2010 In Review And The Top Ten Supergirl Moments

Has there been a better year for Supergirl in history than 2010?

If you are a Supergirl fan, 2010 just might be the gold standard for the character. And given the wondrous nature of this year, in some ways I am sad to see it in the rear view mirror. It has really felt this year that Supergirl mattered in the DCU. She seemed to be everywhere. Her own title had fantastic and mature stories that had Kara grow emotionally and heroically.

But 2010 is behind us and so that means that we need to take a closer look back. So here is 2010 in review and the top ten Supergirl moments.

The year kicked off with Supergirl in the midst of the New Krypton storyline. In the middle of the year, that arc culminated with War of the Supermen. Supergirl had a huge role in that story, the big finale of a 2 year opus. In rereading War, you might say Supergirl had more screen time, did more than Superman! With New Krypton over, Sterling Gates had free hand to write more pure Supergirl stories, not tied down to the bigger super-arc. Those stories were the only ones that seemed to deal with the fallout of New Krypton. On top of that, Supergirl joined James Robinson's Justice League. She was a member of the biggest team in the DCU and flourished.

But comics weren't the only place we saw Supergirl thrive in 2010. We also had the return of Laura Vandervoort as Supergirl in Smallville. In that episode she wears some base uniforms and acts as the heroic mentor for Clark. And we saw the release of Superman/Batman:Apocalypse. Although not named in the title, the movie is the origin story of Supergirl and actually improved on the Loeb/Turner original story, smoothing out some of the rougher patches.

Both of these projects were great, showcasing Supergirl in a positive light. In particular, Apocalypse really was fantastic, being far better than I thought it would be. How great to see an animated Supergirl again!

And DC must have realized that there is a market for Supergirl merchandise. In 2010, the DC Dynamics Supergirl statue was released. The maquette statue of the Apocalypse Supergirl was released. A Superwoman action figure was released.

On top of that, the Michael Turner Supergirl mini-statue, the Adam Hughes Women of the DCU full statue, and the Supergirl/Steel component of the Superman family statue were all solicited!

So Supergirl really was everywhere, in multiple media outlets and in merchandising. I can't recall a better year for Supergirl fans to see their favorite character all over the place.

But really it was the comics of this year that made it so spectacular. The Supergirl title was phenomenal, especially the issues not related to New Krypton. The BizarroGirl and Dollmaker stories ended the year (and the Gates/Igle run) on a high note as they took a mature look at a young hero on a journey. Her appearances in the Justice League have been for the most part wonderful. And the team-ups with the younger members of the Bat-family were the right mix of fun and action.

So on to the top ten Supergirl comic book moments of 2010 !!

#10 - Photo Booth Fun - Batgirl #14 - Bryan Q Miller and Lee Garbett

Batgirl #14 was such a fun romp that it would make my top ten issues list (if I did such a thing). There was such an easy camaraderie between Supergirl and Batgirl. You could see just how they would be such quick friends. Their personalities shine throughout, with Batgirl seemingly thinking that Supergirl is the perfect hero, something we know isn't true.

This scene stuck out in an issue full of silly moments. Here is a classic sitcom moment, the strip of amusing photos from a photo booth. I love the playful Supergirl putting rabbit ears over the faux Dracula. But that last photo show how close Steph and Kara are. That is what friends do ... make goofy faces in photos together!

#9 - Ain't Love Grand - Supergirl Annual #2 - Sterling Gates and Matt Camp

I have sung the praises of Sterling Gates many times here. But one thing that sets him apart is his appreciation for the history of Supergirl. One thing that was an important part of the original Supergirl's mythos was her relationship with Brainiac 5 and her being a part of the Legion. Supergirl Annual #2 brought both of those historical aspects back in a great way, laden with homages to those great Silver Age story.

While their relationship was hinted at in Supergirl #52 with the older Brainy, this panel resonated as the Supergirl/Brainy moment of the year. After barely surviving their encounter with Satan Girl, Supergirl takes the initiative and kisses Brainy. I love the shocked look in his eyes. Man, that Matt Camp is a great artist.

