REVIEW: Summer Of Supergirl Special #1

Rather than standalone stories of a typical special or anniversary issue, Summer of Supergirl Special #1 connects to the current DC Universe canon. It just shows how timeless the character of Kara Zor-El is that all of them hold up their own.

Belen Ortega’s regular cover features some of the characters that Kara and Krypto will encounter on these three adventures, though they are more reflective of two of the three. While Kara has ditched her old Action Comics suit, Jon and Connor have yet to (it’s not too late!) We get the father daughter duo of Lobo and Crush as well as Leegra the Princess Shark, straight out of the pages of the ongoing Supergirl series. Like Jorge Jimenez, Ortega’s art just radiates sunlight.

This special issue isn’t left out of the Supergirl movie variant covers thanks to Mahmud Asrar. I love that the brown trench coat has now become associated with Supergirl since the release of Superman last year. This cover is interesting because it could be after she is dropped off on an alien world. This is actually the most I’ve seen her spaceship in detail –those jets articulate, I just know it. Great gritty color job by Mike Spicer.

Shannon Maer’s variant is something I would love on a canvas. The background would be a great piece on its own, but Supergirl and Krypto enhance it. It’s like that artist who finds old paintings and paints pop culture characters on them. Maer really did an excellent job capturing them photo realistically in a way that no one has seen before.

Other variants are done by Pablo Villalobos and Tula Lotay.

The first story by Sophie Campbell and art by Belen Ortega takes place after Lobo #4 after his and Supergirl’s fight and are in alien court answering for the property damage they caused. It sounds like they were both following a lead on a Kryptonian storage facility that survived the planet’s destruction. Princess Shark was there too as Dawg and Krypto. Supergirl and Princess Shark are bailed out by Crush while Lobo is sentenced to a month equivalent at a rehabilitation planet. Dawg is placed in Supergirl’s care in the meantime. It’s fun and games with two super dogs around, but when Lobo comes back to take Dawg back –he isn’t too happy.

The team behind the current Supergirl run is behind this story and it’s all here to hype us up to see Kara and Lobo on the big screen. The return to Midvale has become one of the most memorable Supergirl runs I’ve read, and it’s only been a little over year since it began. It hasn’t just been redefining her place in the DC Universe, it’s also set to explore her past comic history. Campbell blends the storytelling of an irreverent cartoon with a superhero comic book that can be taken seriously –and even implications for the DC Universe as whole moving forward.

Ortega has some great panels. Something I’m just now learning about alien design through her is that it helps to design them based on animals on Earth if they are friendly since it creates that a feeling of familiarity. Action shots are not bad either with high-flying, hard-hitting action. The close up of Princess Shark and some manga-inspired reaction shots are some great silly highlights. And most importantly, she can draw a great grilled cheese. Colors are by Triona Farrell.

The second story sees Supergirl and Mary Marvel taking on a new android with a threat level comparable to Amazo. Of course, Gail Simone tells a tale more than just fisticuffs. It’s the discussion of two superheroines whose true homes are lost forever with Mary an orphan and Kara having lost Krypton. It’s a great character reflection piece that give us a little action out of the gate. Emma Kubert sets a robot on a rampage and pits Kara and Mary against it. I do see the lessons she took from her father, comics legend Andy Kubert. There’s more emphasis on the details of the eyes and hair as well as blocky hands which makes for a great trademark style. Inks are by Sandra Hope and colors are by Trish Mulvihill.

The final story is from Mark Waid and sets the record straight on Supergirl’s canonical history in the DC Universe as Conor and Jon go through her Justice League file on the Watchtower. It details Superman originally finding her, her death during Infinite Crisis, and return in Batman Superman, retconning it in some parts. The Supergirl that substituted for her during the 90s was Matrix –but that is a story for an upcoming Supergirl issue.

Cian Tormey’s panels take us back through all of Supergirl’s most significant moments in history and how they all add up with the Watchtower as the interlude. There’s nothing much to say since this story is quite literally people talking, but it works as a form of DC’s editorial team talking directly to the fans answering these questions. Colors are by Alex Guimaraes.

(9/10) Summer of Supergirl Special #1 hypes up the movie, builds on the comics, and reaffirms the character’s DC history, it’s an issue you don’t want to miss.