The Return of Linda Danvers?

[Super Buddies Forever]

http://comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=16893

The Peter David Supergirl, Linda Danvers, will be making an appearance, somewhere in the DCU later this month.

Amazing. Hopefully it will be a substantial appearance and not just an excuse to kill a character off.

Seriously, removing Linda Danvers from the DCU in favor of Kara was probably the biggest individual character blunder of the DiDio era, especially when Peter David already brought Kara back in a more rewarding manner (and in such a way that would allow her to co-exist with Linda).

[Sean Whitmore]

"Somewhere in the DCU"?

Jeez, this is like Russian Roulette. Except there are multiple bullets in the chamber, with names like Rucka, Winick, and Johns.


SEAN

[Flâneur]

Meh, why bother? Linda is so much cooler as a supporting character in Fallen Angel than she ever was in DC.

[Lester C.]

I don't know why you guys think this is good news. As someone that a big fan of the character I'd much rather her be in limbo then come back during a big event where bodies are going to get stacked one on top of the other to show how much of a bad ass Libra is.

[Mark_S]

Supergirls do not tend to fair well in DC big events.

Mark_S

[KET]

Supergirls do not tend to fair well in DC big events.



Supergirls do not tend to fair well in DiDio's DCU anyway. :frown:


My guess is Linda's probably going to be cannon fodder in FINAL CRISIS, just to piss off all those pesky questioners DiDio keeps getting at conventions.

[hellokittykat]

I don't know why you guys think this is good news. As someone that a big fan of the character I'd much rather her be in limbo then come back during a big event where bodies are going to get stacked one on top of the other to show how much of a bad ass Libra is.

I'm going to be hopefully optimistic. :redface: I love Linda Danvers, and I would love to see her again. I agree though, that part of me is leery at the idea of Linda returning because I don't want her brought back just to be ruined, but I'm gonna hope that the character makes an appearance in keeping with who she was when she disappeared.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

If handled well, Linda Danvers could make an excellent addition to Supergirl's supporting cast. That title is getting yet another creative team so that it won't be the red-headed stepchild to Johns & Robinson's Super-titles.

[Dard]

I've nothing to support this, but it doesn't sound to me like Linda would turn up in the current Supergirl series. And this would be the place where she is really, really needed. As some sort of mentor to the current Supergirl. But it looks like Empress will or could be, another mostly ignored PAD character.
I loved Empress, but I can't see how much good she could do in that series.
Which leaves me wondering in what series Linda could make a great and important appearance. And I can't think of any.
So I guess she will really just be either cannon-fodder or a typical minor background character in Final Crisis.

Still, it is interesting how DC is bringing back all those female fan-favourite characters that they did their best to ruin or ignore in the last several years. Let's just hope that Linda won't have to undergo a villianization procedure by Beechan.

[Spiffy]

I'm going to be hopefully optimistic. :redface: I love Linda Danvers, and I would love to see her again. I agree though, that part of me is leery at the idea of Linda returning because I don't want her brought back just to be ruined, but I'm gonna hope that the character makes an appearance in keeping with who she was when she disappeared.
DC's recent history doesn't encourage optimism, by and large--especially in terms of body counts.

I don't know why you guys think this is good news. As someone that a big fan of the character I'd much rather her be in limbo then come back during a big event where bodies are going to get stacked one on top of the other to show how much of a bad ass Libra is.
It's possible they have an even worse fate reserved for her. I mean aren't they about due to turn another ex-hero "evil" by now? I mean we all know they can't help themselves when it comes to using that tactic.

EDIT:

Let's just hope that Linda won't have to undergo a villianization procedure by Beechan.
Eek. Missed that comment when I typed the above. But I guess its that obvious that we both came to that conclusion, right?

[Choppa]

Seriously, removing Linda Danvers from the DCU in favor of Kara was probably the biggest individual character blunder of the DiDio era, especially when Peter David already brought Kara back in a more rewarding manner (and in such a way that would allow her to co-exist with Linda).

What was it? I haven't been following her exploits.


"Somewhere in the DCU"?

Jeez, this is like Russian Roulette. Except there are multiple bullets in the chamber, with names like Rucka, Winick, and Johns.


SEAN

Hahaha :biggrin:

[Mr.EZ]

The thing that bothers me the most is that Didio didn't say WHERE she could be found. Normally when someone asks where we'll next see a character, Didio's up front about it. This time, it's not the case.

Once upon a time, Supergirl was the only DC Comic I read, and since they've killed every other character I liked: Vic Sage, Bart Allen, Superboy, Ralph & Sue and Ted Kord, I'm really starting to worry about Linda.

[hellokittykat]

DC's recent history doesn't encourage optimism, by and large--especially in terms of body counts.


It's possible they have an even worse fate reserved for her. I mean aren't they about due to turn another ex-hero "evil" by now? I mean we all know they can't help themselves when it comes to using that tactic.

EDIT:


Eek. Missed that comment when I typed the above. But I guess its that obvious that we both came to that conclusion, right?

No, given their track record, DC definitely doesn't deserve my optimism, but I can't help it. :redface:

What was it? I haven't been following her exploits.

It was the last story arc of the PAD "Supergirl". Pre-Crisis Kara accidentally landed on the current Earth, instead of the pre-Crisis one. Specter showed up, and told Kara that she had to go to her current Earth because she was an important part of that Crisis. Linda tried to take her place, and lived for years in that timestream, but eventually Specter popped up again and told her that, even though she tried, it had to be Kara who had to live and then die on that Earth.

It was an awesome story.

[Mark_S]

No, given their track record, DC definitely doesn't deserve my optimism, but I can't help it. :redface:



It was the last story arc of the PAD "Supergirl". Pre-Crisis Kara accidentally landed on the current Earth, instead of the pre-Crisis one. Specter showed up, and told Kara that she had to go to her current Earth because she was an important part of that Crisis. Linda tried to take her place, and lived for years in that timestream, but eventually Specter popped up again and told her that, even though she tried, it had to be Kara who had to live and then die on that Earth.

It was an awesome story.


I wonder if they'll mention the child she had with that Earth's Superman?

I prefer Linda or even the original (or second since the first was a magical construct created by Jimmy) Supergirl to the current one. I haven't read her stuff lately but after Amazon's Attack I just couldn't take her anymore. I was actually cheering the evil Batgirl on when she attacked Supergirl.

Mark_S

[Flash's Lightning]

Matrix started out as Supergirl because she was naive and inexperienced. Now that she's been around the block, and particularly since she joined with Linda Danvers, she should become Superwoman.

In this way, there's no stepping on anyone's toes. You have Supergirl, from Krypton, Superwoman, who is Matrix, then Steel, Krypto, and Superman complete the Superman family. In a perfect world, you'd have Conner, but hell, I'm just glad they're using Linda, if even for one issue.

[Super Buddies Forever]

Peter David has said that, if his book hadn't been canceled despite the rise in sales, Pre-Crisis Kara was going to stick around and form a team with Linda and Powergirl. DiDio and Loeb had other plans, and so Linda was shipped off to limbo.

I've been saying that the current incarnation of Kara has needed Linda as a mentor ever since her book started. While I very much doubt that Linda's return will be as prominent as that, the very fact that DiDio is no longer trying to claim she doesn't exist is a victory itself.

But yeah, knowing the luck the fans of that era have been having, she has a date with Major Force and an icebox (triple-stuffed with Batgirl and Spoiler).

[JCAll]

It's possible they have an even worse fate reserved for her. I mean aren't they about due to turn another ex-hero "evil" by now? I mean we all know they can't help themselves when it comes to using that tactic

Nah. They have to kill Mary Marvel first before they can turn another one evil.
Or course, since Mary Marvel was one of the Super Buddies, and thus marked for death, that may not be as long as I hope.

[hellokittykat]

Peter David has said that, if his book hadn't been canceled despite the rise in sales, Pre-Crisis Kara was going to stick around and form a team with Linda and Powergirl. DiDio and Loeb had other plans, and so Linda was shipped off to limbo.

I've been saying that the current incarnation of Kara has needed Linda as a mentor ever since her book started. While I very much doubt that Linda's return will be as prominent as that, the very fact that DiDio is no longer trying to claim she doesn't exist is a victory itself.

