Kara 3.0
June 1, 2007 by The Fortress Keeper
Another day, another creative team for Supergirl.
The increasingly cynical Keeper would normally greet such news with a shrug. Ale Garza and Amanda Conner aside, the writers and artists charged with guiding Kara’s destiny have done little to distinguish themselves.
It isn’t exactly progress when a book evolves from Jeph Loeb’s wide-screen, overly sexualized approach to Joe Kelly’s incomprehensible, overly anguished soap opera.
This time, however, DC finally seems interested in reviving … well, Supergirl.
Here’s what Tony Benard, the title’s new writer, has to say:
I have basic expectations about what’s appropriate for a character with the “S” on her chest. I don’t think that’s a limitation — it points the way toward the proper area in which to search for fresh material. She’s not a dark avenger or Goth punk. She’s a strange visitor from another planet who should embody all that’s best in humanity and in America. That’s right, America. The land of immigrants who make good.
Artist Renato Guedes has also designed a Kara who looks like a normal, healthy teenage girl.
In Bedard’s words:
I saw some character studies he did of Supergirl, and they’re brilliant. Now, if I was 17 and ruled by hormones, the zero-bodyfat, nearly-naked Supergirl would probably be my fave. But Renato’s take is much more like a living, breathing person, which makes her all the more endearing and fascinating.
Encouraging words. Unfortunately, actions do speak louder than hype and the cover of Bedard’s first issue indicates that Kara isn’t leaving humiliation-ville anytime soon.
Oh well. We’re still keeping our fingers crossed.
Good lord I’ve been afraid to hope at this point.
I’ve come around to the sad view that all DC has accomplished with SG to date is to revive her late 1970’s status, ergo nice character underdeveloped saddled with a bad creative team and yet she still shines in her occasion guest appearances in other books.
Thats where we are today it’s like it’s 1978-two-point-oh
The only real problem with hoping that SUPERGIRL will somehow improve as a series is that DC still doesn’t seem overly committed to the idea anyway. Bedard and Guedes are merely signed on for 3 CROSSOVER ISSUES, which also points to another reason why the character sucks so mightily right now (that is, she’s never developed beyond being a recurring plot device).