Supergirl #2 is written by Sophie Campbell and published by DC. Artwork and main cover are also by Campbell with colours by Tamra Bonvillain and letters by Becca Carey.
Supergirl #2 is available from today, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your digital copy from Amazon Comixology UK right here.
Synopsis
Discover Lesla’s transformation from an awkward nerd in Kandor to a bombshellsuperbabe. Who knew Supergirl’s quest for good could inspire such evil?!Back in Midvale, our hero faces a gigantic problem with kryptonite-like powers.Titano the super-ape is here to take over the idyllic town! To defeat him, Supergirlwill have to rely on an unexpected new ally from Metropolis…Lena Luthor! Thehouses of El and Luthor join for good in this action-packed second issue!
Review
Fans of Kara Zor-El have so much to be excited about right now. With her next film appearance having now wrapped. Excitement is already reaching fever pitch for the so-called Woman of Tomorrow to have her moment in the spotlight. So it’s also great to see the character’s place in the DC Universe on the page continuing to shift and grow. Today that journey continues with the second issue of Sophie Campbell’s new Supergirl series arriving in comic book stores.
The first issue went a long way to proving that Campbell and Zoe-El are a perfect combination. Kara is a character who unsurprisingly fits perfectly in to the creative sweet spot of a combined writer-artist. Campbell has such a strong artistic vision that the synergy between art and story is exactly what the character needs right now to return her to superstar status. Whilst the first issue felt a little heavy on exposition, it’s forgivable given that it had to catch readers up after a five-year absence from her last solo title.
But with the two-Supergirl story well established, our return to Midvale this month for the second issue is a true illustration of what Campbell is able to do with the character. I touched on this last month but the youthful energy and exuberance which Campbell brings to Supergirl is beyond perfectly matched with where the character belongs in the contemporary pantheon of the DCU.
Campbell is an accomplished storyteller and knows full well that now is not the time to take her foot off the gas. Supergirl #2 sets its sights on Lesla-Lar, revealed to be the second hero of Midvale. The issue is neatly paced to allow for a little backstory to Lesla, bringing us to the moment she arrived in Midvale. It efficiently sets up a character who simply wants to find their place in the world and be seen. Something which Kara can identify with in her own journey. It presents the reader with a sympathetic villain and a story which feels all too reflective of life outside of the page.
In the space of just this issue Campbell is able to weave feelings of invalidation alongside an honest exploration of the darker side of hero worship. Lesla’s journey might include super powers and alien technology. But the emotions which underpin it are distinctly human and will undoubtedly resonate with many of the audience reading the book. Layered on top of that is a clear and present understanding of the Kryptonian sense of elitism. Campbell’s representation of the Science Counsel and their supremacy over the common people. Its impact on Lesla is clear. But it could also provide a great cultural underpinning to the series moving forwards so I would absolutely advocate for more of this as Supergirl continues.
Ultimately the issue becomes not one of fists and fury. Though there is plenty of that thanks to a seismic and beautifully rendered battle with Titano. Underneath all of the heroics Campbell is presenting Kara with an emotional crisis to overcome. How can she help a fellow Kryptonian who doesn’t yet have the self-awareness to admit that she needs help? Dealing with that problem strikes deeply at the heart of who Kara is. It also goes a long way to illustrating why Supergirl deserves to stand alongside her cousin at the forefront of the DCU.
Verdict
Supergirl #2 is a spirited and dynamic follow up to the series exciting debut. Sophie Campbell draws the hell out of Kara Zor-El as her adventure in Midvale continues. But more than that, Campbell takes the first steps towards a deeply human and impactful story which shows Kara is so much more than her Kryptonian powers alone.
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