DCU Comic Book Reviews

SUPERGIRL #40

Who Is Superwoman? Part 4:  Mistakes

June 2009

Written by Sterling Gates

Pencils by Jamal Igle

Inks by Jon Sibal

Cover by Joshua Middleton

Synopsis

At the Metropolis police station, Supergirl and Detective Henderson, along with Major Lucy Lane, try to determine the identity of Superwoman.  Lucy gets a call with the location of Superwoman.  Supergirl flies as fast as she can to get there.  Except it is a decoy.  Reactron is waiting for her.  The two fight.  Supergirl is able to defeat him.  Afterwards, she realizes she knows the identity of Superwoman.  Elsewhere, Lana Lang, Cat Stevens, and Jimmy Olsen are attending an awards banquet, when Lana collapses, spitting blood.  Meanwhile, Supergirl confronts Superwoman.  At police station, Detective Henderson is attacked by Superwoman.  Moments later, Supergirl arrives, attacking Superwoman, revealing Lucy Lane as the one underneath the mask. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

Lana Lang is spitting blood.  She’s a Red Lantern!

Color me confused.  Superwoman is Lucy Lane, Lois’ little sister. She’s Kryptonian?  When did that happen?  Or did she somehow gain powers in some pseudo-scientific manner or magical way? Or is this some person just masquerading as Lucy?  Now, if it was General Lane, then I would understand, because he died awhile ago.  But, Lucy?  I don’t know.  I don’t understand it.  Hopefully, all will be explained at some point (Lucy, you got some 'splainin' to do!).  But right now, it doesn’t make much sense. 

This issue was all about the ending, reaching those final pages to provide the big shocking moment that will forever change Supergirl and the, yadda, yadda, blah, blah, blah.  The issue was good, I really liked the fight, and I enjoyed it, but the ending left a bleech taste in my mouth.  Maybe my lack of understanding clouded the ending, but it fell flat.  I think the problem is not so much who it is, but aiming the entire story leading up to that moment.  Over in Action Comics, Greg Rucka’s reveal of the identity of Nightwing was a more startling revelation, but I think that is because he just did it and got it over with.  I think if he had built up to it, it wouldn’t have worked as well as it did.  . 

Hey, look, Gates pulls out another retcon, this time trying to explain an earlier Reactron appearance, in this title of all places.  I appreciate the effort, but it is a little clumsy and, frankly, I am not sure if it was really needed.  I wonder if this is something the editor wanted to add in there (opposed to Gates doing it himself) because it doesn’t really flow well with the rest of the issue.  Having said that, the explanation does provide Supergirl with her own supervillain, someone who has a grudge against her and would gladly do anything to hurt her (or her family).  So, the idea is sound, the execution just wasn’t quite there. 

In contrast, the flashback to her training with Batman works much better.  It fits well within the flow of the story.  It is a shame that the solution (gliding on the cape) that she comes up with from her Batman memory doesn’t quite match the flashback itself. 

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