needs to shake off this phony persona of Dark Supergirl. She needs to accept who she is. And she needs to forgive herself. While many of these themes were seen in the BizarroGirl arc, I feel like emotional catastrophes don't just disappear. They can relapse. I thought Robinson handled those emotional themes well and did it in a novel way. When Supergirl forgives herself, rids herself of that guilt, she dons the classic blue costume and became the Kara we all love again.

#3 - "Respect From Damien" - Supergirl #62, James Peaty and Bernard Chang

I have talked about 'Good Looking Corpse' earlier in this post and in the honorable mentions post. In that arc, Supergirl has to come to the realization that she holds a pretty special place in the DCU, that she is a worthy successor of Superman and in his league. Kara was her own worst critic at times, the sign of a growing hero wondering where she was on the journey.

But another part of that analysis of her place in the DCU came externally in the form of respect from the other young heroes. So when Supergirl comes up with an intricate plan to defeat Alex, when she recruits Blue Beetle, Miss Martian, and Robin, they all fall in line behind her. So we hear how Miss Martian looked up to Supergirl, was in awe of her.

Perhaps the biggest compliment she could get was from Damian Wayne. Damian has always come across as someone who looks down on everybody as an inferior. He is someone whose respect you have to earn. And that doesn't come easy. Here he says that he is following her into battle because he has been watching her and she has 'passed the test'. Outside of Bruce, Dick, and maybe his mother, I don't know if he respects anyone. Add Supergirl to that short list. She is the leader of the next generation of heroes. I loved this scene.

#2 - "Don't You Forget About Me" - Supergirl #67, Kelly Sue DeConnick and ChrisCross

The announced end of the DCU allowed some creators to have a bit of closure with their characters. So whether it was Paul Cornell having Clark and Lois profess their love, or Bryan Q Miller having Steph say 'it's only the end if you want it to be', creators got the chance to have their characters say goodbye.

Kelly Sue DeConnick gave us a great moment of closure to the last incarnation of Supergirl. It isn't Supergirl that says goodbye to us, that asks us to remember her ... it's Linda. While Supergirl survived into the DCnU, it is unclear if Linda Lang did. And from a longevity point of view, Linda Lang is a blip on Supergirl's history, existing only 2+ years out of 50.

And Linda is a decent symbol for that incarnation of Supergirl. Early we saw that this was going to be a troubled Supergirl. She jumped from her rocket naked, she was brainwashed by Darkseid, she beat up other heroes, went Dark, beat up more heroes, complained about being a hero, wanted to rave dance instead of save people, was proud of sneaking into a bar as an underaged girl by wearing a tight shirt, wanted to kill Superman, gunned down her high school with her father, and grew crystal spikes from her body.

That was about as far from who Supergirl is as you could get.

And then Sterling Gates and Jamal Igle came on board, rehabilitated her character, acknowledged the prior bumps in the road but moved past them, set up the Linda Lang identity, and restarted Kara on the hero's journey. And within their run, and James Peaty's, and DeConnick's, Supergirl and Linda learned some hard life lessons but always grew from them, always strived to do what was right. And when she failed she dusted herself off and kept moving forward. These writers seemed to embrace the core of what makes Supergirl Supergirl, that need to do what's right, to help people, to embody hope.

It had been a while since I felt like the creators understood the character. Then I got 3 years of stellar stories. And then DC erased that Supergirl.

So thank you for this moment and this story Kelly Sue. And thank you Sterling Gates and Jamal Igle and James Peaty and Bernard Chang. And Matt Camp. And ChrisCross. Thanks for letting me read the true Supergirl again.

And don't worry Linda. I won't forget.

#1 - "Last Daughter Of Krypton" - Supergirl #1, Mike Johnson, Michael Green, and Mahmud Asrar

Whether you were for a reboot or against it, there is no denying that the DCnU relaunch, the New Fifty-Two, was the biggest event of the comic year.

And by extension, there is no denying that the relaunch of a new Supergirl has to be the top moment in 2011.

So what is this Supergirl going to be like? The early promo material described her as someone isolated, someone with no affection for humanity, someone more likely to fight with her friends, Hell on wheels ... so don't piss her off. Again, that just didn't sound like Supergirl to me, not what she has represented for this half century. I was admittedly worried ... and maybe even a bit perturbed given how far the last Supergirl had come. This seemed like a giant step backwards.

That said, so far in the comic, this Supergirl hasn't been that off-putting. She's confused. And sad. And angry.

But she stopped fighting when innocents were endangered. And she listened to Superman for a bit. I haven't seen the stark description of a disaffected hero in the book at all. While the jury is still out, as I said above so far so good.

Writers Mike Johnson and Michael Green have given me some optimism in the face of the unknown. And Mahmud Asrar's art has been amazing. I have hope that this Supergirl will soar just as high as the last one. But those are some pretty big shoes to fill.

And that's my Top Ten Supergirl moments for 2011. Please let me know if you think I'm off my rocker, or forget a major scene, or if you think I got the rankings wrong!

