Supergirl Episode Guide: Season 6, Episode 20 - Kara

For a summary of the episode guide layout & categories, click here.

Plot

Familiar faces return to National City to help stop Lex and Nyxly for good, as Alex and Kelly prepare to walk down the aisle. Meanwhile, Kara wonders what to do with her life now that she's left CatCo to focus on protecting the planet as Supergirl.

Influences

Marvel's Infinity War (the hunt for the Totems mirrors the search for the Infinity Stones, Nxyly now has a gauntlet to hold the totems)


Goofs

The headlines on the TV showing that Supergirl just restored humanity's hope appear seconds after it happened.

It isn't explained just why Lex's portal to the Phantom Zone closes when he says it can't be closed.


Performances

Melissa Benoist and Jeremey Jordan get a great duet together at the wedding.

Honestly, the entire ensemble nail it in the show's final hour.


Artistry

The use of music in this episode is perfect.


Super Trivia

The episode makes a blatant reference to the 1984 Supergirl movie, with Helen Slater, who played Kara Zor-El in the original film and plays Dr. Eliza Danvers in the Arrowverse, commenting that you'd think she was a Kryptonian in another life as she joins in the fight against Lex Luthor and Nyxly. 


Technobabble

Brainiac-5's Legion crown allows him to psychically communicate anything he sees and hears with as many people as necessary. However, he can only use this to share the message. He cannot use it to make them take in the message.

Lena has a spell that can enable people to hear a message with an open heart, but it doesn't last long.

Lena casts a spell to trap and unmake the garbage monster.


Dialogue Triumphs

Supergirl: I've been driven by this idea that people need to be rescued. That it was my job, my mission... to save them. I've believed it was my calling to be... Earth's hero. It's just so clear to me now. We don't need to be heroes. We need to be partners. And we need to actively empower every single person to be the hero of their own life.

Supergirl: At this moment, villains are tapping into your collective life force. They're trying to siphon your truth, hope, courage, dreams, your humanity. They're trying to vanquish your destiny. They think that you're helpless. What they don't realize is that your power is innate. It's always been within you. I know there are so many factors that can cause people to not feel their power but I'm here to remind you that none of those things hold a candle... to the power every single one of you possesses within. I thought I was supposed to save everyone. But I see now, there's only one way for this world to heal and flourish: By all of us working together as a team. When each of us contributes our unique gifts to the world with a full heart, together, we will shine. The power of one individual is enough to move mountains. If we can all tap into the deepest truths of our soul, and own our magnificence, together, we will defeat the powers of darkness. Together... we will be unstoppable. Together... we will create a better world.

Supergirl: People all over the world were inspired to empower themselves and each other. But that wasn't an all-purpose cure for the problems on this planet. Good feelings don't last forever. So we have to do the work every day. We can't let this recent victory go to waste. But if we do keep the fight up, we can accomplish the best in all of us. Not as vigilantes... but as civil servants. Not as superheroes... but as friends.

Brainiac-5: You'll be in my dreams, Nia. You've always been the girl of my dreams. I love you, Nia Nal.
Nia: I love you, too. 

(Kara tells Alex about her job offer from Cat Grant.)
Alex: Kara, that's your dream job. I mean, I'm so excited for you.
Kara: I'm not gonna take it. I'm not taking it.
Alex: Wait, wait, wait, wait. What? What? What am I missing here?
Kara: Ever since we defeated Lex and Nyxly and started the work of empowering people, I've been amazed at how you and all of our friends are flourishing. You guys are living your dreams. Somehow I feel... deflated.
Alex: Accept Cat's offer. Maybe that'll give you a sense of purpose.
Kara: Alex, I quit CatCo because my attention was split. I was never able to really do my best because I was always sneaking off to be Supergirl, and that hasn't changed. If anything, it's gonna be worse because I will have much more responsibility now.
Alex: Your responsibilities as Supergirl have changed because you're no longer shouldering that burden of protecting the planet on your own. Maybe there's a world where you can do both.
Kara: Doing both will always require me to lie about who I am and where I'm going. Who am I now? Everybody is so empowered. And I feel less powerful than ever.
Alex: Well, I wish that I could give you all the answers, but unfortunately, you are the only one that can figure this out. But I, for one, I'm not worried. Because you are amazing. And every time you've come to a crossroad you have always chosen the right path.
Kara: What would I do without you?

(Nia is looking sad. Suddenly, a familiar voice calls out from behind her.)
Brainiac-5: Excuse me, miss? You don't happen to have a plus-one to this event, do you?
(Nia turns around. Brainiac-5 is there in a suit.)
Nia: What are you doing here? What about the...
Brainiac-5: Space-time continuum? The Big Brain? Yes, yes, these are valid concerns. Logical concerns. Sprock logic. I love you, Nia. I love you more than I've ever loved anything. I've devoted my entire life to the pursuit of protecting people, but when I returned to the future, I realized that the pursuit felt hollow. The most important thing to me is devoting myself to you.
Nia: But what about the future? What if us being together does destroy the future?
Brainiac-5: That's the thing about the future. It hasn't been written yet. 

(Cat Grant has called to ask why Kara hasn't taken her job offer.)
Kara: Actually, I'm at my sister's wedding right now, and her life is just blossoming. She's fully at home with who she is, and what she stands for, and it's amazing. You can feel it. - I just feel...
Cat: Bifurcated?
Kara: Yes.
Cat: Inauthentic?
Kara: Well, yeah.
Cat: You know, it reminds me of a quote from an old English lord. "Secrecy is the badge of fraud." And he should know, by the way, because he used to feed his hunting dogs these little baby foxes for lunch. He was a monster. But nevertheless, there is no mystery here.
Kara: What do you mean?
Cat: That it doesn't take Freud to see that you have a secret and it's obstructing your life. And it's not serving you anymore, so screw it.
Kara: Not that simple, Ms. Grant. You can't understand. I don't...
Cat: Oh. You're Supergirl. La-di-da.
(Kara's jaw drops.)
Kara: You... You knew?
Cat: Please, those spectacles disguised you as much as a pair of Groucho Marx glasses, and you should have just added the bushy eyebrows and the moustache. Well, I heard your speech here, in Colombia. Well... "Supergirl's" speech. And "Supergirl" told the people that they should become empowered and that they should take care of themselves. And I'm wondering why that message doesn't apply to you?
Kara: You have a good point.
Cat: Oh, Ker-rah, I always have a point. Now, let's take a look at everything that Supergirl and Kara Danvers have accomplished separately. And then let's imagine what you could do if you became one integrated, authentic being.
Kara: I don't know if I'm ready.
Cat: Ker-rah, you need to stop making excuses, and you need to decide what your course will be. Now, there is important work to be done, and I hope you'll join me. But more than that, I hope that you will choose to become your full self, because that would really be something to see. And it would be interesting because this is boring.
Kara: (breathes deeply) Thank you, Ms. Grant. I really needed to hear that.
Cat: I believe in you, I always have. 

