Review: Batwoman/Supergirl 100 Page Giant - 'Exit Interview'

The Batwoman Supergirl World's Finest 100-Page Giant came out this week and was something of a delight for me. I'll be reviewing the new Supergirl material here at the site including the team-up story tomorrow. But I think this book is a winner overall all and well worth the $4.99 cover price. Heck, the beautiful Joelle Jones cover alone might be worth it.

But the real treat for me was the new Supergirl solo story titled 'Exit Interview' by writer Andrea Shea and artist Mike Norton.

I very much like the early stories in the Supergirl title when Rebirth happened. There was a re-inventing of her character by Steve Orlando to make Kara a hero, a defender of Earth again. The 'Help, Hope, and Compassion for All' mantra was there.

But one thing that I struggled with was how the title tried to be everything we know about the comic Kara as well as throw in some of the things we know about the TV Supergirl. So she was an intern at CatCo and a DEO agent but also a high school student and a new hero. That was a lot.

This story seems to end one of those threads while starting a new one.

And while I don't know much of Shea's works, I think she captures Kara's voice nicely here. There are echoes of Silver Age Supergirl in some of the dialogue but in a good way.

Mike Norton delivers as he usually does. There are great emotional moments here as well as some action shots. All are done solidly, especially the expressive work.

On to this delightful story!

 We start in CatCo where Cat and Kara are looking over a demolished room. Some social media influencers, guests at CatCo, decided to tear up the green room. Kara was supposed to be watching them but, as usual, she 'vanished'.

Cat calls Kara the worst intern ever. And fires her.

I love the look of surprise and upset on Kara's face in that middle panel.

 We then get a series of panels showing super-heroics that Kara has been performing all while Cat berates her.

Kara can't keep a schedule.

And when she 'vanishes', she returns with flimsy excuses.

Of course, Kara is right on time when it matters - like saving a falling train or rescuing a kitten. I love that joyous look on her face when she gets the tabby out of the tree.

 In the best irony, Cat says Kara doesn't care at all about National City.

We see her battling a dragon over the city.

Yeah, I think she cares.

But it doesn't matter.

She's fired.

For me, it's okay. The CatCo part of this run of Supergirl felt the most forced. How could she do the demanding work of CatCo on top of everything else.

 Upset, she flies to Metropolis and sulks on the Daily Planet globe.

She might say she doesn't want to talk to Superman. But why go here if she didn't?

And good on Superman for sticking it out and saying 'try me'. That's my Superman.

 In a little nod to the Silver Age, she talks about how Superman's legacy is daunting. She is trying to live up to his example.

She misses the fact that she used to be able to head down to her lab and run her experiments. That's where things felt right. That was enough.

A Kara who compares herself to Superman and finds herself wanting? A Kara that is into science so much she has her own lab? Now that sounds like Classic Kara. I love it.

(Interesting it comes right on the heels of the Annual which showed a Kara more interested in history.)

 And then this absolutely wonderful Superman moment, a pure super-cousins delight.

He tells her she doesn't have to be a reporter. She should be who she wants to be.

And when she says living in his shadow is exhausting, he says she is too radiant to be in anyone's shadow.

This is the Super-family I want.

This is the Supergirl I want.

And that fear of not living up to Superman ... classic.

So if she doesn't have to be a reporter, she should do what she wants to do.

The last page is Kara at a job fair at STAR Labs.

Kara the scientist! I love it.

I hope this truly is a beginning and that we see this in the main title and soon.

I might put this as one of the best Supergirl stories of 2019, just beating the deadline.

I only hope it isn't missed because it was put in this anthology and not the main book!

Overall grade: A

Posted in: Reviews