Supergirl #12 review

Supergirl finally reaches out to Superman to learn what he knows of Krypton's fate and it turns out that he's learned one or two interesting things. First, that the comatose Kara orbited Earth's sun for quite awhile prior to landing on Earth, explaining why she was so powerful on emerging from the pod that brought her from Argo City. Secondly, that a large piece of the shattered craft may be on the ocean floor.

As you'd expect, Superman offers to accompany Kara on an exploratory mission into the depths. And Kara tells him to sod off, basically. Until she knows for definite that they're cousins, she's not trusting him.

So it is that a solo Supergirl must fight off mutated sea creatures while following a Kryptonian voice summoning her to a crystal structure. There, she learns that she's been duped by an old enemy.

Serves her ruddy well right, that's all I can say. Superman opens his fortress to her, shows her the bottle city of Kandor and shares the research he's done on her behalf, and does Kara say thanks? Nope, she insults him and threatens a fight should he try to stop her going off half-cocked.

Stupid girl. And annoying script. Finally we were at a point at which it would make sense for Kara to start trusting Superman a little, but writers Michael Green and Mike Johnson go down the stroppy teen route again. I get that Kara's been attacked a lot since she came to Earth, but Superman's not given her a reason to distrust him. Au contraire, she's giving him another reason to distrust her judgment.

Really, Kara's behaviour is getting old. She's fine with having a banshee for a pal but won't extend an open hand to someone she knows is recognised as a hero? I'm not one for having the title character of a book upstaged, but please let Kara have to be rescued by Kal-El. Heck, bring in the Silver Age Superman to give her a spanking ...

More pleasing aspects of this first-year closer include Kara's understandable qualms about drowning, before learning she can breathe underwater, and the mystery of who caused Kara's pod to orbit the sun. This issue's returning bad guy makes some sense, and the concept that stepping into the crystal palace feels like an emotion rather than a physical sensation is good.

I'm less pleased with her manifesting a personal force field, as I like my Kryptonians to share the same basic power set; hopefully this, and the earlier sunburst power, will be explained away by her being super-charged at the moment

I'm not delighted with the introduction of crystal architecture, it's an aspect of screen Supermen I've never liked. Crystal buildings are so much duller than the coloured structures of classic Krypton, and talking crystals are lazy and naff. Please God there won't be any interactive holograms of El patriarchs.
Mahmud Asrar's art didn't quite hit the spot for me this time - Kara looked mopey and dopey, and Superman about 14 years of age. Having two inkers on the pages Asrar didn't finish may explain the look. Plus, the crystal structure really doesn't merit the splash page it's assigned. I dunno, maybe there was a deadline crunch. I do like the new look for Last Page Villain, it makes the character more interesting.

So, not my favourite issue. The origin storyline is dragging and I'm dismayed to see the return of sour Supergirl after progress in recent issues. Next month's zero special promises answers - I hope they're good, and that we can then move onto something else for awhile.

I just hope 'something else' won't be Supergirl joining Animal Man and Swamp Thing' 428-part Rotworld storyline ...

Comments

  1. Maybe it's just me, but in some of those scanned panels, the Superman costume redesign looks like the belt is actually some kind of thong.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I see what you mean - he should team up with CyclopsPhoenix.

      Delete
  2. I think that "force" field is really a "heat" shield,i think her extra solar energy is manifesting as human torch like powers,first the temperature raise to melt everything,then the nova blast,now the heat field to keep her completly dry even in the water.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That makes logical sense, Tony. Just wait until she starts having super-heated farts ...

      Delete
  3. [got me computer back from the repair shop finally so I can post....!]
    Didnt think much of this issue - Lady GaG, er, Kara really aught to be getting to grips with her situation by now and I agree she shoudlnt speak to her cousin like that as she must realize by now he is there to help. I suppose the writer thinks this makes her 'edgy' well it dosent it makes her ungrateful and tiresome.
    Think I agree about the crystal Kryptonian fragments...in the tv Smallville show they were too convienitly [didnt spell that right] to explain or further the plots. Id much prefer if we didnt have them at all [or at least not that much] as Id prefer Kal-El, Kara et al to be left to their own devices on Earth; I hate how Jor-El can communicate wiht him long after his death, Id prefer him not to have known him at all, remain a mystery.
    Sad note; sorry our APA colleague Colin Fawcett has passed away.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Welcome back Karl, and yes, it's terribly sad about Colin.

