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21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
And there can only be ONE... Supergirl!, October 17, 2005
When I was just getting into comic books, I didn't know anything about the mainstream superheroes and their origins. Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman? They were legends, known from cartoons and pop-culture. But then two series changed all that by sucking me in with their outstanding artwork, and incredible story-telling. The first one was Batman:Hush by Jim Lee and Jeph Loeb. The second is this one, the second part of Superman/Batman. Only this time it's Michael Turner instead of Jim Lee. Loeb though, wrote this one too, and while unfortunately he does not quite match high point he reached with Hush Part 1 (or Spider-man: Blue or Hulk:Gray) for the duration, he still managed to weave a good tale, with the best parts approaching or even competing with his best work.
While Hush is certainly enough to make a Batman fan out of the uninitiated, I was really introduced to the character of Superman through Superman/Batman and Superman: Godfall (also highly recommended). Like the previous issues of Superman/Batman, this series picks up with a story being told from the duel perspective of the dark knight and the man of steel. This time of course the story involves one Kara Zor-El, Superman's Kryptonian cousin. You could say that this whole storyline is really an answer to all the people who said "How come we aren't getting any cool comics about the REAL Supergirl?!". As a serious fan of all female superheroes, I can't help but think that this is a very good thing.
The first chapter of the story details Batman's investigation of meteorite that has fallen to earth (as shown in the first Superman/Batman collection). He goes underwater to check it out while Superman complains about how he can't go outside because of all the anti-Superman propoganda being pushed by the President (Lex Luthor). Supergirl escapes from her capsule which was contained in the meteorite, and proceeds to start wreaking havoc on the city of Gotham with her newfound superpowers. Naturally Superman shows up to help out before things get TOO out of hand, but it's Batman who takes the decisive action of knocking Kara out with some Kryptonite so he can take her back for examination (always the detective, never one to be hood-winked). She isn't too happy when she comes to (and starts shouting in Kryptonian {I didn't mention that up to this point that's all she's been talking in}), but quickly mellows out when she meets Supes, who is just overjoyed to finally meet someone nice (and family to boot) from his old home planet.
Chapter 2 is all about Batman's skepticism, Superman's idealism, Kara's teenage attitude, and the inevitable conflicts as Superman tries to protect Kara, Batman distrusts her and worries about Superman, and she just tries to figure out where she is and why Superman is trying to control her while Batman is trying to lock her up for safekeeping. There's also a quick jump to Apokolips where Darkseid (Superman's true nemesis in my opinion) is trying to find a replacement for Big Barda, the former leader of his honor guard (this will become important later...). The real fun surprise though, is that when Clark Kent takes Kara to Metropolis for a visit, they come under attack from...WONDER WOMAN!
In the third chapter (the point where I originally started reading the series), we see that Diana's spiriting away of Kara was actually planned and approved by Batman (another one of endless paranoid tests eh?). It could probably be argued that this is the best part of the entire series, as we get to see lots of Turner doing what he does best (action scenes with beautiful women. While one friend of mine who's a huge fan of Wonder Woman said she looked like she was wearing a swimsuit (and he was just plain disgusted), I for one got a big kick out of Turner's designs for the inhabitants of Themyscira. The whole point of Kara's being taken there was for her to learn some discipline and control of her powers through combat training. There's some entertaining interplay between the big three (Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman) as Superman continues to be overprotective and complains about Wonder Woman's methods, and Batman continues to be skeptical and feels more at ease with Wonder Woman on his side. There's a little to show how Kara is making new friends on the island (Harbinger), but all too soon the peace is disrupted by some nasty monsters sent over courtesy of Darkseid. This of course results in some really cool action (Batman's wielding a battle-axe, Superman vaporizing the whole field of enemies with his heat-vision), and some truly epic moments (a silhouette of Superman amid the flames, the lifeless Harbinger wrapped in Superman's cape and draped in his arms). Oh, and Kara gets kidnapped which REALLY ticks off Superman.
The fourth chapter is a fun little trip to Apokolips via boom tube, as Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and Big Barda meet up, suit-up, and head out. To make a long story short, Darkseid's female furies attack Barda and Wonder Woman, one of Darkseid's watchdogs eats Batman, and when Supergirl is finally found by Superman she proceeds to start beating the crap out of him (oh those nasty mind-tricks!). This one is okay, with most of the pull being exerted by the nice action scenes and dire situations our heroes got themselves into (everyone looks like they're about to die). Art-wise this episode is a little weak though, as the color tone is mostly yellow and red and the drawings just aren't quite as dynamic as before.
The fifth chapter nicely wraps up the whole Apokolips chapter, as Batman escapes, Diana turns the tables on the furies, and Superman finds the guts to punch Kara with a Kryptonite ring to knock her out. In the end though, it's Batman who saves their skins by guaranteeing the continued existence of the planet (reprogramming Darkseid's planet-destroying explosives is a piece of cake for him right?) in exchange for their safe departure. Back on earth there are tears of sorrow, as Superman and Kara face what has happened (mind-manipulation and death of friends you know). And then...Kara takes to the skies in the Supergirl uniform, only to be blasted to bits by Darkseid (WHAT?!)!!
