A Fun New Beginning
DC apparently doesn't want to bog down their New 52 first issues with a lot of origin stories, and that works to the advantage of Supergirl #1. This is essentially an origin story (or at least the first part of one) and it works as well as it does precisely because it's just what the rest of the New 52 has been avoiding.
That's part backhanded compliment, part honest praise. Supergirl's origin, despite traditionally being just a reworking of Superman's own, has potential. Some of that potential is tapped here. It's interesting to see how a more mature Kryptonian handles her arrival on Earth and the onset of her super powers; and how certain Earthlings react. However, a little too much time is spent with the unrealistic cliche of Kara Zor-El literally thinking she's dreaming as she wakes up in a new world. Fortunately a group of unidentified, mech-suited soldiers arrive to clear up Kara's confusion, and provide fodder for her to test out her new powers. I'm not totally sold on Mahmud Asrar's art (Supergirl's forehead looks incredibly small in some panels), but he definitely knows how to handle an action sequence.
What I really liked about this issue, and what has me hooked for the time being, is Kara's inability to remember how she ended up being launched from Krypton to Earth, and particularly why she arrived dressed in her costume/uniform. Given the cameo at the end of the book, I'm afraid that she won't remain in the dark about all that for long, but I'm hoping that it takes more than a single issue for her to work out all that has happened to her.That's a much more fruitful plot device than the teenage hormones DC has hinted will be driving the character.
Supergirl is a little too lacking in substance to be one of the best of the new #1s, but that certainly doesn't mean it's a bad book. It's a fun and promising start to a series that could turn out to be a bit of a sleeper hit. Only time will tell, but for now I'm on board.