But yeah, knowing the luck the fans of that era have been having, she has a date with Major Force and an icebox (triple-stuffed with Batgirl and Spoiler).

That would be a shame, though, to have Linda regulated to a just supporting cast member for a crappy main character, in an even crappier book. :frown:

[Flash's Lightning]

That would be a shame, though, to have Linda regulated to a just supporting cast member for a crappy main character, in an even crappier book. :frown:

Hey, she's appearing at least. You gonna complain? Unless they completly do a character assassination, I think her appearing as a guest is better than doing the comic book Limbo game.

Or being stuck in a freezer as someone pointed out above. You know, I hadn't even thought of her being killed off until it was mentioned above. Now I'm worried. :eek: :tongue:

[superphil]

another linda fan here :)

about the book she could appear in, isn't booster gold traveling arround in the time?

other possiblilities:

birds of prey: the story writes itself, barbara need some strong bird for her team, wonder woman is to busy, power girl doesn't trus here. therfore she's looking for linda and convices her to be a hero again :)

final crisis: legion of three worlds: even though she was never a legion member, she meet the "second" legion, while they were stranded in the 20th century. and brainy hat a litte chrush on here :)

anyway, just don't kill here off.. :mad:

[Choppa]

another linda fan here :)

about the book she could appear in, isn't booster gold traveling arround in the time?



That reminds me. Didio did say that someone is going to return permanentaly return in Booster's book. I don't think it will be Ted because that seems to obvious and unlikely. Maybe it's Linda...

[Flash's Lightning]

Up on Newsarama, they reported this was said at WCW

- Linda Danvers coming back? DiDio: Reign in Hell #1.

[Super Buddies Forever]

Well, I was going to pick it up anyway because I always dig Giffen, and I feel more comfortable with the idea that he's writing her return appearance. He's not one to kill characters to rack up a body count.

[JCAll]

Wow. That's a surprisingly good place her reintroduction.
I've been getting a good feeling out of Reign in Hell since it was announced.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

Given the whole Earth-Angel thang Peter David had going with the character, this does seem like a good place to reintroduce the character.

[superphil]

Given the whole Earth-Angel thang Peter David had going with the character, this does seem like a good place to reintroduce the character.

but linda isn't an earth born angel anymore, twilight is the new earth born angel of fire :)

but we haven't seen twilight either since peter davids supergirl endet.. so everything is possible.

[hellokittykat]

Hey, she's appearing at least. You gonna complain? Unless they completly do a character assassination, I think her appearing as a guest is better than doing the comic book Limbo game.

Or being stuck in a freezer as someone pointed out above. You know, I hadn't even thought of her being killed off until it was mentioned above. Now I'm worried.

That's exactly what I mean. I'm not complaining about her being brought back-I'm thrilled about that-I just don't want her killed or her character assassinated. But I'm going to remain cautiously optimistic, especially now, given the book that she is going to make her return in.

[Accroître]

Did we see her in Reign in Hell? I don't get my copy for a few more weeks. If yes, what happened with her?!

[QuietRiver]

Did we see her in Reign in Hell? I don't get my copy for a few more weeks. If yes, what happened with her?!

Yeah, she appeared in Reign in Hell. ***SPOILERS***She gets attacked, manifests into her fiery angel form, and then gets attacked by the good guys. Apparently she just wants to live a normal life, but Shadowpact deems her too dangerous. Then she dissapears, apparently dragged into Hell.***END SPOILERS***

So yeah, she's back in some form at the very least.

[KET]

Did we see her in Reign in Hell? I don't get my copy for a few more weeks. If yes, what happened with her?!

Some silver-haired woman named Danvers was attacked by Shadowpact, and displayed some sort of flame powers. But the woman didn't act like Linda (who BTW, had lost her flame powers well before her SUPERGIRL run ended). Then all of a sudden, this character disappeared.

Overall, the scenario was a pretty useless out of character tease, IMO.

