Supergirl #37 Review

Written by: K. Perkins and Mike Johnson
Art by: Emanuela Lapacchino
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: December 17, 2014

Does Barry Manilow Know...

This month continues the Crucible story, but really this is the beginning for me.  We get to see what's going on and so far, I love it.  I had high hopes that this would be The Breakfast Club...in space...with superheroes and low and behold, it kind of is.  It's also a bit of Ender's Game, Harry Potter, Facts of Life, Silver Spoons, F-Troop, Laverne and Shirley, Bosom Buddies, Alf...wait, I got a little off track there.  Let's talk a little Supergirl.



The issue starts off with a great look at the Crucible school and the group of students that Kara will be teamed up with.  It's nice to see Kara in a place where she can just be herself and her fellow students are interesting from the first look.  Anyone else doing a book with new characters should take note. My favorite is Maxima, by the way.  She had that mean girl who becomes the best friend vibe from the get go.  There is also Tsavo, the big, blue cat-like brute and Comet, the heartthrob with a mysterious past. Lapacchino nails the character designs and the bulk of this issue uses Kara's interaction with each to show (not tell) what each is about.  We also get to see that not everything is all peaches and cream.

If you're like me, you have been wondering what exactly this Crucible Academy is.  I'm sorry, I'm a pessimist at heart, but something about it kept rubbing me the wrong way.  Perkins and Johnson give us a peek behind the scenes and we get to see the beginnings of a darker purpose for the Academy.  Sure, it seems the main reason is to create better heroes to protect their home worlds, but there is something else.  It's a cool concept, but no matter what a certain character says ,I don't think Kara will like it.

Kara might think book work is fine, but the issue ends with a little hands on training.  Her and the gang head off to Tsavo's home planet and immediately get caught up in a war that is not just personal, but may lead to the destruction of the Crucible as well. This is one of my favorite issues of Supergirl in the New 52 so far and I can't wait until next month.  I also have to include a thumbs up to Perkins and Johnson for telling us who recommended Kara for the Academy.

My only complaint for this issue and the arc so far is the Crucible seems a little too Kara-centric.  Before she even got settled, everyone was concerned about her and have plans for her.  I know it sounds silly since it is her book, but I was expecting her to ease into her new life a bit more.

As I said before, Emmanuela Lapacchino's character designs are so good.  That's not just it, though.  Everything in this issue looks great.  I enjoyed the battle of multiple Supergirls the most.

Bits and Pieces:

The Crucible story is a lot of things so far, but most of all it's fun.  K. Perkins and Mike Johnson do a great job introducing the school and fellow students and I love them all.  Emanuela Lapacchino's art is great and it all comes together into one of the best Supergirl issues yet.  I can't recommend it enough.

9.4/10