Supergirl #9 review

It’s New Year’s Eve in Midvale and Linda (Supergirl) Danvers and her gal pals have been invited to rich girl Clarissa’s party. It’s a no-booze affair, as Clarissa is trying to give up alcohol, and Linda is fine with that. Lena Luthor? Not so much.

Super-scientist Lena decides to give Kandorian chum Lesla-Lar a taste of what being drunk might be like, with a special concoction. Unfortunately, a thirsty Linda also has a drink, and the effect is immediate, her lowered inhibitions showing as she spots the guy she was lusting after at a previous do. Lesla, meanwhile, starts showing off her super-strength.

As Lesla gets out of control, Lena alerts Linda to the problem, prompting her to slip away and change to the Maid of Might. She’s not on top form.

Later, after things have calmed down, Lena admits some rash actions.

Next day, Linda looks into why Lesla is shrinking, but, as she can’t work it out, turns to Lesla’s parents back in Kandor.

They’re awful people.

Will Lesla have to remain in Kandor forever? Will Mr and Mrs Lar start acting like parents rather than jailers? And what are the intentions of the familiar face who greets Lesla on the final page?

Well, being a Supergirl fan of old, I can safely answer that last question with ‘not good’, but let’s save that until next month.

But let’s agree that the youth disease is writer Sophie Campbell going a long way back into pre-Crisis lore, nodding to 1968’s Superman #158.

What’s going to happen in this case, though? I wouldn’t put it past Lesla’s rotten ‘rents to have secretly treated all the Kandorian kids as a way to keep them bottled up and un-Super.

This issue is a bit of a downer; it starts with Linda in good spirits and ends with her feeling super sad. Last issue was pretty gloomy for our heroine too, with an overwhelmed Linda taking to her bed, as happens this time. I really hope next issue sees a sunnier Supergirl, the mood matching earlier issues. I didn’t enjoy the teenage angst, with Linda angry at an uncharacteristically stupid Lena. And if I want drunk Linda I’ll read Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.

I wish this blog had female commenters – I really want to know if an ultra-tattooed pretty boy with half a haircut is attractive to straight ladies. And just who is he, we almost get a name this time but it never comes. Sophie Campbell has been kind enough to assure me on Bluesky that’s he’s not the hideous H’el.

One surprise this issue is that on the stroke of midnight, when people kiss to welcome the New Year, Lesla snogs the aura-reading Luna Lustrum. That’s out of nowhere, I think, and it seems to dismay Lena.

It’s great Linda has a supporting cast, but they are dominating proceedings, rather, I’d like the odd issue of Supergirl away from Midvale, fighting supervillains on the world, even universal, stage.

Campbell’s not on the art this time, but Joe Quinones is a quality fill-in, providing full-colour illustrations – at times the finish reminds me of Mike Allred’s work. The storytelling is good, the action works, Supergirl looks great, but Linda appears odd, with sharper features.

The middle panel below interested me.

The mystery man has lost his tattoos, his features look pink and blobby, his eyes like black sockets. A Durlan forgetting to keep his guise up in a moment of surprise, or the victim of a moment of an artistic shortcut?

I do like Linda’s new jacket, with the snakey S-symbol. A clue to something coming up?

Letterer Becca Carey does good work, as ever, with a clever touch being the wobbly speech-balloon Supergirl logo to represent her wobbly state.

We are blessed with a Campbell cover, that’s some excellent foreshortening. I’m not keen on the black fingernails, mind.

So, another well-produced issue, even if Midvale is a little less cheery than usual. Let’s hope the clouds part next time.