Supergirl, Book 3 - Master of Illusion

Supergirl
Master of Illusion
Publisher: Amulet Books
Publication Date (January 2019)
ISBN 10 - 1419731424
ISBN 13 - 978-1419731426
226 pages of story

And with this book, we reach the end of this trilogy for young readers based on the CW television show. It's a shame, really, as these books (along with the Flash books) have really expanded upon the TV universe, while at the same time remaining pretty much true to all of the characters. But, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and so we just have to enjoy the stories while they last...

Master of Illusion introduces the villainous Felix Faust to the world of Supergirl. Besides this DC supervillain, the book also provides a few Easter eggs for comic fans - Madame Xanadu, who appeared in the Flash novels, also appears in this book (and even makes mention of helping the Flash!). Also, Madame Xanadu calls upon a certain magician who speaks backwards (not going to name her, but comic fans will know who it is!) to release one of the three magical objects that Faust is after.

And speaking of which - Faust is searching for the three magical objects that will release the Demons Three - Abnegazar, Rath, and Ghast. Faust already has the wheel - he steals the jar at a ceremony that Kara Danvers happens to be attending - and he's searching for the bell (which happens to be protected by Madame Xanadu). Supergirl gets the aid of Princess Tlaca, who appeared at the end of the last book, and there are references made to Supergirl's supernatural adventure with Jason Blood (a/k/a Etrigan, the Demon) that took place in the previous story.

I like that these three books have an ongoing continuity, all the while providing separate stories that stand alone. Whittemore has a true feel for the characters, and I absolutely adore how well she handles Wynn - all his Doctor Who references make me wonder if Whittemore isn't a big fan of that show as well.  Plus, since this story takes place before Season Three (and that whole Reign debacle), it's kind of fun to see Whittemore place some subtle hints throughout the story of things to come.

The story itself is pretty interesting - Felix Faust is out to set the Demons Three free so he can gain their power, and it's up to Supergirl with the help of Princess Tlaca, Mon-El, and the rest of the DEO to find a way to stop him.  Meanwhile, Kara Danvers is tasked with finding the next big story that will impress Snapper Carr ... Alex Danvers is faced with a group of new recruits who see her as a dictator ... Jimmy Olsen is faced with the thought of his mother coming to visit ... Lena Luther realizes a project she had been developing was being used by a villain to locate supernatural items ... and J'onn J'onzz is facing the memory of Family Week without his family ... all in all, the typical personal dramas the characters face in a standard episode from the TV show.

Overall, a recommended read for fans of the comic, fans of the television show, or simply fans of good books with easy-to-read, enjoyable stories.

RATING:  9 sleight of hand tricks out of 10 for sharing some in-between season stories of these characters and making them worth reading!

Supergirl, Book 2 - Curse of the Ancients

Supergirl soars back into action in this second young adult novel based on CW's television show. And quite frankly, this book was much, MUCH more enjoyable than the first book, and it definitely had a stronger feeling of the show. While it is written by the same author, J.D. Whittemore, the overall characterization and storytelling was far more on point, and I was smiling pretty much the entire time I read the book.  It was like watching an episode of the show, but in word format!

Curse of the Ancients is not a continuation of the previous story, but rather, an entirely new disaster that introduces readers to the female Doctor Light (which I was glad to see happen from the moment they introduced Dr. Hoshi in the first chapter!) and brings in a surprising villain from the comics. Plus, Winn really gets to shine in this one, with some awesome Dr. Who references that brought a smile to my face.  Mon-El, Alex, J'onn, and even Lena have a part to play, and they literally lept off the page and visually into my mind - I could see the actors actually playing out the parts exactly as written.

So, what happens when a comet comes close enough to Earth that it is not only visible to the naked eye, but it shoots down a blinding flash of light that literally changes everything?  Well, for one thing, you get a city that is suddenly thrust back into ancient Rome, filled with people who are slowly reverting to that time. You also get some aliens who must try and make sense of what is happening around them, as well as a techie and a guardian who find themselves stuck on the outside, looking in. Plus, you get a brand new hero and a surprise villain (who, honestly, I didn't even realize was the character from the comics until I looked it up later - I had completely forgotten that this villain was known by a completely different name during the Peter David run of Supergirl in the comics...).

