In the 1990s, writer Peter David, who cut his teeth on titles like Spectacular Spicer-Man and he Incredible Hulk, was assigned to write a new Supergirl title by DC Comics. David decided to do something a little different with the character. Instead of writing her as simply "Superman with boobs", he wrote a Supergirl series that dealt with themes of redemption and faith, battling demons and monsters. He also wanted to bring back elements of the pre-Crisis on Infinte Earths Supergirl mythos, like new takes on Dick Malverne and a rather...wild take on Comet the Super-Horse.
With that, let's take a look at the first issue that started it all: 1996's Supergirl #1.
The cover is a simple one. It basically is a close-up of Supergirl's chest, her wearing a green flannel shirt over her suit, and carrying a skateboard. The Super--Family symbol is right square in the center, easily seen. It is a well-drawn cover, and it does communicate the impression that this Supergirl is going to be...a little different.
"Body and Soul"
Writer: Peter David
Penciller: Gary Frank
Inker: Cam Smith
Letterer: Pat Smith
Colorist: Gene D'Angelo
Separator: Digi Cham
Editor: Chris Duffy
The story begins with a young woman trying to clean off some cuts in the shower. She's rather confused as to where the wounds came from, who did them, and who she even is. She prays to God for answers, but finds it odd that she's even doing that. As she finishes and cleans herself up, she hears another woman walk into the room. She then remembers the woman's name is Mattie. Mattie is shocked to see her and says her name.
Mattie unintentionally helps jar the woman's memory a bit, reminding her that her name is Linda Danvers. Mattie is overjoyed to see her, saying everyone was saying she was dead. Mattie remarks that she doesn't even have a mark on her. A confused Linda looks in the mirror and notices that not only have her mysterious wounds all healed, her eyes are now blue. But they were supposed to be brown. Mattie notices some pink gunk in the bathtub, and demands to know what it is. Linda just says she was...empty.
Brushing it off, Mattie reminds Linda that she was kidnapped, and people in town were talking all kinds of things, like Satanism and all that. She remarks that there was a burned warehouse and they found her ID all charred. Linda finds a pair of jeans with a hole in them, and they trigger some memories. She remembers a man named Buzz burning her in the leg with a cigarette.
Yeah, this dude is totally not evil or anything. Perfectly nice guy. She remembers running out of the bar they were in and getting grabbed in an alley. A group of men try to attack her.
Yeah, that marking on that one guy's head is totally not indicating anything. She fights her way out, but not before getting a scratch. She then sees Buzz at the end of the street, smirking at her. Yeah, this dude is totally not some evil creature. She shifts back to reality, and Mattie tells her that she has to call her folks. Linda looks at the phone, which triggers another memory.
This one is of her and what appears to be her father. He's yelling at her, saying he's out of control. She mouths him off, calling him a controlling idiot. He angrily raises his fist as if to punch her, and she goads him into hitting her, saying he wants to do so. He puts it down, saying it's not what he wants. She angrily leaves the house, screaming that her parents hate her. The memory makes her flee in confusion, and she finds herself running faster. And faster. Until she is outrunning the wind itself.
Meanwhile, a police officer is trying to get a suicidal man to not jump off a building ledge. The man has had enough of the cop's speaking, and he takes the leap. Linda, still running at superhuman speed, leaps up and catches the man, safely bringing him to the ground. She zips off, nobody seeing or recognizing her. Someone thinks it might have been the Flash, but the suicidal man says that it was an angel who saved him. Remember this line.
Linda skids to a halt, noticing her Flash impression hasn't tired her out. She wonders if she is even human. She then puzzles over what she has learned. Her name was Linda Danvers. Her best friend was Mattie Harcourt. Her parents love or hate her, she's not entirely sure. What she needs is information, and she finds the Lessburg Tribune's building.
She goes inside, wanting a newspaper. However, she is told that she needs money to buy a paper. Newspapers are cheap, but they are not free. She eyes a man carrying a bunch of newspapers, and asks if those are the latest edition. You'd think the poor guy would have a wagon or dolly of some kind to help him carry those papers around. Anyway, he says they are, and she easily lifts one of the bushels of newspapers. She gets a look at the front page.
Yup, Supergirl is missing, feared dead. Nobody knows what happened to her. A bald man walks in and notices Linda. The man, Cutter Sharp (Oh yeah, cutter and sharp. I get it), realizes who she is, and is overjoyed to see her. She's not happy to see him, but...well, just look.
