Review: Supergirl #38

Supergirl #38 came out this week, another chapter in yet another iteration of something I call 'Dark Kara', the inevitable every 4 yr turn of the crank where DC tries to make Supergirl evil or edgy.

I'm kind of sick of it. And this issue didn't curtail that feeling. In fact, I have gone from really loathing these takes to something worse ... being bored with them. How many times, even within this one continuity, do we have to see Kara dealing with her grief about Krypton by becoming evil or dark or edgy?

From her initial hatred of Earth when she arrived to her teaming up with H'El to her leaving Earth entirely to becoming a Red Lantern to her wielding an axe and nearly killing people to now being infected by the Batman Who Laughs, we have read this story before.

And Dark Kara fighting Diana, which she does in this issue, is also a common response.

Here, Kara bemoans the 'weakness' of humanity for feeling 'safe'. And yet she wants to 'free' people from this weakness by infecting them the way she is. So, becoming evil and not caring about things at all is the cure? And even then, isn't her 'caring' about people to the point she wants to infect them showing that she cares? I don't know.

I'm just sick of reading issues of my favorite character where she is the villain.

That said, the art by Rachel Stott and Inaki Miranda, is beautiful even as it presents Supergirl as a pro-Wrestler or fan of G'War. And Krypto remains a bright spot.

I hope Jody Houser turns this into something worthwhile. But the end can't come soon enough. On to the details.

 The title of the story is 'I'm the bad guy'. Wonderful.

We start out with a worried Krypto flying to Smallville where Supergirl has erected some alien technology tower. The townsfolk in the sleepy little hamlet is confused about what it all means.

Of course, Houser leans into the idea that Supergirl has some bone to pick with Superman. She wants to show she is stronger. That he is weak. And what better way to show some dominance than to do evil in Clark's back yard.

But we had come so far with the Super-family. Brian Michael Bendis really has made the Els a loving, supportive clan. I know Kara is infected. But she should be beyond this.

 I love how Krypto is a much needed bright spot of joy in the book.

On seeing Kara, even in this form, he attacks her with affection.

You know this isn't a right-minded Supergirl given how she recoils from the licks of love. We have seen her enjoy these before.

Krypto is such a good boy!

And then Kara unveils her plan to her pooch.

She has built a better tower than even the Batman Who Laughs had built. And with that she will disperse the virus which infected her to the entire world.

But her reasons seem to be to shove it in Superman's face. She wants him to finally see she is stronger than him.

I might remind you that my number one Supergirl moment of 2019 was the El family hugging each other. I will point out that in the Superman books, Kal and Kara have become partners in many adventures.

This anger aimed at Superman seems off. And I get that this is an infected Supergirl. But all the more reason for her to have been able to shrug this thing off. She is well beyond this.

 At least Superman seems to get it.

He wants to fly to Smallville and confront Supergirl. She's family.

Alas, in the current DCU, Batman seems to be king. He tells Superman that he cannot go and face Kara. This World's Finest has to face off against all the other infected. They have to quell any panic humanity might have when faced with evil heroes.

And Batman has already sent someone to deal with Kara.

I guess I can understand the strategy Batman has here. But I could have used with Superman arguing his point a little more. His cousin, maybe the second most powerful being on the planet (at least in the top 5) is working to infect everyone. Maybe she is actually the biggest threat ... or the most imminent threat ... on the board.

Instead, he just sort of kowtows.

 Remember, this is a Supergirl book. It is written ostensibly for Supergirl fans.

Nothing makes Supergirl fans happier than seeing her terrorize elementary school kids saying the world is never ever safe. After all, her world ended in blood and fire.

How can I, as a Supergirl fan, get behind this characterization.

At least Krypto is there to calm the kids down. Krypto is really the star here, the hero.

 Then she heads back to her tower where she once again laments the weakness of humanity and how they changed Kal. And this weakness in humanity is the joke that makes the Batman Who Laughs laugh.

Because trying to keep people safe is a weakness.

Again, why would a Supergirl fan be interested in this.

 Finally the people of Smallville decide to rally around the tower and call Supergirl out.

And one brave young girl has the courage to stand up and call Supergirl a monster.

It is interesting that Kara's expression seems to soften when hearing this. It is as if the real Supergirl is still in there. And hearing this hurts in some way.

Now if Kara shook this all off on her own, I'd be pretty thrilled. After all, she has faced all these demons before! But we know we have at least 3 more months of this.

 Luckily the agent Batman sent to face Supergirl arrives. It's Wonder Woman.

Diana stops Kara from infecting the young girl who spoke up. And then she says that this Kara is not the Supergirl she knows. It is time for Supergirl to think of a better way to save people. And it isn't with infections. Nice open hand here ... a helping hand from Diana.

At least Supergirl's character has been rehabilitated in the eyes of the DCU heroes. This Wonder Woman knows that Kara is better than this.

But this isn't that Kara. So of course the two throw down. Diana and Dark Kara fighting how innovative!

And maybe the magic lasso can contain Dark Supergirl or bring out her real personality! (2019)

And maybe the magic lasso can contain Dark Supergirl or bring out her real personality! (2004)

And maybe the magic lasso can contain Dark Supergirl or bring out her real personality! (2013)

And maybe the magic lasso can contain Dark Supergirl or bring out her real personality! (2019 revisited)

It seems like maybe there is a 'real' Supergirl in there trying to break out. Because the lasso seems to get Supergirl partly back to normal.

Look, I get that the higher powers dictated that Kara would be infected. I like the fact that they have made her a sort of rogue agent, doing her own thing rather than working as a servant of the Batman Who Laughs.

But I have read all this before, or some version of this before. It just seems tired.

I can only hope that Jody Houser is able to pull this out of the fire and have us see a redeemed Kara (again).

And while I haven't mentioned it specifically, Rachel Stott really does a superb job here. I like how she is able to convey feelings in the expressions of the characters. Stott's Wonder Woman is very slick. And Inaki Miranda covers the throwdown pages with some dynamic work.

But I can't wait for us to get past this. I want to read a heroic Supergirl in her own book. Not this gaudy villain.

Overall grade: C

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