The story is fun, but with a serious side - Supergirl only has four days within which to find a way to end the curse over National City, or it will forever remain in the ancient Roman state, and its people will completely revert to citizens of that period.  Supergirl and J'onn are completely unaffected, as they are alien to this world, which turns out to be a saving grace, since the DEO just happens to have quite the stash of alien technology.  And knowing that Winn and Jimmy are outside of the dome separating the city from the rest of the world gives them hope that they will find a way inside.  And, well, Winn being who he is, does manage to come up with some great ideas - but it is ultimately Supergirl who finds a way to get Winn and Jimmy inside.

Oh, and did I mention that a certain Jason Blood is in this story?  If you are a fan of DC Comics, then you'll know who that is, and you know that is pretty much a guarantee that a certain other character is bound to appear at some point in the story!d  Between Madame Xanadu's appearances in the Flash books and now Blood's appearance here, it makes me wonder if there isn't some kind of supernatural crossover planned for the books?  (Although, from what I have been told, these two series are only trilogies, which would kind of kill that idea - a shame, though, as I would love to see these as ongoing series...)

Guess it's another game of wait and see!

RATING:  9 domes of doom out of 10 for keeping Supergirl super-fun to read, super-faithful to the character and show, and super-easy to recommend to every fan of the TV show and comic!

Supergirl, Book 1 - Age of Atlantis

As I am currently rehearsing this month for a play that I am in, finding time to read has been difficult (in between work, rehearsals, remodeling our bathroom, and learning lines for the play) - but, as anyone who loves to read will tell you - there's ALWAYS time to read!

DC Comics has recently come out with two series of young adult books based upon their popular television shows on the CW - a Supergirl series and a Flash series.  Since I recently read the two part Flash/Green Arrow adult novels recently, I figured I'd read the first book in the Supergirl series, Age of Atlantis.

The first couple of chapters started off a little slow, and, well, quite frankly, a bit childish.  Yes, I realize the target audience is pre- to early-teens; however, I expected the writing to be a little more advanced. But, then the unexpected happened - after I got past the second chapter, and the real meat of the story began to evolve (the sudden appearance of super=powered citizens within National City), I found myself intrigued.  And when the DEO reveals they have a sea creature, with whom they are unable to communicate, captured, I began to smile.  Without realizing it, the story - and the book - began to feel more and more like I was watching (reading) an episode from the Monday night TV show!

The story is set prior to the end of Season 2 of the television show.  Mon-El is still on board, Snapper Carr is still snapping at Kara, and Alex and Maggie are still together.  The gang is all here - Winn, with his technological nerdiness; J'onn, with his near-complete lack of humor; and James Olsen, with his crime-fighting alter ego - the Guardian.  Author Jo Whittemore does a fairly decent job at remaining faithful to the characterizations as established on TV, but I did find myself thinking of Winn more as Cisco (from The Flash) - particularly with his desire to name all of the supercitizens.

Ah, yes, the supercitizens.  I loved the way the author handled that aspect of the story.  Ordinary, everyday people who suddenly find themselves endowed with super-powers!  What would they do?  How would they react?  What would they think if Supergirl told them to stand down, especially when she's always been known to make a mistake or two herself?  And what happens when a group of them band together to ensure that they never lose those powers?  And, in true television fashion, just how is that sea creature from Atlantis tied into all of this?

This was a nice repast from the heaviness of this season's Supergirl and the whole "Reign" storyline that's going on.  Sure, Supergirl/Kara has some self-doubts; yes, James is still trying to compete for his superhero status, even without powers; and yes, people are actually happy (did I say that about a comic-related show?!?!).  Supergirl is the Girl of Steel that we all know and love - still new the game, but always thinking of others and always determined to do what's right.  It was fun, it had some great fight scenes, some nice tender moments, and an post-show epilogue that leaves the reader hanging for the next episode...er...I mean, the next book!  Definitely gives me hope that these DC young adult novels will be good reads, and hopefully, they will stick around for more than just one or two books (and let's hope we see a Legends of Tomorrow series in the future - no pun intended).

Oh, and did I mention there were a few little nods in the story....

On page 83, after being reprimanded by J'onn for a decision she made, Supergirl remarks, "...it's too late to change what I did.  Unless you want me to, I don't know, fly around the Earth a bunch and reverse time."  To which, Winn smartly replies, "Yeahhhh, I don't think that would actually work."

