Supergirl #18 Review

Written by: Steve Orlando and Jody Houser
Art by: Carmen Carnero, Michael Atiyeh, and Steve Wands
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: February 14, 2018

While I haven't been a fan of this Supergirl run, I have enjoyed it more since Jody Houser jumped on.  I'm glad because Supergirl is one of my favorite DC heroes and I want to be able to sit back and enjoy her adventures.  So, can I do that with this issue?  Let's find out...

The issue opens right at the cliffhanger from last issue...Kara deciding if she should save everyone at the Prom from her unknown attacker or keep her secret identity.  If I had a nickel...  When Agent Ocampo shows up, Kara ducks into the photo booth (is this a prom or Ellen's 60th birthday bash?!?!  Is this on?!?) and Supergirl is on the scene.  There is a bit of mistaken identity going on here with Belinda, but that's for later because nows a time for a throwdown!

We find out that Supergirl is fighting the Evolutionist and while we get a little of her powerset, we do get her origin story.  It's simple, cliched and really, is a very thin excuse for what she is doing to Kara.  

That's okay because after disabling the villain for a bit, Kara pulls a criss-cross applesauce and give the Evolutionist a taste of her own memories...a one-panel scene from issue #6 when she told her father that she and the people of Earth inspire each other.  Okay, it was a nice moment the first time we saw it, but the well is in danger of drying up here!  I guess I can say that, but it works and the Evolutionist just flies away.  Really?  That's all she needed?

The heavy-handed narrative continues as Supergirl tells Ocampo and everyone within shouting distance that she has saved them all at one time or another.  I get it, a school for super smart kids and total clutzes...such an odd combo! 

We then get a nice moment with Kara and Ben that has been a long time coming.  Kara opens up a bit to him about her balancing act of a life and even if she doesn't tell him her secret, it's nice to see her able to get it off her chest to someone her own age for once.  

There is a big moment that you can guess at, but I'm not spoiling here and it leads to Kara taking some time for "Kara Stuff".  However, that doesn't mean all is well as we see in the cliffhanger that just as the DEO was close to being Mister Bones free, there has been a major change of plans that may involve a character I really like biting the dust.

This is not a bad issue of Supergirl.  I really liked the stuff with Kara and Ben, but I have to let out a bit of a pet peeve that will probably make me look like a jerk to some of you reading this review.  Like I said above, I am a Supergirl fan and really like when she is an inspiration in this and every book she is in.  However, I don't need to be told that on every other page!  Showing me is enough and Steve Orlando either thinks we aren't getting the point or is just taking the shortcut.  Please give us stories that show her as an inspiration, not just narration and word bubbles!

I really liked Carmen Carnero's art and the whole art team does a real kick-ass job.  I can get used to them on this book long term.

Bits and Pieces:

When this issue isn't force feeding us the idea that Supergirl is an inspiration (we know it already, btw), it is pretty good.  I was worried what a mostly Kara Danvers issue would be like, but if this is an example, sign me up for more!  The art is really good as well and it all equals one of my favorite issues of the series.

7.0/10