Supergirl #3

Power Chapter Three: Outsiders

Jeph Loeb Writes
Ian Churchill Pencils
Norm Rapmund Inks
Letterer Richard Starkings
Colorist David Morán
Assistant Editor Jeanine Schaefer
Editor Eddie Berganza
Special thanks to Judd Winick, the Outsider

Our main cover by Ian Churchill shows Supergirl standing in the shadow of ... well, herself. It's a pretty neat way to hint at the ending of this issue without giving anything away. I would have changed the background, though. Those photo-realistic clouds don't seem to fit.

Our variant cover by Michael Turner takes the more direct approach in showing the main conflict of this issue: Supergirl vs. Lex Luthor. It's a decent enough cover, but it's poses like this that make me really uncomfortable with Supergirl's skimpy outfit. I mean, she's a minor, right? And Lex is a grown man lifting her above his head, getting a peak at what's underneath that miniskirt.

Our story begins three days after last issue, with Supergirl training with the Outsiders. For some strange reason (a mystery even to Supergirl), the Outsiders have Kryptonite shackles that can be regulated for more or less exposure. Supergirl dialed the shackles down to 5% to break the chain dramatically during the sparring session, which ends with Arsenal firing an exploding bullet with liquid Green K at her. Nightwing walks in at this point, and isn't too pleased. He takes the shackles off Supergirl, telling her that Starfire has a lead on who has been tracking her. But while he talks, Supergirl's thoughts go back to the conclusion of her little adventure with the Teen Titans.

When Starfire showed up last time, she told Supergirl that she learned from Batman someone was spying on her. Supergirl and Superboy both see Batman's actions as a lack of trust, but Cyborg says trust is something you have to earn. Wonder Girl darkly adds that it helps if you're not trying to kill your teammates. As Starfire and Supergirl hover in air above the Titans, Kid Flash and Beast Boy both admire the view of the girls' butts.

Starfire tells Supergirl that Lex Luthor is spying on her, and Superboy immediately vows to help out. Robin wraps a rope around Superboy's ankle and tells him he should not go anywhere near Luthor. Conner wants to argue this point, but Supergirl stops him, saying this is her thing and she agrees to go with Starfire to the Outsiders. Bart suggests having Supergirl fill in for Superboy on the Teen Titans, and Tim agrees, saying they could use the raw power. Conner says they could have at least waited until they were over Oklahoma to talk about replacing him.

Back in the present, Starfire reports that Luthor has been spotted in Monument Valley, Utah. Supergirl immediately takes off in that direction, frying the Outsiders' jet so they can't follow her. Starfire flies after Supergirl, but doesn't catch up until they're over Utah, and she is promptly shot down by Luthor. Supergirl flies down and is hit with a blast of Green Kryptonite. Luthor accuses Superman of killing Darkseid, which enrages Supergirl, but she's no match for Luthor. After he beats her up for a bit, he then exposes her to the Black Kryptonite rock on his pinky. This causes a dark version of Supergirl to appear, and she threatens to kill Luthor.



I have to say, I kind of like how Jeph Loeb writes the Titans more than Geoff Johns. Robin is more of the leader he was in Young Justice than the angsty teen Johns turned him into. And I liked seeing how everyone is still worried about Superboy's brainwashing incident. But all this was just a minor part of the story, presented in an odd flashback scene. It really didn't make sense for Supergirl to have this long flashback while gazing lovingly into Nightwing's eyes. Other than that, this was a decent issue.

Next time, we begin the event of the decade with Infinite Crisis #1.