Superman #21 (September 1988)
Superman #21 (September 1988)
The Supergirl Saga, Part 1 of 3! Back in Superman #16 a group of scientists in the arctic found a lady in a Superman costume frozen inside a chunk of ice, like a certain famous Captain. She’s been going around the Superman comics since then, confused and half-amnesiac, until she finally bumps into Superman himself in this issue and recovers her memory.
It turns out this Supergirl comes from planet… Earth. But in another dimension. More specifically, that pocket universe Superman visited a year ago to fight the Superboy who lived there (for a while anyway, then they became pals). Ten years have passed in that dimension, Superboy is dead, and the world has been conquered and completely trashed by villains (we’ll find out which villains next issue). Supergirl transports Superman to the pocket universe and introduces him to the leader of the human resistance: a slim, non-evil, hair-having Lex Luthor. CONTINUED!
Character-Watch:
This incarnation of Supergirl can not only shift form (as we saw in Superman #20), she can also turn invisible and hit people with psychic blasts. We find that out when she and Superman fight for a while before becoming pals, as is customary in these situations.
Alternate-dimension Pete Ross, who helped Superman during his last visit to the pocket universe, shows up as an adult, part of Good Lex’s resistance group. Nice to see him again! Too bad he’ll die soon.
Plotline-Watch:
Back in Metropolis, Jimmy is trying to convince Perry to let him go to Ireland to investigate that Silver Banshee lady who keeps showing up, almost killing Superman and then disappearing. Lois is like “Yeah, let Jimmy do that!” so Perry says “Fine, but Lois has to go too.” Lois’ D'oh isn’t shown, but it’s implied.
Before they depart for the other dimension, Superman briefly introduces Supergirl to fat Luthor. In fact, it’s the shock of seeing this version of Lex what makes her recover her memory. She’s visibly grossed out by him now, but in a few years they’ll end up sleeping together. I am not kidding.
Creator-Watch:
We are near the end of John Byrne’s run, and I know I said during World of Smallville that he didn’t give a shit anymore, but this issue is really nice. The art is amazing and for this whole storyline Byrne does a cool thing where he lays out the panels over two pages, which gives everything an epic feeling. It’s also similar to the techniques future artists will use during Death of Superman (I know, everything reminds me of Death of Superman, I can’t help it).
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