Review: Supergirl #30

Supergirl #30 came out this week and definitely was something of a reviewing conundrum.

Frankly, I have grown tired of this arc. The angry Supergirl, Queen of the Axe, pulping hands as she wallows in rage, is not a Supergirl I want to read. A plot about finding scattered stones that took an Omega Man detour. A panel in comic admitting the plot wasn't progressing. Then a deus ex machina assembling of all the stones to bring the plot to a rapid close. And then, this issue, more rage wallowing. I just need this approach to end.

So this was not a good story to read.

That said, it was an absolutely gorgeous book to read. Kevin Maguire is back on art and just shines on every page. Yes, the story beats are rough. But boy, are they presented in a beautiful way. I found myself lingering on each page, just soaking it all in. I can't think up enough adjectives. Sumptuous? Phenomenal? Spectacular?

And, it seems, this portion of the story has come to a bit of a close. We end this issue with the opening of the next super-arc.

But have we reached the end of this spin on the 'dark Kara doesn't work, let's bring in a new creator who understands her' cycle?

The book opens with Supergirl confronting Zand'r about keeping his relationship with Empress Gandelo a secret all these weeks.

He admits that initially he was following his mother's orders, spying on her. But since spending time with her, he has come to care for her. He rebelled.

But she's not buying it. He had ample time to come clean and didn't.

Look at that last panel. You can feel her seething. Maguire has such control of body language and expression. You can really get the sense how tense she is.

And Gandelo is completely arrogant in her demeanor.

She says how loyal her son is. She says how weak Supergirl is. Throughout the issue she says how terrible the Kryptonians were. And how she relished being part of Krypton's destruction. She'll be happy to kill Kara as well.

Supergirl doesn't take it lightly.

Look at that last panel. Determined and fierce, Supergirl flies to the camera, bashing Gandelo over the next several pages. That last panel is beautiful.

Remember that the impetus for this whole trip was Supergirl looking for justice for Krypton's dead. And now, Gandelo, the person who sent Rogol Zaar out to destroy Krypton, is there in front of her. It is several pages of Supergirl tossing her around.

Again, the art is so great. I love the perspective switch on these panels. First we look down on a small Supergirl, giving us the sense of height from which she threw Gandelo. But then we switch the view, now looking up at a close up of Kara. Now it is a more heroic, iconic pose as she speaks about the demand for justice.

Amazing.

But Gandelo seems harder to defeat than anticipated. She can extend and control her crystal form, bringing large shard, giant fists, and other crystal constructs to batter Supergirl. And she calls Kryptonians an invasive cancer that needed to be snuffed out.

At the very least, Kara says that Kryptonians believe in hope and each other. (I guess it is a sort of take on the help, hope, and compassion for all?).

But when Gandelo brags of all she accomplished and rattles off the billions of Kryptonian deaths she is responsible for, it brings on the rage.

Again, Maguire speaks in such lyrical visual short hand. The look of shock when Kara sees Kandor is perfect. That look of quiet sadness when Kara looks at Krypton explode. And then the last panel, the close up of squinted eyes that would make Sergio Leone blush, is great.

But as beautiful as the art is, I just can't get behind the story and the approach to Supergirl.

She feels Rogol Zaar's axe call to her, she feels it fuel her rage even more.

And she likes it.

Gandelo will feel her blade and watch life fade from her eyes.

Really.

Again.

The angry, isolated, pessimistic Supergirl ... again?

Hasn't the poor response to Loeb, Kelly, Green, Nelson, and Lobdell meant anything to DC? Or the good response to Gates, Peaty, Bedard, Perkins and Johnson, and Orlando?

Thankfully, Andreyko doesn't let her bury the hatchet.

Instead, Krypto flies in and snaps Kara to her senses.

I have loved the Kara/Krypto lovefest this arc. I have to give it that. And I am glad that Krypto is some sort of moral compass. But really ... the pet dog has more heroism than our title character?

But look out the art. That is pure sadness, disappointment, pleading look on Krypton.
And Kara's look of realization, snapping back to reality, her hair all in her face showing how out of control she was is just perfect.

With that near moment of murder behind her, Kara collapses from the emotion burden of always feeling angry.

Nice moment with nice consolation by Krypto.

But ... haven't we seen her come to this moment sooooo many times before. From Gates/Igle having her deal with grief in Bizarrogirl to Bedard having her reject the red ring to Perkins having her embrace her role as a leader to Orlando having her join the Danvers, we have seen her get over her rage and embrace Earth has her home 5 times in 10 years.

We don't need to mine this material, this take, again. Please.

That still means Gandelo is free. In a nice move, Kara punches the ground, releasing lava which engulfs Gandelo, incapacitating and imprisoning her.

Again, the art is perfect in showing us the action. Great sound effects too!

Now what to do with Gandelo?

We don't get to hear what Kara will do because Zaar's axe flies in and grabs a chunk of the planet and flies off through space. I am pretty sure that is Gandelo in crystal on the shard of earth.

The axe seems semi-sentient. It even makes atmosphere to keep Supergirl and Krypto alive.

Of course, it also is an easy short cut to bring this story to an end.

We see that the axe is approaching a space battle.

I do hope we get more Zand'r. He currently still on Tavaar, surrounded by the surviving Zaar zealots.

As for the travel, it brings us to the space battle that Superman and Superboy are engaging in. We know that Jor-El, Zaar, and Zod are all about to throw down. We saw that Zaar was calling for his axe in the last issue. Finally, Supergirl is reunited with her family.

I wonder how she'll respond to Jon'a aging. And she and Zaar have some unfinished business.

Take from this what you will. In the space of an issue and a half, all the stones were brought together, the history was given in an exposition dump, Supergirl nearly went mad, and now the story is over.

I am both happy that this is behind us. Disappointed that we needed these shortcuts to get there. And actuall underwhelmed with the story itself. Seriously, a Kara liking the rage she is feeling as she plans to split someone's head with an axe? That's not a Supergirl I want to read.

At least the art is glittering.

Overall grade: C

Posted in: Reviews