Mere moments after crash-landing on Earth, the Kryptonian Kara Zor-El is attacked by mechanized mercenaries, clashes with a man claiming to be her baby cousin and is captured by a ruthless businessman. With little recollection as to what transpired before her landing, Kara is dazed, confused and very pissed off.
Supergirl Volume 1: The Last Daughter of Krypton collects Supergirl #1-7, written by Michael Green and Mike Johnson with art by Mahmud Asrar.
Without a doubt, The Last Daughter of Krypton is the best origin story for Supergirl to date. Green and Johnson do an impeccable job of organically telling the story of an alien's arrival on Earth, especially since Kara doesn't instantly speak English and she's extremely disoriented. This is only made worse by the bombardment she faces when humans attempt to capture her. In a way, this is about as realistic as you can get in a genre where aliens, magic and demigods are the norm.
In this collection, Kara is constantly kept on her toes as danger lurks everywhere she goes. It is action-packed and filled with a wide array of carefully choreographed battle sequences. Kara's fight against Superman is especially memorable, as it allows Kara to unleash her full fury. Despite the fact that she attacks him rather irrationally, it's easy to excuse her given the context of her situation. The relentless pacing moves us effectively from Earth to space and back to Earth again. The writing duo doesn't waste time by extending plots or scenes longer than they need to be. The first half of this collection is loosely held together by the business tycoon Simon Tycho's attempt to study Kara, while the second half deals with the Kryptonian warriors known as the Worldkillers. The latter antagonists are executed rather well and their origins are quite intriguing. They also prove to be rather dangerous foes for Kara, but her victory and their subsequent departure is admittedly a little rushed.
Green and Johnson make it easy to root for Kara. She's stranded on a planet she knows nothing about and within her first 24 hours on Earth she is attacked, has her transportation stolen, is exposed to Kryptonite and witnesses just how far humans are willing to go to study an alien. Beyond that, there's a greater sense of loss and tragedy for her character. Unlike her cousin Superman, she grew up on Krypton and knew her birth parents. The most poignant scene in this collection comes when she finally realizes that Krypton and her parents are gone. In a panel that takes up nearly the entire page, Kara falls to her knees and cries out in agony over what she has lost. It's quite stirring.
Aside from the amazing writing, the art for The Last Daughter of Krypton is stunning. Mahmud Asrar's pencils are gorgeous and incredibly dynamic. He truly excels at action scenes and delivers some of the most eye-catching fights in DC Comics' New 52 initiative. Asrar is also to be commended for his depiction of Supergirl. He gives her a smaller stature and doesn't exaggerate her form to the extend that it's all T&A. This is further helped by Jim Lee's rather nifty costume design for Kara, which thankfully doesn't expose her midriff or feature a mini-skirt. Sure the crotch triangle is a little weird, but it's a small sacrifice for having a costume that doesn't depict the character as if she's some kind of intergalactic cheerleader.
For anyone looking to learn more about Supergirl, Supergirl Volume 1: The Last Daughter of Krypton is the best place to start. It's incredibly accessible and is the ideal starting point for the character. Unlike her Silver Age origin, this collection feels more organic and believable. Similarly, it outshines more modern versions of the character as she is much more sympathetic here and is given the opportunity to shine on her own without having guest stars jammed into her book. Supergirl is one of the best books from DC Comics' First Wave in their New 52 initiative. It's fast-paced, action-packed and features a protagonist we can root for. For new and old fans of the Maid of Might, you do not want to pass up this book.
Rating: A
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