Supergirl: Survive #2
Written by Ethan S. Parker and Griffin Sheridan
Art by Rod Reis
Letters by Lucas Gattoni
Cover Art by Rod Reis
Kara Zor-El has her work cut out for her. Not only is her home world destroyed but she has the responsibility of taking care of her baby cousin in a galaxy full of dangers. This second issue of Ethan S. Parker and Griffin Sheridan’s story places Kara and Kal in some precarious positions while simultaneously changing the status quo of some of DC’s major cosmic players. Featuring some killer art by Rod Reis, Supergirl: Survive #2 was a highlight of my week. Let’s get into it. Spoiler Warning for Supergirl: Survive #2 Now in Effect!
A Dangerous Galaxy Lies in Wait for Kara and Kal
Some comics take their time and opt for the slow burn of a story to pull readers in but with only six issues in this limited series, this issue moves ata breakneck pace. Issue #2 jumps us way ahead in time to start and establishes where the series will continue from; approximately 158 days post “K-Day.” A now nearly bald Kara Zor-El is rushing through a transportation hub, with baby Kal in tow while being chased by a shadowy figure. This shadowy figure, and the group he belongs to will shape the issue going forward but first we flash back to K-Day, to the moon of the planet Krypton.
Kara and Kal, newly orphaned and alone in the galaxy, are already facing down the barrel of a proverbial gun with some 1980’s monster-movie-looking Troll bearing down on them. They’ve barely made it past their own planet, and these two last fractions of hope for Krypton are facing the prospect of death almost immediately. Parker and Sheridan do a great job of showing readers how difficult this journey is going to be for Kara and Kal. Just because their planet is gone doesn’t mean the monsters and monstrous denizens who inhabit the galaxy are going to suddenly give them a pass. Kara and Kal are seemingly down for the count, but what would a story with the House of El be without a nice dash of Hope thrown in?
Hope might as well be the motto of the House of El. While this issue features its fair share of danger, it doesn’t come without its moments of push back, with one in particular that not only made my jaw drop but will make yours as well. As the Troll readies his strike, a blast of green energy blasts him in the face, and Kara looks up to see the Power Rangers members of the Lantern Corps looming above them. Kara and Kal count their lucky stars as the Lanterns were on a reconnaissance mission to check out what happened to Krypton. After a brief conversation we are sent back to Kara and Kal doing their best to escape the transportation hub, 158 days after their encounter with the Lanterns. Before we move on though, I really want to touch on Parker and Sheridan’s Lantern Corps concept.
This squad of Lanterns isn’t just green, but blue, red, orange, indigo, pink, and yellow; representatives of every color of the emotional spectrum working together. It makes for quite the scene and a big change from some established DC norms and it gives this book another interesting thread. A complete Lantern Corps, with all the different representatives of their emotional spectrums working together? That’s a concept that I’d personally love to see an entire series spawn out of and a little later in the issue, we get more details and insight on this huge cosmic alliance.
I thought that the decision of Parker and Sheridan to include Abin Sur as the Green Lantern representative of the group was really cool because I've always loved his design. Fan favorites Saint Walker as the Blue Lantern of the Group and Ch’p (or an alien who looks strikingly similar) as the Orange Lantern of the group make for some fun cameos as well. Ch’p is normally a member of the Green Lantern core, which adds another fun wrinkle to this story. The other members of the group are new characters, but each has a great design, kudos to artist Rod Reis. This thread alone makes me interested in seeing what more corners of this version of the DC Universe might possibly look like and what other established norms have been radically altered. I love when creative teams take the big swings in Elseworlds books because, honestly, where better to take them? Let’s check in on Kara and Kal at the transportation hub.
