THIS WEEK: Supergirl returns to Midvale to find herself (but not in the way you’re thinking) in Supergirl #1. Also, quick hit reviews of Green Lantern Corps #4, Absolute Batman #8, and Batman: Dark Patterns #6.
Note: The reviews below may contain spoilers.
Supergirl #1
Supergirl #1Writer/Artist/Cover Artist: Sophie Campbell
Colorist: Tamra Bonvillain
Letterer: Becca Carey
Things happen in Supergirl #1. For example, by page three, Supergirl has already saved Metropolis from Princess Shark, flown to the Fortress of Solitude, and stopped a runaway train in Kandor. You’ll see all that happen in the preview pages below, so I don’t consider myself to be spoiling any of it. I also don’t think spoiling those things is a big deal, because roughly 15 other important, eventful things happen in Supergirl #1. In terms of sheer plot density, Supergirl #1 is likely the best deal on comic shop stands this week.
Me, I loved this. Writer/artist/cover artist/where-does-she-find-the time Sophie Campbell is clearly trying to evoke a Silver Age vibe in this series, and in part, that means making a lot of fantastical things happen quickly. Campbell also leans into other Sliver Age-y trappings. She shows us Kara’s thoughts via thought balloons rather than first-person narrative captions. She includes not just one, or two, but three Super Pets in this issue. It’s Silver Age storytelling updated with modern sensibilities, and for the most part, Campbell and co.’s attempt at this works.
There are, however, portions of this issue that lean a bit too far into the Silver Age approach. At times, Kara’s thought balloons become overstuffed with stream of consciousness sentences, stalling the story’s flow. And some of Campbell’s dialogue is too purposefully obvious and exposition-y. I understand that Campbell’s doing both those things on purpose, because she has a lot of information to convey in little time, and she wants to evoke a feeling. But Campbell could likely refine her approach and pare down or tweak this style in future issues, and end up with stronger pages.
What doesn’t need any tweaking is Campbell’s linework and Tamra Bonvillain’s colors. Bonvillain matches Campbell’s clean, dynamic cartooning with smooth textures and bright colors, creating a slick-looking adventure comic that you’ll love paging through. The pair’s visual storytelling is crystal clear, making it easy to skim all that extra exposition/dialogue on a first pass if you so desire. Because you’ll still know roughly what’s going on in the story, just from looking at the images. (Do go back and read those words, though. There may be a lot of them, but they’re fun. And letterer Becca Carey pulls off some neat tricks with some of them.)
By issue’s end, Supergirl has an immediate problem in front of her – one that may force her to untangle and rethink her various identities. Campbell has also seeded several additional hooks and subplots for future issues, setting up what will hopefully be a long run. Because if this issue of Campbell and co.’s Supergirl is any indication, this volume of the title will be a heck of a lot of fun – and I, for one, want to see just how many ideas Campbell has.
The Round-Up
- Green Lantern Corps #4 continues that series’s run of enjoyable ensemble action, teaming up a couple different groups of Lanterns and setting them loose in an intergalactic marketplace (that’s housed inside a dead Starro). Co-writers Morgan Hampton and Jeremy Adams have a solid handle on each Lantern and, perhaps more importantly, are showcasing what makes each unique. Artists V Ken Marion and Amancay Nahuelpan take over for Fernando Pasarin here, and while I prefer Pasarin’s work, this duo’s take on Guy Gardner’s new “partner,” Narf, is delightful. Come for the cute little lion boy Green Lantern, stay to watch Guy “show him the ropes” in inimitable Guy Gardner fashion.
- Absolute Batman #8 wraps up guest art team Marcos Martín and Muntsa Vicente’s short stint on the book in stunning fashion. Keeping this book rolling along in high gear while Nick Dragotta took a small break was no small feat. The Absolute line in general, and Absolute Batman in particular, depends on its artists to set itself apart from the pack. Surprising no one, Martín and Vicente not only met that challenge, but knocked their two issues of Absolute Batman out of the park. The pair’s fight scenes are fluid and brutal, their splash pages are epic, and as always, their page composition and pacing can’t be beat. If, for some reason, you were worried that Absolute Batman might not feel as fresh while Dragotta was away, you can safely set those worries aside.
- And finally, we’re going to keep telling you to buy Batman: Dark Patterns until it matches Absolute Batman’s sales numbers. Maybe you’re tired of us telling you how smart, creepy, and visually inventive this series from writer Dan Watters, artist Hayden Sherman, colorist Tríona Farrell, and letterer Frank Cvetkovic is. Unfortunately, all those things remain true, and thus we must once again bang the drum for this set of weirdo noir mysteries. Issue 6 wraps Dark Patterns’ second mini-story (of four), making it the perfect time to either catch up on the first half of this miniseries or dive in fresh with next month’s issue 7.
Green Lantern Corps #4 
And finally, we’re going to keep telling you to buy Batman: Dark Patterns until it matches Absolute Batman’s sales numbers. Maybe you’re tired of us telling you how smart, creepy, and visually inventive this series from writer Dan Watters, artist Hayden Sherman, colorist Tríona Farrell, and letterer Frank Cvetkovic is. Unfortunately, all those things remain true, and thus we must once again bang the drum for this set of weirdo noir mysteries. Issue 6 wraps Dark Patterns’ second mini-story (of four), making it the perfect time to either catch up on the first half of this miniseries or dive in fresh with next month’s issue 7.Miss any of our earlier reviews? Check out our full archive!
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