Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #17

Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #17
Rating: 3.5

Writer: Mark Waid
Penciller: Barry Kitson
Inker: Mick Gray
Publisher: DC

Synopsis: The story starts at a robot creation facility with a gathering of robots themselves in the midst of the completion of their "leader robot". The S.P. (Science Police) bursts in conducting a surprise raid with elements of the LSH (Legion of Super-Heroes). A battle ensues between the S.P., LSH, and the robots. During the battle, Supergirl pulls the giant electronic vertebrae and helmet from the "leader robot" which is left out of action for the remainder of the battle. Supergirl asks her team if they need any help, which Timberwolf says no as they are done and wanted to have some pride left. One of the S.P.s asked for Supergirl's autograph, which she politely does in her own Supergirl way.

Back at the LSH HQ still under construction, Cosmic Boy, Light Lass, Triplet Girl ( I think her name was), and Star Boy were talking about Supergirl's story from Krypton's destruction to her life as a superhero guided by Superman and Batman. She became a living legend and then suddenly disappeared. So at least now they know where she disappeared to as she materialized in the LSH's future. And Cosmic Boy theorizes that Supergirl sees the her current life in the future with the LSH as part of a dream she is having.

The story shifts outside where Supergirl is with Element Lad and Shadow Lass. The three have a conversation while in flight. You can tell Shadow Lass dislikes Supergirl with her bad jokes with reference that she should have called Supergirl, Dream Girl instead. Dream Girl is the recently deceased member of the LSH. Element Lad gets in the middle of them immediately citing it was a bad joke on Shadow Lass's part, and that they miss her. Supergirl suddenly hears a disturbance and zooms off to the problem. She arrives at a Legion Plaza where there was an earthquake and falling debris was about to crush civilian, with teenagers in particular. She destroys the falling debris preventing it from landing on the person who caused the earthquake. Supergirl whistles and the earthquake stops. A new super power. Cosmic Boy and a handful of LSH appear. As members of the LSH clean up the debris, a huge crowd gathers towards Supergirl, with some asking her if she is part of the LSH. Meanwhile, the person that caused the earthquake walked away disbelieving he has a super power. As he walks towards an empty space a stranger approaches him to "come to me.".

Invisible Boy and Light Lass are watching a video screen apparently monitoring S.P. HQ. From their conversation you can tell that there is perhaps an LSH spy amongst the S.P. Invisible Boy drops his drink as Supergirl materializes like a ghost. She catches his drink and hands it over to him, and they discuss her membership. Supergirl tells him that she has decided she wants to be a Legionnaire. An upset Light Lass, who was monitoring their conversation, turns around and by the exclamation marks on her dialogue was telling Invisible Boy that Supergirl can’t just be a Legionnaire with a snap of the finger and that this is reality and not a dream. Saturn Girl and Cosmic Boy suddenly appear on the video and communicated, " The charter members have been talking it over, and we'd like to formally invite you to join the LSH!" And excited Supergirl and Invisible Boy in the background does not see Light Lass just smack herself on the face as if Homer Simpson just yelled, " Towrk! Bart!!!"

The scene shifts to an alien world where islands with an egg-like shaped base is resting on each one in the middle of an ocean. And there are Dominators. I am not familiar with Dominators except that in the modern DC Universe, they were supposed to be at the very end of the known universe where the Guardians of Oa cannot monitor their activity. The two Dominators must be leaders of that race. Their discussion is on turning their attention towards Earth and the native virus of that planet called "humanity". They mention the fifffdee-tu, perhaps referencing the "52" weekly series event of DC Comics. Okay maybe something else.

Back to Earth outside of LSH HQ. Supergirl and Invisible Boy arrive greeted by the LSH. They bestow honorary membership to Supergirl. She asks for her LSH ring. And a smirking Light Lass who is happy to tell her that there are no ring available therefore Supergirl is not a full member. Supergirl closes her eyes disappointed and whispers she wishes she had a ring. Atom Girl maximizes to her human size delivering a Legionnaire ring from Brainiac 5. Supergirl has an LSH ring and puts it on. Meanwhile, Cosmic Boy looked like his world just disappeared, and a distraught Lightning Lad looked towards Cosmic Boy as if there is something terribly wrong. Supergirl and the LSH fly off into the sunset. And Lightning Lad was thinking it was Brainiac 5's resignation while Cosmic Boy does not want to dwell on the fact…Element Lad finishes Cosmic Boy's dialogue, "…is that he took it off Dream Girl's corpse." And upon hearing this, Light Lass's eyes closes with the back of Supergirl in the background flying in front of her.