Lena: Hey, what's wrong?
Kara: I'm supposed to be the strongest person on earth, but I think I'm actually the weakest.
Lena: What are you talking about?
Kara: Ms. Grant... My glasses... I give speeches inspiring people to live their best lives. But she's right. I am too afraid to live my own.
Lena: No, that's not true, Kara.
Kara: It is. My entire life, I've hid behind these glasses. It's gotten in the way of every job I've ever had, everything I've ever wanted to do, every relationship, every friendship.
Lena: Maybe we did have a bit of a bumpy road.
Kara: I think hiding who I am is the reason I couldn't pass the courage Gauntlet. I created Supergirl that night because the thought of saving my sister as myself was too terrifying.
Lena: Look, you've had your entire life, people telling you who you're supposed to be and that if you didn't hide your true self then the people would get hurt. I mean, it's tough to move beyond those type of core wounds. When Lillian told me she basically programmed the magic out of me as a child, I felt devastated. But I was devastated because I realized I didn't have a chance to grow up to be the person I was supposed to be. And I think it's the same for you. For me, it was always about protecting the Luthor name. You know, I went from trying to make that name stand for something good to try to be my true mother's daughter. My life was always framed by someone else. It wasn't until Lillian told me the truth that I realized I haven't been living my own life. And finally, now I am. And it feels amazing.
Kara: I don't even know what that would feel like for me. Connecting with someone as my whole self. To not be afraid to just be who I am.
Lena: It sounds like it could be empowering.
Kara: But what if I let myself just be who I am and someone gets hurt?
Lena: You can't always be our savior, Kara. You shine your light and inspire others to shine theirs. Your words, not mine. If somebody does come, if they try to mess with this family, then we will take them on together. El mayarah.
(Kara begins sobbing.)  
Lena: Hey, hey. It's okay.
Kara: Of all the friends I have ever had, you have pushed me the most. Challenged me the most.
(Kara hugs Lena tightly. Lena begins crying too.)
Lena: You've made me a better person. Thank you. 

Cat Grant: Hello, National City. You know her as Kara Danvers. CatCo's ace reporter and new editor-in-chief. But tonight, it is my great honor to introduce to you... Supergirl.
(The camera cuts to reveal Kara. She is not wearing her glasses. She smiles wide, whole and happy.)

Dialogue Disasters

Eliza: You'd think in another life I was a Kryptonian.
Alex: Only in the movies.

Continuity

As the episode opens, the color leaching from hopeless people problem is growing worse around the world.

Lex and Nyxly have not been identified as the two titans battling in National City.

Lillian says she is dying but she's at peace with that, but first she has to tell Lena that she knew what Lena and her mother were and that she pushed Lena towards science and had talismans put in the Luthor home that would blunt her natural powers. At the time she thought she was helping Lena.

Lilian says she wants to set Lena free and that she needs to fully own her power and forget about her and Lex and live her life the way she wants to.

Kara says she was driven by the idea that people needed to be rescued but now she sees they need to be partners. She says they need to empower people to help themselves - not wait for heroes to rescue them.

J'onn suggests that causing people to feel empowered may drain the power from the AllStone fragments Lex and Nxyly are wielding.

Kara says she'll make a speech to inspire people, but Brainiac-5 says they'll need to reach every person in the world at once for that to work.

Kelly points out that many traumatized people won't be able to work through their issues to 

Lena says that Lillian is dead and that she found closure with her before she passed.

Lex and Nyxly crash into National City Terminal. J'onn says this is an ideal place to contain them while Lena works her spell with Kara and Brainy.

Andrea, Secretary Brown, Mitch and Al are among the people shown hearing Supergirl's message.

Kara's speech causes the power of her AllStone fragment to drop to 20%

The SuperFriends confront Nyxly and Lex.

Nyxly summons a dragon (613) and the garbage monster from 608.

Lex summons the Parasite (206), Red Tornado (106), Ubergirl (last seen in L308) and Metallo (212).

Mon-El shows up and shields Kara from an energy-blast. He tells her that her speech made the history books.

Winn shows up in a Legion ship and defeats the dragon.

James Olsen shows up in his Guardian armor and helps Kelly fight Metallo.

Andrea uses her shadow powers to save Lena from Lex.

Brainiac-5 and Sentinel team to stop the Red Tornado and Parasite.

Nyxly summons a swarm of owls to fight Dreamer, but Eliza Danvers destroys them with a shotgun.

Mitch shows up with an alien gun... on the side of the heroes.

Kara takes out the Ubergirl.

Lex opens a portal to the Phantom Zone - one he says he can't be closed.

Orlando leads a mob of people to confront Lex. This causes the All-Stone fragments to lose even more power.

Lex sends the phantoms into the crowd, but they are attracted to Lex and Nyxly as they are the most afraid of everyone there. They are dragged into the Phantom Zone and the portal closes.

Brainiac-5, Dreamer, Kara, Andrea, Alex, Lena, Winn, J'onn, Kelly, Jimmy, and Mon-El attend William Dey's funeral. 

Jimmy is shown to have grown a goatee.

Andrea says she's going to set up a journalism award in William's name. She is later shown having established a journalism school named in his honor.

J'onn says he got a call from the President and Secretary Brown and that they've been given permission to reimagine the DEO as they see fit, with a focus on Extra-Normal rather than Extra-Terrestrial. 

Alex and Lena are worried about the bureaucracy the DEO involved, but Kara says it's a good idea.

Lena is shown establishing a new Lena Luthor Foundation.

Alex, Supergirl and J'onn are shown with Secretary Brown at the announcement of a new DEO.

Dreamer is shown opening an LGBTQ youth center with Orlando and Kelly.

Winn promises to return for Alex and Kelly's wedding. 

Mon-El says he won't be able to make it back due to the Legion having a lot on their plates due to the Big Brain situation. In fact, he says he doesn't think he'll ever return to the past again.

Mon-El says that Kara's speech changed the future inspiring people to be their own heroes.

Brainiac-5 says he can't stay for the wedding either, but tells Nia she will be in his dreams.

Three weeks after Winn, Mon-El and Brainiac-5 return to the future, Kara is shown preparing flowers for Alex and Kelly's wedding, which is said to be tomorrow.

Kara is ready to act to save a cat stuck in National City's oldest tree which is reported on the news but the situation is under control according to the reporter on the scene almost before Kara can take off her glasses.

Cat Grant calls Kara to rant about how selfish people are and how sunscreen is destroying the coral reefs. She still mispronounces Kara's name as Care-ah rather than Car-ah. 

Cat is on a Colombia beach saving sea turtles from garbage.

Cat called Kara to tell her that she just bought CatCo back from Andrea and that she's making Kara her new editor-in-chief. She says she'll be back to National City in two weeks and they will only be working on hard news from now on.

Alex says her caterer broke her arm and they just had to get a replacement at the last minute.

Kara says she doesn't want to take the job because she has to focus on being Supergirl and she was never able to do her best work as a writer because of her split focus.

Alex suggests that maybe there is a way Kara can do both and she believes in her.

Eliza says that Alex has already proven herself a wiser mother than she ever was.

James gives Kelly an upgraded signal watch with teleportal powers so they can watch each others backs if they have to. He asks her not to tell their mom, however, because otherwise she'll want family dinners every night.

