REVIEW: Supergirl: Survive #4

Kara Zor-El and her toddler cousin Kal-El continue their trek across space toward their new home of Earth in Supergirl: Survive #4. Krypton is gone, and it has been—if calculated by Earth time—a year and three months since Kara and Kal became the Last Children of Krypton.

Writers Ethan S. Parker and Griffin Sheridan, along with artist and colorist Rod Reis and letterer Lucas Gattoni, continue to show how much these two Kryptonian orphans have grown as they journey toward their destinies. Last month, we followed a grieving Kara, who had become a Blue Lantern, and a growing Kal, who was living inside a bright blue construct of Krypton. The two also met Ms. Mxy, who either knows what their futures really are or what they could become.

We still don’t know why Ms. Mxy wanted the Blue Lantern ring or what she intends to do with it, but she gives them a taste of what life on Earth could be like. She also shocks Kara out of her grief and reminds her that she and Kal need to make it to Earth. Destiny is obviously calling the super cousins, and now they are determined to answer. Before we dive deeper into this issue, let’s check out the awesome covers.

On the standard cover by Reis, Kara and Kal hover during an ominous lightning storm as a giant hand reaches toward them. It belongs to a mysterious being with a massive head, glowing pink eyes and pink nodes across his skull that immediately bring Superman and Supergirl villain Brainiac to mind. Fear is fixed on the cousins’ faces as the threat looms behind them.

Kara flies high above the clouds on Taurin Clarke’s variant cover as the sun shines down on her. She looks elated and empowered by the regenerative effects of a yellow sun and the extraordinary abilities it gives her. Kara is finally getting a taste of what life on Earth could be like.

Kara and Kal also look super on Sweeney Boo’s variant cover. The cousins hover above the lush foliage of Ms. Mxy’s utopia, holding hands as what appears to be a setting sun shines behind them. The sunlight gives their clothing hues of red, blue and yellow—the traditional colors of their future super suits—hinting at the heroes they may one day become.

Reis once again delivers beautiful artwork and colors as we experience the utopia alongside Kara and Kal. We also witness what it feels like when the rays of a yellow sun rush into a Kryptonian for the first time and just how powerful and overwhelming that experience can be. The looks on the cousins’ faces as they bask in the sunlight and discover their new abilities are a delight. Reis does an excellent job capturing those moments of wonder as Kara and Kal begin using powers readers have associated with them for decades—but that these versions are experiencing for the first time.

Parker and Sheridan also do a wonderful job showing how much both Kara and Kal have grown throughout this miniseries. Their bond and trust are stronger than ever, and as Kal continues to mature, we get more interesting dialogue and genuinely great moments between the cousins. I also love how the writers pay off Kara eavesdropping on Green Lantern Abin Sur and Blue Lantern Bro’Dee Walker’s conversation with a Guardian about avoiding yellow suns while the cousins remained in their care. The last thing Kara said in the previous issue was, “No yellow suns,” remembering what she had overheard. Now she finally discovers why.

We also get another version of a classic Super Family character in this issue. It is a nice surprise and a great wink toward regular continuity. I love how Parker and Sheridan weave familiar characters and pieces of Superman mythology into this Elseworlds story without overwhelming Kara and Kal’s journey. Kara and Kal are empowered, stronger and one step closer to their destiny in Supergirl: Survive #4. After everything these two children have endured since Krypton’s destruction, it simply feels good to see them smiling, enjoying themselves and not constantly dealing with another traumatic situation or painful memory.

(10/10) Supergirl: Survive #4 gives the characters and readers an opportunity to breathe while still moving the story forward. We finally get to see the superpowers we associate with Kara and Kal come to life in versions who have never experienced them before. We also get some superhero names, another familiar face and a new mission that gives us plenty to look forward to next month.