The sixth and final chapter is all about Superman's fight against Darkseid (why do I still think of the battle between them in the Superman/Batman animated series as the best ever?) as Superman finally really loses his cool and knocks Darkseid into space and then, thorough boom tube to teh far side of the universe. Once again, though, it all turns out to be a clever little game played by Superman and Batman, and Kara is NOT dead (just hiding). Finally, at long last, Superman, Batman, and the new Supergirl reconcile their differences (Superman stops treating Kara like a little girl and Batman finally sets his mind at ease...for the moment. The real treat of course is the final couple of pages where most of the great DC heroes all assemble to greet Supergirl and joins their ranks for the first time.
What can I say? It isn't very often that Michael Turner will do the artwork for an entire series (he's done Fathom and Soulfire that I really enjoy), let alone one outside of one of his personal creations. Increasingly he's become known for doing outstanding covers, and not much else. Getting a chance to see him do a complete series about classic characters out of the JLA is a real treat, and for a huge Supergirl fan like me it's just the icing on the cake that it happens to be about her too. Some people will take issue with Turner's interpretations of the classic characters of the DC universe (Batman's ears are too pointy, Superman's jaw is too square), but I really just love them all. To me they are like the work of Jim Lee or Alex Ross. Bright, beautiful, and larger than life. Awesome.
While Fathom had a largely blue tint, this series uses a lot of twilight colors, as well as some wonderfully bright reds, blues, and yellows. This at times results in some truly beautiful pictures, as the blue mountains of paradise contrast withte sunset spectrum of the sky and sand, and the yellow lights of metropolis play against a dark blue sky. Turner's style has really refined significantly since the days of Fathom (and continues to get better in Soulfire). His character designs are simply sharper, tighter, and better than ever before.
Let's face it, when Turner, Loeb, and Steigerwald are on it's magic. In the first three parts of this story, that's what it is. The rest of the story and artwork are good, just not as good as the first three. If you're a Turner fan this is a must buy. If you just love Superman, Batman, or Supergirl (and like a little Wonder Woman on the side), this is definitely one to check out. It might not rewrite the book on superheroes, but it IS a whole lot of fun, just like watching a great episode of Justice League, the Superman/Batman show, or Batman the Animated Series. Here's to the REAL Supergirl, Kara Zor-El!
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24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not one of Loeb's best works..., March 9, 2005
This story arc is written by fan-favorite Jeph Loeb and the art is provided by Michael Turner. This arc introduces a new Supergirl in the DC Universe. The premise is that a giant meteor rock has landed in Gotham Bay and contains a girl with no memories and no trace of origin. The only thing that is concrete about her is that she is from Krypton adn her name is Kara. There is also a hint that she is from the House of El and is Superman's cousin. Superman is thrilled to have a living relative from Krypton whereas Batman is suspicious of her. As she is adjusting to life on Earth, she is forcefully removed from Batman and Superman's custody by Wonder Woman. And later on, she is kidnapped from Paradise Island by Darkseid. Thst is it for the basic premise.
This is not one of Jeph Loeb's best works. It is pretty to look at (It's Michael Turner, people) and there are some great moments in the story but other than that it is pretty generic. I have read all of Loeb's works for both Marvel and DC and feel that he is a writer of great caliber. Here, however he writes a lot of events and characters that are just there for shock value. For example, Kara is out in the town with Superman and Batman and all of a sudden Wonder Woman shows up and attempts to kidnap her...my question is why? These three are JLA members and good friends. There is no reason for Wonder Woman to try and Kidnap Kara other than the fact that in the final page, you see Batman and Superman gasping saying " gasp...It's You!!!" Also, Darkseid is disposed of in a very generic and in a less than glamorous manner. However, there are good moments in the story, i.e. Batman taking on Darkseid...that's right Batman vs. Darkseid. But overall it's a pretty generic story.
Overall, it's not a great story but it's an okay story...it won't rank up there with Loeb's earlier works such as Batman The Long Halloween or Batman Dark Victory but it's soilid enough to stand on its own. All in all a 3.5 for the story alone and a 4 for the art.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderful book, April 12, 2005
Kara Zor El is back! After 20 years of fake Supergirls (Matrix, Earth angel, Cir El) the girl of steel of silver age gets a new life for the joy of her loyal fans. This beautiful album by Loeb and Turner brings Kara to the 21st century with lovely artwork and a well developed story. In the introduction Loeb says he fell in love with Kara and such love shows in every page of this outstanding work. A must in the collection of every enthusiast of classic super-heroes. Now let us hope that Kara gets the chance she deserves to be fully developed. Supergirl is more than a female version of Superman. As you know Kal-El came to Earth as a baby and was raised in Kansas. His mind is that of an american on a kryptonian boy. But Kara was raised and educated in Krypton until the age of 15. She is the last ambassador of an very advanced civilization. Even if she doesn't have much memory of her life at home she has the potential to became a tutor of his cousin as Loeb suggests in this book. And that's why all those earth girls with Kara's costume were not Supergirls. The krypton background was missing. If you like comics in the old style buy this book! Support the return of the lovely and unique Kara Zor-El
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