Brainiac-5 shows up for the wedding. He decides to come back because his love for Nia is more important than logic and the future isn't written yet.

Winn and Kara sing We Belong by Pat Benatar at the wedding.

J'onn gives away Alex.

Esme is the flower girl.

James gives Kelly away at the wedding. 

J'onn also officiates the wedding.

Kelly says in her vows that she knew Alex was the one after 612 because Alex just supported her and didn't try to fix her.

Kara and Esme worked together on making bird houses as gifts for the wedding.

Winn says the new DEO will be a place of peace, at least according to M'Gann and J'onn's son.

James gives Esme the camera his father gave him.

Kelly and Alex ask Lena to be Esme's godmother.

Mr. Mxyzptlk sends his regards through Winn, who says he still shows up around Legion HQ in the future. He also promises the brides one free wish, worth $40 or less.

Winn, James and Kara talk about the private room they had hidden at CatCo back when they first got started. They also make reference to the events of 118 and meeting Barry Allen before the universes merged.

Cat Grant calls Kara again asking why she hasn't signed her contract yet. Kara says she never really felt whole and has different sides to herself and the two parts don't go together.

Cat quotes an old English Lord - "Secrecy is the badge of fraud." (The lord in question is Sir John Chadwick.) She says it is clear Kara has a secret and it isn't serving her so she should get rid of it.

Cat tells Kara she knows she is Supergirl. She also tells her that her message about people needing to be their own heroes applies to her too. 

Nia catches the bouquet when Kelly tosses it.  Brainy says there is a 100% chance he will marry her.

Lena sees Kara looking depressed and asks her what is wrong. Kara says Cat has a point about her hiding behind her glasses and how she needs to give up her secret identity. She also says the reason she failed the Courage gauntlet because she was afraid of revealing herself to the world.

Lena says she is being true to herself now after her talk with Lillian and is happier and she wants to see Kara be as happy. 

Kara says Lena has challenged her the most out of all her friends. Lena thanks her, in turn, for making her a better person. 

Kara takes her glasses off and leaves them behind as Alex and Kelly leave for their honeymoon in J'onn's car.

The Super Friends are shown enjoying a game night together sometime later.

Cat Grant does an interview revealing Supergirl is Kara Danvers to the world and finally pronounces her first name correctly.


Location

Nuqui, Colombia.


Untelevised Adventures

Lillian Luthor dies off-camera.


The Bottom Line

A fitting capstone for the series. The fight with Lex and Nyxly is rushed, true. Not everything is logical, but as Brainy says, "Sprock logic." The final half hour hits all the emotional high-notes and the ending leaves you wanting more. The cruel irony is that seeing Kara trying to live her life with an open identity is a far more daring and interesting idea than anything we've seen this season. Still... if it must end, it ended well. 

Supergirl Episode Guide: Season 2, Episode 1 - The Adventures Of Supergirl

For a summary of the episode guide layout & categories, click here.


Plot

When an experimental space-plane almost crashes, Superman shows up in National City - first to help Supergirl save the plane and then to investigate it as Clark Kent. Kara is thrilled to be working with her cousin directly but she has other concerns to balance as well - chief among them being her attempts to have a normal, uninterrupted date with Jimmy Olsen and figuring out what career she wants now that Cat Grant has offered her a promotion into the job of her dreams.


Influences

John Byrne's Man of Steel (the opening sequence of Superman and Supergirl working to save a space plane), Superman: The Movie (Cat's new assistant is named Miss Teschmacher, Winn refers to Lex Luthor starting an earthquake in California, Lena's line about flying being the safest method of travel, the helicopter rescue scene), The Daring New Adventures of Supergirl (title is referred to in the episode title and Cat Grant tells Kara she must be "daring" in her new life) and Superman: The Animated Series (Metallo's origin here similar to that presented in the cartoon.)


Performances

Tyler Hoechlin cuts a fine figure in his premiere as Superman. When playing Superman, an actor has to decide who is the mask - Clark Kent or Superman.  Despite playing Clark with the same clumsy stutter as Christopher Reeve, Hoechlin definitely plays the character with Clark the country boy as the dominant personality.

The chemistry between Hoechin and Melissa Benoist is noteworthy. The two are convincing as cousins and the decision to treat the characters as close family who enjoy teasing one another is something rarely seen in most Superman stories. It makes the characters more interesting and relatable - a frequent challenge both Clark and Kara face as characters.


Artistry

Cliche though it is, the scene of Clark Kent ripping his shirt open as he runs down the alley is directed and filmed perfectly. Some things are cliches because they work. And this worked.

The entire sequence with the space plane rescue is an amazing one on all fronts. The direction. The music. The cinematography.  And the special effects are a welcome assurance that while we may not get as many effects-driven sequences as before, the show's move to The CW will not result in a sudden skimping on the effects budget.

The new DEO set?  Fantastic!


Super Trivia

The title of this episode comes from the name of the first Supergirl solo comic - The Daring New Adventures Of Supergirl.

The comic series based on this TV show is also called The Adventures of Supergirl.

Cat Grant's new assistant in this episode is revealed to be named Eve Teschmacher. The character of Eve Teschmacher first appeared in Superman: The Movie. There, she was Lex Luthor's assistant and possibly his girlfriend. Since that time, various Superman stories set in alternate universes featured Lex Luthor employing women named Miss Teschmacher as a personal assistant, including the stories Red Son, Earth 2 and the children's series Superman Family Adventures.

In the TV series Smallville, Lex Luthor's assistant was named Tess Mercer and was later revealed to be his long-lost sister, Lutessa Lena Luthor.

The news channel Kara turns to in order to watch The Venture launch is Channel 25. This may be a sly reference to how - on Arrow - the news station of choice is Channel 52.  The number 52, of course, has a great deal of significance in the DC Comics Universe.

In the first scene we see him in, Clark Kent is having a conversation with "Mr. White". This is a reference to Perry White - editor at The Daily Planet.

In the John Byrne's Man of Steel, Superman first revealed himself publicly to the world by saving an experimental space-plane similar to The Venture - the ship that Superman and Supergirl save here - although that plane was not given a name.

Winn refers to an incident where Lex Luthor triggered an earthquake in California. Lex Luthor also did this in Superman: The Movie.

The character of Lena Luthor has been a mainstay of the Superman comics and made her way into several adaptions as well. She first appeared in Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #23 (February 1961).

In the pre-Crisis DC Universe, Lena went by the name Lena Thorul and was unaware of her relation to the famous criminal mastermind, Lex's parents changed their name while Lena was still young and Luthor - for his own reasons - sought to prevent his sister from learning about the relationship. Lena was gifted with psychic powers (the result of one of Lex's early experiments) but lost them after having brain surgery. Eventually she learned the truth and reconciled with her brother.

In the post-Crisis DC Universe, Lena Luthor was a foster daughter in the same home that Lex Luthor grew up in. She was killed by her foster father during one of his infamous abusive drunken benders. While not truly a blood relation, Lex thought highly enough of Lena to name his daughter after her.

