Review by Frank Plowright
This large collection covers Supergirl’s activities throughout 2008, the bulk written by Kelley Puckett and drawn by Drew Johnson and/or Ron Randall. It opens, though, with an extended story combining the writing talents of Kurt Busiek, Fabian Nicieza and Geoff Johns. It’s a Supergirl story by default, as her participation is passive in watching crucial moments from Superman’s life via 30th century technology. Never has the baby Superman rocketing away from Krypton been as realistically defined as he is by Renato Guedes, who excels throughout in a smart story redefining the familiar for the modern era. It also plays into the theme of what follows, which in part looks back in time to Supergirl’s younger days.
Puckett’s Supergirl is more introspective than usual, questioning her purpose and her limitations, comparing herself to Superman and puzzling about the capabilities of super villains. It’s an episodic form of writing, presenting much of the action in wordless sequences, the benefit being more of Johnson’s attractive art (sample page left). However, he can’t draw entire monthly chapters, so pages are contributed by Ron Randall (sample page right), whose work is technically good with the occasional stiff figure, or Lee Ferguson, who’s not as accomplished, but his layouts match Johnson’s approach. This sequence has fine moments, but a more sustained focus on Supergirl’s doubts would have made for something stronger overall.
A second extended story concerns Supergirl’s efforts to cure cancer, something other superheroes assure her isn’t possible even with advanced technology. Cancer is a potential landmine for superhero fiction, where accusations of insensitivity are but a slip away, but Puckett pulls it off without offending. Supergirl consults Resurrection Man, which is entertaining at the start, but devolves into a daft battle with a daft villain before really ramping up the tension in the third chapter. This is drawn by Brad Walker, who loves a close-up, presumably because he was handed the assignment at short notice and it’s quick. Randall draws the final chapter very nicely.
There’s an epilogue, though, from James Peaty and Randall which begins as run of the mill, but actually comments well on what’s gone before.
When serialising the issues, two chapters into Puckett and Johnson having Supergirl investigate cancer a fill in was needed, interrupting their story. For the collection the logical editorial choice would be to bump this unconnected tale by Will Pfeifer and Randall to the back of the book for completion’s sake. Alternatively, as Pfeifer adapts to the theme of Puckett’s first story and actually brings it to a better close, it might have preceded the cancer tale. Instead some numpty has decided the original publication order is sacrosanct and it interrupts the run for a second time.
For all the fine art and novel ideas, Ghosts of Krypton is a patchy collection, only occasionally getting properly to grips with the issues introduced. Chronologically the next collection is Who is Superwoman?