It just feels right to have Supergirl and Brainy in some sort of relationship. I was thrilled to see this in current continuity.

#8 - Always - Supergirl #50 - Sterling Gates and Jamal Igle

I love this scene. Love it. When I first read these panels, I knew it would make my top ten list. I thought for sure it would be the #1 moment. The fact that it lands at #8 tells me what a great year it has been.

There is something so wonderful about this exchange. Gangbuster knows that storming a hive filled with giant super-strong bugs is a recipe for getting the crap kicked out of you. But look at Supergirl's expression. She knows it too. The subtle half smile, like she is laughing on the inside about what she is going to do, is perfect. When you are a hero, sometimes you have to jump into the fire to do the right thing. The fact that Supergirl was a character that now was 'always' ready for that challenge showed how far she had come on the hero's journey.

There are many panels I could give as examples of how great Jamal Igle's work was on this title. This would be on that list too. You get so much information out of Supergirl's expression. When art and words work together, comics become a special medium.

I wish I could own this page!

#7 - Muscle of the JLA - Justice League of America #51 - James Robinson and Mark Bagley

Throughout the last couple of years there has been a concern about Supergirl's ability in a fight. Was she strong enough to defeat a major power threat on her own? Or did she always need Superman or someone else to pull her bacon out of the fire? I was hoping that her defeating Ursa would finally answer that question but she lost that fight.

In an even better moment, James Robinson and Mark Bagley show Supergirl going toe-to-toe with Ultraman in the Justice League. Ultraman is no slouch, having fought Superman to a standstill in the past. So to see Supergirl step up to the challenge, skirmish over Washington DC, spewing heat vision from her eyes was great.

But it ended with an exclamation point. When Batman calls for Supergirl, she ends the fight quickly and efficiently, smashing Ultraman in the jaw with a wicked right cross. She knocks out Ultraman!

It was clear that Supergirl was the legacy muscle of the JLA. Not a bad place to be in the pecking order of the DCU!

#6 - Death of Alura - War of the Supermen #1 - James Robinson, Sterling Gates, and Jamal Igle

We had already seen a tender death scene between Supergirl and Zor-El way back in Supergirl #36. In that issue, the two characters have that chance to say goodbye, to let each other know how much they mean to each other.

The death of Alura stands in stark contrast. It happened so fast that the mother and daughter can't say anything to each other. Instead we get that empty word balloon, symbolic of all the words that should have been said.

Alura was such a compelling and complex character. She could be an overbearing mother or a rage-filled leader. Or she could be a grieving wife or an insecure leader. We saw it all, so much that it was hard to get a handle on who she really was. She loved Kara in her own way, just showed it bizarrely.

But this is the sadness and the suddenness of death. The last words these two said to each other were an argument about Reactron. They had so much more to say to each other but weren't given the chance. If she knew this would happen I am sure Supergirl would have hugged her mother, cherished their time together. But life doesn't work that way. That empty word balloon is the perfect symbol of their relationship.

This scene really is that much more powerful when you contrast it to that Zor-El scene. I am sure father and daughter knew how they felt about each other, didn't need to say it but did. Here Kara may never know or understand Alura's feelings.

I miss Alura as a character.

#5 - Self-discovery - Supergirl #57 - Sterling Gates and Bernard Chang

Supergirl's relationship with BizarroGirl was just comic gold in that storyline. BizarroGirl wasn't an imperfect duplicate of Kara, but more of a carnival mirror reflection, magnifying all the rage, self-doubt, and fear that Supergirl was feeling after the destruction of New Krypton. The potential destruction of BizarroWorld was a tangible way for Supergirl to work out her issues with her home world's destruction. Her talks with BizarroGirl were like self-analysis about those same feelings.

This scene, where BizarroGirl feels so helpless and guilty that she hides in a cave, was the best place to see the juxtaposition. Everything BizarroGirl was feeling, Supergirl had felt on Earth, rejecting her place as a hero for a while.

