Supergirl

On another note, I've decided that I will be dropping DC's new Supergirl series after reading a third of the second issue. I'm sure not many people are curious as to why, but I'll tell you anyway. Pure and simple, the Supergirl series doesn't seem to be about Supergirl. Yes, she shows up, but she does so alongside just about every other character in the DC universe. The first issue had her watching the JSA fight somebody and then getting into a protracted and pointlessly stupid fight with Power Girl. What a great way to introduce a new series; have the first issue feature characters with in-depth backgrounds and continuity and act as though the reader should know who they are.

And the logic (or lack thereof) behind the fight is completely asinine. Apparently, since Supergirl and Power Girl are so similar, and the same matter can't occupy the same space at the same time, contact with Supergirl causes Power Girl to go crazy and try to kill her. Hold on a sec. If the same matter can't occupy the same space at the same time, shouldn't they repel each other? Fighting would bring them into much closer proximity. No, someone at DC editorial probably just said, "We need us a chick fight in the new Supergirl comic. Dudes like those. And dudes love Power Girl because her boobies hang out. Let's get those two in a brawl right away!"

Issue two doesn't fare much better. This time, rather than the JSA, the Teen Titans show up for an extended guest shot. After yet another pointless fight, this time against Superboy, the rest of the Teen Titans appear and begin to fight with Superboy about something that I can only imagine occurred in the pages of the Teen Titans comic. Once again, yet another great way to continue the introductory story arc; bring in characters with their own continuity and expect the reader to know what's going on. "But, Matt," I hear some fanboys whine, "[writer] Jeph Loeb gives you all the information you need to piece together what's going on!" That's really beside the point. I bought a comic book called Supergirl because I expected to read about Supergirl doing super-hero stuff. Instead, I've gotten nothing but other super-hero guest stars and Supergirl fighting them. What, doesn't she have a rogue's gallery? Well, Mr. Loeb, you're a writer. Make some up!

The problem is, I feel that there are two Jeph Loebs, the Good Jeph Loeb and the Evil Jeph Loeb. The Good Jeph Loeb has given us some of the best super-hero comics ever written, in my opinion. The Long Halloween is my second favorite Batman story just after Year One. That's right, I place it above the sacred cow that is The Dark Knight Returns. (Not that far above. Dark Knight is my third favorite Batman story.) Superman for All Seasons is a beautifully written, iconic take on the Man of Steel. The majority of Hush was also written by the Good Jeph Loeb. The Evil Jeph Loeb is writing the current arc in Superman/Batman, which features oh-so "clever" takes on Marvel's The Avengers. And I can't for the life of me figure out just what he's trying to say with these parody versions. At least, he's not saying anything that wasn't already said in Mark Millar's first arc on The Authority.

His reason for doing this seems to be similar to his reason for resurrecting Supergirl; because he can. Loeb doesn't seem to really have any good idea as to what to do with the Girl of Steel and it shows. I imagine he's probably justifying his cavalcade of guest stars by saying something to the effect of it being about her quest to find her place in the DC universe. Yeah, that's all fine and good, but why does she need to interact with every other super-hero? It's almost as though someone doesn't have faith in this revival and feels that she needs to be sent out with training wheels. Unfortunately, all this just serves to undermine the main character of the series.

If someone ever decides to make a series about Supergirl, I might pick it up.