Auld Acquaintance Definitely Forgotten — Reviewing ‘Supergirl’ #08

No matter what all the commercials and bright shiny colors might say, the winter holiday season isn’t joyful for everyone. Personal feelings, losses, secrets long buried, and so much more do not go away just because a season of thanks and giving work their way into many homes.

Kara Zor-El (Danvers) is one of those people. A blast from the past muddies already gloomy waters in Supergirl #8 from Sophie Campbell, Haining, Alex Guimarães, and Becca Carey.

One of the repeated praises of this book month-after-month is how it blends classic comics with modern feelings and sensibilities flawlessly. Campbell does not shy away from delving into the lore around Supergirl and her compatriots to tell a compelling story. Along the way, something like the old school campy Linda robot becomes emotionally deep and tragic.

Rich character tapestries that have more to say than just be heroic pieces are a Campbell special. She’s able to really mine every bit of emotional energy buried under the surface of any character or franchise, making sure that it feels light but impactful at the same time.

How the bit with the Linda robot’s abandonment fits into Kara’s feelings about home and a lesson about heroism is chef kiss. It’s just truly wondrous stuff still resonating resoundingly in my brain as I write this.

Each of the guest artists who have stepped into this series so far have nailed the assignment. Coming with their own styles, but a combined focus to keep up the lighter and bubbly with the series’ initial firm, grounding tone. Haining has such a bright and popping style. It feels whimsical with the right swaths of rougher textures peeking through, delivering solid paneling moments and soft evolving action that flows through the pages.

Characters wear their hearts on their sleeves as their facial expressions and body language speak volumes.

Being a holiday related story, the colors from Guimarães capture all the right feelings: from the coldness of winter to the warmth of the Danvers home. Plenty of the colors are saturated to really heighten their presence in any given scene, keeping them familiar and natural while also not shying away from boosting them to fit the focus of this world. There are a number of scenes that feel even warmer because of the yellowish-orange filter Guimarães adds.

It presents like the light from inside or even the soft flickering of winter flames in many ways.

Initially framed as a potentially terrifying presence, the Linda Robot quickly becomes something more sad and human in many respects. All of that plays out so smoothly in the story, but especially in the lettering choices. Carey uses the same bubbles and fonts with little modifications here-or-there to allow the words all the emotional realms. Similarly, we feel and hear it all the same with all the dialogue on the pages, and through the lettering choices as a whole.

Supergirl #8 is now available from DC Comics.