Their conversation is touching, to the point that Kara's words would have worked if she was talking to her reflection in a mirror. In the end, BizarroGirl wasn't a new rogue but a sort of twisted friend and ally. I thought for sure this scene would be #1 as well.

#4 - Damien Gets an Earful - World's Finest #4 - Sterling Gates and Phil Noto

It's a short interlude at the end of World's Finest, a scene that consisted of one panel. But how great was it to see Supergirl holding Damien up by the scruff of the neck and chastise him for calling Steph 'Fatgirl'.

It was a comeuppance that was well deserved and needed to happen to put this Robin in his place. This is probably where Damien first started to get his crush on Supergirl.

It also showed how Steph and Kara would back each other up.

#3 - The Closet of Solitude - Supergirl #54 - Sterling Gates and Jamal Igle

Supergirl has been reeling from the death of her mother and her people, the destruction of her world. She has cut her hair, given up the Supergirl persona, and wants to live a simple life.

And then BizarroGirl started killing people and Supergirl was needed once more. So she entered her 'closet of solitude' to get her uniform. Surrounded by trophies and mementos of her super-hero career, she dons the uniform once more.

It was the sheer volume of items seen here that impressed me so much. Again, this was another sign of Gates and Igle respecting and acknowledging the character's history so far. Yes, a lot of what is there is from their run, including some heart-wrenching items as Zor-El's headband and a piece of Alura's S-shield. But it also had things from the earlier issues of the title: "Claire Kent's" wig, Flamebird's helmet, her Amazon spear, the other belts she has been shown in. It was like looking in a time capsule for Kara.

This is another one of those pages that I wished I owned the original art for. Just wonderful.

#2 - The Death of Supergirl - Supergirl Annual #2 - Sterling Gates and Matt Camp

The concern for Supergirl being killed off again is one that lingers in most of her fans. When she was wiped out in Crisis, it scarred us. It is the elephant in the room, the worry that unites us. Supergirl was killed off once before. Why wouldn't DC do it again? It is as if fans of Supergirl have some sort of fandom PTSD about it. We sometimes act like we are waiting for the axe to drop. So when Brainiac 5 talked about Kara's death in Supergirl #52, some folks thought it was imminent.

There is almost too much energy there for creators to ignore. It is something that should be tapped into or addressed. And Sterling Gates and Matt Camp did that in this powerful scene in Supergirl Annual #2. Flying through the Supergirl wing of the Supergirl museum, she comes across how she is going to die, a death that occurs while she is saving the universe from some threat. It echoes of Crisis ... but we aren't allowed to see it. We only see Supergirl's reaction. And Camp does such a great job here, hands clasped in front of her face, her expression with just a hint of horror.

Now of course Supergirl will be a deceased historical figure come the 31st century. But this scene brought back all the old fears and gave me goose bumps. When you can get a reaction like that out of a cranky old comic fan like me you are doing something right.

I doubt DC is planning on killing of Supergirl any time soon. But this scene was a great way to tap into the worries of her fans.

#1 - Full Circle - Supergirl #59 - Sterling Gates and Jamal Igle

Could the best moment for Supergirl in 2010 really have come out only 3 weeks ago? The answer is yes.

I think this moment struck me not only because of its own power but also because it represented the end of the Gates/Igle run. Or maybe it should be called the Gates/Igle era.

This scene represents everything the two have done for the character, a contrast to the opening page of their run way back in Supergirl #34. Then it was 'Does the world need Supergirl?' with a picture of a snarling Kara flying at the camera. Here it was 'The day I needed Supergirl' with a smiling Kara, bathed in a halo of sunshine, flying to the clouds. Even her words echo that first issue. Then she simply said 'I'm Supergirl. This is my life.' Now she says 'I'm Supergirl. This is my life ... I'm pretty happy with it.'

And gone are the stories of her downing Air Force One, killing her classmates, trying to kill Superman, rave dancing while dinosaurs destroy the city. Instead, she grew up a little, matured, worked her way through some major personal issues, and persevered. Sure she struggled at times, even failed. But that is part of the journey.