(For those who don't know, that's a direct reference to the first Christopher Reeve Superman film...)

On page 220, the sea creature (okay, okay, he's Atlantean) tells Supergirl, "You assumed I was the last of my kind.  That is untrue.  My king also lives ... He is reluctant to rule, but yes."

(Hmmmm, could there be an appearance by Aquaman in the future of Supergirl???)

On pages 150-51, Kara returns to CatCo and searches for "Vicky V," who is leaving CatCo for "that other paper," as Kara calls it.  Could that "other paper" possibly be in another city - one that happens to be home to a certain bat?  Hmmmmmmm...

All in all, the book was well-worth the read, and I'm looking forward to the next one!

RATING:  8 bear claws out of 10 for making me wish that the stories DC were telling in their comic books were this light-hearted and enjoyable!

The Spectacular Sisterhood of Superwomen - Awesome Female Characters from Comic Book History

I have always, always, ALWAYS been a huge fan and follower of female superhero characters in the comics.  From Wonder Woman to Supergirl to Batgirl to the original Ms. Marvel to Squirrel Girl to Patsy Walker, Hellcat to Ms. Tree to Whisper to Miss Fury.  For whatever reason, I enjoy reading the adventures and sagas of these strong, liberated, independent, intelligent women who have made their mark in comic book history.  And now, author Hope Nicholson, has written a book that compiles some of these characters that have made their mark in history!

The Spectacular Sisterhood of Superwomen is a truly fantastic look at not only how women have been portrayed throughout comic history (from the 1930s to the present day), but also looks at some of the female creators who have managed to make their way into what was once a totally male-dominated industry.  Now, I will admit, most times when I buy any kind of a reference book (like those DK books that give us an encyclopedia of Marvel or DC, or the various Who's Who titles that the different comic companies have done throughout the years), I just sort of flip through them and them put them up on a shelf (or in a comic box, whichever is more appropriate).  With this book, however, I actually felt compelled to sit down and read it and learn more about some of these comics, characters, and creators, many of which I had never heard of before!

Nicholson starts her study of these superwomen with the 1930s, and she opens each decade with a two-page history lesson about the particular decade and what it meant for comics, for superwomen, and for female creators in the industry.  From the birth of an industry, through the golden age, the comics code crackdown, the rise of underground comix, the black-and-white boom, and the age of web and digital comics, Nicholson covers more than 80 years of comic book history; but, with only 231 pages within which to put forth this wondrous world of women, it is, sadly, limited.  With each character and book covered, Nicholson provides not only first appearances, where you can find them now, and information about the character, but also gives readers insight into how the comic impacted the comics of its time, how its creators were influenced, and whether the comic/character has had any ongoing influence on comics through the years.  She gives some very insightful and poignant opinions on each of the subjects as well.

Nicholson manages to cover most of the "big-name" characters that pretty much anyone would recognize: Wonder Woman, Supergirl, and Batgirl.  She also hits on characters that pretty much any comic book fan these days would know: the current Captain Marvel, the current Ms. Marvel, Witchblade, Squirrel Girl, Dazzler, Amanda Waller, Vampirella, and Miss Fury.  In addition, she includes lesser-known characters that probably only around 25% of comic fans would know, such as Ms. Tree, Fashion in Action, Dakota North, Martha Washington, Silk Spectre, DC's original Starfire, and Vanity. Then, there are characters and comics that probably very few are truly aware of: the Magician from Mars, Maureen Marine, Man-Huntin' Minnie of Delta Pu, Pudge - Girl Blimp, Bitchy Bitch (and Bitchy Butch), just to name a few.

Overall, the book opened my eyes to just how much diversity there is out there, and for just how long women have been struggling to make their mark in the comic industry (both on the page and behind the pages).  I actually found several books and characters that I intend to hunt down and add to my comic collection (such as Sally the Sleuth from Spicy Detective Stories, as well as Gail Porter, Girl Photographer from Blue Circle Comics, Gail Ford, Girl Friday from Super Detective magazine, along with some others).  Some obscure characters I already have the pleasure of owning, such as Starr Flagg, Undercover Girl, Gold Key's comic The Close Shaves of Pauline Peril, and Harvey Comics' Black Cat series.

