Supergirl's Kelley Pucket at Wizard Universe

So, I'm reading Kelley Puckett's interview over at Wizard Universe and it explains why his first four issues have really gone nowhere. The most telling qoute is here

I actually had a different approach to the character. I had an opening four-issue arc that was very, very different that I was going to do, and I took way too long to come up with it. I was right on time getting it in before my first issue deadline…and of course I didn’t tell anyone what I was going to do. [Laughs] Then I turned it in and found out that there was a very specific continuity problem with the core aspect of what I was going to do, and so I had to start over and go really, really fast to come up with something for the first issue. So I’m not where I should be with the character and what I want to do with her. The very end of issue #26 is when I first start to get her to where I want to take her. The first few issues I’ve just been trying to take the character I was given and try to make sense out of her, and things start to change with #26.

The end of the current issue is the true beginning of Puckett's run. His first four issues where basically thrown together at the last minute - filler. That may explain the dearth of dialogue in those issues. He let the artist tell the story. However, he does admit to this being his style. Now, let's let DC Editorial get out of the way and let Puckett tell a good Supergirl story. There's been 26 issues of this current version and I have yet to see one that really grabbed me. I keep hoping that someone will fix this book. Hopefully, left unmolested, Puckett can do that. He's got a few more issues before I drop it.

Supergirl #26

Issue #4 of the Puckett/Johnson era and we start to see a little character development for Kara. It almost seems as if writer Kelley Puckett missed out on the 20+ previous issues of "Supergirl". The Supergirl in this issue acts a bit like she just stepped off of the boat - or floated up from the ocean floor. Puckett has her almost looking down her nose at humans with disparaging comments about STAR Labs and the frailty of humans. Puckett is still relying more on the visuals to tell the story vice providing dialogue and that makes for a fast read. Artist Drew Johnson is assisted on pencils by Lee Ferguson and it shows. While previous issues have looked pretty polished, the art here looks rushed and sketchy.

So, the countdown has begun. I have given Puckett five issues so far and I haven't been impressed. He's got a few more issues before I drop the title.

Supergirl #25

Once again, "Supergirl" clocks in as the fastest read of the month. The pictures are awfully pretty and I wonder if writer Kelley Puckett is so in awe of Drew Johnson & Lee Ferguson's art that he feels there is no need for further explanation. This issue has more dialog than the previous issues, but not by much. I'm just sure what Puckett is going for here.

We are three issues into Puckett and Johnson's run on "Supergirl" and I'm not impressed. For $2.99/issue I'd like quite a bit more story to go along with the art.

Supergirl #24

Huh?

The confusing story from last issue continues here and I'm just not getting it. I had high hopes for Kelley Puckett's run but these first two issues have fallen flat. This issue was pretty to look at but didn't have much else to offer.

Someone, anyone, step up and make Supergirl a good read.

Superman Annual #13

Up front I have to say that with all of the delays and fill-ins it has been hard keeping track of the "Camelot Falls" storyline. While writer Kurt Busiek does a fine job with Superman, the issue breaks and delay have hurt the flow of this story. I had to rack my brain a little bit to even remember what Arion's deal was and how we got to where we are now. I am guessing that with his recent replacement that artist Carlos Pacheco is the main culprit in all of these delays. Busiek does a decent job of providing the reader a little time to catch up utilizing the Phantom Stranger for good effect. I like Busiek's use of Superman's thoughts to help fill the reader in on the happenings. The ending to "Camelot Falls" isn't truly epic and kind of peters out as it crosses the finish line. Maybe future stories with the villian Khyber will provide some excitement but at this point all I can do is yawn.

Pacheco and Jesus Merino share the art duties on this issue and do a fine job with all of the action. The varied page presentations keep the story flowing well.

Busiek and Fabian Nicieza's backup story "The Best Day" is a throwback to the "Superman Family" reads of the 70s with Superman and his family visiting a lush and vibrant planet. Even though he still draws the big boned (I won't say "fat") Supergirl, Renato Guedes art is very good here. My son commented, "Dad, Guedes' art is really good, but he still can't draw Supergirl."

If you are interested in finishing up the "Camelot Falls" storyline then this issue is for you. If not, then by passing it won't hurt your future DC reading.

Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #36

"Supergirl and teh Legion of Super-Heroes" #36 picks up the action right where #35 left off. From my last review I found the search for Cosmic Boy to be quite tedious, but this issue looks to resolve that issue. Writer Tony Bedard is wrapping up his run to turn over the reigns to returning Legion writer Jim Shooter. To that end, Bedard has a lot happening in this issue. This is the first issue of Legion that I have enjoyed in a long time. While Calero's art hasn't been to my liking, I really dug it here. Both Calero and colorist Nathan Eyring's art is spot on in this issue capturing the both the darkness presented and the hope for the future. I believe Bedard has left the Legion in a good spot for Shooter to start spinning his tales.

With all of the changes in the last few issues to the core group, Tony Bedard has provide an excellent jumping on point for new readers and for Jim Shooter.

Superman #670

"Superman" issue #670 brings to a conclusion the three-part "The Third Kryptonian" story line. The entire Superman family is present including new additions Chris Kent and Karsta Wor-Ul - the third Kryptonian in question. This is an action packed issue reminiscent of the old "Superman Family" adventures during the Silver Age. In the middle of the battle Karsta flies away leaving Superman, Supergirl, Powergirl, Krypto, and Batman left to fight her battle. Her return to the battle is inevitable and aptly timed as well. Writer Kurt Busiek does a fine job of moving the action forward and concluding this three part story. Busiek continues to weave his perception of Superman's post Crisis reality showing that Red Sun doesn't strip Superman's powers it just blocks his ability to access them. Artificial Kryptonite is also introduced. Now, I'm not a continuity nut but can Kryptonians breath in space? Post COIE Superman needed a breathing appartus. In the most recent Supergirl we get the 2-hour limit. In this issue Karsta flies off into space unaided....what's the deal? I also found the whole Kandor explanation a bit hard to swallow and look forward to Busiek or Johns pulling on this thread.