So much of what was good about this year for Supergirl was the main title. And this ending page was just the perfect capstone for the year, for Gates and Igle's run. This is the Supergirl that I have always wanted to read but rarely got to. I guess I have to tip my cap to those guys one last time. So that makes this the #1 moment of the year!

Anyways, that's the year as I saw it. As always, I would love to hear if I skipped over any moments people thought should be on the list, anything that I overlooked.

Best of 2010 - Honorable Mentions

Happy New Year's to everyone! I hope everyone had a fun and healthy holiday season.

The beginning of the new year means 'best of' retrospectives everywhere, a tradition I am happy to be part of here at Comic Box Commentary.

I'll be posting my end of the year review and top ten Supergirl comic book moments of 2010 on Monday. It is one of my favorite posts to do, looking back at the entire year and picking the scenes that stuck with me.

But 2010 was a banner year for Supergirl. This truly felt like a golden time to be a Supergirl fan. It was hard to pick just 10 moments. While I usually have a couple of honorable mentions, this year I had 6 ... too many to include in the main 'Best of' post. So I figured I would whet the appetite by separating my honorable mentions, giving them a post of their own.

Remember, these are the best moments from the books and as such won't include other places Supergirl appeared in 2010.

On to the Honorable Mentions!

#6 - 'Bat-Bra' - Batgirl #14 - Bryan Q Miller and Lee Garbett

The original Supergirl and Batgirl were great friends so I love the fact that the current incarnations are buddied too. I am pretty amazed at how effortless it has seemed to have the two young heroes become fast pals.

Batgirl #14 was a fun issue as Supergirl and Steph battle some vampires. It is that breezy feeling that permeates the title that has made me add it to my pull list. In one of my favorite moments in that issue, Kara springs to action, ripping off her civilian clothes to reveal her Supergirl uniform. When she asks Steph to do the same, Steph responds she'd be in her bra, and no it doesn't have bats on it. I love Steph's exasperated look!

Laugh out loud funny. We haven't seen the last of this issue in my look back at 2010.

#5 - 'Is that Supergirl?' - DCU Legacies #5 - George Perez

It has always irked me that Supergirl saved the universe in Crisis on Infinite Earths but no character remembers her sacrifice.

So imagine my surprise to see the original Supergirl, headband and all, in a couple of panels of DCU Legacies look back at the Crisis. Even if it is in the fevered memories of the narrator, the fact that some people in the DCU remember what that Kara did was fantastic.

And how great to see Perez version of the headband uniform again!

#4 - 'Ursa Showdown' - War of the Supermen #3 - James Robinson, Sterling Gates, and Cafu

One of my favorite parts of the New Krypton storyline was Ursa. A malicious and crazed sadist, Ursa was more like a force of nature. I mean, she wielded a Kryptonite knife despite the pain it caused her just to be able to kill other Kryptonians. She dominated every scene she was in.

So I was thrilled to see Supergirl and Ursa face off in War of the Supermen. It showed me just how much of a hero Kara was, squaring off against a such a skilled combatant as Ursa, someone with no morals or battle honor. Cafu's art really sizzled in the book.

This scene would have made the top ten if Supergirl won the fight. But it made more sense for Ursa to win.

#3 - Posing like Superman - Supergirl #54 - Sterling Gates and Jamal Igle

Not so much a scene as a pose, I loved this splash page from Supergirl #54. Finally shaken from her post-New Krypton catatonia, Kara dons the Supergirl uniform and goes out to face BizarroGirl.

It is clear that this pose mirrors the iconic Superman pose from the cover of Superman #1. As an amateur comic historian, I love small homages like this. It shows how much of a fan Gates and Igle are, and how much respect they have for the character. Perfect!

#2 - Damien crushing on Supergirl - Superman/Batman #77 - Joshua Williamson and Ale Garza

No character has grown more in my eyes in 2010 then Damien Wayne. At first I couldn't stand him, so much I didn't collect Grant Morrison's Batman run (and I love Morrison). But he has become more complex and nuanced especially in Batman and Robin.