2011 Year In Review Part Two: Top Supergirl Moments: Honorable Mentions

I have to say that these end of the year reviews are both a lot of fun to put together and some of the more difficult posts to put together.

2011 was an interesting year for Supergirl. There were 2 creative teams on the old volume. There was the relaunch and the DCnU. She was the muscle in the Justice League and suffered through another bout of 'Dark Supergirl'-ness. She was a member of the Superman Family as it fought through the Reign of Doomsday. And she continued to pop up in other places like Tiny Titans, DC Retro-Active, and even the DC Universe Online Legends comics. It's great that Supergirl has been such an active character in the DCU.

And that made it unbelievably tough to cone down to just the Top Ten Moments. As in the past, I have some Honorable Mentions, the events that almost made the cut to Top Ten.

# 5 - 'Red Skies' - DC Retro-Active Superman 1980s
With the DCnU around the corner, DC put out a number of Retro-Active books, a look back at some of their key characters in the prior decades. Superman got a Retro-Active treatments for the 70s, 80s, and 90s and Supergirl appeared in the first two. It was great to see those older versions of Supergirl, both in attitude and costume, one last time.

Marv Wolfman wrote the 1980s Retro-Active and the story revolved around the Monitor testing Superman's will, his resolve to continue to fight when faced with overwhelming despair. Superman is shown all the parts of the grim and gritty DCU that would happen in the near future. And then he is shown the death of Supergirl in the Crisis. That was the key moment in testing Superman. Would the Man of Steel wilt in the face of Supergirl's death. It did the opposite, making Superman want to fight even harder.

In this scene, Superman calls Kara to talk after waking from the visions the Monitor barraged him with. I have to say, it was interesting to see Wolfman, the man who killed Supergirl, acknowledge that her death would be a monumentally huge event for Superman. And it was fun to see this Supergirl again, albeit briefly, hanging out in her pajamas and petting her cat.

#4 - 'Affection For Humanity' - Action Comics #904
The Reign of Doomsday was the last story arc for the old Superman and the old Action Comics. And I will admit, I enjoyed it more that I thought I would. It was a wild, action filled story with crazy fight sequences even if some of the plot points were muddled.

Supergirl had some very nice moments in Paul Cornell's issues, enough to merit a couple of honorable mentions. Throughout the arc, and in this scene, Supergirl is shown to be extremely strong and a leader. And she often voices her feeling about how she is fighting for more than just herself. She cares about her family and the people of Earth. She isn't going to let anything hurt them ... not if she can help it. And that includes even unstoppable villains like Doomsday. Just pure heroics here.

#3 - 'The Meaning Of Heroism' - Action Comics #904
Reign of Doomsday was also picking up on some of the aftermath of Grounded (which was churning to a close in Superman). In Grounded, Superman was constantly questioning himself ... his role on Earth, his duty to the people of Earth, his purpose. I love how Supergirl can see through all that nonsense and set Superman straight.

When Superman wonders if he should continue to be a role model to people if it sometimes leads to tragedy (like the death of the Eradicator). Supergirl states the obvious, personal sacrifice for the betterment of all is a good thing, it is what it means to be a hero. Of course that's a good thing!

The student has become the master here. Superman needed to shake off the angst he was carrying and move forward.

#2 - 'The New World's Finest' - Batgirl #23
In a short period of time and over a couple of key crossover issues, Steph Brown/Batgirl and Supergirl became very good friends. There was something pretty magical about their crossovers. They seemed so natural together, easy pals still learning the ropes of super-heroics and willing to team-up and learn together. There was joy in these issues. What a great new World's Finest.

In this scene, Batgirl was trying to break up a prison riot and interact with her father and knew she needed help and called on all her friends, including Supergirl. Supergirl wonders out loud if their teaming up should be a regular thing. I would have loved to see an annual cross-over between these two but sadly it won't happen in the DCnU, at least not anytime soon.

This scene was the favorite of blog friend Gene.

#1 - 'Know The Risks' - Supergirl #62
James Peaty had a tough task ahead of him, following Sterling Gates on Supergirl while trying to pick up the pieces of Nick Spencer's plots.  And yet, he and artist Bernard Chang put together a great arc. For me, the best part of this arc was just seeing a more mature Supergirl understanding what she needed to do and then going out and doing it. Yes, she was still her own worst critic in this arc, a part of still being on the hero's journey, but that didn't stop her from being a hero and being recognized as a leader by others.

This scene seemed to encapsulate so much of that. She understood that there was a major threat out there, she knew she needed lead other heroes against it, and she knew that there was some risk in facing off against this enemy. And yet, despite that, she forged ahead. Knowing the risk isn't belittling it. It means going in with open eyes against the threats ahead. This was a calculating Kara ready to do what was right no matter what. And that showed a more mature hero. One with an unshakeable resolve. This scene almost made the top ten.

And those are the 5 honorable mentions for the Top Supergirl Moments for 2011. Tomorrow, the year wrap up and the Top Ten Supergirl Moments in 2011!

