Wash, Rinse, Repeat

I have been blogging about Supergirl for 12 plus years here.

I know ... hard to believe.

During that time, I can't help but notice the cyclical nature of things involving Kara. Mostly, it seems that DC doesn't know what to do with her. Inevitably they lead her down a dark path thinking it will be all grim and moody. Ultimately, that dark path fails and Kara gets a redemption and a cancellation.

How cyclical is this? Well, 2 years ago I posted about it here.

I find it fascinating that DC thinks that a Dark Kara is 'bold' or 'gritty' when it has been done so many times before. Talk about the antithesis is a 'new direction'. I also find it odd that they don't cultivate the 'young hero learning the ropes' theme that seems to work so well for characters like comic darlings Ms. Marvel and Naomi.

And I am baffled that we have a television show with millions of weekly viewers and DC still can't put a book on the market to try and entice those viewers into the comic store. The Kara in the current book hasn't been recognizable for almost 2 years.

But here we are in the repeat part of the 'darken, cancel, repeat' Supergirl cycle. It is a perverse 'lather, rinse, repeat' that has happened too many times over the last decade.

Perhaps saddest of all is the 'redemption' at the end of this volume. Usually we get some sort of 'I choose Earth and I will be a hero' moment. Here, Kara, in essence, says 'Earth isn't Krypton, I don't want to be human or live a human-like life, but I guess I'm stuck here so I'll do stuff.'

Because that sounds like an inspiring young hero you would want to read about.

Usually, as in that link from last year, I bemoan the cancellation saying the book had just righted itself. Here, I am not so sure.

Hell Arisen: Lobo Vs. Supergirl

Welcome to day one of a brief tour of negativity.

I knew that at the back of the books was a preview of Amy Reeder's Amethyst book and I was excited to see what that book was going to look like. I have been calling for Reeder to do an Amethyst book since 2015.

Unfortunately, before I got to that preview, I was faced with this.

It turns out that the there is going to be an issue of Hell Arisen at the end of the month where the infected Supergirl will take on Lobo in 'the brawl for it all'. I like what James Tynion has done at Justice League Dark. I like Steve Epting's realistic art so I wonder how that will work here with these two garish characters.

Now I admit I am not enjoying Year of the Villain. I am not enjoying this infected Supergirl. I am not enjoying anything with the Batman Who Laughs. So I know this book isn't being written for me.

But I can't help but be a bit bummed that the only time DC seems to be promoting Supergirl is when she is somehow going down a dark path.

The last full ad was when Marc Andreyko took over. It showed Supergirl wielding Rogol Zaar's axe. Now we have the pro wrestler look of the Infected Kara blazing fire from her eyes.

Will I get this issue to help be follow Kara's story? Probably.

I can only hope that when this infected phase of the story ends that DC does Supergirl a solid and promotes her solo book.

And I can only hope that all this darkness goes away.

Review: Supergirl #38

Supergirl #38 came out this week, another chapter in yet another iteration of something I call 'Dark Kara', the inevitable every 4 yr turn of the crank where DC tries to make Supergirl evil or edgy.

I'm kind of sick of it. And this issue didn't curtail that feeling. In fact, I have gone from really loathing these takes to something worse ... being bored with them. How many times, even within this one continuity, do we have to see Kara dealing with her grief about Krypton by becoming evil or dark or edgy?

From her initial hatred of Earth when she arrived to her teaming up with H'El to her leaving Earth entirely to becoming a Red Lantern to her wielding an axe and nearly killing people to now being infected by the Batman Who Laughs, we have read this story before.

And Dark Kara fighting Diana, which she does in this issue, is also a common response.

Here, Kara bemoans the 'weakness' of humanity for feeling 'safe'. And yet she wants to 'free' people from this weakness by infecting them the way she is. So, becoming evil and not caring about things at all is the cure? And even then, isn't her 'caring' about people to the point she wants to infect them showing that she cares? I don't know.

I'm just sick of reading issues of my favorite character where she is the villain.

That said, the art by Rachel Stott and Inaki Miranda, is beautiful even as it presents Supergirl as a pro-Wrestler or fan of G'War. And Krypto remains a bright spot.

I hope Jody Houser turns this into something worthwhile. But the end can't come soon enough. On to the details.

Early November Solicits. Dark Supergirl ... Again .... yeesh

DC has early solicited some of their November books so that orders for special 'acetate' covers can be gauged. Here is a link to that story over on Newsarama: https://www.newsarama.com/46215-dc-comics-november-2019-solicitations.html

But more than anything, it had me muse over a famous quote by Satayana.

'Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.'

Because, in case you can't tell from the studded leather corseted, KISS make-up wearing, angry red eyed Supergirl on the cover of Supergirl #36, we have once again entered a Dark Kara phase. 

It occurs about every 3 years. 
It never works.
And we need to rebound from it.

Here I thought 'Queen of the Axe' Kara was Marc Andreyko's Dark Kara. But he and Dan Didio said 'hold our beers while we get shots of whiskey'.

Here is the solicit:

SUPERGIRL #36
written by MARC ANDREYKO
art by EDUARDO PANSICA and JULIO FERREIRA
acetate cover by DAN MORA
card stock variant cover by DERRICK CHEW

Supergirl—the infected! Brainiac-1 attempts to contact Supergirl at the Fortress of Solitude, but for what nefarious purpose? No matter what he has planned, things are about to go from bad to worse as Supergirl heads on a collision course with the Batman Who Laughs! He’s targeted Superman as part of his plan to infect heroes and transform them into their twisted Dark Multiverse counterparts—but Supergirl gets caught in the crossfire, and the Year of the Villain stakes get even higher!

And frankly, I'm tired of this.

Even if this is temporary, which of course it is, DC Editorial could have decided not to have Supergirl succumb, not to have Supergirl infected. But instead we get the drum beat again. 

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.

Bullet Review: Ame Comi Girls #1

After a series of character driven one-shots that collected the digital first episodes, all of which were connected into one big story, DC (it seems) decided to make Ame Comi girls an ongoing team book. And so last week we had Ame Comi Girls #1, the beginning of the Rise of the Brainiac story.

As I have said before, I had no plans to read this book mostly because the costumes are so ridiculous I felt they would detract from any story that was being produced. Enough people whose opinions I respect recommended the book as a fun and wild ride, showcasing heroic women (even if they are barely dressed). And, somewhat surprisingly, I have agreed with their assessment. This is a crazy book which is very entertaining.

Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray continue a breakneck pace bringing all the heroic women and villainous women of this Ame Comi Earth together to save the world. The art this issue is by Eduardo Francisco and he takes advantage of the Ame Comi dress to show lots of half-butts right smack dab in front of me. I know I shouldn't be surprised ... this is Ame Comi. Outside of that, his art is very good. He is called upon to draw wild big action shots with many characters as well as some quieter moments and does both with a nice anime flair.

The big loser in this issue? (sigh) Supergirl. She spends the issue brainwashed by Brainiac, tossed around by Wonder Woman, and eventually hog-tied. I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

Here is a brief review.

The Dark Supergirl arrived last issue and sort of wiped out the lower tier heroes. That explains Steel, Flash, Catwoman, and Robin all unconscious or trapped on the background.

With the undercard out of the way, the main event starts: Wonder Woman versus Supergirl. This is pure warrior Diana as she vows to bury her sword in Supergirl's chest.

Meanwhile, Batgirl sneaks onto Brainiac's ship in hopes of shutting things down. Since the computer has organic components, Batgirl realizes she can shut this thing down the same way she would shut down a human's nervous system. A jolt from a taser does the job, temporarily short circuiting Brainiac and her drones.

It is a nice moment and pretty smart and brave of Babs.

As I said, Supergirl gets treated pretty shabbily here. Screaming her death threats, she gets tossed around by Wonder Woman for several pages. I was hoping Supergirl would be the hero here somewhere.

With the pause in the fight, the others regroup. In a nice moment, Catwoman confesses she is probably down to 7 lives after this.

And, as I said above, after getting tossed around by Wonder Woman, Supergirl is tied up and remains helpless for the rest of the issue. Should I be surprised with this treatment by Jimmy Palmiotti?

And there are Diana's cheeks! I don't know if I needed to see them.

And I shouldn't be surprised that Power Girl is the main hero in the story either. Palmiotti loves Power Girl. Heck, I love his Power Girl.

At the center of the Earth, she meets Brainiac's central core drones. Their mission is to start the destruction of the Earth. The Brainiac towers (as seen in the above panel) will suck all the knowledge from humanity, giving Brainiac the information she craves while reducing mankind to neanderthals.

Of course, Karen can reason with the machines, convincing them maybe they should stop this needless act of mayhem.

And there are Karen's cheeks!