Superman/Batman #77 teamed him up with Supergirl in another adventure that had its share of lighthearted moments. But the best moment was the end when Dick Grayson realizes that Damien has a crush on Supergirl. It was as if a puzzle piece in the character fell into place. He can't always be a hardened assassin boy wonder. And Supergirl has stood up to him in the past (more on that later). So of course he would be smitten with her. This stands out as a 'best of Supergirl' moment with no Supergirl!

#1 - I don't scare easily - Supergirl #50 - Sterling Gates and Jamal Igle

There is always one honorable mention that comes verrrryyy close to making the top ten. This moment was on and off the list so much it should be labeled #11 on the 'best of' list.

Fighting the Insect Queen, Supergirl stands defiantly and says 'I am Kara Zor-El ... and I don't scare easily', a line lifted from the Supergirl movie.

Again, it is one of those moments that let me know that Gates and Igle are true fans of the character, slipping in signature dialogue from the movie into the comic book. Much like the Superman pose above, it is that recognition and appreciation of the character's history that made this run so special. Even the pose Igle puts her in is reminiscent of Helen Slater's when she says that line. How can you not like a Supergirl movie line being said by the Supergirl comic character?

Okay, those are my honorable mentions, the last scenes that fell to the cutting room floor. The main list will be up in a couple of days!

Review: Batgirl #14

Batgirl #14, written by Bryan Q. Miller and drawn by Lee Garbett, was released last week and for me seemed to be the symbolic ending of the comics summer. Summertime is a time for frivolity and fun and that is what this issue was. It was light, funny, even occasionally silly. In this world of grim dark comics, this was a welcome change of pace.

I can remember a time when comics were always fun ... or at the very least 'rest issues' between big arcs were always something simple and refreshing, a place to take a breath and simply enjoy the medium. So to see Batgirl and Supergirl fighting vampires in such a humorous way was the perfect end to the sunny summer days, the perfect break from the heavier stuff I read.

First off and obviously, this issue was a must buy because it again paired up the 'new World's Finest' Batgirl and Supergirl. We saw how easy it would be for them to be friends in the great Gates/Igle World's Finest #3. Here it was nice to see that friendship maintained.

Supergirl flies to Gotham and 'rescues' Steph from Friday night game night with her mother. And it doesn't look like it was going well. Steph's scrabble rack has 3 E's, 2 A's, a U and a Z. Not much happening there. Seeing that perplexing rack was a small touch but it showed just how depressing that night must have been; even Scrabble was tormenting Steph.

This is clearly post-'War of the Supermen' so it would have been nice to see Kara with her shorter hair style. That also would have made it easier to distinguish the two heroes. At times, when Kara is out of her glasses, the two look very similar and only their dialogue helped me figure out who was who.

And I also thought it make more sense have Steph introduce Kara as Linda since she was there in her secret identity. Maybe Steph doesn't know she is Linda Lang?

Once freed from 'house arrest', Steph bemoans Friday Night game night and how boring it can be.

I like how Linda quickly tells Steph that she should cherish every moment with her mother. It was a nice moment. I wonder just what Supergirl would give to play Scrabble with Alura right now. It was a nice touch on the emotional issues that Kara is dealing with right now.

But, as I said before, this is more of a comedy issue and a night on campus is a time to get past any issues of sadness and solitude that the two might have.

As a HUGE fan of 'The Little Mermaid' (yes I am not afraid to admit it), I loved seeing Linda spin happily quoting the opening line to 'Part of your world'. Doesn't it sort of imply that Supergirl still feels a little apart, a little alien, and wants to be part of this 'normal' world?

It sounds like Linda has watched more Cinemax than Disney though as she thinks the hallmarks of college life are keg parties and pillow fights. Luckily Steph decides on something more tame.

There are many whimsical flourishes throughout the book such as this scene at the 'requisite super-collider lab' at Gotham U. This disgruntled student scientist is worried his funding will be pulled unless he comes up with some results. He has great fear that he might have to return to being a (gasp) T.A. Now that's funny.