      I never watched enough Smallville episodes to learn just how a hologram could interact with people in the hear and now. Stupidity, I imagine.

      Delete
  4. Well if you aren't so hot about this issue, there is always Ame-Comi Girls. This week begins their 3 part storyline focusing on Supergirl. Speaking of said series, still reading it by any chance? I'll be able to start reading it myself in October when they finally put out the print verison.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I dropped off once the fosu shifted to the Duela Dent, but thanks for the reminder, it may be worth checking in with Supergirl.

      Delete
  5. How can Super-Girl breathe underwater? I could understand her being able to hold her breath for an incredibly long time, but what would make Kryptonians not have to breath to live?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Isn't Kryptonians not needing to breathe in space/underwater an old aspect of the characters? I must pop back to the Silver Age ...

      Delete
    2. Well, if it came from the Silver Age that would help explain why it makes no sense ;)

      Delete
    3. She wasn't breathing underwater, she wasn't breathing, period. Kryptonians get all they need from the sun and so they don't need air, food, or sleep. Why is that so hard to grasp? Is having the power of not needing oxygen really more far-fetched than seeing through solid objects, flying without any obvious means of propulsion, and stopping trains with your bare hands?

      Delete
  6. I am a moderator of the Querl-n-Kara fan club on Deviantart.com We're doing a letter writing campaign to get Supergirl Cosmic Adventures in the 9th Grade published.

    Could you help us spread the word about it to other blogs that might like to help in it. You can get the details on through this link: http://querl-and-kara.deviantart.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Valerie, are you the Valerie who comments over at Anj's Supergirl Comic Box Commentary - how I've dreamed of getting your attention ...

      I shall see what I can do, I'd love to see 9 and up.

      Delete
    2. Yes, It's me. I have been reading your posts on here for several months now.

      Thanks Martin. :)

      You must have missed the Q-n-K fan club on DA when Anj mentioned it on Supergirl Comic Box, sometime last year. You can easily email me through Deviant Art

      Delete
    3. On the case, kiddo!

      http://dangermart.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/educating-kara-bring-on-supergirl.html

      Delete
    4. I saw and read it thank you. If you wanted my attention you could have dropped a hint in the comments section of Supergirl Comic Box and see what would have happened.

      Delete
    5. BTW perhaps you could consider submitting your Educating Kara article to Newarama, CBR, etc?

      Delete
    6. I thought I already had your attention, Valerie!

      Delete
    7. Now you do.

      Delete
  7. Personally, where it concerns the art in Supergirl #12 didn't impress me at all. Kara and Kal both looked like they were recovering from all night benders in the first part of the story. The sea monsters are so plain and simple. Black strands with simple teeth/jaws on the tips? Isn't there a similar looking creature called the trench drifting around in the DC 52?

    In the beginning I found Asrar's marker art style okay. I just wasn't thrilled with it but I was hoping it would grow on me. 12 issues later I just find it blah (to me).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love it when folk use 'blah' - it's so Peanuts. I quite like Asrar's work, but at times it is a little wishy-washy. We need some OOMPH!

      Delete
    2. This issue wasn't done with Asrar's Copic marker style, it was standard pencils and inks. There were multiple inkers too, so the finished art appearance varied from page to page.

      Delete
    3. I knew of the multiple artists on this issue. I still stand by what I posted, in general I still find Asrar's art so-so for my tastes. A lovely scene here and there I admit.

      @Martin actually I was thinking of another word for what I feel about Asrar's art on Supergirl but choose a family friendly word instead.

      Delete
    4. Thanks so much for the info, iopy - interesting to hear. I expect to enjoy the art more back when we have full-on Asrar.

      Delete

Post a Comment