When you’re dealing with heroes and villains who have been around for decades it’s not often you see a new match-up. Here’s one, as shown on Lucas Meyer and Giuliano Peratelli’s terrific cover for Supergirl #17 – Supergirl vs Ursa. Brought back from the dead by husband Zod in the midst of his war on Earth, her first act was to murder him. Now she’s stolen Booster Gold’s time bubble and headed back decades to try to save Krypton from destruction. Gatecrashing her lunatic mission, Supergirl and already time-tossed original Superboy Clark Kent.
Crashing outside the Krypton capital of Kryptonolis, a manic Ursa leaps out of the craft and races towards the city. ‘Krypton will be saved. I will not be stopped!’
Kara cautions Clark to stay behind as she pursues the crazed criminal, for fear they impact the future with their actions here in the past.
In 2026, the green K infection Zod has unleashed is having a new effect.
Zombies in Midvale! They’re not out to eat anyone’s internals, but they’re pretty disturbing.
And across the world, Superman, Superboy Prime and Superboy Kon-El are catching some respite from the war on the surface.
Not far away, Super Family science squad Steel John Henry Irons, Steel Natasha Irons and Superwoman turned Kryptonite woman Lana Lang make a breakthrough in understanding the Green K plague.
And as for other players in the Zod-authored drama, Lois Lane and son Jon, aka Tomorrow Man, are also in El Caldero’s tunnels…
… while the Eradicatrix – Zod’s Ursa-like enforcer – is lost without her boss.
Meanwhile- relatively – on Krypton, Kara is distracted from her pursuit of Ursa by three familiar figures.
And thousands of readers are distracted by the hotness of Supergirl’s Mom – has Alura ever looked so alluring? Drawing the sequence is Bruno Frenda, whose first DC work appeared only last month in World’s Finest. I suspect editor Paul Kaminski knows when he’s come across a rising star and is even now drawing up a list of assignments, no pun intended. I also like his Kryptonopolis, and the character he puts into his figures.
And how great are those colours from Luis Guerrero? The way he uses sunlight to make Krypton seem idyllic, for instance, is smart.
Joe Quinones, drawing the Earth sequences, also turns in a good-looking job, working in his Mike Allred style. His storytelling is excellent, his figures full of character. And he draws excellent Metal Men.
I guess they’ve been despatched by Justice League Unlimited to handle search and rescue because their metal bodies makes them impervious to the Green K plague. The same goes for the ethereal Air Wave.
Having roundly despatched her husband I expected Ursa to unleash hell on Kara, but she’s far too focused on her mission. Plus, her powers are fading under the red sun. The lack of a big battle leaves room for Supergirl – and indeed, Superboy – to ponder the attractiveness of their foe’s hope to save Krypton… would it be so bad were the timeline to change?
Despite Krypton’s heavy gravity, writer Sophie Campbell doesn’t put a foot wrong, continuing to place a very human Supergirl into challenging situations. I like how Kara’s new Matrix costume comes in handy, and the subplot involving a mystery voice chatting to her.
I’m very intrigued by the confusion Eradicatrix is feeling, hopefully the writers of this crossover event won’t got for the obvious and have her join the side of the angels.
I think we’ve been shown a few times now that the pre-Crisis rule that had a person unable to exist in two periods at once, and so losing physicality, no longer applies. But darn it, it would’ve been a fun swerve for Kara and Ursa to turn phantom, leaving the newbie Superboy – unable to understand a word of Kryptonese – even more lost than he is.
I loved Kon-El’s explanation as to why El Caldero’s tunnels are less-limed. Of course it’s an ‘ore-based economy’!
This issue marks the halfway point of the Kingdom of Zod, and I am having a terrific time. How about you?
Too Dangerous For a Girl 2 