Best Of 2017: Non-Comic Stuff

2017 was certainly another good year in a string of good years for the character of Supergirl. I am still amazed at how much this character has shone over the last handful of years. I am always reminded that I started this site because I wanted to showcase how great the (then) underappreciated Supergirl was. Now she is everywhere and really trumpeted as a the wonderful character she is.

So over the next three days I'll be reviewing 2017 and Supergirl. And, as usual, I'll devote a little more time to the comic. The schedule will be as follows:

12/27 (today): Best of Supergirl Non-Comic Stuff
12/28: Best of Supergirl Comic Stuff: Honorable mention and moments #10-#6
12/29: Best of Supergirl Comic Stuff: #5-#1

This is my non-comic year in review. As always, I love to hear the things Supergirl fans loved about the year. So feel free to chime in.

On to the best of the year!!!

This was a very successful year for me for commissions. As always, I feel blessed that so many conventions have sprung up locally over the last decade. From Boston Comic Con (now Boston Fan Expo) to Granite Con to Terrificon to Rhode Island Con, there really are a lot of shows within a short driving distance for me to head to.

And there are the usual two goals, meeting creators and getting commissions.

For commissions, I really lucked out this year getting Matthew Clark, Tom Grummett, Barry Kitson, Michael Cho, Ty Templeton, and Keith Champagne to add pieces to my collection.

For creators, I really hit the jackpot. Not only did I get to meet the artists above but I also got to meet Keith Giffen, Marty Pasko, Peter Tomasi, and JonBoy Meyers. I also had the luck of seeing Paul Kupperberg, Peter David, Joelle Jones, Barry Kitson, and Jerry Ordway again. Throw in Champagne, Clark, and Grummett, and I met a ton of creators who either have long histories or tangential associations with Supergirl.  I was able to get a lot of signatures on Supergirl books.

I also had the luck of meeting some non-comic celebrities.

In April I met Laura Vandervoort and just stammered like a fool.
And just earlier this month I met Jeremy Jordan.

Pretty cool to meet people involved with Supergirl from a mainstream media viewpoint.

As has been the case, Supergirl has been a heavily used property for merchandise. There are plenty of statues which have been solicited but not released.

There are almost too many figures, plushies, and statues to name but I was lucky enough to procure the ones above. I love that the show is getting such a push on the collectible market with two action figures and a giant statue released. I also like the Supergirl Rebirth costume much more than the New 52 so glad that also made it into a figure. And the DC Superhero Girls Kara is all over the place including this mini-figure.

I'll be touching on the CW show soon enough but I am amazed at how many different media platforms you can find Supergirl these days. (I have to remind people that at one point she 'didn't exist' in the comics. This still floors me.)

So she is still a big part of the DC Superhero Girls line. We have seen continued adventures with her on the animated shorts as well as the Lego DC Superhero Girls episodes and movies. How successful has DC Superhero Girls been? Marvel is rushing a version out for their characters.

We also finally got to see Supergirl on the very underappreciated Justice League Action. I love that design, very much in line with the comics. And those huge eyes! How anime!

And I still have to giggle when I see Supergirl crop up in places you'd least expect her, like as a legitimate question on Jeopardy!

She used to not exist in comics!!!!

And Supergirl even had a YA novel released late this year. Written by Jo Whittemore, Age of Atlantis takes place in the universe of the television show.

This was a fun read chock full of continuity and Easter eggs. I reviewed it earlier this month. Lots of fun.

Supergirl as the star of a novel!

But the biggest news has to be the continued success of the television show on the CW. I can't imagine that Supergirl would be getting the media push she is if this show tanked.

2017 included the end of Season 2 and the beginning of Season 3.

Season two seemed to fracture the fandom a bit. The Kara/Mon-El romance was loved/hated. The Alex/Maggie romance was praised but seemed to dominate the show at times. The political bent of the writers was often trumpeted a bit loudly.  But the transition of Winn to the DEO and the inclusion of Lena Luthor clicked perfectly. As did the wild ending with a Daxamite invasion and a battle supreme between Supergirl and Queen Rhea.

Still, I have to focus on a couple of things. For one, how great was it to get Sterling Gates on set and in the writer's seat for the Mxyzptlk episode. Kara defiantly drinking orange juice in the Fortress might be my favorite moment of the season. We also got the incredible Flash crossover musical episode. That was almost too much fun, saved on my DVR until I remove.

And that season ending, with Supergirl fighting Superman and winning, with her having to send Mon-El away and sacrifice her happiness, and the fallout of that was just stupendous.

And Season three has really ratcheted things up even more. I have been very impressed with the ongoing theme of Kara's humanity and her trying to deny it. It has cropped over and over again as she faces her own demons and battles foils.

So people believing her a god, or facing Overgirl and her lack of thought for others, or cursing Mon-El for making her remember her heart, or being told by Alex not to be human while in combat ... it all feeds into this battle for Kara's soul.

And as usual, the cast is just crushing it.

Of course, the ultimate expression of that is Kara fighting Reign, a true Kryptonian foil, a world killer designed to bring justice without mercy. That is a dark reflection of Kara, what should would be without a human outlook.

And I am sure that is ultimately going to be the key to success, Kara embracing her humanity and calling upon the 'Sam' part of Reign to overcome the darkness within.

And I'd be hard pressed not to mention the fact that we are getting a live action Legion.
Or that we had a true crossover in Crisis on Earth-X. I mean how can I not remind people of this moment where Supergirl calls back to Superman calling out General Zod in Superman II. This is probably going to be my favorite moment of Season Three. I was all goose bumps!

So even without mentioning comics, you can see that Supergirl had a great 2017 in all arenas. But I'll start covering the comics tomorrow.

What did you all think??

Posted in: Reviews