Following the Infinite Crisis soft-reboot of the Post-Crisis DC Universe, it was revealed that Lex Luthor had a sister named Lena, who was an invalid living in Smallville. She had a daughter, Lori, who became friends with the Conner Kent Superboy.

In the New 52 DC Universe, Lex once again has a sister named Lena. This version of Lena was diagnosed with an incurable illness that Luthor tried - and failed - to cure. He kept Lena in a secret lab for several years, hiding her to hide his failure. Following his redemption and joining The Justice League, Luthor honestly renewed his attempts to save his sister. In the middle of this, she became influenced by Darkseid and tried to kill Luthor.  At the end of the event called The Darkseid War, Lena was left comatose with Lex vowing to find a way to save her yet again.

Curiously, the only version of Lena Luthor who acts as an assistant to her brother's nefarious schemes in the comics is in the 2009 Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures In The Eighth Grade mini-series. This series also saw Lena set against Supergirl.

The DCTVU version of Lena Luthor is Lex Luthor's adopted sister, brought into the family when she was four. She says Lex was the only person in the family who made her feel welcome. Despite this, she is still changing the name of his company to L-Corp in an effort to make a name for herself outside of her family. Thus far, she seems to be an honest business woman trying to get out of her sinister brother's shadow.

As she's leaving on a helicopter, Lena comments that she hates flying despite logically knowing that it is the safest method of travel, statistically speaking. This is a reference to a line from Superman: The Movie, where Superman tells Lois Lane this fact after saving her from a crashing helicopter.

On that note, Supergirl saving Lena Luthor's copter is another nod to Superman: The Movie.

After Superman saves his family from a drone, a father declares "We're moving back to Gotham." This is, of course, a reference to Gotham City - home of Batman.

At one point, Cat Grant tells Kara that "we must keep daring." This is likely a nod to the comic title The Daring New Adventures Of Supergirl.

Superman has fought many villains named Metallo over the years. The most famous of these incarnations is probably The Silver Age version, John Corben, who first appeared in Action Comics #252 (May 1959).  Most versions of the character are robots with human minds that are powered by Kryptonite, but the Golden Age Superman stories featured a killer robot called Metallo and two criminals who used the name while wearing powered armor.

A journalist who was also secretly a thief and killer, John Corben suffered a fatal accident while fleeing from the scene of his latest murder. He was discovered by a scientist, Professor Vale, who transferred Corben's brain into a robot body. The body required radioactive material to function and Corben found his new body would run through the uranium that powered it in a day. This led to his trying to steal Kryptonite, which he was told would make him immortal. John Corben died at the end of his first appearance.

John Corben's brother, Roger Corben would emerge in the Bronze Age of Comics to menace Superman, whom he blamed for his brother's death. He too had his mind transfered into a Kryptonite-powered body. It is this version of Metallo that appeared in Alan Moore's "final" Superman story Whatever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow?

John Corben's background would be rewritten slightly by John Byrne in crafting the post-Crisis version of Metallo.  This John Corben was a petty criminal, who was transformed into Metallo by a paranoid Profesor Vale. This version of Vale had somehow gotten his hands on the rocket that brought Superman to Earth as a baby and mistranslated a message Jor-El had left in the rocket as battle plans for an upcoming invasion. He created Metallo was a weapon to use against Superman. The unappreciative Corben killed the scientist and returned to his life of crime

The DCTVU version of John Corben is an assassin for hire apparently employed by Lex Luthor to do various dirty deeds "off the books". This is similar to the version of John Corben seen in the DC Animated Universe, who was a mercenary working for Lex Luthor before he had the surgery that transformed him into Metallo.

John Corben is said to have been tied to Intergang. Intergang is a organized crime group armed with the technology of the villainous New Gods of Apokolips in the Superman comics.

John Corben is said to have been tied to Kasnian terrorists.  Kasnia is a fictional Balkan nation in the DC Comics Universe, frequently beset by civil war. It was first introduced in the DC Animated Universe and  has been referred to on both Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow.

John Corben is said to have been tied to the genocide in Corto Maltese. Corto Maltese is a fictional banana republic in the DC Universe, first mentioned in The Dark Knight Returns. It was named in honor of a fictional sailor/adventurer created by cartoonist Hugo Pratt. It has been a frequent location of international unrest in the comics and made an appearance on Arrow, where it was the nation that Thea Queen and Malcolm Merlyn retreated to between Seasons 2 and 3.


Technobabble

The Venture is the first commercial spacecraft designed for suborbital transportation.

Winn asks about an incident when Lex Luthor set off an earthquake in California and wonders if he gauged the focal depth with his X-Ray Vision. In seismology, focal depth refers to how far down the starting point of an earthquake is.

Superman suggests using a quantum scan to determine the age of the young man in the Kryptonian rocket.

Superman later suggests x-raying him for foreign objects like a cybernetic data core.

The drone John Corben test-drives is described as a heavy tactical unmanned aerial vehicle with a 160 km range.


Dialogue Triumphs

Kara (voice-over): When I was a child, my world ended. But I was saved, sent to Earth to protect my baby cousin, Kal-El. But Krypton's destruction sent a shockwave that knocked my ship off-course, into The Phantom Zone. Somehow, my pod got loose and I made the long journey to Earth. Though I was still a child when I arrived, my cousin had already grown up to become Superman. I hid who I really was, until one day my adoptive sister, Alex, was in danger and I was forced to reveal myself to the world. From that day on, I became Supergirl. Now, I work in secret with my sister and the DEO to fight alien menaces that threaten the Earth and others that would cause my city harm.  I have friends. And allies. I have a family. After so many years of being lost, I'm finally home.

(We open on a newsstand. We see Clark Kent, talking on his phone.)
Clark Kent: Yes. I- I understand, Mr. White. Uh, yes- no, Mr. White. Uh, yes. Yes, Mr. White. Yes, I-I will have my article on your desk lickety-split. (chuckles nervously) Uh, yes sir, I- I know that nobody says "lickety-split" anymore. Um... although, although you do still say "Great Ceaser's Ghost!" which is a a bit of a throw back. (chuckles nervously) No. Yes sir. I am very aware that we are not talking about you. Yes sir. Yes. I- I will have that to you - hello?

(Superman flies up as Supergirl is steadying The Venture.)
Superman: Need a hand?
Supergirl: Hey cuz!
Superman: Good to see you!
Supergirl: This looks like a job for the both of us.
Superman: Absolutely.

Supergirl: That was awesome!  I mean, that was terrible, but it was awesome! We've never saved anything together!
Superman: (smiling) I know.
Supergirl: I've dreamed of this moment. The two of us teaming up.
Superman: (chuckling) Me too.
(A family on bikes pull up, awestruck.)
Supergirl: I usually say hi.
Superman: Me too.
(They walk over to the family.)
Girl: Way to go, Supergirl!
Father: And Superman!
Supergirl (mock whisper) I used to change his diapers.
Girl: No way!
Superman: (through a forced smile) Uh - I'm not exactly sure you had to tell them that.
Supergirl: No, I do. I think I really do.
Superman: ... ok.

