[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer: Marc Andreyko, Brad Walker, Dan Jurgens
Artist: Emanuela Lupacchino, Lan Medina, Drew Hennessy, Dan Derenick, Sean Parsons
Colors: Ray McCarthy, Chris Sotomayor, Fco Plascencia
Letters: Tom Napolitano
Summary
This anniversary issue is a treat in itself. We get three stories for one. Picking Over the Bones is the continuation of the current story arc. Supergirl is close to getting the answers for what happened to planet Krypton. In Z’ndr Kol and the Lost Colony, we get to see Kara’s newest ally Z’ndr in an Indiana Jones-esque dungeon delve story.  The Plourott is a look back into the early career of Supergirl, her dynamic with her earth parents, and her friendship with Ice.
Positives
Each story has their own strengths to them. This is essential in a bumper issue like this one. Sure the first story, which contributes to the ongoing arc should take precedence. When that happened in the past, it’s very easy for the side stories to not match up in quality. We get all the impact and action in Picking Bones as we’d get in a standard issue in the run. Z’ndr gets the context he needed in his own story. Supergirl learns the true spirit of Christmas through a little humility.
Negatives
A lot of the events that happen in the first story are improbable. The appearance of a creature guarding the ruins of a planet seems unlikely. Why? The perfect timing for Supergirl’s departure are also improbable – unless a later issue cleverly explains how she was being watched.
Z’ndr’s story moved so quickly that it was hard to get any real ground on what was going on. The last story, though a welcome Christmas story – it did portray Supergirl as a little petulant. Though she did trudge through dirt and lose something very precious to her, I’m unsure if that’s true to her character.
Verdict
As a holiday special issue goes, this one is very easily among one of my favorites. It has deep action, charm, and introduces a new character and plot lines. It’s in keeping with what’s going on in the run, whilst giving us the holiday breather we need.
Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment
