Today's Supergirl - pages out of order? (spoilers)

[RabidWolfe]

Were the pages printed out of order?

Because I couldn't follow the thread of it at all. It seemed to jump back and forth between time and place with no discernable through thread.

Can someone tell me what actually happened in this issue?

[Jack Zodiac]

Were the pages printed out of order?

Because I couldn't follow the thread of it at all. It seemed to jump back and forth between time and place with no discernable through thread.

Can someone tell me what actually happened in this issue?

The last couple issues were like that. Like stream of consciousness without any skill behind it. The very first issue after the Kandor arc was everywhere at once, except immediately after they got out of Kandor, which made the already unbearable plot even harder to drag through.

[Kent H]

That's Joe Kelly's style. He starts in the middle, then shows chronological flashbacks leading up to the start of the story as the main story progresses. Kinda like the movie Memento, without the going in reverse aspect.

[RabidWolfe]

That's Joe Kelly's style. He starts in the middle, then shows chronological flashbacks leading up to the start of the story as the main story progresses. Kinda like the movie Memento, without the going in reverse aspect.

Then he's not very good at it. I'm a frickin' Doctoral student in Literature, and I'm trained in reading stuff like that - and it took me half a dozen reads even to get the basic gist of the plot (and to figure out who was who in some places - the art was confusing as well).

I think I've finally figured out what was going on, but a story that takes that much effort better have some substantial rewards, and this one had none. It was only a middling story overall. I think Alan Moore and maybe half a dozen other comic writers could get away with this storytelling style. Kelly here seems to think it's a gimmick, and he's not using it very well.

[AaronJ]

It is linear storytelling, but not start-to-finish necessarily. It's like Godard said: Every film has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Just not necessarily in that order.

I really dig the way Kelly does it. I think it works especially well in Supergirl. He is able to capture the way Kara's mind works.

This was another stellar issue. Joe Kelly is hitting on all cylinders. And I mean COME ON! Pirates! Yeah! Where's Captain Jack?

Seriously, I look forward to this title more than almost any other. Kelly is telling great stories about an interesting character, doing it in a compelling way, and also hitting pretty hard on the meta-text.

And as much as I have enjoyed Churchill's work, I have to give it up for Joe Benitez as a fill-in this issue. Ay caramba! Absolutely gorgeous unrestrained and unapologetic cheesecake. He also manages to tell a story very well, too. If I didn't know better, I would have thought he was Brazilian.

And on top of everything, they are getting the book out on time. Will wonders never cease?

[Kent H]

Yeah, since Joe took over this has become one of my top 5 faves from DC. I'm mildly disappointed the story's getting delayed due to the Terra story next issue, but I like G&P & Conner, and I plan on getting the mini, so it's not too bad.

[RabidWolfe]

Well, I'm glad it's working for some people. But I just find myself turned off by it. I'm going to be dropping it from my pull list soon.

[Zel]

This issue was perfectly easy to follow. The undercover-operation story moved along with occasional flashbacks to how Supergirl hooked up with the Outsiders.

This story itself was average. I just don't know why they just didn't call in the rest of the Outsiders and beat the pirates up once they found them. Supegirl was fast enough to fool them into thinking she shot a guy in the head. If she can move faster than they can see, she should've had no problem beating the hell out of them, even with their magic claws.


Powerboy showing up and saving the day was just fucking lame. This is Supergirl's book, that's what she should've been doing.


It was just mean the way she was teasing Boomer :evilsmile cuddling up next to him while both were in their pajamas while saying he's like a brother to her. That's just plain 'ol mean.

[AaronJ]

This issue was perfectly easy to follow. The undercover-operation story moved along with occasional flashbacks to how Supergirl hooked up with the Outsiders.

This story itself was average. I just don't know why they just didn't call in the rest of the Outsiders and beat the pirates up once they found them. Supegirl was fast enough to fool them into thinking she shot a guy in the head. If she can move faster than they can see, she should've had no problem beating the hell out of them, even with their magic claws.

Because they had to discover what sort of means the pirates were using to become super-powered. That entailed getting closer to them, and being trusted enough.

Powerboy showing up and saving the day was just fucking lame. This is Supergirl's book, that's what she should've been doing.

