Review Supergirl 12
Supergirl #12 came out this last week and is probably my favorite issue of this run to date. This is a fast moving issue with intrigue, action, and some teenage angst. There is punchy dialogue. There is a some mystery. There is just incredible art by Robson Rocha and Daniel Henriques. And there is a Stanley Artgerm Lau variant cover. If this title started out like this, we might still be selling 40K a month.
Its not that I disliked the first year of stories. But the Cyborg Superman arc was something of a bummer to start out on. And Brian Chings somewhat loose pencils were definitely a style I needed to become accustomed to.
Now with the opening arc behind us, we are moving out of origin and into adventures.
Steve Orlando is crackling here. This is the Cat Grant I want to read. These are the villains I want to see fighting Kara. And this is the caring Supergirl still reaching out to those who have hurt her as she moves forward. Plus, there is a lot of Legion working its way into this arc. Maybe Supergirl will join that team when we eventually meet them in the Rebirth DCU.
And I just have to say one more time in this introduction how much the art just sings on the page. This is detailed, energetic work which just sings. You see every clothes wrinkle, every hair strand, every crackle of energy. I hope everyone out there in comic land notices this book and trumpets it.
On to the story.
The issue picks up right where last issue left off with Supergirl being shot off of a CatCo balcony by Cat Grant herself. Now last issue (and even the standard cover of this issue) seemed to hint that this was a Kryptonite gun. But here, it is clearly a purple energy weapon. Should I forgive such a feint?
But this is the first panel in the book and just marvel at that art. From the physical feel of Kara falling over to the dissipation of the energy, to every single wrinkle in Cats suit, this is just spectacular.
Gorgeous.
Now I dont know about you but this seems like an odd proposition. Are there editors? Are there rules? Standards? It sounds good but in this day and age giving anyone a platform that can reach millions seems like a recipe for cynicism, personal attacks, and disaster.
Still, Orlando captures Cats confidence and self-congratulation quite nicely.
meanwhile, plummeting to the ground, Supergirl look up to see that there is no balcony off the CatCo building. In fact there is no Cat. Where did all that go? How did all that happen?
Regardless of the how, the intent becomes clear. The beam amped up Supergirls powers to the point where she has little control over them. So where does Supergirl head? To high school for fear of being expelled for truancy.
That seems a little bit risky. I am sure the DEO could manage to cover for Kara. That said, I think Karas personal life as Kara Danvers needs to be a big part of this book and this character. We just havent seen enough of that so kudos to Orlando for taking us there.
The analogs mostly add up. A new Solomon Grundy (magically cloned by Selena from the original Grundys hair) is Validus. Indigo is Tharok. Magog is the Persuader. The Empress is the Empress. So, I guess that leaves the sorceress Selena as the Mano of the group.
As a Legion fan I am loving this. This Empress sounds like the self-absorbed, nasty original. And she is just as deadly, frying the poor guard without a moments notice.
Was the gun-toting Cat part of this groups plans? Or is there another villain out there? Hmmm ...
Again, just drink in this art. Amazing.
If Ben is as smart as we have heard he is, he should have cracked Karas secret identity by now. Here he seems pretty sympathetic to the whole predicament. I would not be surprised if Ben himself has a secret which we will learn at some point. (My guess is it has something to do with his gender.)
Since CatCo supports Supergirl, Selena is sent to destroy it.
Once again, this is a delicious Cat moment. She simply isnt scared of anyone. Despite Selena teleporting in and threatening her, Cat is unfazed, poking fun at the villains boots.
I mean, that is just brill.
Now despite the pulse-pounding pace of this whole thing, my favorite scene was a quiet one.
Dealing with everything that has happened and is currently happening to her, Kara looks for someone to talk to and help her. She doesnt pick Kal or Eliza or even Dr. Veritas (all of whom could help with this power overload issue). She picks her father Zor.
We learn that Zor is awake and healing (with the Tycho body parts). But he is either too ashamed or too sad to talk to his daughter yet.
But I love Karas optimism and compassion. She wont abandon him. Shell always be there for him. She will always try to help him.
Part of me was hoping Zor-El would be in a coma and simply forgotten. But if there is a redemption for him and it is done well, I wouldnt mind it. This scene made me actually hope for it.
The Fives attacks continue. This time the Empress blips into the DEO hoping to get information out of Cameron Chase.
Again, we see the strength of the women surrounding Supergirl. Without blinking, Cameron has gun in hand.
I said before that Orlando really has a grasp of voices. Here the haughty bullets are but wind to the Emerald Eye is pitch perfect.
Supergirl hears the citizens of National City screaming about a monster. Barely able to control her flight, she lands on the street to face off against Solomon Grundy.
Whew ... talk about the opposite of decompressed. This book had the pedal to the metal the whole time. I loved every scene. The Ben/Kara and Supergirl/Zor-El scenes were welcome character scenes amidst the action and plot progression. And, as I have trumpeted, this art!
Anyhow, this issue was a complete winner. I am thrilled!
Overall grade: A
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