One part I did like was the core drones downloading Karen's memories. We see some important moments from her life including a classic Superman-esque shot of her lifting a tractor.

What caught my attention was this kiss. Who is this guy on Ame Comi Earth? Have we met him?

And I shouldn't be surprised that seeing her life convinces these things to break their programming and agree not to destroy the people of Earth.

It is a heroic act and shows how a life helping people can inspire.

Despite the revolt of the her drones, Brainiac isn't done fighting. She thinks she can still win. And she ends up capturing Power Girl with the transfer of information ongoing. Hmmm ... maybe Power Girl doesn't get to do all the heavy lifting in this story.

And we get an even closer look at Karen's cheeks!

I am of two minds with this book.

This issue continued a very fast pace with lots of action and fun moments. I finished the book and was entertained. Power Girl is treated very well. And Wonder Woman also has some nice moments showing her strength and her unwillingness to admit defeat. So that is the good.

Those nice moments contrast sharply with Supergirl's treatment. She is a villain in this book. Maybe I could look that other way a bit more easily if this wasn't happening as the H'El on Earth debacle happened. And, unfortunately, comics are a visual medium and reading this book with these skimpy outfits and gratuitous shots makes me feel just a bit icky. The fun aspect of the story so far has outweighed these downsides. And I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by either of these things.

I think Franscisco's style perfectly fits this book.

Overall grade: B

Review: Ame Comi Girls #5: Supergirl

Ame Comi Girls #5, featuring Supergirl, came out in print form last week and the cover isn't kidding when it says the women of the DCU are reimagined here. This is about as Elseworlds-y a book as you can get.

Outside of the heroes only being women, and ridiulously dressed to boot, writers Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray threw a major curve ball into the plot this week with revelations about this universe's Krypton and its destruction.

Unfortunately, despite featuring Supergirl and initially casting her as the hero of the issue, Palmiotti and Gray take a step backwards and have her end up working for the villain. I am sure that there are a number of reasons why Dark Supergirl is so alluring, not the least of which is promoting the Dark Supergirl Ame Comi statue. But in a week when Supergirl is the main villain in H'El on Earth, a book where she threatens to kill Superboy, I was pretty disappointed in this turn of events.

One of the reasons why I like this book is that it is simple fun and entertainment. There is a feeling of irreverence here, a world not bound by continuity or even sanity. I suppose I should just ride the wave and not be so caught up in a Dark Supergirl sighting here.

Santi Casas provides the art in this book and brings a very heavy anime feel to the book which works well given the material. Casas also does a good job with the crazy battle sequences here, changing perspective and panel size nicely to capture some of the kinetic energy of the fights.

On to the review.

The book starts in flashback, just before the destruction of Krypton, with the brothers El ... Jor and Zor ... defending themselves before a tribunal of some sort. They warn of an impending disaster on Krypton and, per usual, are ignored. I kind of like the idea of the two working this closely together.

And again, this looks amazingly like the Donner films Kryptonian justice system. Those films are 30 years old! But there influence is incredible.

It turns out the threat isn't some internal instability of Krypton or her sun. The threat is Brainiac.

Now I don't quite know how I feel about this next part. It turns out Brainiac created Krypton as well as Earth. When the tribunal rejected the Els, the two brothers decided the best answer was to detonate Krypton's sun in hopes of taking Brainiac out with it. They hoped to save the universe by sacrificing their world. Of course they save their daughters. And they fail in stopping Brainiac.

So, in essence, Jor and Zor are guilty of genocide. I suppose Brainiac would kill the Kryptonians anyways. But it seems a bit too off.

Kara was sent to Earth to stop Brainiac here. She has to face Brainiac herself. Sounds like she might be the hero in this story.

And Power Girl has her role to play as well. She needs to shut down the central Brainiac mainframe in the center of the Earth.

At least for now, and for once, the two Karas are acting together ... like a team.

One things I appreciated here is that this massive battle of Manhunters, Kryptonians, and Brainiac drones does not go unnoticed by the other heroes we have seen. Steel, Robin, Flash, and Catwoman all show up and dive in, buying Supergirl and Power Girl some time to get the heavy lifting done.

I have to say, these costumes are ridiculous. 

While the other women remain on the ground battling the drones, Supergirl streaks towards Brainiac's ship.

On board are the villains we have encountered before - Duela Dent and Poison Ivy - as well as a barely covered and rather buxom Brainaic. I guess I shouldn't be surprised by Brainiac's look here.