Rick Leonardi and Dan Green's art captures the action well and provides one of the better representations of Supergirl and Powergirl. I also liked Jesus Merino's cover and wouldn't mind getting a poster size version of it.

All in all, the three parter was a fun read and I would recommend it.

Supergirl #23

New "Supergirl" scribe, Kelley Puckett, comes on board and spins a stunning tale establishing Supergirl as a powerhouse character in the DC Universe...is what I would have liked to said during this review. I had high hopes for Puckett's tenure here but this first chapter has left me cold. Entitled "Tesseract" we start with Supergirl getting a package from Batman ( a grizzled unshaven version of him) and then being thrown into some war with Superman and the Green Lantern Corps on one side and who knows on the other. Now a tesseract is a four dimensional analog of a cube where motion along the fourth dimension is often represented as the cube moving through time. Is the box that Batman left the cube? Is Supergirl moving through time? Am I reading too much into the title? I read this issue in about five minutes and basically got nothing out of it.

Drew Johnson's penciling is good for the most part, but the story relies so much on the visuals I don't know if I should blame Johnson for the confusing issue or Puckett. On a positive note, Puckett does establish that Supergirl is now 18 in this issue. In Superman/Batman when she was discovered she was 16 and in this issue she tells Batman she has been on Earth for two years. Now, why Batman after two years is still screwing with Supergirl is a whole other question.

I'm a Supergirl fan from way back and I'm hoping DC and Puckett can put this character back on track. However, this first issue does not bode well.

Supergirl & the Legion of Super-Heroes

"The Search for Cosmic Boy Grows Tedious!" would be the tag line for this series. I'm not sure I even care where he is now. I certainly don't get the motivations behind many of the players here - Braniac-5 in particular. Of course, he's a fifth level intellect and I wouldn't even consider that I could be made to understand his motivations. The only character that comes across interesting or exciting is Atom Girl. What started out 34 issues ago with great promise has settled into a muddled mess. The outgoing Tony Bedard has one more issue to tie up any loose ends on this "search" before Jim Shooter takes over the writing chores. Shooter has his work cut out for him if he has to take this version of the Legion forward. Dennis Calero's art is decent but the heavy handed inking and shadows highlight the aforementioned "muddled mess" presented here.

New Supergirl Artist

I only have to endure one more issue of Renato Guedes' thick legged, forty year-old looking Supergirl. As of issue 23, Drew Johnson is coming on to handle the art on Supergirl. Both of my kids that are comic readers didn't even attempt to read the Guedes' issues because of the art. Maybe with Johnson coming onboard DC can pick up a couple of more young fans for Supergirl.

Supergirl #20

During one of DC's many panels at this year's San Diego Comic Con, Dan Didio explained Supergirl's place in the DC Universe. He was answering a question in regards to bringing new readers to DC. Dan asked the audience, "Who is Supergirl?" He responded with "Superman's cousin." In an attempt to rectify past mistakes with Supergirl, she was reintroduced into the DC Universe in the pages of Superman/Batman.

Here initial introduction in Superman/Batman: Supergirl #8-13, writer Jeff Loeb did a good job of setting up Kara in the post-Crisis (original not Infinite) Earth. Supergirl's new series jumped from her introduction and stumbled almost from the start. While some of the stories have been enjoyable, the inconsistent writing and art have hurt this title. The only book that has done an excellent job presenting an exciting and well thought out Supergirl is Brave and the Bold written by Mark Waid and illustrated by George Perez. In the pages of Brave and the Bold, Supergirl comes across as a powerful young woman getting to know her place in the universe.

Supergirl #20 addresses the aftermath of Supergirl and Wondergirl attempting to negotiate with the President on Air Force One during the Amazon Attacks war. DC has really dropped the ball on Amazon Attacks. What should have been a series spanning cross over event, turned into a continuity mess with poor writing. This issue of Supergirl begins by being hampered by this illogical storyline. Given that, I enjoyed the action that Tony Bedard put in this issue. We get to see Supergirl cut loose and even show that she is vulnerable, like Superman, to magic. Besides the Amazon Attacks tie-in, the big drawback to this issue was the art. Renato Guedes' version of Supergirl looks like a tube with thick hips and legs. I know that America is getting fatter, but does Supergirl have to follow that trend. My son, who is "ho-hum" on Supergirl as it is, picked up the book and immediately put it down based on the shoddy art.

How does DC fix Supergirl?
1) Pick a direction for the character and begin moving that way. The best of the DC heroes don't just go from fight to fight, they have a story arc to develop their character and their place in DC. This character should get young girls excited about reading comics. My daughter, who is just getting into comics, could care less about Supergirl right now.
2) Get a good writer for the long term. It looks like Tony Bedard is on for on three issues, two of which are crossover event tie ins. Therefore, I don't expect much from his run.
3) Get an artist that can draw young. Supergirl is 16 not 25 (or older by Guedes' art). Bring in an artist that can attract young girls (and guys) to the character.

While the answers above can apply to almost any book being published, they highlight what DC has done wrong in the handling of Supergirl. Good Supergirl stories can be published. Just go to Brave and the Bold for the proof.

-Matt