Supergirl #1 Review

Parents Just Don't Understand

Written by: Steve Orlando
Art by: Brian Ching, Michael Atiyeh and Steve Wands
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: September 7, 2016

I was not a huge fan of the Supergirl Rebirth issue, but I am still looking forward to a good run by Steve Orlando and company.  The thing I want the most is seeing Kara head to high school and all the craziness that brings about.  Of course, there is also that whole Cyborg Superman thing looming in the background and that's enough to get me fired up as well.  So, let's stop talking and let's get on with my review of Supergirl #1. 


The issue starts with a very brief recap of Supergirl's origin which ends with a cool full page spread of her on Io and then in National City, in a car, learning to drive.  Eliza is teaching her new daughter the ins and outs of driving an internal combustion powered vehicle, but Kara is not having any fun.

Thank god I was!  I just love the art style of Brian Ching so much already that I can forgive that Steve Orlando has turned the lovable girl from the Rebirth #1 issue into a...well, a regular teenage girl.  Oh, the horror!!!

Then, it's off to what I was looking forward to...Kara in High School!!!  Steve Orlando uses flashbacks of her time in school on Krypton as a juxtaposition to her current situation and through that we really see why she isn't as thrilled as I hoped she would be.  We also get a glimpse at a future rival/friend/more? in Ben Rubel.  How do I know he's important?  We get his full name...Ben Rubel!

Of course, all school and no hero makes people buy less comics, so Kara gets hears some trouble (super hearing!) and it's a job for...Supergirl!  There is a group of armored thugs on a train threatening to steal every one's identities with a "Dataphage".  It veers very close to totally ridiculous, but Supergirl shows up and saves the day.  Well, I think she did, but Cat Grant has other ideas!  Yep, Cat was on the train and seriously thinks that she had everything under control to the point that she blames Supergirl for ruining the whole situation!  I'll tell you, I really like this Cat Grant and look forward to seeing more of her.

We then get a flashback showing how great Zor-El was to his daughter and then how awful it is to work for Cameron Chase.  She is so pissed at Supergirl for the train incident, but also insults her and tells her she doesn't trust her because of her "Kryptonian ways".  Really, I was waiting for her to say "you people", but I'm sure it's just a matter of time.  It ends with a bit of a rehash of the "rules" and Cameron bringing up Kara's very dead cousin.

The issue continues with the Danvers trying hard to help Kara learn about Earth while also trying to make her feel more comfortable.  I really started liking them and then felt bad for them when Kara just turns on them like a jerk!  I get what Orlando is doing here, but he keeps picking the worst times to show it.

The issue ends with Kara explaining herself a bit to the Danvers, but I still feel bad for them.  They have already turned into Class A parents in my book, but I guess that's not what Kara needs right now.  What Kara needs is to feel at home and she goes to the one place where that is possible and after an issue of Supergirl moping around, it all ends with a crazy cliffhanger that had to surprise Kara, but has me excited for the next issue!

Now this is what I'm talking about!  It took one issue for Steve Orlando to get me back on the Supergirl trolley and while I wasn't thrilled with everything here, I liked enough to have me excited going forward.

While I am guessing that Brian Ching's art is going to fall into the love it or hate it category, mark me down as "love it!"  It gives everything a fun vibe that just made me smile.  The story may try to set the new tone, but to me, the art does it even better!

Bits and Pieces:

While I wasn't a huge fan of the Supergirl Rebirth issue, I had a really good time with this one.  Steve Orlando shows us the difficulties facing Kara in her new life, but the cliffhanger showed they may have only just begun.  Throw in the Danvers doing their best as new parents and a great art style by Brian Ching and I am happy to say that I am now fully on board with this book and can't wait to continue on with Steve Orlando's Supergirl.  

8.3/10