The Lobo Gang Makes Their Move
Kara and Kal’s luck runs out at the transportation hub, and they’re kidnapped by members of a gang of Czarnians. Sounds like some of you out there might know who’s about to make his first appearance in this Elseworlds tale. The gang delivers Kara and Kal, two of the most valuable commodities in the galaxy now that they’re the last Kryptonians, to the Main Man, but things end up not going so well for the gang after they unknowingly reveal their locations to a group of very interested individuals…
158 days after saving Kara and Kal on K-Day, the Lanterns we met before are in a meeting with the Guardians of the Universe. First of all, this new design for Oa, brilliantly brought to life by Rod Reis, looks amazing. It looks as if all the emotional colors are swirling inside a giant glass marble, making for one cool-looking panel. In not so many words, we can tell that the relationship between this version of the Guardians and the members of the Lantern Corps is not without tension. Regardless, they have a job to do, and they aren’t going to let the “Lobo Gang” slip through their fingers this time. Let’s talk about this Lobo Gang quickly.
The Lobo Gang is another fun wrinkle in Parker and Sheridan’s world. Comic fans are no doubt used to the Main Man working on his own after he murdered all the other inhabitants of his home world. This version of Lobo has kept a few others from his race alive, and they serve him as the main outlaw in his gang. It seems no matter the universe, you can count on Lobo to be some sort of criminal. This thread is another fun one to pull on because Lobo can cause enough problems on his own, and now you throw three other Czarnians into the mix? It’s no wonder the amalgamated Lantern Corps is after them. I can only imagine the horrible deeds they’ve been up to. Now back to that pesky little feeling of hope…
As soon as Kara is freed from her captivity, she fights back and injures one of the members of the gang, but it isn’t long before Lobo sets her situation straight: she and Kal can come with them and be sold to the highest bidder, allowing them a little more time to live, or they can go out into the desert and die. All seems lost until the amalgamated Lantern Corps shows up. They give Lobo and his gang a chance to surrender and recognize the two Kryptonians they helped save all those months ago. Shockingly, Lobo doesn’t give in, and the battle begins.
A Massive Showdown That Changes Everything
The battle between the Lanterns and the Lobo gang is easily one of the coolest parts of the issue, not just from a writing standpoint but from an art one as well. I have to give a huge shoutout to Rod Reis. He has done a fantastic job on these first two issues of the series, and the fact that he is also doing the colors for this series is equally impressive. His design for this new version of Oa is spectacular, and I love how even in the few scenes that take place on the planet, he paints this gorgeous, deep, shadowy rainbow sky. It gives off a Dark Side of the Moon vibe for sure.
Reis’ designs for the Lantern Corps and the Lobo Gang are both standouts as well. I like the designs for the new Lanters who were introduced, and their take on the lantern suits, which have these more intricate golden designs woven throughout them. The golden parts give the suits a common theme to bind them, despite the extremely different color palettes for each. Finally, I want to touch on Reis’ faces that he draws because, similar to artist Daniel Acuña in his current book Escape, he nails emotion really well. I love comic art that shows me exactly how a character is feeling because it enhances the narrative extremely well. So… how did that final showdown end?
I won’t spoil too much, but the ending to this issue might just be one of the best endings to a single issue this year. After a massive battle between the Lanterns and the Lobo Gang, the status quo of this entire book is changed. Wherever you thought this story was going, it took a completely off-road turn right off the map. Remember that jaw-dropping moment I mentioned earlier? It encompasses the entire final page of the issue. I don’t want to say too much more, but Parker and Sheridan took that feeling of hope that the House of El is known to bring and established it in a way I didn’t see coming. Parker and Sheridan are crafting quite an Elseworlds tale.
Rating
Supergirl: Survive #2 is a story that reminds us to always have hope. Kara and Kal’s story takes some great twists and turns as they navigate a galaxy that looks quite a bit different than DC fans are used to. An astonishing cliffhanger is the cherry on top of an issue that features some incredible art from Rod Reis and further establishes Parker and Sheridan’s tale as one of the key Elseworlds stories featuring Supergirl and the House of El.
Rating: 9/10