[The Beast Of Yucca Flats]

Yeah, she appeared in Reign in Hell. ***SPOILERS***She gets attacked, manifests into her fiery angel form, and then gets attacked by the good guys. Apparently she just wants to live a normal life, but Shadowpact deems her too dangerous. Then she dissapears, apparently dragged into Hell.***END SPOILERS***

So yeah, she's back in some form at the very least.

Key part bolded, after my flip-through session yesterday and my scans_daily visit today to refresh my memory.

[Cayman]

Ugh, Reign In Hell was a horrible book (although the art was nice enough) and I regret buying it.

[PatrickG]

Peter David has said that, if his book hadn't been canceled despite the rise in sales, Pre-Crisis Kara was going to stick around and form a team with Linda and Powergirl. DiDio and Loeb had other plans, and so Linda was shipped off to limbo.

I've been saying that the current incarnation of Kara has needed Linda as a mentor ever since her book started. While I very much doubt that Linda's return will be as prominent as that, the very fact that DiDio is no longer trying to claim she doesn't exist is a victory itself.

But yeah, knowing the luck the fans of that era have been having, she has a date with Major Force and an icebox (triple-stuffed with Batgirl and Spoiler).

Y'Know, PAD gets misquoted on this.

He wasn't sure what would happen.

Blonde Justice was one of TWO ideas. (It was the brighter one.)

By the end of his run, the ending he was planning on was a darker one and had the book continued, he probably would have revamped Supergirl to be more like FALLEN ANGEL wound up being.

[PatrickG]

Some silver-haired woman named Danvers was attacked by Shadowpact, and displayed some sort of flame powers. But the woman didn't act like Linda (who BTW, had lost her flame powers well before her SUPERGIRL run ended). Then all of a sudden, this character disappeared.

Overall, the scenario was a pretty useless out of character tease, IMO.

Hm. See, her story didn't have to stop when PAD's run ended and there are parts of that run that pretty much can't be in continuity. Also the universe has rebooted.

The post-Angel version was considered a disappointment. So either she re-merged with Matrix or they never de-merged or... quite frankly, Matrix has no business being part of Linda's backstory or the DCU anymore. So if she became an angel without Matrix, she'd still be an angel now.

I'm not shilling Reign in Hell. Sounds like a weak book to me.

But I am saying that getting Linda Danvers after a universal reboot or three and after several years of off-panel life for her means that she shouldn't exactly be picking up from her last appearance seamlessly. Something's happened since then and her history is at least somewhat in question anyway.

[Lorendiac]

Peter David has said that, if his book hadn't been canceled despite the rise in sales, Pre-Crisis Kara was going to stick around and form a team with Linda and Powergirl. DiDio and Loeb had other plans, and so Linda was shipped off to limbo.

I've been saying that the current incarnation of Kara has needed Linda as a mentor ever since her book started. While I very much doubt that Linda's return will be as prominent as that, the very fact that DiDio is no longer trying to claim she doesn't exist is a victory itself.

But yeah, knowing the luck the fans of that era have been having, she has a date with Major Force and an icebox (triple-stuffed with Batgirl and Spoiler).

A few stray thoughts . . . and I speak as the guy who holds the (self-appointed and totally unpaid) "job" of, at irregular intervals, updating and posting a valiant attempt (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=159746) to help everybody keep all the Supergirls Who Ever Were In Continuity sorted out for the benefit of the uninitiated . . . usually with comments on each girl's most recent status, such as "dead," or "erased from continuity," or "dead and erased from continuity," or "who knows?"

Back around 2005 and early 2006, I strongly suspected that Dan DiDio and others at DC would be seriously considering having PAD's Linda Supergirl end up doing one or more of the following things:

1. Conveniently die in Infinite Crisis.

2. Get her backstory heavily retconned in Infinite Crisis (perhaps so that there had never been a Matrix Supergirl, and Linda still existed but nobody remembered her having ever used the "Supergirl" alias? Some other alias, maybe?)

3. Get erased from history by Infinite Crisis.

4. Some combo of the above! (It would have been in keeping with Sacred Tradition. After all, two decades earlier the original Kara Zor-El Supergirl had both died and been retroactively erased from history as part of the events of COIE.)

