Comic Book Review: Supergirl #48

Book Information

Written by Sterling Gates

Art by Fernando Dagnino & Raul Fernandez.

Cover by Josh Middleton

Plot

Silver Banshee has returned, but this time with a different task in mind.  As the Banshee closes in on the artifacts that will help release her from the family curse, Supergirl must find a way to save her friends and family from the destructive path of screaming ghoul.  Meanwhile, the mystery surrounding Lana Lang’s illness begins to unravel, yet at the same time becomes more confusing.  With time running out on both of these problems, Supergirl must figure out how she can stop Silver Banshee while finding a cure for Lana’s unknown disease.

My Thoughts

What is the most common complaint we’re hearing about the World of New Krypton storyline?  The answer is this, the fact that it spreads across four different Superman titles and is usually unnecessary for the plot.  Surprisingly, most of the stories in the main Superman title are the boring and ridiculously stupid ones.  The only reason I’m even picking up Superman right now is because I subscribed to it before the whole World of New Krypton saga began.  Which is what makes the Supergirl title so impressive right now, it’s going along with its own story, while maintaining and supporting the current World of New Krypton saga.

In this issue there are two plot devices going on as stated above in the “plot” section, and the master that is Sterling Gates melds the two together into this one book very well.  I had never known about Silver Banshee’s past, which is great!  Now whether or not this new revelation of the Banshee’s past was made for this issue specifically I don’t know, but it still made for a fantastic twist on the character.  I’ve always thrown Banshee out as an insignificant villain in the life of Superman.  This new back story, however, gives a refreshing new look at the goddess of scream which should help boost up her status with Superman fans.  Now granted this type of plot device is very common; finding a set of ancient artifacts to help lift a family curse is an overused and underwhelming addition to the villainess.  However, Sterling Gates intelligently makes this plot device interesting with the painful memories of Siobhan McDougal and her patriarchal family.  It will be fun to see how this race to get the artifacts before Banshee does will play out.

I am having a little trouble buying into conflict between Lana and Supergirl.  The whole situation seems a wee bit contrived and forced.  I certainly hope an original ending comes out of this and she doesn’t die without some sort of explanation of her new found disease.  I do want to know what it is exactly, don’t you?

The artwork is good, with some minor problems.  Matt Camp last month brought us some exceptionally clean lines and emotional faces, and new artists to the title Fernadez and Dagnino bring that exact same style to this issue.  However, my complaint is, when you see someone or something from far away, the quality diminished.  The close-up’s are fantastic, but the further a panel panes away from a person, the more the quality of the art goes away.  It’s nothing huge, but as an artist myself, this minor aspect bugs the heck out of me.

Overall

A good issue.  This might even make my top ten.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars

Next Issue Coming January 27, 2010

This is it! The moment you've all been waiting for, as Supergirl takes on −>kkkzzzt< "WE INTERRUPT FOR A DAILY PLANET BREAKING NEWS BRIEF: Lana Lang, Business Editor of The Daily Planet, passed away this morning from undisclosed causes. She is survived by her ex-husband, former President of the United States Pete Ross, their son, Clark, and her niece, Linda. More on this story as it develops." >fzzt< − story you won't want to miss!