By: Michael Alan Nelson (writer), Diogenes Neves (pencils), Marc Deering (inks), Guy Major (colors)
The Story: Brainiac and the Cyborg Superman have come to I’noxia. Now it will face the wrath of a force unimaginable: an angry Supergirl.
The Review:
Spoiler Warning: It’s going to be very hard to discuss this issue without spoiling the events of Supergirl #23 and Action Comics #23.3: Cyborg Superman. Honestly I’m not going to try. If you’re really concerned about spoilers for those comics, check out their reviews in the archives. You’ll probably like this comic at least as well as you liked them, but don’t say I didn’t warn you if you choose to read on.
The last time we saw Kara Zor-El, two months ago, she was in something of a bad way. In fact, she had just been murdered; the flesh stripped from her bones and used to reconstitute the Cyborg Superman. A lot of heroes might take that as the universe telling them to take some time off, but from the very first page it’s painfully clear that Supergirl doesn’t care what ‘a lot of heroes’ think.
Michael Alan Nelson caught my attention with his surprisingly honest version of Kara and that’s still very much in play. Nelson’s Supergirl has always been a powerful and intelligent character, even if she tends to prefer one to the other, and he’s taken evident glee in showing how much she can accomplish when she calls upon the full breadth of her talents. Kara’s journey has been one of controlling her anger and tempering her strength with intelligence. This month we’re reminded how powerful that anger can be.
It’s not rare to see female characters unleashed in comics, however, Nelson does an admirable job of sidestepping the common problems with this archetype. The balance between Kara’s anger being a moment of badass apotheosis and a significant danger to all those around her is carefully measured. There’s a weight behind her strum und drang that really sells the concept. Even if its impact on the story should have been a little bigger, it avoids the Man of Steel route and allows a much-needed sense of agency after Kara’s traumatic experiences.
But Kara’s not the only player on this stage. Brainiac may not get the best parts but he functions admirably as a looming threat and makes this conflict feel even more star-spanning. Meanwhile we get another brief but well-written look at both Zor-El and the Cyborg Superman.
Zor-El’s fatherly concern comes through beautifully, even if I could have used a little more resolution to his rivalry with Jor-El and the madness it spawned. The Cyborg lacks the subtlety that made him great in previous issues, but it’s utterly in character for this sad creature pushed past desperation. The script nearly comments on how one-note the Cyborg can be, playing him like a fiddle all throughout, while simultaneously crediting his power and cunning by placing him on equal footing with one of Superman’s strongest enemies.
In fact, I’d say that’s the defining feature of this issue, respect. Michael Alan Nelson gets away with a lot of things that might bother a reader because he always retains his respect for the characters. Kara could be viewed as regressing into a simple temper tantrum just as easily as the Cyborg could be monotonous machine, but their feelings and drives are given understanding and respect and it lets the book rise above such concerns.
I could probably go on quite a bit longer, but let’s talk about the art because Diogenes Neves certainly deserves some praise as well.
Though it’s not always as clean as his previous issues, Neves continues his run of strong facial expressions and dramatic poses. His Brainiac, in particular, demonstrates a powerful bearing that justifies an otherwise questionable re-re-re-redesign.
There’s a spark of crazy in Kara’s eyes that’s just restrained enough to let you know that you are screwed but not so much as to look farcical. On the other hand, we also get some truly touching quiet moments, especially between Kara and Delacore.
The jagged panels and strong use of the white background of the book, remain in the layouts, and give the book a youthful energy that suits its protagonist well.
If there’s one point of warning to make, it’s that the issue is characteristically wordy. That’s often a kind way of saying that some people will find an issue dull, but that’s really not the case here. Kara’s struggles are simply arresting and the four-way struggle between Supergirl, her father, Brianiac, and his monstrous creation keeps the blood pumping all throughout the issue. You can tell that Nelson probably had to kill a number of his darlings to make this story fit, but it is an issue’s worth of a monthly ongoing.
The Conclusion:
Supported capably by Neves’ artwork and Guy Major’s strong colors, Nelson wraps up an excellent Supergirl adventure and leaves Kara stronger, more likeable, and better defined as she heads off for “Krypton Returns”.
Grade: B
A Note: I don’t think that I’ll be picking up Supergirl #25, due to its tie-in status and the generally low opinion of Scott Lobdell’s He’l saga. If that is the case, this is sadly my last outing with Michael Alan Nelson’s Supergirl. Sad as that is, Michael is currently writing Day Men for BOOM! Studios and has a number of series in collection, so fans can easily get their fix. Likewise, Michael’s craft and my friends’ strong recommendations towards the Michael Green Supergirl have given me great hope for the character and I expect that you’ll find a review of Supergirl #26 by Earth 2 guest artist, Yildiray Cinar, and the writer of my beloved R.E.B.E.L.S., Tony Bedard, right here in two months.