And I was perfectly willing to live with any or all of that. But in my youthful innocence, I assumed -- without even recognizing it was only an assumption, one of doubtful merit -- that DC would do the following things:

1. Make a clear-cut policy decision on the subject of Matrix/Linda; one which all the writers and editors at DC would be bound to abide by. (Just as nobody was allowed to use the original Kara Zor-El in new stories after the transition to Post-COIE continuity.)

2. Clearly and emphatically announce that policy decision, repeatedly, in various places (on their own website, for instance), to guarantee that every concerned fan would eventually see or hear a copy of the announcement, and would realize DC was serious about it.

3. Nail down "the new version" in continuity (whatever that version might be) with references in stories published Post-Infinite Crisis. For instance, if they decided: "There never was any Matrix Supergirl, and she never merged with PAD's Linda, who never existed either," then I might have expected them to work some dialogue into the ongoing "Supergirl" title which clearly stated that nobody (Post-IC) had ever gotten away with using the alias "Supergirl" before Superman gave Kara Zor-El permission to use it.

I was wildly optimistic, wasn't I? You suggested it's a "victory" to have Dan DiDio no longer claiming PAD's Linda Danvers Supergirl character never existed. But as far as I know -- and believe me, I've kept my eyes and ears open for any new info on this subject! -- Dan DiDio only made that claim about Matrix/Linda being conveniently erased from history (by the repercussions of "Infinite Crisis") on one occasion. It was on the same day "Final Crisis #7" came out, over two years ago now . . .then he fell mysteriously silent on the subject, instead of having his position clearly reiterated over and over to make sure everybody got the point that this was, in fact, the New Official Version.

Geoff Johns made a contradictory remark on his forum on that same day, and reiterated the essence of it several months later . . . and other than that, we've spent two years in the dark on this subject, not hearing any follow-up from DiDio (neither confirming nor denying the accuracy of his remark in May 2006), not seeing any reference to Matrix/Linda in new comics (nor anything that squarely establishes that there never was any Matrix/Linda Supergirl in the new continuity), not seeing these points addressed in the files on DC's own website; basically not getting anything.

I strongly suspect that one reason we went so long without any follow-up on the subjects of Matrix/Linda in the comics (or other places) was to provide a "cooling off" period so it wouldn't be too embarrasingly obvious that DiDio had gotten carried away and was now reconsidering.

Another reason, of course, would be to let the latest version of Kara Zor-El Supergirl get firmly established, in her ongoing title, as a well-written, consistently-characterized, popular heroine with a really gifted and stable creative team presenting her to us. (That dream obviously didn't materialize in her series in practice, but I imagine it's what DC in 2006 was hoping to accomplish, and didn't want us "distracted" by constant references to any of Kara's Embarrassing Predecessors.

Now, as we move into Final Crisis, I'm thinking, once again, that it's quite possible that one or more of the things on my list (die dramatically, get heavily retconned, get erased, or a combo of some of those) are quite likely to befall PAD's Linda Danvers Supergirl (and/or Matrix Supergirl, the pile of pink protomatter from a pocket universe). Place your bets, ladies and gentlemen! And as before, I could live with any of those, as long as the new version was clearly explained to us by the end so that we'd know where we stood! (I never learn, do I? What are the chances of that?)

[FemGeek]

Return of Linda Danvers, my behind!! I'm so dissapointed by Reign in Hell I could choke. I've been waiting so patiently for Linda's comeback and what I get is this non-sensical lump? I couldn't buy the comic after seeing what's become of Linda :frown: I'm a die-hard Linda fan and what I read is pretty, well, dissapointing is the only word.

[Sean Walsh]

Return of Linda Danvers, my behind!! I'm so dissapointed by Reign in Hell I could choke. I've been waiting so patiently for Linda's comeback and what I get is this non-sensical lump? I couldn't buy the comic after seeing what's become of Linda :frown: I'm a die-hard Linda fan and what I read is pretty, well, dissapointing is the only word.

What was so non-sensical about it?

Blaze & Satanus are trying to take over - Neron "calling in all reserves" (supernatural characters/powers) to defend what's his - Zatara leading a resistanceforce in Hell to it all.

