Supergirl Annual #1 Review

Written by: Steve Orlando
Art by: Steve Pugh, Michael Atiyeh and Steve Wands
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: August 30, 2017

It's time to continue the "Emerald Eradication"!  Okay, I'm not really sure what that will mean in the long run, but right now I just want to see the Fatal Five kick some butt and Supergirl stopping them in the end.  Yea, I also want to know what's going on with Supergirl's powers and possibly how a Grundy was created by a "Zombie Follicle", but that may be asking a bit much.  So, what do we learn this issue?  Let's find out...



The issue opens up with Supergirl and Grundy continuing the fight from last issue.  It's a combination of Grundy causing mayhem, but also Supergirl wreaking downtown National City.  We get a bit of Supergirl being overwhelmed by her overly sensitive powers...until she isn't.  Steve Orlando really wants to have his cake and eat it too with Supergirl here.

The scene continues with Indigo showing up and telling Supergirl she will be the worst of the worst in the future.  When Supergirl asks her how she knows that, Indigo goes on about emotions and how she is the hero people need.  Just answer the question!!!  Not only that, but it kind of turns this whole "Emerald Eradication" in a whole new direction.

We then switch to the DEO where Emerald Empress grabs some mysterious info on Supergirl and then it's off to Cat Grant's apartment.  There we get some of the most convoluted dialogue I have ever read and while I get the idea Orlando is going for Gilmore Girls here, what we get is much, much worse.  After the scene, I'm not sure who I hate more...Selena, Cat Grant or Steve Orlando.  I think it's a tie!

Then the shit really hits the fan as Selena and Emerald Empress team up to release the footage of Supergirl telling her father she hasn't given up on him.  Yea, that's not a good P.R. move for Kara at all.  It's all a setup to make Indigo look good as they tear down Supergirl.

We then get Supergirl recapping what we just saw as she makes her way to Dr. Veritas.  After examining Kara, we get little information about her wonky powers, but Veritas has a plan...Medical Science Fiction!

We bounce off to see Ben Rubble stand up to Cat in an effort to save Supergirl and her image before getting a jarring switch to show Emerald Empress and her backstory.  It's all a setup to show us that Empress is the real villain here and how she convinced the Fatal Five to join her.

The issue ends with Indigo pretending to be the hero that National City deserves (flip floppers!), Kara getting some crazy surgery and an unexpected ally showing up to help out. Kara finally confronts Emerald Empress and after some last second explanations, the green meanie makes things very, very personal.

I think there is a good story hidden somewhere in this convoluted mess, but I just can't seem to find enough to enjoy.  The extra space afforded Orlando with this Annual could have been used to explain more, but instead, he makes things even more confusing.

The art in this issue is good, thought there are points that seem like they were done by different artists.  I can't explain it, but overall, Steve Pugh is not the reason this issue fails.

Bits and Pieces:

Steve Orlando continues his "Emerald Eradication" story and while we get to see a bit of the big picture, it's presented in a convoluted mess of a story.  The art is okay, but there is nothing here that I can recommend to anyone but the most loyal Supergirl fans.  I am one of those and I'm still looking for the exit.

5.5/10