And, an unfortunate leftover from the Loeb/Churchill Supergirl stories is Black Kryptonite.

And much like in those Loeb Supergirl stories, Black Kryptonite transforms Supergirl into Dark Supergirl. At least in those Loeb stories, Dark Supergirl sprang from Supergirl creating a good and bad version of Kara.

Here, unfortunately, Supergirl is basically overpowered by the Kryptonite, becoming a pawn of Brainiac.

Kind of a bummer that ... and this seems to be true everywhere right now ... Supergirl isn't even a hero in her own book.

Because once she is brainwashed, Kara heads down to Earth and starts to battle the heroes of the planet.

So Supergirl, who shows up as the only person who can save the Earth becomes a pawn of the villain just a few pages later. Logically, the other heroes are confused.

And outside of Power Girl, none of these heroes are in Kara's league.

Luckily, there is another hero, someone I have been waiting to show up again, Wonder Woman. Nice cliffhanger.

And ... in another odd coincidence ... Wonder Woman will battle a Supergirl who is a pawn for a world destroying villain ... just like in Supergirl's own book!

So I look at Ame Comi as a fun comic in my pull list, a book that is fun and entertaining but not tied down to any continuity. And the prior issues fell nicely into that sort of niche. There is a lot of action, some fun re-imaginings, and definitely more humor than is in your normal comic. I have enjoyed these way more than I thought I would.

That said, this was, for me, my least favorite issue. Between the questionable genocide maneuver by Jor and Zor and the corruption of Supergirl, this book just struck some beats that I don't want to revisit anymore. And I think it was made much worse that it just happened to come out in print form the same week of Superboy #17 which showed a similar patsy Supergirl. After Superboy #17, I was looking forward to Ame Comi as a sort of piece of candy to eat after vomiting, something to get the bad taste out of my mouth. Unfortunately, it just didn't work that way.

Still, this book is a sort of whirlwind ride through this version of the DCU. And, it remains a fun and wacky book. There barely is a moment to breathe in this book, the pace is so swift. Hopefully, Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray will allow Supergirl to shine at some point.

And, again, the anime influenced art by Santi Casas works well here.

Overall grade: B

Dark Supergirl Action Figure

Over on Comic Book Resources, Mattel has announced the next wave of DC All-Star action figures, due out this year. There is also a good discussion about a collector friendly web-site that allows the more serious collector access to more esoteric figures.

Here is the link to that article, well worth reading in its entirety: http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=36077

The series includes the new Superman, the old DCU Red Robin, and the Flash. It also includes Dark Supergirl, in her all her black costume glory.

I liked the James Robinson treatment of Dark Supergirl in his Justice League run. Dark Supergirl was a sort of sanctuary for Supergirl when the weight of personal tragedy was too great a burden to carry. She sunk into this petty personality to try to shield herself from feeling anything. So I think I have to get this figure for my collection.

It's a shame that the mold seems to be from the DC Universe Classic series, one of the weaker Supergirl figures to come out recently.

Still, Dark Supergirl played a role in the last incarnation of Supergirl's life, sort of bookending her life. Dark Supergirl appeared in her first adventure and nearly in her last. As such, I'm glad that she will have a figure of her own.

Review: Superman/Batman Annual #5

Superman/Batman Annual #5 came out this week and continued the Reign of Doomsday storyline started in Justice League of America #55. And yes it is a Doomsday story as he and the CyborgSuperman do their best to destroy everything and everyone in their path.

But really this is a Supergirl story with a lot of carnage happening around her. The issue wraps up the Dark Supergirl story started back in the Omega Man arc and does it in a very satisfying way. In fact, one of the reason it works so well is that it is a moment of calm in this book surrounded by the chaos of the brawling within the JLA satellite.

James Robinson really does great work in this issue. Yes, in many ways it is a 'smash em up' issue, a near nonstop fight from beginning to end. But within all that action, he still is able to give us some great characterization. So we hear how CyborgSuperman still wants to die but not at the hands of Doomsday and so fights on. And we can hear how much Dick Grayson cares for Supergirl. And, as stated above, we get a lot of Supergirl here as well.

And even more impressive is that the explanation behind the placement of the characters ... why Supergirl has time for some introspection ... doesn't feel forced.

On top of that, Miguel Sepulveda's art throughout the issue is just lush, highly detailed work which crackles on the page. If only Supergirl's boot didn't have heels! The art alone is worth the cover price.

