[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer: Marc Andreyko
Pencils: Kevin Macguire
Inks: Sean Parsons, Scott Hanna, Wade von Grawbadger
Colors: Fco Plascencia, Chris Sotomayor
Letters: Tom Napolitano
Summary
We find Supergirl after her capture. She seems well, though the subject of twisted experiments at the hands of a familiar individual. With the help of allies she knows, but didn’t expect to see, she makes every effort to escape her predicament. As the issue ends, she may have got herself in hotter water than she was already in. Not to mention something strange is happening to the allies she’s lost.
Positives
There is something deeply space-age about this issue. It’s an old school, 1960’s, sci-fi romp. We get the hero facing insurmountable odds, powerless, far from home or the comforts of allies. We get strange experiments, mustache twirling villains, and a shock return. It’s campy and out there. Not something we see very often these days.
Negatives
One of the blessings about this issue was honestly it’s biggest stumbling points. The bombastic action of alien beings teaming together to defeat a hammy villain is welcome, but a little jarring. It’s deeply unexpected to go from Supergirl being a hapless prisoner, to fighting alongside relative strangers for some readers. The introduction these other heroes are given are lifted straight from a golden age team up comic, which is lovely, but campy by today’s standards.
On another nit for me to pick is on Supergirl herself. Her powers were significantly drained after her last encounter, yes. It also takes some reminding, which the issue doesn’t do, to remember that she’s been drained of her powers due to spending all the sunlight stored in her cells. I admit that I like it when a comic doesn’t hold our hand and remind us constantly. It is a little disconcerting, at first, to see the Girl of Steel so manhandled for the majority of the issue.
Verdict
You can’t have a piece of media to everyone’s taste. As it comes, this one is a lot of fun. A space age romp that you would be hard to find anything akin to in today’s comics landscape. It may be an odd tone, but one that’s fun and welcome.
