Review: Supergirl #11

 Supergirl #11 came out this week, the end of the Batgirl crossover which brought the Maid of Might into the Phantom Zone. This arc was somewhat rapid fire, ending a bit quicker and running a bit shorter than I anticipated. Blink and it's over. Maybe I have become so used to the 'stretch for the trade' story-telling these days? Looking back, writer Steve Orlando has mixed in long arcs, done in ones, and this shorter plot in the first year of this book. I like it!

And there is plenty to like about this story as it plants the seeds of the new Rebirth continuity. It is clear that after this arc, Batgirl and Supergirl are going to be friends and allies. Perhaps, if we are lucky, we'll get a World's Finest arc every year! There is also the addition of Psi to the catalog of Supergirl characters in the DCU. She ends up more of a friend than an enemy but we all know that can change. And lastly, there is another Supergirl show addition to the comic, one I welcome.

The art is done by Brian Ching and he does a good job of mixing in the the action sequences with the heart-to-heart emotional moments that are mixed in the issue. Ching is leaving the book and Robson Rocha begins on art next issue. Robson really has a dynamic style as seen on the cover. I am sad to hear that Bengal is leaving the variant covers.

On to the book.

Last issue ended with a power-drained Supergirl diving into the maw of Psi's psychic dragon.

And Psi is pretty ticked off. She was lied to by Cadmus. She had phantom engine machines implanted in her brain. She hears all the awful thoughts of those around her. Now she has been betrayed by Dr. Xa-Du who wanted to use her, not help her. Trust is an issue.

But what I really like about this is that Supergirl is there to help. She isn't there to throw the first punch. She wants to talk to Psi and see if they can figure out the right thing to do together. Given how angry Psi is (heck she manifested a psychic dragon), this is risky. But it is what I would want Supergirl to do.

Can I also say that I love this updated Psi costume. It has enough gold and negative space to invoke the original version.

Meanwhile, Dr. Xa-Du is upset that Supergirl has disappeared. Kara's energy was going to help open the door for him to escape. Robbed of that, he decides to take out his anger on Batgirl and Ben Rubel.

I really like the way Ching draws Batgirl, flipping and kicking Xa-Du all over the place. Xa-Du has some Kryptonian powers (heat vision) but not much else. So he is vulnerable. Babs was the first to jump into the Phantom Zone rift. I shouldn't be surprised that she has no problem fighting a Kryptonian in this hellish environment.

She even helps Ben Rubel survive, throwing him a flash grenade to stun the other criminals. I have to say, Ben's inclusion into this seemed pretty superfluous.

Steve Orlando wins the line of the week award. When Batgirl says that being killed and boiled by Xa-Du's is not on her agenda, the villain retorts 'I answer to none but morbid whimsy.'

I might use that as an answer to every question asked of me today.

Supergirl ends up giving Psi the 'don't sink to his level' talk about the villainy of Xa-Du. And Kara opens up her own mind to Psi's telepathy so Psi can see that not everyone is vile.

It is interesting to hear Supergirl say that she struggles to find mercy every day. It really does lean into some of the more violent and angsty moments of this Supergirl's history, especially given that all of her New 52 story is in continuity.

Kara even asks Psi to stay in the Zone and lead these people.

And while I love that this conversation happens, I am surprised that it works so quickly. Psi agrees.

As for Xa-Du, Batgirl baits him into a monologue where he reveals that he doesn't care about anyone escaping the Zone outside of himself. And he'll kill anyone he has to in order to get out.

His followers hear it and decide that maybe sacrificing themselves for him wasn't smart.

Just like that, Xa-Du is defeated, turned upon by his own men.

Before anything too horrific can happen, Psi and Supergirl arrive. Psi disperses the criminals throughout the Zone.

There is another conversation with Kara. Supergirl praises Psi for not losing herself to the madness of this place, especially given how open her mind is to these feelings.

And buoyed by this internal strength, Psi decides to stay within the Zone and try to help the prisoners.But before that happens, she'll use her powers to let Supergirl and her friends return home.

Again, maybe a little fast. And maybe a little trusting of Supergirl. Psi, at any time, could open up Earth to an army of Kryptonians. I guess it shows Kara's optimism.

There's nothing left but the wrap-up.

We see how Supergirl and Batgirl respect each other. Both point out the courage and strength of the other. There is a great splash page of the two leaping off a roof together, a great team.

But this panel is the one that intrigued me. How did Tycho and Cadmus get Phantom Drive technology that only the DEO had? Someone is a mole. We don't know anyone in Cadmus outside of Cameron Chase and the Danvers. I doubt they are the bad guys. Hmmm ....

And then we see that Cat Grant has added a balcony to the CatCo building! This is a nice nod to the show. Cat/Kara and Cat/Supergirl balcony scenes are some of the best scenes on the show. So I like that we may see a few of them here!

Assuming Supergirl survives!

In a great cliffhanger, Cat shoots Kara with a K-Bullet. I have to assume that this isn't Cat and is either the Emerald Empress or Selena or Indigo. I suppose Cat could be controlled by any of those villains as well.

Great ending making me want more right away! Perfect!

So overall, the Xa-Du and Psi plots ended in ways I liked although perhaps a bit too quickly for my tastes. But all the added goodness around that pacing problem raised everything up. And if you ask me to write more I will tell you I only answer to morbid whimsy.

Overall grade: B+

Posted in: Reviews