Clark: Ms. Grant. It's good to see you. It's been a long time.
Cat: No fault of mine. So, are you still seeing Lois Lane or did that fizzle out like I predicted in the office pool? No one ever sent me my $20.
Clark: Lois and I are great. We're still going strong.
Cat: Ahhhh.... so she's not still hung up on Superman?
Clark: (chuckling) You know - I'd say that she has room in her life for both of us.
Cat: Well... that's modern.
(Clark suddenly realizes what she is saying.)
Clark: Uh, no. I- I....

Kara: How do you do it all, Clark? You're an amazing reporter, a great boyfriend and... and Superman. I mean, I love being Supergirl. That part of my life is clear. But... but the rest of it...
Clark: You mean Jimmy?
Kara: How'd you know that?
Clark: It's super-telepathy. It's a power you'll get. Someday.
Kara: (excited) Really?!
Clark: No.

J'onn: (shaking hands with Winn) Welcome to the DEO, Mr. Schott.
Winn: Thank you, Hank. Or Director Henshaw? Or what is it... J'onn?  Or Martian Manhunter? What's the protocol here?
J'onn: "Sir" will do just fine.


Continuity

The opening scene is taken from the end of 120. This time, it is revealed that the Kryptonian rocket contains a young man.

The DEO has several facilities, including a glass-windowed office building in downtown National City and the remove cave complex we saw in Season One.

The office building DEO base is one block from Alex Danvers' apartment.

Winn taught himself how to read Kryptonian.

Kara's favorite meal is pizza and pot-stickers.

Kara has a deep interest in space travel.

In Kryptonian, Segara Beyal means "Well of Stars." Time does not pass there.

Superman apparently smells great, according to Alex.

Kryptonians age at a much slower rate on Earth. This is why Clark - despite being 12 years older than Kara - does not look that much older than her.

Cat Grant finds Clark highly attractive and Clark is aware that he has some "sway" with her. She apparently sent him a florid drunk text once.

Clark and Lois Lane are dating in this reality. It is suggested that she knows Clark Kent is Superman.

Lex Luthor is in jail. His sister, Lena Luthor, is running Luthor Corp and just recently moved to National City.

Luthor Corp manufactured the oscillator on The Venture which failed.

Project Emerald detailed the first recorded instance of Kryptonite arriving on Earth. J'onn J'onzz discovered the first Kryptonite and named it, shortly after becoming head of the DEO while disguised as Hank Henshaw.

The awkwardness between Superman and J'onn came about because of Project Emerald. Superman wanted to destroy all the Kryptonite. J'onn wanted to hold some in reserve to use against hostile Kryptonians. It is for this reason that Clark stopped working with the DEO.

Kara decides that she wants to become a reporter.

An unmarried woman of Kara's age on Krypton would be considered a spinster.

Kara tells James that she thinks they'd be better as friends.

Winn is hired on as a DEO agent.

In the final scene, we see John Corben in Cadmus as he begins the process of being turned into Metallo.


Location

The first scene with Clark Kent is set in Metropolis.

The final scene of the episode is set inside Cadmus.


Untelevised Adventures

The Project Emerald incident in which Kryptonite was first discovered.

Winn refers to Lex Luthor attempting to trigger an earthquake in California and Superman stopping him.


The Bottom Line

It's an odd thing that the best part of last year's supporting cast - the relationship between Kara and James - gets the short shrift here whereas most of the episode is devoted toward establishing new characters and shifting the established cast around into the new status quo. Between setting up Cat Grant's exit and moving Winn into the DEO, there's very little time for Kara and James and one gets the feeling that their relationship was ended before it began because the writers really weren't sure how to move forward with them as a couple.

The new material proves stronger, however, with the relationship between Kara and Clark handled well. Corben is underwhelming as a villain but his threat-range is about to get boosted based on the ending of the episode. Lena Luthor is an interesting presence but it remains to be seen if she really is as honest as she seems to be.

Overall, this is just what the show needed to be out of the gate. The regular cast has been shaken up enough to be made interesting again and there's a number of new mysteries involving the new players. And watching Clark and Kara play off of each other like real cousins ribbing each other is perhaps the single greatest take on the characters I've ever seen.

Superman 47 - A Review

The notorious hacker known as HORDR_ROOT has stolen Clark Kent's secret identity and with it his job, his life and a goodly portion of his power. But nearly killing Jimmy Olsen was the last straw. Now Superman is going to take the fight to HORDR_ROOT and bring him down to Earth, with a little help from his friends.


The artwork for this issue is all over the place, with three different artists with completely different styles. Howard Porter has done good work in the past but he seems to be channeling the spirit of Rob Liefeld for the better portion of this issue, with his male figures overlarge and the perspective forced to hell. This is somewhat better than Raymund Bermudez, whose contribution to the issue seems half-finished, being sketchy and under-inked. Only Tom Derenick delivers consistently, but even his work seems ill treated by the two conflicted colorists.


This is a shame because this may be the best single issue of the series Gene Luen Yang has written snice taking over Superman. It's a rare treat to see an issue where Clark fights with his head more than his fists and the fight with HORDOR_ROOT necessitates that. And let's give Yang credit for a truly novel plot twist regarding HORDOR_ROOT's connection to a classic DC Comics villain and a rather nifty origin story.

Superman #46 - A Review

Clark Kent's quest to find the sinister hacker HORDR has led him to Oakland, California. Flat broke and unemployed, he's forced to join Mythbrawl - a fighting league where the gods of old replay the stories of their mythology with a modern flare, in the guise of actors. Clark feels oddly at home among his new friends... until the one friend he has left from his old life reappears just as Clark finally gets a lead on HORDR's whereabouts.


I noted last month that Howard Porter's style has change dramatically in recent years. His figures are as bold and brave as ever, but there is a bit more fine detail than I recall in his earlier works. And the colors by Hi-Fi leave everything looking as super as one would expect.



If Neil Gaiman had ever been given a chance to extensively play with the Superman mythos and explore the idea of Superman as a modern god, I don't think he could have done quite so fine a job as what Gene Luen Yang has done here, though it might be similar in scope and shape. This doesn't read like any Superman story I've ever seen before and that's a welcome thing. I shan't spoil the end of this issue, though I will say I'm cynical there will be any lasting changes.  That being said, I still can't wait for the next one.

Superman #44 - A Review

Superman's secret identity has been revealed to the world and Clark Kent's life is falling apart. A new Royal Flush gang is out for his head and a collective of his worst enemies have taken the staff of The Daily Planet hostage! And the police are more interested in arresting him than they are in helping Superman save lives!

I want to believe that Gene Luen Yang is building to something grand with this story but I'm just not seeing it anymore. The speed with which people turn on Clark Kent seems more appropriate to a story set in the Marvel Universe. I defended the idea that Lois Lane could ever see fit to betray Clark's trust in the face of a greater good but I'm hard pressed to believe Perry White would attack Clark as he does here. While one might argue that White's commitment to The Truth as a newsman could lead him to see any kind of lying to your editor as a betrayal of the job of a journalist, it still seems a bit incongruous for him to chew out Superman for endangering people and thinking he could protect them. Nearly as incongruous as Clark, in the fact of such hostility, declaring he shall inflict a thousand-times as much pain on anyone who tries to hurt his friends.