What I will say surprised and somewhat disappointed me is the fact that several female characters who did make a pretty strong mark in the comic world were not covered, nor even mentioned.  The first one that comes to mind is Whisper, a ninja-style character first published by Capital Comics, then later picked up by First Comics for an impressive independent run of more than 30 issues of her own ongoing series.  And what about Huntress and Power-Girl from DC Comics, both of whom have been around since the '70s, and both of whom have had various mini-series, ongoing series, and appearances in a number of comics over the years?  Was it because they were alternate versions of the already covered Batgirl and Supergirl?  Then there's Evangeline, who went from Comico to First Comics.  And what about Somerset Holmes from Eclipse?  Or Ninja from Eternity Comics?  Or Media Starr from Innovation Comics?  Or Kelly Green, by Stan Drake and Leonard Starr?  Obviously, with the limited space, I realize not every single female character and comic could be covered - but I do wonder what Nicholson's criteria was for determining which characters and books would make the cut, and which ones would simply have to be left unmentioned...

Despite some of my favorite characters not making the cut, I did thoroughly enjoy and appreciate this book.  It offers a lot of great information about women in comics, is a great resource for a lot of lesser-known and possibly even unheard of characters and comics, and brings some attention and notice to a lot of creators who deserve some recognition for the work they have done and the impact they have made for women in the comics industry.  A must have for any fan of females in comics!

RATING:  8 determined, no-nonsense female superstars out of 10 for providing great reference material for those of us who love women in comics!

DC Super Hero Girls: Supergirl at Super Hero High

The second volume of this series of books for young readers aimed at fans of DC Comics' new "Super Hero Girls" product line follows the same pattern as the first book.  New super hero arrives at Super Hero High - - she is new to the world - - she is unsure of herself - - she is coping with new found powers and new friends - - she messes up multiple times before finally gaining the confidence she needs to ultimately save the day in the end.  Very formulaic, but it does work for the age level at which these books are aimed.

Supergirl at Super Hero High welcomes the arrival of Supergirl to the academy (and readers of the first book might recall that the epilogue of the previous book introduced Superman's cousin to the school).  Author Lisa Yee provides young Kara Zor-El's backstory, of her escape from the doomed planet of Krypton, of her delayed journey through space that put her on Earth years after her cousin's arrival, and of her stay with Jonathan and Martha Kent.  When her powers start to develop under the Earth's yellow sun, however, there's only one place she can go to learn how to use those powers - Super Hero High!

Yee brings back the entire cast of characters, including Wonder Woman, Bumblebee, Hawkgirl, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Principal Waller, Vice-Principal Grodd, Janitor Parasite, tech wizard Barbara Gordon, Flash, Beast Boy, and all the others, and introduces readers to the new librarian, Granny Goodness (hint!  hint!).  And with the introduction of Supergirl, Yee does something that I thought was a very nice homage to the pre-Crisis DC universe - throughout the story, Supergirl and Barbara Gordon become the best of friends (a nice nod to the "super" friendship that Supergirl and Batgirl had in the comics prior to 1985's Crisis on Infinite Earths).

The story, while dealing with Supergirl adapting to her new-found powers and her place at Super Hero High, involves the mysterious locked room that contains Boom Tubes and Principal Waller's predictions that an invasion is coming.  At this point, it was pretty clear to me (and likely to any comic book fan) who the villain was going to be and what it would involve.  But it was fun watching the heroes gather clues and try to figure out exactly who was behind the attempts to break into the locked room (all clues point to Gorilla Grodd, but anyone who knows anything about Boom Tubes would know right away who the villain was).

What was disappointing about the book was the fact that Yee constantly had Supergirl bumbling around like an uncoordinated child, crashing into things, dropping things, accidentally knocking into people.  The author seemed obsessed with making Supergirl into the most morose young girl with absolutely no confidence whatsoever (I can definitely say I love the TV version on CW much better than the one presented here), and while I understand Yee likely wanted to show Supergirl growing into her powers and learning confidence, I think she overdid it with the constant whining, "woe is me" attitude throughout the book.

The epilogue gives readers a small preview of what's to come in the third book in the series (or better, "who's" to come in the third book), and I hope that given her characterization in this book, Batgirl at Super Hero High will tell a much better story of an already strong character.  With Wonder Woman and Supergirl, we've seen the insecurity - now let's show these young readers that it's okay to be strong and confident!

RATING:  6 crystal necklaces out of 10 for managing to sneak into the book a pretty cool little mystery and a great fight scene at the end!