Supergirl #61 review

Supergirl’s in trouble, facing four of her deadliest enemies, and yet she beats the Parasite, Silver Banshee, Kryptonite Man and Metallo with ease. Watching from a distance is the mysterious, malevolent and all-round minging Alex, the inventor whose smartphone app, Flyover, meant he could send the villains against her. He reports back to his even more mysterious […]

Superman/Batman #79-80 review

Once upon a time DC’s editors were safe in assuming that their readership turned over every five years. That’s why the same storylines showed up again and again in the Golden and Silver Ages: Superboy gets a big brother, Lois gains super-powers, a new hero comes between Batman and Robin, Wonder Woman shrinks … That […]

Supergirl #60 review

Supergirl has four ne’er-do-wells to fight this month, and a new enemy pulling the strings who could prove more dangerous than any of them. For Parasite, Silver Banshee, Kryptonite Man and Metallo teleport in courtesy of a new phone app, Flyover, developed by a Harvard guy so far known only as Alex. The name’s appropriate in […]

Steel #1 review

The good news: Steel gets his first solo appearance in years. The bad: we won’t be seeing another anytime soon. I like Steel. Inspired by Superman, John Henry Irons built a metal super-suit and went toe-to-toe with the worst Metropolis had to offer while the Man of Steel was dead/growing a mullet. In this one-shot he steps […]

Supergirl #59 review

Having kidnapped gossip columnist Cat Grant, the deadly Dollmaker reveals a surprising motive. Supergirl deals with the new villain with glorious efficiency … with a hand from Cat. And the Kents and Langs celebrate Christmas in Smallville. A round of applause, please, for writer Sterling Gates and penciller Jamal Igle, for rounding off their two-and-a-half-year-run […]

Supergirl #58 review

That’s a gorgeous cover illustration by Amy Reeder, coloured by Guy Major, but it doesn’t do this issue justice. Smiley Supergirl is suited to a poster book, or a promotional illo. A first issue, or special. But this issue’s change of pace story should be represented on the cover to let potential buyers know there’s […]

Supergirl Annual #2 review

Who wouldn’t grab a chance to be somewhere else when things get overwhelming at home. And when you’re a superheroine, the chances tend to be bigger. So it is that when her rocket trip back from the Bizarro World ends in the 31st Century, Supergirl decides to stay awhile. After several adventures with the Legion […]

Adventure Comics #519 review

Now that’s a standout cover from Scott Clark and David Beaty. I can’t recall the last time that the power of Brainiac 5 was foregrounded on a Legion book. And I love the smaller figures of Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad and Superboy, as the Legion of Super-Farmers. Brainy is obviously clearing some land with his […]