It's oddly fitting that John Romita Jr. should be the artist on this book because this sure feels like a Spider-Man story rather than a Superman one. Romita and his usual inker Klaus Janson are in fine form. And the colors by Dean White and Leonardo Olea are skilfully applied, with no indication that there is more than one color artist at work.

Superman #43 - A Review

As pointless as it may be to put a SPOILER warning on this review, given that the "shocking twist" at the end of this issue was revealed over three months ago by DC Comics' preview for this series, nevertheless I am giving a warning.

If you haven't read Superman #43 yet, know that I enjoyed this issue immensely and would recommend reading it for yourself. Abandon this article now if you would remain unspoiled!


At last we learn how it was that Lois Lane betrayed Clark Kent's secret identity to the world. And to the credit of Gene Luen Yang, the reason she has is a darn good one.  So what could drive Lois Lane to expose Superman's greatest secret?  It is not, as many suggested, a desire for the fame or glory attached to such a big story.

It is fear that motivates her.  Fear of what Superman might do to protect the people he cares about from a cunning blackmailer who is three steps ahead of him. So Lois does the only thing she can to save Superman and all that he stands for as Clark Kent elects to play along with the blackmailer's demands while waiting for an opportunity to free himself later.  She reveals everything to the world, thus making Hordr-Root's threats worthless and freeing Clark to fight back against the master hacker.


There is a subtle parallel here between the conflict between Lois and Clark at issue's end and the Superman fandom. Clark idealistically believes that, given time, he could have figured a way out of this mess whereas Lois, ever the realist, makes a difficult choice to prevent what she sees as the greater (or at least more immediate) of two evils. Consider how this mirrors the argument over the idea that Superman should always find a way to win in the end versus those who feel Superman is at his best when he is faced with emotional conflicts that require more than physical strength to solve.

Doubtlessly some will say that this story is terrible because Lois' trust in Superman should be absolute. Others will say that this story is well in keeping with Lois' nature to be a proactive figure who does what she thinks is right and damn the consequences if the world disagrees with her. I think there is a grand discussion to be held regarding those ideas and hope this issue provokes such conversation rather than inspiring an army of Super-fans to rage quit the series.

Regardless of how you feel about the story, the artwork is exquisite.  John Romita Jr. is in fine form. And one would never know that this issue featured a team of two inkers and three colorists, so well does the team work together in maintaining a uniform style throughout the issue.

Superman #42 - A Review

Lois Lane has finally put two and two together and uncovered Clark Kent's secret identity. But even in the face of Lois' trust being shattered, the two have bigger problems. For a hacktivist called HORDR_ROOT has also uncovered the truth of who Superman is and has plans to recruit The Man of Steel for his organization... or else!


I feel conflicted about Gene Yang's script for this issue. On the one hand, the idea of HORDR_ROOT is a novel one and the idea of an enemy who utilizes the power of information against Superman is a novel one. Sadly, the threat he presents is resolved far too quickly.

A larger problem is the character of Lois Lane, who - in the New 52 universe at least - lacks the closeness to Clark that is required to sell the feelings of betrayal she expresses here. The whole thing rings false but I fear that's more the fault of editorial demand than Yang's script, because otherwise the character interactions are wonderful.


The artwork inspires similar feelings of conflict. The pencils and inks by John Romita Jr. and Klaus Johnson are up to their usual high standard, but there's nothing in the issue that stands out as particularly fine work. The greatest problem is the color art, provided by three different colorists with distinctly different styles and palettes.  Just look at the tone of the characters' skins and you'll see the obvious disparity, with the characters appearing pale in one panel and ruddy-cheeked in the next!

Superman #39 - A Review

Superman's most recent adventures have left him exhausted and in a reflective mood. So Clark Kent has decided to share his secret identity with his best friend, Jimmy Olsen. But Jimmy doesn't quite believe him and Clark's in no position to show off his powers! A day together may teach both young men a lesson - about what truly makes a man Super and how it feels to be ordinary.


Aspiring creators take note. You don't have to introduce cosmic threats beyond imagining for Superman to punch. You don't have to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on special effects to bring Superman to life. Just read this story and learn the same lesson Jimmy Olsen does about who Superman truly is and how it has nothing to do with power and everything to do about giving of yourself to help others. It's a lesson that Geoff Johns knows well and more comic writers need to understand.


The artwork for this issue is the equal of the story.  John Romita Jr. and Klaus Janson turn in some of their finest work ever. And the colors by Hi-Fi lend the whole affair a unique vibrancy that leaves the artwork just jumping off the page. This is one of the best Superman comics I've ever read, bar none.

Superman #38 - A Review

Despite the best efforts of Superman and Ulysses, the fourth-dimensional planet known as The Great World has been destroyed.  Now an enraged Ulysses has turned upon Superman.  And in order to save his adopted home-world, Superman must do the impossible and fight his former friend!


Geoff Johns is one of the best writers in the business and his love for Superman and the mythos of Superman has been clear throughout this arc.  Ulysses' story comes to a satisfying conclusion and Johns has a lot of fun with the idea of a new Super-power that Batman dubs "The Super Flare".  Yet the best parts of this issue are the little character moments, such as Clark Kent's hanging out with Jimmy Olsen and Alfred the butler's fretting over his inability to clean Kryptonian fabric.


John Romita Jr. is also considered to be one of the best artists in the American comic book industry and this issue shows why. There is a grittiness to JRJ's work that seems an odd fit for Superman yet somehow it works.  Why it works is unquantifiable but it does work.

Superman #37 - A Review

Superman #37 should not work nearly as well as it does. The shocking revelation at its heart isn't at all surprising nor is its conceit of a utopia with a hidden dark secret particularly original. Heck, at this point it would have been more original and surprising if the extra-dimensional home of newbie superhero and Clark Kent's new best friend Ulysses really was all it was promised to be.


So why is it that this comic is as good as it is despite a trite and cliche premise?  Simply because Geoff Johns understands Superman. And while this kind of story is Science Fiction 101, putting Superman into this kind of situation - where Superman is playing the skeptic against blind idealism - is a novel idea that works well within the context of the story.  Clark is a reporter by trade, after all, and a big part of Truth, Justice and The American Way is about seeking the Truth and dealing with it, no matter how ugly and uncomfortable it is.


The artwork is comparable to the story in that it is by-the-book by the standards of the team involved but that standard is a high one and the final product is enjoyable. John Romita Jr. isn't as famous for splash pages or background work as some artists but his work here is eye-catching and memorable.  The inks of Klaus Janson and Laura Martin's color further enhance things.

Superman #36 - A Review

Ulysses - strange visitor from another world, possessing powers far beyond those of mortal man - has come to the conclusion that humanity is doomed.  Unable to think of any way to turn his amazing powers toward fixing the world of his birth, he has instead elected to take six million people to the Fourth Dimension, to the better world which raised him. Naturally, this is a source of great concern to Superman, who is starting to wonder if the paradise which Ulysses spoke of is truly as grand as he claims.