She couldn't kill the creature, and she was paralyzed by indecision. Her inability to kill, even when begged to, was clearly a result of the incident on Krypton with her mother. She was finally finding out she was made of.

It was just mean the way she was teasing Boomer :evilsmile cuddling up next to him while both were in their pajamas while saying he's like a brother to her. That's just plain 'ol mean.

Beyond cruel. Kara has a nasty-fun streak to her that is wonderful. She may be Superman's cousin, but no one will ever call her a Girl Scout.

[Young Avenger]

She couldn't kill the creature, and she was paralyzed by indecision. Her inability to kill, even when begged to, was clearly a result of the incident on Krypton with her mother. She was finally finding out she was made of.

I found that part to be stupid. In the Kandor arc she was acting like the Punisher and willing to kill. Now we get this crap about her being unwilling to kill some Shark thing?

[AaronJ]

I found that part to be stupid. In the Kandor arc she was acting like the Punisher and willing to kill. Now we get this crap about her being unwilling to kill some Shark thing?

They were two completley different sets of circumstances. In Kandor, not only was she a mess, but she was reacting to threats and violence.

Here, this was a defenseless creature, begging to be euthanized. It hit close to home (see flashbacks).

[Jack Zodiac]

That's Joe Kelly's style. He starts in the middle, then shows chronological flashbacks leading up to the start of the story as the main story progresses. Kinda like the movie Memento, without the going in reverse aspect.

And without the "it being good" aspect.

Seriously, I look forward to this title more than almost any other. Kelly is telling great stories about an interesting character, doing it in a compelling way, and also hitting pretty hard on the meta-text.

Metatextual? I only stopped reading this book two issues ago, but I read enough of Kelly's run of it so far and haven't seen anything metatextual in it.

This issue was perfectly easy to follow. The undercover-operation story moved along with occasional flashbacks to how Supergirl hooked up with the Outsiders.

This story itself was average. I just don't know why they just didn't call in the rest of the Outsiders and beat the pirates up once they found them. Supegirl was fast enough to fool them into thinking she shot a guy in the head. If she can move faster than they can see, she should've had no problem beating the hell out of them, even with their magic claws.

Ah, Supergirl pretending to kill people so other, lesser heroes will think she's "cool." God am I glad DC brought Kara back...

Powerboy showing up and saving the day was just fucking lame. This is Supergirl's book, that's what she should've been doing.

Powerboy's supposed to wind up being her boyfriend, I believe, and they need to establish and flesh out his character somewhere. I just wish it was in a book I was reading.

It was just mean the way she was teasing Boomer :evilsmile cuddling up next to him while both were in their pajamas while saying he's like a brother to her. That's just plain 'ol mean.

So she's still jailbait? Good, wouldn't want Kelly to forget about that.

[AaronJ]

Metatextual? I only stopped reading this book two issues ago, but I read enough of Kelly's run of it so far and haven't seen anything metatextual in it.

Kelly's first two issues on teh title were from Rucka's story. #9, Kelly's first issue on his own, was loaded meta-textually. It basically was one huge Mission Statement. It's been there in #10 and #11 as well, but not to the same degree.

Ah, Supergirl pretending to kill people so other, lesser heroes will think she's "cool." God am I glad DC brought Kara back...

No. She pretended to kill the guy to prove that she was really a bad-ass cold blooded killer, to get in tight with the pirates. It was after this incident that she was offered a "promotion" which consisted of getting the chance to eat of the creature, and be one truly one of them.

In other words, it worked. And it showed not only quick-thinking, but a good tactical mind. Batman would be quite proud.

So she's still jailbait? Good, wouldn't want Kelly to forget about that.

No. She's not jailbait.

[SKETCHSANCHEZ]

Cheese cake eh? So this isse contains none of that "Her skirt is REALLY short but NO PANTY SHOTS FOR YOU!"

Geez, even the original Kara got a panty shot. :p

[SKETCHSANCHEZ]

I'm glad theres a fill-in, I cant stand churchill.

Every other artist draws a good super girl (Benes, or Kitson for instance), she never looks too slutty, but Churchill makes her skirt super low, her torso mega-skinny, and gives her THE WORST facial expressions. I hate em, makes me wanna punch her in the mouth.