With CyborgSuperman and Doomsday ripping up the satellite, Supergirl and Batman take refuge in the sick bay, a sort of fortified last stronghold on Watchtower. During the fight, Supergirl felt weakened and Dick realized that a retreat was called for simply for survival.

Most likely the battle triggered a defense protocol to flood the satellite with magic radiation, a way to weaken any potential Kryptonian villain (like Zod). In the sick bay, there is no radiation and so Supergirl is safe.

But Dick also realizes that to win this fight, Supergirl has to be in the game. He needs to get to the other side of the satellite and turn off the defense systems.

I think that it makes sense for the satellite to have significant defense systems both external and internal. And given the recent events of New Krypton, having anti-Kryptonian measures doesn't have the usual ring of paranoia and now seems more like common sense.

And yes, this twist does isolate Supergirl from the battle for a bit, a turn that leads to her story.

The CyborgSuperman continues to battle against Doomsday rather than let Doomsday fulfill his wish for death. Part of Cyborg's motivation is to prove that he is a bigger man that Superman. To defeat Doomsday would prove that. Hmmm ... given recent stories, I wonder if CyborgSupes really wants to die after all.

But while that battle rips up the ship, the Sick Bay medical computers go on auto-pilot and scan Supergirl. The analysis is that she is dying.

Great ...

I think Supergirl fans are always waiting for the other shoe to drop, always waiting for DC to decide to kill her off again, erase her from continuity again. It is such a palpable feeling within her fanbase that I understand why creators would want to explore that. I know I had a 'here we go again' moment of angst when I read that panel. When a writer is able to evoke something like that, they have done their job. Now maybe people who aren't Supergirl fans just breezed by that panel. But I know I didn't.

Dick continues to make his way to the control panel.

Unfortunately the safety features in the X-Mansion Danger Room ... oops ... I mean Arena have been deactivated. To turn off the defenses, Batman has to make his way through an armada of villains. How can he survive this mess?

I really included this panel just to showcase more of Sepulveda's work. Wonderful.

One of the more interesting parts of this Reign of Doomsday has been the new powers that Doomsday is manifesting. He became armored against Steel. He developed energy blasts against the Eradicator. And here, after nearly being vivisected by CyborgSuperman, he develops the same organic machinery capabilities as Cyborg.  Moreover, the real CyborgSuperman suddenly finds that he can't repair himself. That is fascinating.

Even more interesting is that this Doomsday did not have armor or blasts. I am convinced that there are multiple Doomsdays, one for each of the Supermen. And now that I think that Lex is behind it, I wonder if this is some sort of Doomsday clone infused with some Amazo tech.

So brawls are all well and good. They are a fun part of comics.

But the best part of this story occurs in the sick bay. After a 'computerized' Dr. MidNite cannot diagnose why she is dying, Dick (from a distance and while on an open comm-link with Kara) activates another medical program, this one Dr. Fate.

Robinson remembers that Kent Nelson was a psychiatrist.

He points out that Dark Supergirl has manifested multiple times in the past. I love how Nelson equates the Kelly Supergirl, the one where Zor-El was telling her to kill Superman, was a 'Dark Supergirl' even if the costume remained blue. I don't think that undermines the Kryptonite poisoning explanation Sterling Gates used. In fact, it might add to it, a reason why those particular hallucinations came to the forefront.

Fate realizes that Supergirl has had so much psychiatric trauma both recently (New Krypton) and in the past (the destruction of the first Krypton) that she is being crushed ... literally killed ... by survivor's guilt and (I think) PTSD.

Even Kara knows that this manifestation of Dark Supergirl isn't evil. She's just acting like a self-centered brat. In comparison to the more villainous prior manifestations, I suppose it shows some personal growth by Supergirl.

Nelson knows Supergirl needs to simply accept that she is blameless in all that has happened. He says my favorite line in the whole book (and what I am sure will end up on my best of 2011 list) 'You survived because ultimately your mother chose her love for you over everything else'. What a great line about Alura, a character I still miss.

And finally Supergirl expresses her feelings .. she's angry and sad and tired and sad. Her life has been hard to live recently.

It might sound simple but Fate knows Supergirl needs to forgive herself, to move past the thought that somehow she is responsible for the tragedies around her. It is implied here (although never outright said) that bu shedding this weight from her psyche she will 'cure' herself, will stop dying.

