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With the Best of 2017: Non-Comic Stuff behind us, it is time to look at how Supergirl fared on the printed page over the course of the year.
As has been the case, this has turned out to be a very good year for the character of Supergirl as she has appeared in a number of titles and in a number of incarnations. The main Supergirl book made its way through the end of the Cyborg Superman opening arc, into the Phantom Zone with Batgirl to fight a new Psi, and then battling a new Fatal Five. In the end, we were on new grounds with Supergirl out of the DEO, on the run, and trying to get settled in school.
We also had Supergirl Being Super, a sort of Elseworlds look at the struggles of balancing a super-powers and an alien heritage while dealing with high school. It was prestige format with great art by Joelle Jones and pulled all the YA heart strings.
This year wrapped up the first volume of DC Bombshells in a Supergirl-centric arc. Supergirl appeared in Injustice. We saw her play crucial roles in one-shot silliness like a Snickers mini-comic and Bugs Bunny meets the Legion of Super-Heroes. We even got to see the JLA 3001 Kara one last time. And I'm not even mentioning books I have passed on like the digital DC Superhero Girls and Garage Girls. She is a big part of both of those books.
You can imagine with this many credits, it was hard to pick the top ten, so indulge me three honorable mentions.
And so I give you The Best of 2017: The Top Ten Supergirl Moments in Comics, Honorable Mentions and #10-#6.
I wasn't the biggest fan of the Cyborg Superman storyline although given the return of Hank Henshaw as the Cyborg, I wonder if Steve Orlando was told to clear the decks and early.
That said, I loved this moment where Kara stands up to her father, an important moment in any child's life although maybe writ larger here given the lives of all the citizens of National City are held in the balance.
But seeing Kara call out her father's nonsense, that his trying to resurrect Argo City wasn't magnanimous. That it is his own guilt weighing on him. Plus, he could have tried to bring back Argo without doing the evil he is doing. There is Kara, standing defiantly in front of him and very maturely lecturing him about his issues.
This was a powerful moment.
Honorable Mention #2 - Dad giving wisdom to Supergirl (Supergirl Being Super #1)
Interestingly enough, this is the only moment of Supergirl Being Super that makes the list. I liked this mini-series a lot, a sort of empowering tale of a young girl coming of age with the added bonus of super-powers. But there weren't many ka-pow moments. Instead it was a slowly building story.
I did like this moment however. The Danvers in this book are simple but loving folk trying to cling to a rural past while allowing their daughter to grow up in this changing world. Here we see Mr. Danvers telling Kara that, at least for now, she needs to keep her powers under wraps.
It definitely reminds me of Pa Kent/Clark moments whether it be Kevin Costner's warning or Glenn Ford's more inspirational 'you aren't here to score touchdowns' speeches.
Honorable Mention #1 - I choose Earth (Supergirl #15)
This moment happened just last month and could be considered a sort of creed for this Supergirl. Here she says outright that she chooses Earth so that people can save each other's lives. There is inspiration there. There is a 'pay it forward' feeling here, that she'll save your life but then you need to save someone else. It is a wonderful mantra to live by.
And that is perfectly married to the image of her saving a kid almost hit by a car because he was trying to save his dog from getting hit by a car. This isn't saving another hero. This is just a kid who can then pay it forward to someone he knows.
Hmmm ... maybe this should have slipped into the top ten?
Okay, now on to the top ten.
10) Compassion Means - Supergirl #13
In the end of the Fatal Five arc, Indigo releases some incriminating looking footage of Supergirl helping the Cyborg. It turns public sentiment against here. And the people are letting her hear it, especially when given the option of rooting for the 'hero' Indigo.
Despite the public turning against her, Supergirl won't change her feelings. She has compassion. That means caring about everyone, even people you fear. She showed Zor-El the same understanding she'd give anyone.
I still feel like I'm reeling from the earliest New 52 Kara who hated Earth and the people on it. It is hard to believe this Kara is the same one. So seeing this complete 180, this embracing of the people of Earth even when they are against her, was great.
Bombshells volume 1 sort of unraveled for me at the end. It went from being a super-hero book in WWII to an agenda book with a dash of history. When the politics are the straw that stirs the drink, the comic tends to lose me. And it did. I don't get Bombshells Volume 2.
Still, the end story was Supergirl-centric as a grieving Kara, powerless and trying to get home, comes to terms with her situation. On a train heading into Russia, Lex Luthor comes in and tries to sweep Kara off her feet. You might think that his smooth words, power, and debonair might woo her. But Kara wants no part of it. She calls him out on his bull, telling him that he isn't fooling her.
A powerless Supergirl standing up to Lex Luthor and outwitting him. Brilliant.
In the Revenge arc in Action Comics, the Superman Family fights the Superman Revenge Squad, led by General Zod.
An escape pod carrying Lois and Jon rockets away from the Fortress battlefield. It is blasted from the sky by Zod's heat vision. Seeing her cousin-in-law and cousin once-removed vaporized is more than Supergirl can take. Eyes blazing, she screams 'NOOO!' and turns on Zod. Viktor Bogdanovic definitely shows us the emotions here.
And it is that raw emotion that made this rise to the surface, one of those panels that grabbed me when I saw it. Supergirl is fierce in the name of justice. She considers Lois and Jon family. And she won't sit by. Despite probably being outmatched, without a thought she turns on Zod.
That is vicious beautiful.
How big has Supergirl become? Well when she (and Jessie Quick) are the stars of a candy bar advertisement comic, you know you have made it. This could have been Superman and the Flash. But maybe Supergirl has a bit more 'oomph' right now.
And yes, this is a book where Snickers saves the day but it is also a fun, old school super-hero team up. It leans heavily into the Superman/Flash historic races, right down to this last page which mirrors famous race covers from the past. And Jessie and Kara become fast friends.
Silly? A bit. But just the significance that Snickers wanted Supergirl to save their book and not another, perhaps more famous, name is sweet.
6) No Other Planet - Injustice 2 #13
I was not planning on getting Injustice #2. And I still don't officially get it, instead picking it up now and then. But Injustice 2 #13, we get to see Supergirl finally use her powers. Here, wearing one of Robin's domino masks, she steps out of her literal tower to help endangered citizens. She inserts herself into a military battle, pulling bullets out of the air and scattering the soldiers.
But the big thing here is attitude. She is a Supergirl who remembers her world, who is still reeling from losing everything, who doesn't want anyone to suffer the way she has suffered. She is stunned to see humans trying to kill each other. She sees the big picture.
And again, there is that sense of rage at injustice she sees. The next panel is her saying the village is under her protection. It is a great moment for her character.
Of course, is that level of control the first step on the road to totalitarian leadership that Superman is? Or does her empathy trump that?
Not a bad opening to the top ten list.
Tomorrow, #5 - #1.
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