It's funny stuff. Cutter literally begs on his knees to Supergirl. It's a great moment of humor here. He's Cutter's got a big story on his hands here, and he's not letting this one slip by. He's got the exclusive scoop on The Mysterious Return of Linda Danvers.
The scene briefly shifts to a crime scene. The strange (and TOTALLY NOT EVIL) Buzz watches this, and grumbles about the police presence being there for days. Concealed in the shadows is an unseen figure with green catlike eyes, reminding Buzz that he still wants and needs "her". Buzz reassures him that he'll get what he wants. The figure, Lord Chakat, wants blood.
Back at the Tribune building, Cutter has done some research in an attempt to help Linda figure out ore about herself. He asks her if she has amnesia. Linda says she's unsure. She remembers bits and pieces, but she feels a lack of connection, like she was someone else. Then this happens.
Yeah, you see, at the time, Superman had just recently come back from the dead. As a result of it, he had the world's most powerful Super-Mullet for a time. He calls her "Mae", which is a reference to Mae Kent, the Earth name the Matrix Supergirl used as a secret identity. If you want to learn more about her, you can read this. Also, I did review two Action Comics issues that had her in them: #644 (August 1989), and #674 (February 1992).
It knocks her out of reality for a moment, but she's able to rejoin it quickly. Anyway, Cutter has found that Linda is a college dropout (Cutter wasn't able to find out what drove her to leave), and made a living by selling sculptures at craft fairs. And that according to her mother, the only think that had any meaning in Linda's life was Supergirl. I'm guessing she may have been a fan.
We then go to a...flashback, I'm assuming. Supergirl goes to visit Linda's parents. Linda's mom, Sylvia Danvers, had put out a plea for Supergirl to save her on TV. Sylvia is a spiritual person, and believes that God intended her to help Linda. Fred Danvers, Linda's father, tells Sylvia she's being a fool for discussing spirituality with someone who isn't human. A neat little gag is when he lists the things Supergirl would be one of them is a "shape-changing soulless blob of protoplasm". Question of soul existence aside, Supergirl at that time was a shapeshifting blob of protoplasm. Supergirl reminds him she's here to help, so knock it off. He apologizes to her and pleads with her to save Linda. I think Fred has an issue with mood swings.
Supergirl flies off to save Linda. Cutter explains that there was a cult operating in Leesburg. This cult had been able to evade the police despite being responsible for several grisly deaths, including beheadings. Linda's van was found in the woods, with the cult's symbol all over it, leading people to believe she was one of the cult's victims.
There was a big fire in a warehouse a couple of days later, only finding Supergirl's costume, and a bunch of Kentucky Fried Cultists. Cutter lights up a cigarette, the flame of his lighter causing Linda to freak out. Cutter realizes the flame is setting off a PTSD-like flashback, but Linda shoves him away.
Cutter runs out after her, but doesn't see that Linda has made her way to the roof. While huddled into a ball, more memories come back. She remembers Supergirl battling the cult...while also remembering Linda Danvers being stabbed by Buzz as part of a ritual. There's a demon trying to make his way into the world, and requires blood to be brought forth. Buzz tries to throw the blood-stained knife at the demon, but Supergirl stops it with a psycho-kinetic blast. The demon screams as the ritual fails.
Linda remembers dying, her wounds taking their toll. She also remembers Supergirl standing over her, trying to comfort her. They look into each other's eyes. And something...insane happens.
The protoplasmic Matrix and Linda seem to...merge, combining into one person. The words accompanying this are rather interesting, as Linda remembers Matrix as essentially a living statue, an artificial being that can imitate, but not be truly human. Personally, I do think Matrix was rather human in her own way. She may have been a living blob of protoplasm, but she was a sentient being who used her powers to help others.
During a press conference, a police officer announces that there's still no sign of Supergirl, holding up her costume...aaaaand it's gone. The story ends with Linda fully transformed into Supergirl, taking to the air, fully costumed.
This comic was actually rather enjoyable. Peter David does something very unique with the Supergirl character, and the comic really does set the tone of what Supergirl's adventures will be like for the future and her new status quo. It also leaves an interesting way to explore this new status quo, the merged Matrix/Linda Danvers having to learn alongside the readers about Leesburg and its residents. Gary Frank's art is very enjoyable to look at, although his take on Buzz kind of broadcasts that he's evil a bit much. Bit too obvious. Otherwise that, I love the artwork on this book.
Next time, in honor of his 45th anniversary, we take a look back at the beginnings of one of Marvel's toughest heroes, the king of the Harlem streets, Luke Cage...
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