In some ways this is just covering material already done by Sterling Gates and Jamal Igle and Bernard Chang in Supergirl. A lot of these revelations were discussed, reviewed, revealed in the BizarroGirl arc.

Still, I think this was done well. It shows how complex Supergirl is a character. And it shows how deep Robinson's understanding of the character is.

And her introspective healing comes just in time. Right after turning off the magic field, Batman is about to die at the hands of Doomsday. He call for help and Supergirl arrives ... clad in the classically colored costume! (Ugh ... but those heels!)

Man, that is a great double splash page of Supergirl. Sepulveda's stuff is really slick. You can feel this right uppercut, shrapnel flying all around.

It gets better ...

Supergirl proceeds to beat the tar out of Doomsday for a couple of pages. She is able to finally cut loose. She even talks about how she wanted to take him on one-on-one, unlike the group battle in WONK.

Even Dick can sense it. "Her light is back.' 'She's magnificent.' And the art is spectacular.

And it even looks like she is going to win the fight, Doomsday in shreds.

But in a scene which eerily mirrors Crisis on Infinite Earth's #7, Supergirl is distracted by Batman before she can finish the job giving Doomsday just the opening he needs to defeat Supergirl. He then rips off CyborgSuperman's arms off.

And just like that  the fight is over and Doomsday teleports away with his victims. Doomsday teleporting? This can't be the Doomsday.

Unfortunately, the remaining Leaguers can't track Doomsday. His essence has been cloaked even from Blie Lantern's ring.

We do see where Doomsday went ... to the site of New Krypton. Another nice twist.

So I thoroughly enjoyed this comic ... more than I thought I would.

For one thing, the action sequences are crazy spectacular. I will admit that I like seeing comic punch-ups as much as anyone. And the battles here ... from Doomsday and Cyborg, to Dick vs the villains, to Supergirl vs Doomsday ... are all over the top and beautifully drawn.

But the Supergirl moment, the discussion of her feelings, her ultimate self-forgiveness, and transformation back to the real Supergirl, was all done so well. It just added a level of psychological drama on top of the wild carnage happening everywhere else. I think Robinson is really treating Supergirl right here, much better than he did in Cry For Justice. He just seems to 'get her' now.

And Miguel Sepulveda's art is powerful and nuanced. I can't wait to see what he does in Action Comics #900.

And no more 'Dark Supergirl'!

Overall grade: A

Review: Justice League Of America #55

Justice League of America #55 came out last week and had the difficult task of dealing with two big plotlines, Eclipso's return and assault on the magical powers of the DCU and Doomsday's reign of terror on the Super-family members. With that much action going on, the pace here was fast and furious.

One thing that has interested me about the Reign of Doomsday storyline is just how Supergirl was going to fit in. It is pretty clear that Doomsday is going after the people who tried to stand in for Superman after Doomsday 'killed' the Man of Steel. We have seen him go after Steel and the Eradicator. But he didn't necessarily go after Matrix/Supergirl in that arc. In fact, it is unclear if that Supergirl is even in continuity. Still, Doomsday has a major affiliation with Superman and Kryptonian history, so I am glad that Kara is being included somehow.

Of course, to get Supergirl in on the action, James Robinson needs to work some writing legerdemain, getting the right pieces in the right places, even if it is serendipitous.

And, as I said, the action in this issue is crazy with a lot of stuff happening very fast. Some major things happen within a few panel or off screen entirely. Despite that incredible pace, James Robinson doesn't lose sight of the subplots that he is building here. The Dark Supergirl and Jade storylines move forward despite all the action. I am very happy to see because one of my major complaints with Robinson's Superman work was that too many plotlines well left dangling or forgotten completely.

This issue also is the first time that we see Brett Booth's art on the major characters here.  Booth's work is very stylish and slick. It isn't the usual style that I am drawn to, but here it worked wonderfully.

The issue opens Alan Scott nursing his injuries from JSA in the Emerald City. He says that his current condition makes it extremely hard to keep the chaotic Starheart under control. Jade is at his bedside and says she is going to do everything she can to help. But things get suddenly out of control. Scott senses an outside danger ... Eclipso.

I have enjoyed Robinson's take on Eclipso so far. Here he calls the storming of the Emerald City an 'adventure'. It like some range of emotion in my villains. I don't think Eclipso would constantly be seething in his own evilness. So to see a grin as he banters with Bruce Gordon's persona, calling his war an adventure, added some much needed dimension. He takes joy in what he does.

