Review: DC Bombshells #27

DC Bombshells #27, the print version of the digital first comic, came out this week. As always, since I read the floppies, I am behind the time.

The issue includes another chapter in Supergirl's journey home. Writer Marguerite Bennett has given us a new take on the character. Crushed by the sacrifice of her sister Kortni, this Kara is depressed and powerless. She decides she needs to head home to Russia to try to gain some normalcy but those plans are waylaid when she is discovered by Russian spies, German spies, and Lex Luthor on her train ride home.

I don't mind this Supergirl working her way through this emotionally. We saw how close she was with Kortni. We saw how she was ready to sacrifice herself to defeat the Tenebrau. She is still quite young. I imagine this is what would have happened had Kal died in the Crisis instead of her.

But what I really like is Bennett giving a new riff on an old Supergirl power. At least as how it is portrayed in this issue, I am very intrigued.

The art on the chapter is by Adventures of Supergirl veteran Carmen Carnero and really works well here.

Now while I enjoyed the Supergirl piece, the bulk of the book focuses on the Zatanna/Raven/Ivy/Harley story. And this has yet to grab me. I have talked about how I don't like when this book veers towards being an 'agenda book'. Here I didn't like how Bennett is getting bit too cute with her writing.

On to the book.

While on the train, Supergirl has a vision of an impending derailment and disaster. She sees the danger ahead, a new power.

I am hoping this is a new interpretation of the old Supergirl power of super-intuition! Could it be that she has some brief precog, intuiting what will most likely happen?

Super-intuition is joked about, a sort of sexist remnant of the Silver Age where it was really called a super-version of female intuition. So seeing it updated in a way is pretty nifty.

But the question then becomes if Supergirl can somehow intercede and change the future she sees in her vision. Can she prevent the tragedy. It reminded me of The Dead Zone, where the main character not only sees the future but can change it.

Ripping off her little black dress and donning her Supergirl uniform, Kara decides to face her fears. We have seen how what she fears most is failing. Will she not be able to save people with her powers the way she couldn't prevent Kortni from dying.

I loved this sequence from Carnero. The defiant Kara in panel one. The action hero in panel two. Facing the abyss in panel three. And then that quiet introspection.

It turns out she can change the future.

Using her heat vision, she melts the ice off the rails, allowing the train to pass by.

A precognitive Kryptonian? That is pretty formidable.

But the threats on the train are still there. The Russian spy who was supposed to bring Kara in realizes he can't. So his plan B is to eliminate her.

He pulls the pin on a grenade and Kara grasps it tightly hoping to limit the damage. But given her semi-powered state, it still effects her.

I love that last panel. You feel the concussive effect of the bomb. Brilliant stuff by Carnero.

Steve Trevor and Kara are thrown from the train. Both will survive.

And then Luthor shows up to hand Kara the K-nife he showed her last issue. Encased in the lead box, it won't hurt her. She will need it when she faces her 'true enemy'.

I love how Lex is able to use a some simple physical exam findings to say Kara is fine.

The train pulls away and Kara realizes she needs to find her mother.

I really enjoyed this chapter and this solo Supergirl story. It really reminded me of why I liked this book in the beginning.

But panels like this which happened earlier in the book really just pull me out of the story.

I don't mind some meta-commentary in comics.But this 'definitely not Hogwarts' comment just seemed a bit too cute for me.

A Hogwarts reference in a 40's war book? And really, can't you just name the school something which gets the point across without winking at the audience so awkwardly? Or trust that your audience gets that it is basically Hogwarts?

This sort of over-the-top, 'look at how cool I am', metatextual dialogue is what made me drop Bennett's Josie and the Pussycats. And I loooovvee Josie and the Pussycats. It takes a lot to make me go away.

All that said, the Supergirl story is worth it.

Overall grade (Supergirl story only): B+

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