[miss_terry]

I am so confused on the Supergirl character of the DCU. She's killed. Then there's the new Supergirl that's supposed to be older than Superman. And then there's this Linda Danvers ? Are there other incarnations also ?

So is there going to be a Supergirl battle royale ? Winner takes up the Supergirl suit ?

[csaver]

First, I'm going by what I've read on this board. I HAVE NOT read Reign of Hell #1, and judging by the reaction of readers, I might not be missing much. I WAS a big fan of PAD's Supergirl, so here goes....

If it's true Linda Danvers was seen with silver hair in Reign of Hell, then I'm assuming that in DC continuity they are eliminating the Matrix/Supergirl element of Linda Danver's Angel of Fire, and instead replacing her with Twilight. Instead of the Angel of Fire being a merging of Linda Danvers/Supergirl, we get Linda Danvers/Twilight.

Now, I know that's not a perfect solution for some, but it does have a certain logic to it. Twilight DID become the Angel of Fire at the end of PAD's run, so their is a certain synergy.

The only wrinkle I can see is how these two could merge considering Twilight and Linda were both pretty dark characters to begin with. In both incarnations it was the Matrix/Supergirl part of their merged souls that was the "good side" of the pairing. My guess (Place your bets!) is they'll tweak Linda Danvers origin to be the compassionate side of the pairing with Twilight.

Or they could just be playing it fast and loose and don't really care.

[Lorendiac]

I am so confused on the Supergirl character of the DCU. She's killed. Then there's the new Supergirl that's supposed to be older than Superman. And then there's this Linda Danvers ? Are there other incarnations also ?

So is there going to be a Supergirl battle royale ? Winner takes up the Supergirl suit ?

I strongly doubt there will be a battle royale to determine who gets to use the name "Supergirl." I haven't read "Reign of Hell #1," but as near as I can tell from other people's comments, Linda Danvers -- a former Supergirl who chose to abandon that role years ago -- is not wearing a Supergirl costume in it and is not laying any claim to being a "Supergirl" or "Superwoman." (I think she'd probably have to be in her 30s by now, after she aged several years in the last story arc of her old monthly series, so it would seem kind of silly if she still called herself "-girl" instead of "-woman.")

Now, to answer your question about "other incarnations" -- it's a long story. There have been many users of the names "Supergirl" and "Superwoman."

Some of them are still part of DC's "official continuity," meaning Superman and other characters in the modern comic books should still remember them.

Some of them have definitely been erased from the "official continuity" so that we aren't supposed to worry about them anymore, meaning Superman and other characters in the modern comic books shouldn't remember them.

Some of them have spent the last few years in a nebulous "might be in continuity, but it isn't entirely clear and they never get mentioned in new comic books anymore" status. Until just now, with "Reign of Hell #1," that's arguably been the case with the "Linda Danvers Supergirl" ever since the end of "Infinite Crisis" (which ended in May 2006).

A few years ago I basically appointed myself to the "job" of trying to keep track of all the different Supergirl and Superwoman characters for the benefit of my fellow fans, by writing and occasionally updating a "Timeline" of when each relevant character made her First Appearance, and in many cases I also cover the official Last Appearance of that character, if there was one.

If you really want to know about all these incarnations, and if you have a lot of time on your hands, then you might take a look at the version I posted on this very forum about a year and a half ago. (I'll probably post another draft of it after "Final Crisis" is over.)

Timeline: 1st Appearances of each Supergirl, Superwoman, etc.(4th Draft) (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=159746)

[FemGeek]

What was so non-sensical about it?


THe way Linda was done. Why the blonde hair? Why the re-emergance of her Angel powers? Why would Shadowpact find her too dangerous to be allowed roam free? And then she's pulled into Hell! She dosen't owe anything to Satanus anyway, so why her connection to Reign in hell at all? Now I'm kinda hoping it's not Linda, especially since the character looked more like Twilight (the Earth-Angel of Fire who hasnt been seen since getting the Matrix half) and maybe that would make more sense. Maybe it'll come up later in the series with a good explaination for this Linda, but for now I'll just gripe about it :wink: