Supergirl Rebirth #1 review – takes flight but doesn’t soar
Supergirl Rebirth sets series on TV course
Every week it seems DC is revealing another Superman family book. The benefit Supergirl Rebirth has over other new arrivals is The Girl of Steel’s Q rating has never been higher thanks to her TV show. But as was the case with Superwoman, Supergirl might not be special enough to stand out in a crowded sea of Super Folks.[irp]
Writer Steve Orlando appears to want to bring the comic more in line with the TV show. Creating synergy between the two is probably a smart move. The main problem though is the vastly different takes on the character. Orlando can’t make that an easy fit and has to force some elements to set up his take on Supergirl.
There’s no Cat Grant, but Supergirl is still working with the DEO. Director Cameron Chase isn’t sure she can trust Supergirl, but assigns two of her top agents — Jeremiah and Eliza Danvers to serve as foster parents. Supergirl gets a new aliases, Kara Danvers, and will be spending her days as a high school student. That seems a step backward from the show’s more progressive woman starting to make her way in life approach.
To that extent, Supergirl Rebirth is the first that doesn’t get to the core of the character. Instead, it’s just tossing Kara into teen hero tropes. Disappointingly the comic reflects none of the show’s diversity. At least for the first issue the biggest color changes were a redhead and a brunette. Addressing the sea of blondes should definitely be a priority for future issues.
Emanuela Lupacchino’s art is solid. There’s a hint of Greg Land influence with more natural character posing and movement. The layouts are clean and the action is easy to follow. Michael Atiyeh’s colors are bold making good use of Supergirl’s primary color scheme for a vibrant touch.
Continuing the TV feel, the issue ends with a ‘post-credit’ scene featuring one of Superman’s most dangerous villains reimagined for the Rebirth era.
One of the big goals of the Rebirth standalone issues is to whet readers’ appetites for the ongoing series. Supergirl wasn’t bad, but it’s not remarkable either. DC has a lot of strong options post Rebirth. Supergirl Rebirth doesn’t do enough to make it a must-add on a monthly pull list.
Rating: 6.5 out of 10