Geoff Johns understands Superman as few writers today do.  His Superman is the epitome of hope and idealism, as he should be.  Johns also realizes the importance of Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen to the oeuvre of Superman and does a fine job using them to explore the problems with Ulysses' promises from another perspective.


What can I say about the art of this book that hasn't been said already?  John Romita Jr. is in fine form here, with inker Klaus Janson giving the finished art a much lighter touch than usual, as befits the lighter and brighter aesthetic of Superman compared to other projects JRJ and Janson collaborated on in the past.  This vibrant feeling is further enhanced by the colors of Laura Martin.

Superman #35 - A Review

There is a moment early on in Superman #35 where Lois Lane declares that "The Daily Planet is finally getting interesting again."  It's a bit of sarcastic meta-commentary on the part of Geoff Johns and Lois Lane is the perfect person to voice the sentiment. Ever since the New 52 reboot, there has been precious little of The Daily Planet staff in the Superman books and very little was done with them the few times they did show up. Lois Lane in particular was reduced in stature, transformed from Clark Kent's friendly rival to a mean girl who kept ignoring nice-guy Clark.


To paraphrase a line from Mark Waid, most of the recent Superman comics put more emphasis on "the Super" over "the man". That is entirely the wrong way to write a Superman story. Geoff Johns knows this and the current "Men Of Tomorrow" arc has centered less upon thrilling action sequences and more upon Clark Kent, as he attempts to teach the technically-human but totally-alien hero Ulysses about morality and what it means to be human. We still get some thrilling action, of course, but the focus is on the spirit of Superman - the friend who always there to help.


Thinking on it, that may be why John Romita Jr., Klaus Janson and Laura Martin were selected to be the art team for this particular story.  JRJ has a well-deserved reputation for being able to put a great deal of heart and energy into scenes of two people just talking.  Colorist Laura Martin modulates the palette subtly throughout the issue, with Superman's usual bold costume colors becoming more muted in the quieter moments. And Klaus Janson does his usual stellar job in making the bright moments all the brighter through creative shadow construction.

Superman #34 - A Review

A quick comment upon the cover of this issue.  I was less than enamored of the Selfie Variants that each DC Comics title had this month.  I disapprove of variant covers as a general rule and felt that this gimmick did not work for a lot of characters.  That being said, this one is damn good and a perfect send-up of the concept and the characters involved.  Because Jimmy Olsen would totally do this in the middle of a battle.


Curiously, Jimmy Olsen and the rest of the Daily Planet crew are absent from this issue.  The focus is once again upon Ulysses - strange visitor from another dimension, who has turned to Superman for guidance as he finds himself in what turns out to be the world of his birth.  The first part of this issue continues on from last month's closing revelation - that Clark Kent was able to track down Ulysses' scientist parents and uncovered the truth of how they sent him away in circumstances that mirror what Clark's own birth parents did to save his life.

Geoff Johns is in fine form here and the better part of the issue is spent explaining Ulysses's background and exploring the growing friendship between himself and Clark.  It is a slow story but it is still an enjoyable one and the reader feels Clark's subtle joy at having helped someone get the family reunion that he can never have.  There's also a bit of humor in how Clark is still a more human person than Ulysses, who thinks nothing of coming into Clark's apartment at night to watch him sleep because he had a sudden bout of curiosity regarding why he didn't need to sleep when Clark does and whether or not Superman dreams as normal humans do.  But worry not, action fans - the two heroes do team up against a new villain by the issue's end!


Unsurprisingly, the artwork by John Romita Jr.and Klaus Janson is as good as one would expect.  The action, once it starts, is well displayed but JRJ is just as capable of rendering the softer, quieter moments that this script requires..  The coloring by Laura Martin is also praise-worthy, with a variety of palettes being used throughout to subtly indicate the story's multifarious settings.

Superman #33 - A Review

Superman #33 is something unusual in that it is a Superman book that barely contains any action. The focus here isn't on big climactic battles or costumed madmen but upon the staff of the Daily Planet, who are as confused as the rest of Metropolis about the appearance of a mysterious new hero fighting alongside Superman.  Clark Kent is short on answers as well, but he intends to learn the origins of the mysterious man called Ulysses...


Writer Geoff Johns' love for these characters is apparent and it is good to see the Daily Planet staff back in action.  The scenes with these characters are enjoyable, introducing us to these characters without feeling over-expository.  Johns is famous for his gift for dialogue - and there is some good comedy here - but the most effective sequences in this issue may be the ones that are free of text.

There are a number of scenes  in this issue where the story is told purely through the pictures.  We learn more about Ulysses as a person watching him examine Clark Kent's apartment than we do in any of the dialogue.  There is also an effective silent sequence in which we see Clark putting his investigative skills to the test.


Superman #33 is fairly light on action.  And yet, it is one of the best Superman comics I've read in recent memory.  This book remembers that what makes Superman super is his infinite capacity for wanting to help other people and that doesn't always mean punching a bad guy.  If you like Superman, you'll love this book.  And if you don't like Superman, well, maybe this book will take you a step closer to doing so.

Earth 2 #25 - A Review

Earth 2 #25 is the distillation of everything that makes up great superhero comics.  It is hope.  It is love.  It is idealism.  It is the eleventh-hour, million-to-one long-shot that just... might... work.  It is the kind of book where characters can say that they accidentally pushed a villain into infinity or that they are going to hold the entire Earth in place and you believe it.  You honestly believe it with all your heart.


What Tom Taylor, Nicola Scott and Trevor Scott have done with this title is truly magical.  This issue is perhaps the best of the series so far and I will eat my hat if it is not nominated for an Eisner or an Eagle or some manner of award for Best Single Issue.  If it has a flaw, it is that as the penultimate part of the current storyline it is not easily accessible to new readers.  As such, I advise those of you who have yet to read this series to start with Issue #0 and start catching-up.  You won't regret it.

Superman #32 - A Review

To be quite blunt, I don't like a lot of the changes that The New 52 has brought to Superman.  I don't like having both of The Kents dead.  I don't like the idea of Superman and Wonder Woman dating.  And I don't like Clark Kent having been turned into Peter Parker with better musculature.

As such, I quite happily wrote off the Superman books a while ago.  I was never the biggest Superman fan to begin with, although I did like what Grant Morrison was trying to do with Action Comics before his departure.  I was looking forward to what Andy Diggle was going to do before he decided to leave that series after one issue.  And I was enjoying Supergirl before it was decided it should tie in more closely to whatever Scott Lobdell was trying to do with the Superman books at the time.

So what brought me back for this issue?  Two creators whose work I've always respected, even on the rare occasions when I didn't enjoy it - Geoff Johns and John Romita Jr.


Johns seems to be trying to re-establish the connections that earlier writers forsook.  This issue sees Clark being rehired at The Daily Planet and Perry White encouraging Clark to try and build more personal connections with people - something his life as Superman afford him little chance to do outside of his circle of superhero co-workers.  The book also introduces a new hero, who promises to be someone Clark can bond with on a more personal level than with Batman or Wonder Woman.

