PAD's Supergirl From the Beginning

[sunofdarkchild]

In the X-Boards we have these things called 'from the beginning' threads, where someone who has never read a particular series before provides a fresh perspective by reviewing it issue by issue. These are usually series that had limited runs, like 100 issues. With the release on Comixology of the Peter David 90s Supergirl series, which I regretted having missed out on, I thought it might be a good time to give this kind of series a try. Spoiler warning, of course.

The Supergirl of the 90s was not Kara of Krypton, but an artificial life form with shapeshifting and tk powers created by a good version of Luthor from another dimension. It was very complicated, and pre-Crisis fans hated the loss of Kara and the weirdness of the whole thing. This Matrix-Supergirl was very childlike, being very naïve and trusting and extremely eager to please. The betrayal by Luthor, whom she had been dating because of her connection to her creator, forced her to grow up a great deal.

Then Peter David was given control of the character. In Showcase 96 #8 he showed what had become of Supergirl after her falling out with Luthor. With no secret identity she was a super-hero 24/7. She dwelt on the people she failed to save. And without a normal life to distract her she couldn't help but think about whether she was truly alive or just some construct that thought it was.

Which brings us to the first issue of the ongoing, Body and Soul.

Blood runs down a drain in an 'S' shape, as a young woman cleans her many wounds. She doesn't remember how she got so hurt or even who she is. Someone enters the apartment, and she recognizes it as her friend Mattie. Mattie is shocked ad overjoyed to see her alive. Right before the conversation, her wounds mysteriously heal. She speaks strangely about being 'empty' and 'needing to learn.' The conversation helps her remember some things, such as her name, Linda. She also remembers her boyfriend hurting her and then participating in her kidnapping, and a fight with her parents where her father was about to hit her before he stopped himself and she screamed that they hated her.

These memories are too much and she runs out, faster than the eye can see. She runs so fast that she is able to save a man who jumped off of a building, leading him to say that an angel saved him.

Linda realizes that she isn't human, and starts thinking she has 'minds.' She is confused and heads to the local newspaper's office for information. After a minor display of superstrength she sees the headline that Supergirl is feared dead. She feels a connection, but is interrupted by the most pathetic comics reporter since Eddie Brock, Cutter Sharp. He begs on his knees for her to give him her story, and she agrees because she needs her story more than he does.

Elsewhere, the police have cordoned off a destroyed building while the creepy boyfriend talks to a demon in the shadows.

Back at the newspaper, Linda is about to say that she feels like someone else when an image of Clark appears before her, telling her not to say anything and calling her 'Mae.' Cutter tells her a bit about her life, how she was obsessed with Supergirl and kidnapped by a dangerous cult. Her parents went on TV to ask for Supergirl's help. Linda then remembers a conversation between Supergirl and her parents. Her mother said that it was God's will for Supergirl to help their daughter, which causes the father to snap at Supergirl that she isn't human but a thing. Supergirl takes it in stride but tells him not to try to hurt the person who is trying to help him. He breaks down and begs her to save Linda.

Linda is brought out of the memory by Cutter lighting a cigarette, which causes her to freak out. She shoves cutter across the room and runs out. Cutter runs after her, but she jumps to the roof. She looks inward and remembers Supergirl's attempt to rescue Linda from both Supergirl's and Linda's points of view. The cultists were trying to sacrifice Linda to bring the demon from earlier to earth, and the magic makes the fight more difficult for Supergirl. She is unable to stop Linda from being fatally stabbed, through she uses her tk to destroy the dagger so her blood can't be used to complete the spell. Supergirl holds Linda's dying body and neither can accept that this is how it will end. Supergirl feels empty all the time, and refuses to believe that there is nothing more she can do. Supergirl then melts out of costume and merges with Linda's body.

Elsewhere, the local police are having a press conference to say that they have Supergirl's costume but no idea where the heroine is. There is an intense wind and suddenly the costume is gone.

Supergirl flies through the skies once more. She and Linda are now one and the same. Supergirl has given Linda life, and in return Linda has given Supergirl hope.

[sunofdarkchild]

Thoughts: The main job of a first issue is to leave the reader wanting more, and on that count this issue succeeds. It is a really bold move that raises so many questions. I would have liked to have seen more than that one Showcase story about the issues that were bothering Supergirl before this issue, and perhaps to have had Linda introduced earlier as well.

There is also the question of whether what Supergirl did was moral or not. And it is clear already that Linda's life was far from perfect before this craziness. I have to wonder if the magic played a role in their merging. This being spends most of the issue thinking she is Linda, but at the end identifies more as Supergirl.

The first page of just blood is a sure sign that this is not a series for kids. This is a story with abuse, graphic violence, and serious themes.

It was a huge change to Supergirl's status quo, one I don't remember seeing reflected in her appearances in Superman's ongoing's of the late 90s, though her part was usually minor there. I can't imagine Clark would approve when he finds out.

Overall it was an interesting first issue that leaves me anxious for issue 2. 4/5