It just smacked of stories of my youth where experimental labs, usually nuclear, seemed to be on every comic book campus, and almost always situated next to dorms. I doubt that would fly these days.

This scientist turns on the collider and it hums to life ominously.

Meanwhile, rather than indulge in some Animal House/American Pie antics, Linda and Steph take in an old vampire movie now upgraded to 3-D. But rather than chuckle at the Lugosi-like star hamming it up, both of them sympathize with his loneliness.

Certainly I can understand Kara's feelings of isolation now, given the tragedy of New Krypton. She is still dealing with the mass loss of friends and family. Maybe Steph's feelings stem from her lack of a normal life? As a newbie to the title, I don't know.

Regardless, both are shocked when the film is bathed in energy from the activated collider and multiple Dracula's spring to life.

I really dislike scanning and posting whole pages, feeling I should reserve my review to key panels. But this page might be one of my favorite pages of the year. I expect this to end up on my annual 'best of' list for 2010.

First off, without missing a beat, Supergirl steps up to battle the ersatz vampires. She is ready for action, her costume on underneath her outfit. It is interesting here how Steph feels something of the rookie here, dismayed that Supergirl is always ready for action.

But the killer moment is when Supergirl asks Steph if she is going to take off her clothes and be in costume too. When told that Steph isn't wearing her costume, Kara asks her if her bra has bat-symbols. As funny as that is, Steph's deadpan response is funnier.

A 'laugh out loud' moment in a comic? Wonderful!

A quick costume change, an explanation via pseudoscience of how there are 24 Dracula force field constructs running around, and a holodeck joke later, and the heroes are off to stake the vampires.

Is this a completely preposterous situation? Nonsensical? Yes. But that is the point. It is fraught with comic potential and that is the purpose of this comic. If you don't get that premise then you missed the joke.

I am intrigued by Batgirl and what feels like a mild inferiority complex she has with Kara throughout the book. Here she squirms when Supergirl says she understands the science here because of her guild. It is so weird to read a Supergirl comic from this perspective, to see how others view her. In Supergirl's comic, Kara is her own worst critic, often feeling inferior to others. How interesting that others put her up on the pedestal.

The set-up of the runaway vampires allows Miller to put Batgirl and Supergirl in a number of different amusing environments as they stake away. We see them take down vampires at the 'requisite Gotham dance club', at an ice cream shop, on a ferris wheel at a carnival. They even stake a vampire on a Segway. Ridiculous.

But my favorite has to be the Dracula in the photobooth. That makes absolutely no sense. Why would he go there? I love the progression of the photos.

It is this insanity that works with this romp through Gotham.

The last Dracula gets staked by both heroes as the adventure ends in a classic team-up style.

I love the easy-going manner with which Steph and Kara banter back and forth.

 The idea of loneliness comes back as the girls clean up after the fight. The scene really reminded me of the end of the Batman animated episode 'Girls Night Out'.

Sure this was a more serious moment after the wackiness of the main story but I felt it simply cemented the friendship of Steph and Kara. For some reason, and maybe it is the echoes of the Superman/Batman World's Finest team, this friendship just feels right, reads right ... more than I have felt when Tim or Cassie team with Kara.

I really liked this issue for all the reasons listed above. It was just absolutely exhilarating to read a simply fun comic, one that made me smile and laugh. After the dark nature of many comics and after reading Supergirl dealing with her emotional trauma in her own book (and trust me I am loving those stories), it was nice to see Kara letting loose, smiling, and having fun with a friend.

Stanley Lau's cover is gorgeous. I love the phony weathering, giving the book a tattered horror magazine or old movie poster feel. The internal art by Lee Garbett was solid, especially the pages where the two track the vampires ... some solid page construction there. It would have been nice if there was some way to more easily distinguish the two heroes.

I know a lot of my analogies are food related. This issue was like lemon meringue pie: light, airy, not too filling, but absolutely delicious.

Overall grade: A