Adventures of Supergirl #1 introduces readers to the Kara of the CBS series and a new villain.
The digital-first Adventures of Supergirl series, a 13-issue long series that released its first issue on January 25, is telling stories set in the world of CBS’ series without directly tying into it. The first issue of the series is written by veteran Supergirl comics writer Sterling Gates and features art by Bengal.
We open the issue with Supergirl in conflict with an alien named Rampage. While she fights the bright orange alien, Supergirl reflects on what brought her to this point. Seven pages (of what is a fairly thin issue pages-wise) address Kara’s backstory — the same backstory from the television series. When we return from the story of Kara coming to Earth and bringing Fort Rozz with her, Supergirl continues her fight with Rampage and, well, gets wailed on.
She is also in touch with DEO director Hank Henshaw. Hank wants to bring in DEO agents as backup, but Supergirl tells him not to because she doesn’t want them to get hurt. Supergirl proceeds to punch Rampage out. Believing the alien to be out for the count, Hank sends a retrieval team for Rampage. Kara’s adoptive sister, Alex Danvers, leads the group, which is coming in via helicopter.
However, before the team can land, Rampage grabs Supergirl’s leg and throws her into the helicopter, which takes out the tail. Supergirl looks on in horror as the helicopter with her sister on-board plummets toward the ground. We’re left to wait on the next issue to see the daring rescue.
For viewers of CBS’ Supergirl, this comic should feel like a comfortable companion. The main frustration viewers will come away with from this issue, however, is the recap of Kara’s backstory; it’s something we hear at the beginning of every episode of the television series, so it takes up space in this issue that could otherwise be used for story. To counterbalance that, however, there are a few new tidbits in the comic that we hadn’t heard before: Kara was bullied in high school (college was better), and she enjoys the video game Street Kombat Six.
Moreover, viewers will find a familiar tone in this comic. It feels as though it could have been pulled directly out of an episode of the television show. Sterling Gates, who has written numerous Supergirl comics before, has clearly come home in writing Kara again; her voice feels spot on from what we know from the series.
The main difference from the television show comes in the art. Rather than trying to match the looks of Melissa Benoist as Kara, Chyler Leigh as Alex or David Hareweood as Hank Henshaw, artist Bengal puts his own spin on the characters. Kara looks a bit more like a bubbly blonde than Benoist. And while Alex and Hank look a bit closer to their television counterparts, the likenesses aren’t exact. And it’s not necessary that they be; the feel is close enough to the show that art that matches live action isn’t essential.
Though Adventures of Supergirl #1 doesn’t give readers a lot that’s new from the television series, it provides a promising start for the 12 issues that will follow, released bi-weekly. This is a worthwhile read for any fan of the television series.
Adventures of Supergirl #2 will be released on Monday, February 8.
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