I also think his current look, with the hand-sewn looser cowl, is more fitting for a magical creature than his prior snug spandex costume and cowl.

While that is happening on the moon, Supergirl and Batman are in deep space.

I like how Dick says that Kara is not so dark, not evil, in this current incarnation, even referencing the prior Dark Supergirl stories. And I was also very glad to see him call her his 'little sister',the relationship Robinson has always supported. I was glad to see that re-emphasized.

Supergirl calls in her favor. She wants all of New Krypton's remnants removed, a physical way to help her forget about it. This Dark nature of Supergirl seems more and more a facade, something he is doing to appear tough and disinterested while she is still nursing the emotional wounds of War of the Supermen. She is trying to laugh away her pain ... and that doesn't work. Still, much of this was covered in her own book with Sterling Gates. I hope this 'dark' period doesn't last much longer. But most of all I am glad that Robinson hasn't made her evil again. For a while there I was worried.

So in something of a deus ex machina, Boodika is also at the site of new Krypton surveying it for Oa. It is a convenient way for Robinson to get the spirit of the Cyborg Superman into our galaxy ... maybe too convenient given all that is happening in the Lantern books?

Regardless, with all the heroes there, Doomsday arrives, nearly disemboweling Boodika. Nice splash page by Booth here.

At first Kara thinks Doomsday is after her ... which would make sense given his history ... but it soon is clear he is after Boodika. And his opening attack has seriously wounded the Alpha Lantern.

Regardless of his primary target, Doomsday is a villain and hated figure in Kryptonian history. Supergirl doesn't shy away from combat. While that skirmish begins, Batman contacts Starman and asks for him to teleport the heroes back.

Instead Starman teleports himself there and joins the fight.

Oh ... and Saint Walker is also there. No explanation on that yet. I know Walker is supposed to join the JLA. But I hope there is more to his appearance than 'I happened to be in the neighborhood'.

I love this panel though, seeing Supergirl's fury as multiple after images of her attacks on Doomsday are shown. Very nice.

But the Doomsday story is only one half of what's happening. With half the league away in space, it is an easy invasion by Eclipso. The chaotic magical creatures which flocked to the Emerald City are easily overcome by his dark magic, falling before his power, and joining his army.

In some ways the quick overrun is dramatic, letting us know just how strong Eclipso is becoming. But was it accomplished too fast without letting the readers get a sense of the battle? I am still mulling that one over.

Jade knows that Alan's safety is paramount. Who knows what would happen if Eclipso got hold of the Starheart. So Jade askes Jesse Quick to run him to safety.

The problem is we learn that Jesse is losing her powers, becoming slower. Is this a way to get her back into the Liberty Belle outfit? A way to open the door for a Flash to join the JLA? We just learned this so I guess we have to wait and see. I have always liked Jessie as a character so I hope there is nothing dire here. Nor do I want her to head to comic limbo as a depowered civilian.

Jade tries to fight Eclipso but is soon brought under his sway.

Was anyone surprised by this? Jade has had a dark side to her since she came back as a White Lantern and joined the League. I was not surprised to see her fall so quickly. The thing is, she has been shown to be extremely powerful since her return as well. This can't bode well for the heroes.

And the JLA satellite is finally able to teleport everyone back to Watchtower. Unfortunately everyone includes Doomsday. And when Boodika falls, the Cyborg-Superman manifests. It can't wait to see the resulting battle. Cyborg wants to die ... but I don't think a pummeling by Doomsday will accomplish that. Will Cyborg fight? I have to think he will defend himself. And who do the Leaguers fight? Both of these guys as they try to kill each other? Should be fun to see.

When I was done reading the issue, I needed to take a deep breath. Everything happens in a frenzy. Fast pace and great action usually means an entertaining comic and this one was. But I was happy to see the Dark Supergirl storyline progressed. We have a better sense of her feelings and motives now.

Another thing that I have liked about Robinson's League has been that they are fighting huge threats, dealing with the major players that the JLA is supposed to. Here they are fighting two at once. Eclipso and Doomsday are top tier villains. We'll have to see how this split League deals with them. The only downside to the issue was the 'too easy' appearances of Boodika and Saint Walker. They felt forced, there more to move the story in a direction than to actually have a reason for being there.

Brett Booth's stuff really sizzles here. The battle sequences have a nice kinetic feel with a stylized and detailed feel. I hope he remains on the book for a while.

Overall grade: B+