Supergirl: The Girl of Steel: 07/28/22

Supergirl: The Girl of Steel by Jeph Loeb et al is an omnibus reissue of some 2005 comics featuring Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl. After sojourning with the Amazons she's trying to find her place in a hostile world, only to find herself beset by the other superheroes, including her own cousin who due to space travel shenanigans is now physically older than she is.

For a reissue to form the basis of a new launching off point, starting after the establishing plot arc is a head-scratcher. I know I tease DC for going back to their origin stories at every opportunity. One would expect them to have done that here. They didn't. Instead we're given Kara's return to civilization where she helps Air Force One land after the pilot radios a mayday. That initial scene is the most coherent this volume ever manages to be.

Mostly, though, the comic is Kara in skimpy clothing either bemoaning her situation or worse, being brutalized by the other super heroes for reasons. There's something extremely off when Batman ends up being the most sympathetic of the lot.

Then instead of a segue to lead us into a different premise, we're give exactly six words: One year and one month later; before we're in an alternate dimension or timeline where Kara is trying to depose her cousin. Meanwhile her cousin spends way too much time standing around naked while basking in his own power.

By the alternate shit show story I was resigned to this just being dudes having their power fantasy and wankfests while drawing, coloring, inking, what have you, superheroes.

The second volume is Breaking the Chain (2016).

Two stars

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