I think Johns hits the meta-textual nail on the head with White's assessment.  One of the biggest problems with Superman books of late - and many Superman stories in the past - is that there has been too little of Clark making connections with other people.  "The 'Super' has been put before the 'Man', to paraphrase Mark Waid in Kingdom Come, and the books have suffered for it.  Superman cannot just be about punching giant monsters.  It has to be about helping people as well.

Thankfully, when the time for monster-punching does come, John Romita Jr. proves as skillful as ever in depicting the action.   Whether he's choreographing involved fights or rendering talking heads, Romita is one of the best.  He's held up as one of the greats in the business for a reason and that reason is evident throughout this issue.

Earth 2 #24 - A Review

I remember having a conversation at a convention a few months back, describing Earth 2 to a skeptical comic fan who loved the Golden Age heroes but didn't like much of what The New 52 had offered so far.  He was excited about the concepts as I described them - how they were taking the basic idea of the original characters (man who can run fast, man with a magic ring, woman who can fly, etc.) but creating whole new takes on those base ideas while staying true to the core character.   So we have a Jay Garrick who is still a curious science student who is now blessed with the power of the Roman god Mercury and an Alan Scott who is given the power to harness the energy of the Earth itself through the engagement ring he bought for his lost love.


The part where this skeptic froze up was when I described Jimmy Olsen and how he has a superpower in this world.  He said he wasn't sure that he could get into any series where Jimmy Olsen had powers.  Now, ignoring that Jimmy developed superpowers more than a few times back in the day (temporarily, of course), that doesn't change that Tom Taylor still writes Jimmy like Jimmy.  Indeed, Tom Taylor writes one of the best takes on Jimmy Olsen I've ever read.

Sure, the boy has the power to absorb and recall information like a sponge and is a living wi-fi connection but that's completely incidental to who Jimmy is.  Jimmy is honest.  Jimmy is courageous.  Jimmy is an idealist in a world of cynics. And all of that comes to the front in this issue's most glorious scene, in which Jimmy Olsen delivers a The Reason You Suck Speech to Batman.

And yet, Jimmy is still enough of a fanboy to want to be Robin and enough of an egoist to think he'd be doing Batman a favor.  Hell of it is, I think the kid's right and this new Batman would be lucky to have Jimmy as his moral compass to keep him from going over the edge.  God knows he needs one.

I didn't say much about the artwork of Eddy Barrows and  Eber Ferreira  in all of this talking.  How could my words do it justice without panels to show off right then and there?  Just look at the pages above and I think you'll see for yourself how good it is and why I think everyone should be reading this book.  I said as much then and I'll say it again - this is one of the best books on the stands and everyone should be reading it.

Dallas Comic Con 2014 - ALL THE PICTURES! - Part Five

Black Canary- Classic Model With Mask


Jimmy Olsen & Lois Lane


Twin Kaylee.  Double the engine-power & triple the shiny!


Black Canary Sans Mask


A trio of G.I. Joe soldiers.


Gwendolyn & Marko from Saga.


Ghost.


Supergirl, Aquagirl and Jinx from Teen Titans.


Detective Chimp!


Captain Marvel & Captain Marvel.


Everything is awesome!  It's Emmet from The LEGO Movie


Black Cat, Green Arrow and yet another Black Canary


An awesome dragon!  Not sure if she's a specific one but it's still impressive.

Earth 2 #23 - A Review

I have no idea why Earth 2 isn't the most acclaimed title that DC Comics publishes right now.  It can't be because of the artwork.  Nicola Scott and Trevor Scott turn in Eisner-worthy pages every month.  Just look at this splash of Green Lantern below!


It can't be because of the writing.  Tom Taylor has an amazing grasp of the characters of the DC Universe but enough of a creative spirit to play with several classic concepts in ways that change the game while still remaining true to the heart of the characters' histories.  Consider how he has turned Lois Lane into the new Red Tornado and Jimmy Olsen into a living social network called Accountable yet the two characters are still largely unchanged despite their super-powers.  This issue sees them conspiring together to use their powers in tandem in a way that is reminiscent of the two working together as Superman's allies in other stories.


Earth 2 is a hidden treasure that deserves a wider audience.  The stories and characters are great.  The artwork is amazing.  And more than any other book DC Comics has published in recent memory, it lives up to the promise that the New 52 universe had to offer.

Earth 2 #20 - A Review

I heard about the controversy regarding Earth 2 #20 long before I got a chance to read it.  The problem stemmed from the revelation that The Red Arrow - a hero who had gone unnamed and largely undefined apart from a snarky personality - was named Connor Hawke.

For those who don't know, Connor Hawke was the name of Oliver Queen's illegitimate son and the second Green Arrow in the pre-New 52 DC Universe.  He was also of mixed-heritage, his mother being half-African/half-Korean.  Unfortunately, many artists and colorists did not bother to portray this and Connor was frequently depicted as a light-skinned, clean-shaven clone of his father despite being meant to be quite different physically and in terms of personality.

Some are bothered that Connor Hawke would be revived looking more like Roy Harper - with white skin and red hair - than as he appeared before.  I understand that and agree with it to a point.  However, I'm reluctant to label this as a case of "white-washing" given the nature of the Earth 2 series and the personal track record of the creator involved.


The world of Earth 2 has taken many characters and combined them, creating new characters that may seem familiar while offering new twists on classic formula.  For instance, multiple versions of The Atom have been condensed into one character with the name of the original Atom (Al Pratt) and the size-changing powers of his successor (Al Rothstein).  Taking Oliver Queen's two sons and combining them in a similar fashion honors both.

Would I have preferred a visibly mixed-race Connor Hawke?  I think so, yes.  But I'm reluctant to scream racism at a series that has done so much to give us a more diverse DC Universe.  So far, this series has given us a Hispanic Hawkgirl, an Arabian Doctor Fate, an Indian World Army commander, a gay Green Lantern, a senior-citizen Batman and - if the end of this issue is any indication - a black Superman.  To complain about one character going from mixed to Caucasian in the face of all that seems short-sighted to me, particularly when we know so little about the character and his background so far.  And it's ludicrous to call Tom Taylor a racist when the independent comic series he's created and is currently developing into an animated series is based around the adventures of a mixed-race family of super-scientists.

Ignoring all the controversy, this is a damn fine issue.  Taylor is a great writer of dialogue and he has a great grasp on the classic characters of the DC Universe.  The best moments in this book involve Lois Lane - now inhabiting a robot body - attempting to comfort a young Kryptonian named Val who is agoraphobic thanks to his having spent virtually his entire life either trapped inside his Kryptonian birthing matrix or locked inside a government facility.  These scenes offer a glimpse at a Lois Lane long absent from the most recent Superman books - the Lois Lane with an iron will and nerves of steel who was as strong as Superman in all the ways that matter.


The artwork by Barry Kitson is a match for Taylor's script.  Kitson is a skillful artist and inker and a tremendous visual storyteller, who gives a certain sense of emotional power to alll of the scenes in this issue where people are just talking.  Robson Rocha and Oclair Albert are less skilled in depicting the issue's lone action scenes, in which the villain Brutale orders all the holy sites on Earth destroyed in the name of Darkseid, but the work here is competent if not as fine as Kitson's.