Supergirl: Good Looking Corpse Trade

Remember back in September when this was posted in the DC solicits?

SUPERGIRL: GOOD-LOOKING CORPSE TP
Written by NICK SPENCER and JAMES PEATY
Art by BERNARD CHANG, CHRISCROSS and MARC DEERING
Cover by MAHMUD ASRAR
On sale DECEMBER 7 • 176 pg, FC, $17.99 US
Someone is trying to kill the young heroes of the DC Universe in these stories from SUPERGIRL #60-67! Who is this villain, and how can Supergirl stop him? Maybe her friends can help – namely, Batgirl, Blue Beetle, Miss Martian, Static and Robin!

I don't know why Kelly Sue Deconnick wasn't mentioned in the credits (or why Nick Spencer got first billing given his small contribution here). But in the end, it doesn't matter. The trade was cancelled meaning anyone looking for it today at the comic store isn't going to find it.

Was it cancelled because the DC wanted to move away from the old DCU and embrace the DCnU? Did they not want to remind people of this Supergirl? Or did they just think sales wouldn't be strong enough to merit the collection?

Anyways, I was looking forward to rereading these stories in this format and considered this trade as a sort of final goodbye to that version of Kara Zor-El. Too bad.

The Rest Of My DCnU Week Three Purchases

Three weeks in and things are starting to sort themselves out in the DCnU and my pull list. And, because of some impulse buys, I bought more of the 'New 52' this week than I anticipated. Here are some quick thoughts and where the land on the 'long term', 'short haul', 'better grab me', and 'done in one' scale.

Wonder Woman - I have always been a Diana fan and have sporadically collected her title depending on the strength of the stories or who the creative team was. I am always hoping that I will read an excellent Wonder Woman book.

When I heard that the creative team for the DCnU Wonder Woman was Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang I had very high hopes. And when Azzarello said that the tone of the book would be more horror based, I felt even better.

My instincts were right as the book really crackled. Diana is called upon to protect a mortal carrying Zeus' baby. And it is clear that the gods have deciding to once again intervene in the world of men. Apollo, Mercury, and (maybe) Argus are all seen here, toying and playing with lives here.

Chiang's art has evolved over time and is a bit scratchier than stuff from a couple of years ago. But it works well here. And Diana is just as she should be, confident, strong, a warrior and a defender of the helpless. This could be a big win.

Initial rank: 'Long term'
Verdict: 'Long term'

DC Universe Presents Deadman - Much like the 'Classified' titles, this Showcase-like book will be on my pull list depending on the characters and the creative teams. DC Universe Presents opens out of the gates with two of my favorite creators: writer Paul Jenkins and artist Bernard Chang. Those two were enough to let me overlook that the star of the book is Deadman, a character I have never been keen on.

There is a bit more of a redemption theme in this story. Turns out Boston Brand was a bit of a jerk when he was alive and needs to make amends for that. To become the man he should be, that good man, he needs to cross this gulf. The only way to get there is to help people in their lives.

Perhaps what I liked best here is that Deadman ends up hopping into the lives of 'normal' people. It isn't all team-ups with Batman. It is being a death row prisoner, a stripper, a wheelchair-bound war veteran. Can these ordinary stories be compelling in comics? We'll see. This was a solid opening chapter and Bernard Chang just brings it. Wonderful stuff whether it be the mundane or the fantastic.

Initial rank: 'Short term' (this arc)
Verdict: 'Short term' (this arc, but definitely in)

The comic I was most unsure about was Captain Atom. Written by JT Krul and drawn by Freddie Williams III (a favorite of mine), the book had some creative clout. But I really don't know too much of Krul and the Captain hasn't been a favorite of mine.

Williams has changed up his style for the book, giving it a softer, pencilled feel. Some things are also a bit more warped or stylized than his prior stuff. Williams was the main reason for me to get the book and I don't know if this new look has grabbed me.

Add to that, Atom goes from simple energy blaster to have some more Firestorm-like abilities such as unraveling atoms. He also seems a bit more disconnected, a nudge more like Dr. Manhatten.

I don't know if I like these changes to a character I already don't like that much. So this one is on a short leash.

Initial rank: "Better grab me"
Verdict: "Better grab me next issue or I am out"

Green Lantern Corps: As I said in prior posts, I have been wondering when the Green Lantern books were going to hit the wall. I had collected the GLC book before the relaunch when the focus was Kyle. I do like Guy. I decided that GLC would be my second GL book for the first month mostly because I was a bit exhausted with the Spectrum Corps.

This issue didn't do much to grab me. The opening parts show how Guy and John Stewart are trying to fit into normal Earth life, applying for jobs, etc. They don't have much success. As a result they leave Earth a bit perturbed. Meanwhile, on Oa, an unseen threat kills some new Lanterns and then massacres a whole planet.

It might just be that my GL battery is on empty. But nothing really grabbed me in this issue.

Initial rank: "Short term"
Short term: "One and done"