Supergirl #61

Supergirl faces a new deadly villain who is threatening her with a dangerous smart phone app...really. 
 

The Good 

Something really felt off last issue with the beginning of the new direction with the new creative team. Having time to let those events sink in, I have a little more appreciation for where the series is going now. I'm still not totally crazy about Supergirl's new villain but I do appreciate the creation of a new nemesis for her. She needs her own villains and hopefully as we learn more about this one, his instant rise to being such a threat will be explained. There is also a little clarification on how the villains she fought last issue found her so easily and how she was able to deal with them with little effort.  
 
Supergirl doesn't have much of a supporting cast of characters and it's interesting to see Lois Lane as part of the story. It makes sense in that they do both have a connection Superman. Also with Superman busy on his walk across America, who else could Lois turn to with her concerns.
 

The Bad 

Villains should be cocky and arrogant but I'm just having a hard time believing this new threat could be such a danger while coming out of no where. I know I should be patient but it's something that has bothered me in this and the last issue. With other heroes being targets by the new villains smart phone app, it feels like too much of a coincidence that the three that have been targeted are all young heroes. Seeing Damian Wayne is always a fun treat but while many writers are trying to continue the hate-hate relationship the two have, they don't have the same feel as from Superman/Batman #77.  
 
A problem I had with the last issue was the use of smart phones and apps as the villain's weapon of choice. It feels like the story is trying too hard to be relevant with today's readers. I don't think that current events or pop culture references should be overly used in comics as it dates them when you read the story later on. Then again, me complaining about seeing smart phones used as plot devices could be like complaining about e-mails being mentioned in comics. It's something that's here so perhaps we should all embrace it. 
 

The Verdict 

I like that James Peaty is giving Supergirl her own deadly villain. This issue gives us a little more on him but it's still not enough for me to buy how quickly he was able to rise to his level of evilness. We find out more about how the different villains are used to attack Supergirl and others which helps move the story along. The appearance of Damian is good but doesn't quite fully capture the dynamics of their relationship seen in Superman/Batman #77. I had my doubts over the new direction of the series after last issue but this one offers a little reassurance in where things are going.