Comments: There are nine pages of ads as opposed to the previous issue's ten pages of ads. That's better. The first thing I have to praise is Barry Kitson's great use of silent dialogue through his art. This superhero team is composed of teenagers. And those eye communications between Legionnaires is fantastic. It captures the essence of teenagers. The reader understands those eye dialogue between teenagers, when instead of saying something not nice or something that should be kept amongst themselves, they just turn to each other and gives each other "That Look". When Supergirl said something weird, Lightning Kid and Phantom Girl looked at each other silently with "DUH !" written all over their forehead. How about that look of sadness and concern between Lightning Kid and Cosmic Boy upon seeing Atom Girl hand Supergirl a Legionnaire ring from Brainiac 5. But the look on Light Lass's face eyes closed hearing from Element Lad that the ring given to Super Girl might have been taken by Brainiac 5 from their deceased team mate, Dream Girl. That was priceless. You could tell the strength of Light Lass at the same time saddened by the memory of her dead friend. Capturing those character defining moments is what makes a book about teenagers add extra spice on a delicious plate called Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes. And Barry Kitson delivers an appetizing five-course meal. And finally, I would like to add that once again Supergirl is the most dynamically drawn female in the book. Her hair is drawn dynamically, which is always in constant movement. Phantom Girl who is drawn with the same hair, does not have her hair move. Where as Kara's hair is in constant movement even when standing up. It makes her stand out amongst the Legionnaires.

Mark Waid does a good job moving the story. He brings Supergirl to the LSH's timeline. Now he makes marries her up to being a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Most of the guys appear dazzled by her presence. And some of the women resent her presence, especially when she let's them know that it's all part of her dream. Now you know how girls are when they have a common hatred towards a girl, they gang up on her like a queen bee and her royal subjects. I can sense this happening soon. Supergirl acting aloof as if she's in dreamland will acquire the ire of most of these female LSH members. After all teenage girls are very sadistic in their ways of getting even with another girl who has dissed them. Mark Waid has a good understanding of teenage psychology and has conveyed it well here in terms of the future and amongst superheroes. He has funny moments as well, with Invisible Boy's "crush-like" attitude towards Supergirl. Waid and Kitson combined the funniest moment of the book with Light Lass turning to Invisible Boy and Supergirl that SG cannot just become a Legionnaire and there are rules and SG cannot just wish it. After which, Cosmic Boy and Saturn Girl appear on the video extending an invitation to Supergirl to become an LSH. And Light Lass smacking her face with a jubilant SG and Invisible Boy in the background was a classic

He also foreshadows something bad will surely happen in the future issues by having the Dominators appear and talking about Earth. And at the same time, there is a mysterious stranger who reached out to the kid that caused the earthquake. Who is this guy ? And what group ? It feels like a villain group, but then shouldn't Saturn Girl have sensed his presence that close to LSH's HQ.

And finally, did Mark Waid just create a new super power for Supergirl ? I know I haven't been up to date with comic books after a long hiatus, but I never knew that SG could stop an earthquake created by subsonic waves with a whistle. Supergirl was able to dampen the effect subsonic waves with a supersonic counter frequency. Now that is creative writing.

Final words: It was a good issue. You expected Kara to become a Legionnaire and here it happens. And there are suspense added for the upcoming issues which draws the reader. What are the Dominators up to ? Who was that mysterious fellow that approached "Earthquake Boy". And why did Brainiac 5 remove Dream Girl's LSH ring from her corpse. He cannot have created an LSH ring within the same day. Will Shadow Lass or Light Lass finally have a verbal confrontation with Supergirl. I would buy the next issue, I am hooked.