Well, I knew that news was going to be coming out of the NYCC. There always is.
What I wasn't expecting was hearing that both Sterling Gates and Jamal Igle are off of the Supergirl title as of January. In many ways it is disheartening. Here is the link from the DC Source blog and some blurbs from the announcement:
http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2010/10/08/nycc-2010-meet-your-new-supergirl-creative-team/
First off, I’d like to give a huge tip of the hat to writer Sterling Gates and artist Jamal Igle. As many fans have said across the web, they’ve done a masterful job with SUPERGIRL and you can be sure their names will be popping up on the credits of many books to come. But more on that later.
It isn't easy being a Supergirl fan; it never has been. But they treated her with respect and made it okay to be a Kara fan again. You could say you collected Supergirl and you didn't get looked at as though you were crazy.
Gates and Igle understood that the backbone of Supergirl's stories has to be that she is on a journey, that she isn't an accomplished hero yet but she is striving to get there. There weren't many easy victories but there were victories. And Kara's hard-fought accomplishments led to life lessons which led to her personal growth. She is a very different character than she was in Supergirl #34, their first issue. But she most assuredly is a different character than she was in Supergirl #12 (the dance issue) or Supergirl #19 (the high school massacre cover) or any of that early run.
Gates and Igle understood that the backbone of Supergirl's stories has to be that she is on a journey, that she isn't an accomplished hero yet but she is striving to get there. There weren't many easy victories but there were victories. And Kara's hard-fought accomplishments led to life lessons which led to her personal growth. She is a very different character than she was in Supergirl #34, their first issue. But she most assuredly is a different character than she was in Supergirl #12 (the dance issue) or Supergirl #19 (the high school massacre cover) or any of that early run.
There was no T&A, no porn faces, no knees to the balls ... or smoking and underaged drinking... or rave dancing while monsters attack ... or crushing angst ... or apathy towards heroism ... or compulsions to kill Superman ... or taking down of Air Force One ... or any of the other things that were wrong with this book. There was no pandering to a lowest common denominator. There were only good stories and good art and an apparent appreciation for what a great character Supergirl is.
The sad thing is I wonder if there are a lot more Supergirl stories inside Gates and Igle. The massive story of New Krypton took over this book for a bit. Was there more they wanted to do with Kara that they just didn't get to.
I just want to once again say thanks to Gates and Igle for their run on the book, for treating Supergirl the way I think she should be treated. I have said before that it is great time to be a Supergirl fan and their book was such a huge part of that trend.
But as I hail the current team, we should all look forward to the next team.
The sad thing is I wonder if there are a lot more Supergirl stories inside Gates and Igle. The massive story of New Krypton took over this book for a bit. Was there more they wanted to do with Kara that they just didn't get to.
I just want to once again say thanks to Gates and Igle for their run on the book, for treating Supergirl the way I think she should be treated. I have said before that it is great time to be a Supergirl fan and their book was such a huge part of that trend.
But as I hail the current team, we should all look forward to the next team.
Starting in January, writer Nick Spencer (T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS and the JIMMY OLSEN co-feature in ACTION COMICS) will hop into the driver’s seat with artist Bernard Chang (SUPERMAN). As some of you faithful Source readers have noticed, Nick’s quickly risen up the ranks and become one of our busiest and most engaging creators. His knack for getting to the heart of the character – whether it’s the newly-introduced Chloe Sullivan (yeah, from “Smallville”!), Jimmy or the myriad heroes and characters that will populate T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS – and well-paced action are a classic recipe for success with a modern twist. Seriously. His stuff’s a treat.
I only know Spencer's work from the one Jimmy Olsen second feature I have read so I don't have much to go on (reminding me of how little I knew of Sterling Gates when he was announced as the writer 2 years ago). I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed that Jimmy story; the dialogue was snappy and the story was fun. Hopefully that energy carries forward into Supergirl. And hopefully, Spencer has the same understanding and respect for the character that Gates does.
I like Bernard Chang's art and think he is a very good choice for the book. We certainly have enough of a portfolio of his work in the Superman book during New Krypton and Last Stand to know that he draws a healthy and strong Kara.
Here is what Wil Moss said in the release:
I like Bernard Chang's art and think he is a very good choice for the book. We certainly have enough of a portfolio of his work in the Superman book during New Krypton and Last Stand to know that he draws a healthy and strong Kara.
Here is what Wil Moss said in the release:
“How do you follow a character-defining run like Sterling and Jamal had on SUPERGIRL? Beats me – that’s Nick and Bernard’s problem! But if anyone can do it, it’s these two guys. Get ready for a deadly new version of an old threat (one with ties to Geoff Johns and Francis Manapul’s run on ADVENTURE COMICS), and a laundry list of guest stars – the promo piece doesn’t even show half of ‘em! So while Supergirl the character has never been in more trouble, rest assured that SUPERGIRL the title has never been stronger!”
A new version of an old threat ... hmmmm. We did see the green-skinned Brainiac clone Luthor made at the end of Adventure. Could it be some version of Lena Luthor/Brainiac 13 amalgam seen way back in Our Worlds At War? I look forward to seeing the promised promo piece.
So let's all raise our glasses and toast Sterling Gates and Jamal Igle for their phenomenal work here as they wrap up their piece of Kara's story. And at the same time, let's welcome Nick Spencer and Bernard Chang. There is always room for you guys here.
A new version of an old threat ... hmmmm. We did see the green-skinned Brainiac clone Luthor made at the end of Adventure. Could it be some version of Lena Luthor/Brainiac 13 amalgam seen way back in Our Worlds At War? I look forward to seeing the promised promo piece.
So let's all raise our glasses and toast Sterling Gates and Jamal Igle for their phenomenal work here as they wrap up their piece of Kara's story. And at the same time, let's welcome Nick Spencer and Bernard Chang. There is always room for you guys here.
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