Supergirl: Being Super #1
DC Comics
Story: Mariko Tamaki
Penciller: Joelle Jones
Inkers: Sandu Florea
Colorist: Kelly Fitzpatrick
We all know the story. Girl of unknown origins. Girl has superpowers. Girl hides superpowers. You would believe that the tale just gets old. You may be wrong on this one.
Mariko Tamaki portrays Kara as a moody teenager just looking for her place in the world. She’s not perfect. From a blemish to embarrassing parents, she seems like any other teenager except for being able to lift a tractor over her head. There were exactly three times that Joelle Jones’ art took my breath away.
#1 – In the aforementioned scene, Kara lifts a tractor over her head with one hand while checking her phone with the other.
#2 – Kara goes soaring through the air for the first time. She suspends all feeling of gravity even for the reader.
#3 – When things go “Sploosh,” do they ever go “Sploosh!” This one wasn’t a feeling of exhilaration but was just as breathtaking all the same.
As disgusting and awkward as things can get, it’s the life of a teen rather than a pristine, fully-fledged champion. We have all been reading DC and watching the CW for decades as heroes are formed and polished from what seems like an abundance of perfection.
However, the cookie-cutter superheroes are beginning to break into their own while maintaining the essence of the characters. I can’t wait to see Kara grow and evolve into a unique entity. So far, there is no Clark to be seen or heard of. There is no longing for greater any more than any other kid trying to figure out how to make it through the day.