SUPERGIRL #14

Special

April 2007

Written by Joe Kelly

Pencils by Ian Chruchill

Inks by Norm Rapmund

Cover by Ian Churchill

Synopsis

While Captain Boomerang, Jr. complains about Supergirl’s lack of attention directed his way, Supergirl and Power Boy continue to develop a closer relationship.  But they are also continually being attacked by an unknown person.  In Tibet, the leader of the League of Assassins, Cassandra Cain (formerly Batgirl) informs her client the contract will be fulfilled that night.  Later, Kara tells Power Boy she is going to look for her attackers, but she goes without him. After a brief visit to the batcave, she visits the headquarters of League of Assassins.  Inside, she finds Boomer tied up.  At first Boomer thinks she came for him, but he realizes his mistake.  She is then attacked by Batgirl who takes her down and puts her into a killing position.  Suddenly, crystals appear from within Supergirl’s body, stabbing Batgirl.  Elsewhere, Power Boy receives a phone call from Supergirl asking for help, which he will do for his special girl. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

The fight between Batgirl and Supergirl was really cool and the splash page with the crystals popping out of Kara’s body was rendered very well.  Unfortunately, like much of this book, it did not make much sense.  What was it, what was it supposed to do.  Is it a defense mechanism or did it pop out because Supergirl was referencing her father.  And how the hell did Batgirl know about Kara’s father anyway?  Cassie states she wore the Batgirl suit "out of respect for our fathers" which doesn't make sense at all unless she is either schizophrenic or knows Kara's father.  This makes me think the unidentified employer of Cassie's is Kryptonian, perhaps someone who escaped the Phantom Zone or the woman from the bottle of Candor when Rucka was the writer.  Unless the quote marks around "fathers" is suppose to refer to Batman and Superman who would be surrogate fathers in way.  Either way, I am not entirely sure what is supposed to me because, like a lot of this book, it is just so damn confusing. 

Like the opening scene with Boomer talking to Cassandra Cain.  When did they meet?  How did they meet?  Why doesn’t he know she is the leader of the league of assassins?  Worse, it took me a while to figure out who was speaking what in the narrative boxes on the front page.  Even now I am not entirely sure who is supposed to be talking.

Exactly how did Supergirl determine it was the league of assassins that was attempting to kill her?  What clues led her tot hat conclusion.  Granted, a lot of the attacks apparently happened in between issues so there could be a lot we are not being told.  Either way, it still smacks of Kelly just trying to get us to the cool fight scene without having to deal with details.

Another question:  if Captain Boomerang has been kidnapped, where are the Outsiders?  Why wouldn’t they come to his rescue?  I will assume Cassandra made him call Supergirl because she is the ultimate target, so I’ll give his call to her (when it should’ve gone to Nightwing) a pass.  But still, where are the Outsiders? 

I don’t know why I thought of this now, but I wonder how much of what we are reading comes from Joe Kelly or if some of this is still left over from Greg Rucka.

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