In DC’s New 52 reboot Supergirl joins the Red Lantern Corps and Alex Yarde likes what he sees.
DC’s telegraphed the Red Daughter of Krypton mini-event for months, which is why it’s no surprise Supergirl #28 is as awesome as expected thanks to writer Tony Bedard and artists Yildiray Cinar and Ray McCarthy. When it was first revealed that Kara El would join the Red Lantern Corps, Tony Bedard explained it this way:
“She’s a fun character but she’s often really angry and frustrated with things, not being able to figure out where she fits in, and that’s really what draws the ring to her. What were trying to do is not make her a more angry, off putting character but this is actually a way for her to work through that and actually emerge to be a more positive Supergirl.”
In Lantern Corps doctrine Green Lanterns draw power from willpower and courage and the Red Lanterns are fueled by all-consuming rage and hatred. The prospect of one of the most powerful beings in the DC universe being armed with a red power ring, one of the most powerful weapons in the DC universe, should cause some ripples. As for how this will change the character, Bedard answered this way: “If you follow the Lantern books, you know that once you put it [red power ring] on there is no turning back, you pull it off it will kill you. However, we haven’t seen a Kryptonian Red Lantern yet so whether or not the same rules apply to her remains to be seen.”
Bedard also announced that artist Emanuella Lupichino, who was the artist on the recent Lois Lane book, will be the new artist on Supergirl. He said, “Maybe it shouldn’t matter but the fact that Supergirl is going to be drawn by a woman? That just makes me happy. You know? There’s something really right about that!”
Personally, I couldn’t agree more. If you’ve been following me, you know I’ve written about the inequalities and troubling gender bias that exists in Comics. (“No Love For The Batwoman” can be read here) This I see is a step in the right direction on that front. This is the Supergirl I want to see, the one hinted at while she was briefly Darkseids muse being groomed as the Female Furies new Captain in the underrated Batman Superman/Apocalypse animated film (rent it) and it seems the Red Daughter of Krypton arc is going to bring us a more mature classic Supergirl when all is said and done. It’s already giving us artists Cinar and McCarthy’s striking take on the main Red Lantern group in an image accompanying Bedard’s rather brilliant insight into Love vs Rage in the New 52 DC Universe. Tony Bedard really does get who Kara is and, I trust him to take her somewhere.
I’m actually thinking of investing in the whole Red Daughter of Krypyton event. Supergirl #28 begins with the awesome fun of Kara and Lobo’s brawl at the underground facility the Block. Kara is angrier than ever before, filled with bitterness and dissolution. For Kara-El, unlike her assimilated cousin Kal-El (Superman) Earth offers nothing but pain. The smack down winds up in New York, where Kara’s former roommate Siobhan is like most of her Queens Neighborhood, attracted to the field of battle – The Czarnian Lobo leads Kara there deliberately, knowing she’s less likely to go all out in her own neck of the woods (ahem Man Of Steel). She’s enveloped once more by the red mist. Red mist that attracts a Red Lantern ring. It’s a terrific last few panels. What are your thoughts? Is Supergirl joining the Red Lanterns a good idea? Should it matter if a female characters are drawn or written by females? Sound off below!
art credit – DC Comics
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Honestly, this is fantastic. I’ve always thought that Supergirl was a character with huge potential, and hated that no one really seemed interested in writing to develop that. This arc sounds like it could really take her into mainstream, though, as a character with real depth and development.
I’m now thinking of getting back into comics just to follow this arc.