It’s Thanksgiving Day in Midvale and Supergirl’s adoptive parents, Jeremiah and Eliza Danvers, are preparing a feast for family and friends, furry and otherwise.
As her friend Lesla-Lar tries to get her head around US Thanksgiving traditions, Supergirl is dealing with weightier… sorry wetter, matters.
Diving into the sea to try out her new gills – well, she’s suddenly having difficulty breathing on land – Kara runs into a recent foe.
But while Princess Shark planted the kryptonite, is she actually behind the spell that’s created the Mer-Maid of Might?
Back at the Danvers, guests are arriving.
Where is she? Maybe the third musketeer among Midvale’s coterie of gifted young ladies, Lena Luthor, knows.
Who is it? I’ll tell you who it isn’t, it isn’t Lex Luthor and Mercy Graves dropping by unannounced, as teased in DC’s solicitations. That plan was likely kayoed by DC KO needing Lex over there. But I’m not disappointed, as the unexpected guest is far nicer, and this is another fun issue.
As well as a lot of tasty turkey, we have a cracking adventure with Supergirl and Princess Shark, in which the latter’s origin is revealed. There’s a creepy new character who I’d love to see again. There’s that awkward moment with Lesla and Superman which culminates in the Man of Steel actually addressing the elephant in the orphanage.
Well, his words sound reasonable, but Superman doesn’t really look contrite, more amused that Lesla didn’t give him the benefit of the doubt. Probably it’s just a miscommunication between writer Sophie Campbell and artist, er, Sophie Campbell. Hopefully this isn’t the end of the matter, as it’s Kara he really needs to be having a conversation with, and apologising to.
While I enjoyed this issue hugely, it’s Superman who provides my biggest niggles. First, what’s he doing arriving at the Danvers in costume with Lois Lane, obviously his date, potentially blowing his secret ID to Lesla and various others who shouldn’t be invited to work out that Superman is Clark Kent?
Come to think of it, Terri and Luna aren’t meant to know Linda Danvers is Supergirl. They do now.
Equally poor on Superman’s part is his blasé attitude to Supergirl’s absence for most of the evening.
It’s been noted that she was expected, there’s been no message… yeah, it’s great that Kal believes she can handle herself, but he might at least sweep the area with his super-vision. It’s not like there aren’t any villains who may have ambushed his cousin.
Things I loved include the Ma and Pa Kent-style warm welcome of the Danvers, the discussion around the origins of Thanksgiving and, best of all, Kara’s empathy in trying to understand and help everyone she meets, and her intelligence in approaching a magical threat.
Oh, and we also get Jeremiah shamelessly crushing on the absent Zatanna (doesn’t everyone?).
The art is as gorgeous as I’ve come to expect from Campbell, a fine storyteller who gives us a variety of facial and body types, along with great body language and fun action. Her design for the new villain is fantastic, and the backgrounds throughout the issue hugely appreciated.
Tamra Bonvillain’s colours are a feast for the eye, with particular good skin tones, and Becca Carey’s letters are clearly great. Add in Campbell’s hilarious, beautifully rendered cover and you have the recipe for another terrific issue.
But please, someone tell Superman to have a word with himself.
Too Dangerous For a Girl 2 
Since everything’s back in continuity, let’s just say super-hypnosis was used to make sure no one who didn’t already know Clark is Superman was prevented from connecting the dots. (Being a lifetime fan of Star Trek, it trained me to explain away plot holes almost like I have a doctorate in the field) I honestly don’t care about any blips in the story like that one since the whole issue left me with such a warm feeling. Think Campbell would be willing to take on Composite superman at some point? If nothing else, it’s always the character I pick when the question is what person’s power would you most like to have. Oh, and the warmest feeling I got was that panel near the end when Kara hugged Lena.
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The Composite Superman is a title favourite, even though, as a kid, I didn’t get why he wasn’t the Composite Superman-Batman, or why he had a Two-Face face. Still, it’s better than blooming ‘Amalgamax’.
I didn’t consider super-hypnosis but a lot of fans get triggered by this sort of thing these days, so I figured DC was avoiding it.
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Anj here.
It is hard to know if she is Linda Danvers, or Kara living with the Danvers. Or trying to figure out if she has a secret identity. But if she does, a whole ton of people know.
While this was a sweet holiday issue, we are seven issues into a ‘talk down the enemy’ and ‘hug the enemy’. Can we get a ‘beat the tar out of Reactron’ issue soon??
Great review. I didn’t pick up on the Superman expressions and know I can’t unsee your points.
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We did see her Midvaling as Linda in #2, with Teri and Clarissa.
Look at us, impressed by each other’s points!
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