REVIEW: Supergirl #10
Supergirl #10, “My Bloody Valentine” finishes out the holiday inspired stories with a heavy dose of Valentine’s Day teen melodrama. However, it also ties up a few dangling story threads, better defines the effects of pink kryptonite, and sets up how the series will be involved in the upcoming “Reign of the Superboys”.
The main cover is by Sophie Campbell and acts as a warning label for the story inside. This one gets a bit cheesy with the use of teen romance tropes and Kara’s inner conflict over recent issue’s events. Kara’s lament on this cover captures that tone well and it carries throughout the rest of the book.
Staying with Valentine’s Day themes, Chrissie Zullo-Uminga’s variant is very much an old school Valentine’s Day card. With her adorable art style, Zullo-Uminga depicts Krypto giving Kara a super hug for treats she’s brought him. It’s extremely cute and hard not to like.
The variant by Joe Quinones also stays within the holiday by creating a backdrop of all of Supergirl’s former romances. It’s fun seeing all the relationships Supergirl has had over her long history, even if some of them aren’t an ex of Kara’s. Given how the background fills out, her cover question shows her sense of loneliness regardless of her strength and independence.
Two other less Valentine’s Day themed variants are by Elizabeth Torque & Sabine Rich and Amy Reeder.
Joe Quinones solos the interior art for ‘Supergirl’ #10. His art here is top notch as he gets some visual freedom creating the look of a new villain. Kara’s heightened emotional state is also displayed well and you can nearly see Lena’s eyes roll when Conner shows up. The art really carries the story this issue which is to be expected with a more physically emotive tale. For all this story is about the ups and downs of love, both romantic and friendly, Quinones does give us a very chilling last panel which could suggest a tonal shift going forward.
Sophie Campbell, lettered by Dave Sharpe, not only follows through with some dangling story threads, but also picks up from last issue’s fallout between Kara and Lena. Kara finally goes out with her mysterious crush from Halloween whose earring happens to be made of pink kryptonite. Here Campbell better defines the effects of Pink K and further explores its origin of creation. This brings forth a spurned Kryptonian spirit which Luna helps contain indicating her psychic abilities are growing more powerful. We’re left with Lena and Kara clearing the air between each other before Conner Kent shows up with some distressing news about Kandor.
(7/10) To be honest, my personal disdain for Valentine’s Day definitely skews my opinion of Supergirl #10 more than I realized. That being said, I did appreciate the more definitive aspects of pink kryptonite as more of a senses altering “love potion” and am very curious how/if the cast dynamic will change for the next arc.
