Review by Karl Verhoven
The New Krypton series showcases how Supergirl and Superman react to the arrival of 100,000 Kryptonians on Earth, all with super powers, released from the shrunken city of Kandor. Among them are Supergirl’s birth parents and friends she left behind and believed had died. Chapters from three different creative teams on three different series alternate.
It opens with past memories Supergirl’s only just accessing again, but unlike many crossover stories, this isn’t just a matter of separate creators feeding in to a main plot, but co-ordinating events between them to ensure a continuity. That hinges on there being a wide variety of opinions among the Kryptonians, and for a good number of them the maxim of might making right is good enough. “Don’t you see what Kandor’s destiny truly is”, asks Alura, Supergirl’s mother, “We’re going to rebuild the universe”. That sort of hubris is the first step toward their downfall.
If that’s not chilling enough, those who would protect humanity from behind their curtain of secrecy consider allying with Lex Luthor and appropriating Brainiac’s technology to be a wise course of action. Deceit and manipulation inevitably leads to tragedy. Amidst that Sterling Gates, Geoff Johns and James Robinson expand the cast by reintroducing some characters to the 21st century and staring the mystery of who Superwoman, Nightwing and Flamebird are. Those mysteries will have later repercussions.
In Jamal Igle (sample spread left), Renato Guedes and Pete Woods (sample spread right), New Krypton is blessed with three solid artists who can maximise the action and emotion they’re given in the scripts. Igle is especially good with the emotional impact of Supergirl’s loyalties being torn.
This is a thriller from start to unpredictable finish, and as Volume Two followed Volume One, New Krypton Volume Three would seem the next logical destination, but there are other places to visit beforehand. Greg Rucka examines two mysterious characters in Superman: Nightwing and Flamebird, and Supergirl’s torment continues under Gates in Who is Superwoman? Superman’s exploits continue in Mon-El Volume One. Only after that head for New Krypton Volume Three.
