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Supergirl Mondays is a weekly celebration of the Girl of Steel, who has graced the pages of DC Comics in a variety of forms for more than five decades.
This feature’s primary focus is to take an issue-by-issue look back at Supergirl’s adventures in the post-Crisis universe. From an artificial being on a mission to save her home world, to an Earth-born angel on a mission to save her soul, each Monday, before the airing of “Supergirl” on CBS, reflect on the earliest days of the incredible and winding journey of a frequently divisive, sometimes confusing, but always entertaining era for the Maid of Might.
Issue: ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #442
Cover date: July 1988
Cover price: 75 cents ($1 Can./40p U.K.)
Cover by John Byrne
Story: “Power Play”
John Byrne, scripting, co-plotting
Jerry Ordway, pencilling, co-plotting
Andy Kubert, inking
Albert DeGzman, lettering
Anthony Tollin, colorist
Renée Witterstaetter, assistant editing
Mike Carlin, editing
Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster
With a haze of fragmented memories about Smallville, Superman and someone named Lex swirling in her head, Supergirl arrives in Smallville, only to run into someone who know knows a little bit about the Man of Steel: Lana Lang.
Supergirl’s hair and costume have returned to their previous colors this issue, adding credibility to the theory of a coloring error last time. But not much else is added this issue beyond her arrival in Smallville and run-in with Lana. Again, however, we get more pieces adding to the mystery, including how he could have memories of Superman and Lex, if she’d been buried in the Antarctic ice for centuries.
I really like the center panel on this page (the lefthand panel on the image posted above). Jerry Ordway pencils with Andy Kubert inks is a strange combination, but the pain and confusion in Supergirl’s face is apparent and natural but yet perfectly subtle. We know next to nothing about this new Supergirl, but are able to sympathize with her just the me.
Next time on Supergirl Monday: A two-for-one special!
