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4.38 AVERAGE
4.38 AVERAGE
"And that's when I learned that far-off gods are fine for prayer, and I judge no person who seeks comfort in the infinity of the heavens. But here below, when the demons come in close, you're better off just relying on the staunch will of a good woman."
I LOVED THIS COMIC!!!!! It made me develop an intense love and passion for all things Supergirl. She's incredible!!
The art was truly breathtaking. The colors, the style... all gorgeous! There were many pages (every page) that made me pause and just stare, to try and consume whatever magic was in them.
The plot and writing also captured my attention. I found Ruthye's narration to be unreliable at times and thus PERFECT!! I can't even wrap my brain around the words I could write about her but just know that I adore her so. Plus, her admiration of Supergirl is literally how I feel about the superhero, and this comic was the main reason. Throughout the story, Supergirl maintained my favorite trait about her: her kindness. She, despite all the horrors she's witnessed, leads with kindness, and that's what truly makes her the strongest. Her perseverance, her emotional strength; both traits that will always beat physical strength and superpowers. Supergirl is the woman I want to be. #WWSD (What Would Supergirl Do)
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was great! I admittedly don't know Kara very well (I watched I think a season and a half of her show plus her cameo in the new movie, and she briefly showed up in Stephanie's Batgirl run), but this feels like a great introduction for her. The main theme is exploring Kara's grief, PTSD, and survivor's guilt from the destruction of Krypton, and I think the narrative devices used to examine that are brilliant. Ruthye is very clearly a mirror for her, as are the survivors they find in the wake of the band of brigans Krem has joined, and Kara's clear, unending empathy for these people shows just how deeply she knows what they feel. But my favorite part is that it is all narrated by Ruthye. We never get Kara's own words to describe the horrible pain she is always going through, because it is indescribable. All that can be put into words is the effects on her that others see, not the experience itself.
That said, we do get Ruthye recapping what Kara told her of Krypton's destruction, and it is harrowing. I'm a fan of a couple of different sci fi properties that have destroyed planets, but none of them have ever just sat in the horror and creeping desolation of losing not just your home but your entire people. From what I've heard, it sounds like this book is the absolute pinnacle of actually depicting just how crushing Kara's experience is, and I can absolutely believe it. As Ruthye says, carrying the weight of the world on one's shoulders is usually a hyperbole, but Kara does carry all of Krypton with her every waking moment.
I also love the idea that she has to constantly, actively restrain herself from her powers and that the constant effort causes her pain. This of course can be read as furthering the examination of her PTSD in giving her psychosomatic pain as a manifestation of all of her psychological pain, but I'm also just going to read it literally as her having chronic pain and will consider her a disabled superhero now, because that's fun for me personally.
It also features the tried and true superhero theme that revenge and killing aren't worth it and will only end up hurting you as well. Which I don't have much to say on because it's been done a billion times. I will say that this is one of the best versions of that theme that I've come across because it actually firmly roots itself in that pain and the way death haunts you, but it is still something that has been done, pardon the pun, to death. There's also a few moments where Kara's superheroic feats cross the line that I am no longer able to suspend my disbelief. I know she is literary a superhero, but 80 hours straight of backbreaking work before she even has superpowers? Come on. Those are ultimately minor nitpicks though that pale in comparison to the strengths of this story, character, and stunningly gorgeous artwork. That Teen Titans book I read yesterday made me question if I even still like or am getting anything out of superhero comics, and this collection hit me with a resounding yes. 5⭐️
That said, we do get Ruthye recapping what Kara told her of Krypton's destruction, and it is harrowing. I'm a fan of a couple of different sci fi properties that have destroyed planets, but none of them have ever just sat in the horror and creeping desolation of losing not just your home but your entire people. From what I've heard, it sounds like this book is the absolute pinnacle of actually depicting just how crushing Kara's experience is, and I can absolutely believe it. As Ruthye says, carrying the weight of the world on one's shoulders is usually a hyperbole, but Kara does carry all of Krypton with her every waking moment.
I also love the idea that she has to constantly, actively restrain herself from her powers and that the constant effort causes her pain. This of course can be read as furthering the examination of her PTSD in giving her psychosomatic pain as a manifestation of all of her psychological pain, but I'm also just going to read it literally as her having chronic pain and will consider her a disabled superhero now, because that's fun for me personally.
It also features the tried and true superhero theme that revenge and killing aren't worth it and will only end up hurting you as well. Which I don't have much to say on because it's been done a billion times. I will say that this is one of the best versions of that theme that I've come across because it actually firmly roots itself in that pain and the way death haunts you, but it is still something that has been done, pardon the pun, to death. There's also a few moments where Kara's superheroic feats cross the line that I am no longer able to suspend my disbelief. I know she is literary a superhero, but 80 hours straight of backbreaking work before she even has superpowers? Come on. Those are ultimately minor nitpicks though that pale in comparison to the strengths of this story, character, and stunningly gorgeous artwork. That Teen Titans book I read yesterday made me question if I even still like or am getting anything out of superhero comics, and this collection hit me with a resounding yes. 5⭐️
adventurous
dark
inspiring
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Beautiful art and I loved the narrator's way of speaking. It's a superhero story like you'd expect, but it's very well done and you can't deny good craftsmanship.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes