Supergirl #62 review

Supergirl teams up with Blue Beetle, Robin and Miss Martian to foil the plans of the mysterious Alex. They fail.

Still, it's only part three, next issue's continuation will likely see the Maid of Might take down Alex … or whoever he really is. There are further hints as to his nature this time, but I can't call it. And I'm happy to take a wait-and-see attitude, given how enjoyable this instalment of Good-looking Corpse is. Having discovered that Alex's super-henchmen are linked to Kryptonian Sunstone, Kara Zor-El tests her suspicions at a shady outpost of the Cadmus Project. What she finds there – a citizen of New Krypton on a vivisection table – rattles her, and leads to her downfall at issue's end. Prior to that, though, it's a pleasure to see Kara running the show, moving three of the DC Universe's most interesting and capable young heroes around like a seasoned general.

There's a terrific sequence in which Jaime (Blue Beetle) Reyes and Damian (Robin) Wayne exchange opinions of the symbols heroes wear, with both firmly in character (guess which one describes the other as 'irritatingly Proletarian'?). Miss Martian doesn't get much to say, but she serves a particular plot purpose and will doubtless be her sunny self next issue.

It's been announced by DC Comics that after coming to the rescue of this storyline when original writer Nick Spencer stepped away, James Peaty won't be continuing. Promising Marvel find Kelly Sue DeConnick is on board for three issues from #65. Good luck to her, but after that I really hope Peaty returns, should he want the regular gig, as he's done some excellent work. His Supergirl is recognisably a continuation of previous writer Sterling Gates's likeable young heroine, and growing beyond that.

Bernard Chang's artwork is luscious. His Robin, Blue Beetle and Miss Martian are dead on. Most importantly, his Kara is a pocket spitfire, with smarts, determination, serenity … whatever the occasion demands, Chang conjures it up. So of course, he's gone after this arc, as the very capable ChrisCross takes over art duties.

Completing the artistic ensemble are letterer John J Hill, a boon to any book, and colourist Blond, who actually attempts to give Jaime Reyes a Hispanic skin tone. And he renders great dust clouds.

The cover is the work of illustrator Mahmud Asrar and colourist Guy Major, and it's a classic comic book composition, classily executed.

It's heartening to see that despite the loss of Gates and artist partner Jamal Igle, Supergirl retains the quality. Now how about we retain a creative team? This one would do nicely.


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