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Supergirl (2016)
Supergirl, Volume 2: Escape from the Phantom Zone
The adventures of the Girl of Tomorrow continue as Supergirl enters the mind of a Kryptonian monster to stop a killer and goes on a suicide mission to restore sanity within the Department of Extranormal Operations (D.E.O). Plus, in the aftermath of “Superman Reborn,” Kara meets Superman again (for the first time) to face the evil of the Emerald Empress! Featuring shocking revelations, all-powerful sorceresses from the future, the Batgirl of Burnside and dinner in the Wild West—they’re all here in this amazing collection.
Critically acclaimed writer Steve Orlando (MIDNIGHTER) continues his run on SUPERGIRL in SUPERGIRL VOL. 2, collecting issues #7-11 and stories from BATGIRL ANNUAL #1.
Critically acclaimed writer Steve Orlando (MIDNIGHTER) continues his run on SUPERGIRL in SUPERGIRL VOL. 2, collecting issues #7-11 and stories from BATGIRL ANNUAL #1.
144 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
March 28, 2018
I liked the idea of Batgirl and Supergirl teaming up in a new version of World's Finest. The Phantom Zone story was just awful. Xa-Du keeps talking about melting the girls down into solar tallow and adding them to his Kryptonian flesh suit. Can it get any dumber or more maniacal? I feel like Orlando needs to buff up on his Superman history. Anytime something from Superman's lore is brought in, it doesn't follow established lore. The Cyborg Superman being Kara's dad in the last volume when over in Superman it's Hank Henshaw is a prime example. Then you have villains from different future time periods showing up for something Supergirl may do in the future. It's terrible writing. Pick one or the other. The Emerald Empress is from a thousand years in the future while Magog is only about 20 years down the road.
April 18, 2018
Damn it, Orlando, why must you do this! Two pretty good issues, and in one of them Supergirl hangs out with Superman — may easily be the best issue Orlando's written to date. But what follows is the dullest, most generic and boring superhero team-up with stupid Batgirl of Burnside. The story was bad, the villain was bad, the dialogue was just atrocious. On one hand this is the Steve Orlando writing that I usually expect, but on the other hand it's incredibly disappointing, considering how promising the first volume was. Ugh, this is so frustrating...
August 7, 2022
This was so good omg!
We get to see Kara on such fun adventures like teaming with Batgirl to rescue a girl named Gayle/Psi and then with Superman and feeling the after-effects of the "reborn" arc and I love how the cousins reconnected and its just so awesome and then the big story with Batgirl and Ben and her going to Phantom zone and encountering "Phantom king" over there and how they escape from there and whatever is going on with Psi and its a big story showing Kara at her best and being Super, its not all about punching and its so awesome!
I loved this whole arc and it pays off big time for sure, seeing the friendship between Babs and Kara was awesome too, the worlds finest team up and it shows their common interest in science and has fun adventures even the one with Lar-ON was good and shows Kara trying to help everyone just like her cousin!
Its one of my favorite Supergirl volumes easily and I highly recommend it! Plus the art is so good and is so classic and all, it makes for a great read!
We get to see Kara on such fun adventures like teaming with Batgirl to rescue a girl named Gayle/Psi and then with Superman and feeling the after-effects of the "reborn" arc and I love how the cousins reconnected and its just so awesome and then the big story with Batgirl and Ben and her going to Phantom zone and encountering "Phantom king" over there and how they escape from there and whatever is going on with Psi and its a big story showing Kara at her best and being Super, its not all about punching and its so awesome!
I loved this whole arc and it pays off big time for sure, seeing the friendship between Babs and Kara was awesome too, the worlds finest team up and it shows their common interest in science and has fun adventures even the one with Lar-ON was good and shows Kara trying to help everyone just like her cousin!
Its one of my favorite Supergirl volumes easily and I highly recommend it! Plus the art is so good and is so classic and all, it makes for a great read!
August 15, 2017
Wow that was not what I expected...
World: The art is good. I like Ching's art and I like the tone it gives the book. The world building on the other hand is a mixed bag. I like Kara meeting Supes and Babs and I like her being a part of the greater DCU. I also liked the call back to Tycho which gave the New 52 stuff weight. The Phantom zone stuff is fine, I don't mind more crazy SF, but I felt that the wishy washy armor stuff was kinda a stretch for me and over the top...really...a pirate....
Story: The first two issues are great with the Superman issue being a highlight. The tone is good, the sense of hope is good. The Phantom Zone story was on the other hand not what I wanted at all and fairly stupid. We just got a great little first arc of Kara in her small little piece of National City. School Life, Parents, DEO and Catco it was a nice little mixture. Now we get away from all that and just do a big bombastic weird SF Phantom Zone story with a dumb villain. Yeah I was not a fan. I liked that Babs was there but she was inconsequential. This story was just boring and taking Kara in the wrong direction.
Characters: Kara is good, her sense of hope and seeing the best in people is a really refreshing thing. She didn't have a lot to do this arc as it was all fighting and that's about it. The Superman issue really was a beautiful quiet issue which gave us the most development. The rest of the cast were just fairly Meh. Not a lot of time with the cast from the last arc and when we did get it Ben was zzz. Babs was asked, wanted more great banter, it was way better in the annual. The villain was just stupid, Phantom. Zone Soave pirate...zzz
It was not a good arc and not a good direction for the book.
Onward to the next book!
*read individual issues*
World: The art is good. I like Ching's art and I like the tone it gives the book. The world building on the other hand is a mixed bag. I like Kara meeting Supes and Babs and I like her being a part of the greater DCU. I also liked the call back to Tycho which gave the New 52 stuff weight. The Phantom zone stuff is fine, I don't mind more crazy SF, but I felt that the wishy washy armor stuff was kinda a stretch for me and over the top...really...a pirate....
Story: The first two issues are great with the Superman issue being a highlight. The tone is good, the sense of hope is good. The Phantom Zone story was on the other hand not what I wanted at all and fairly stupid. We just got a great little first arc of Kara in her small little piece of National City. School Life, Parents, DEO and Catco it was a nice little mixture. Now we get away from all that and just do a big bombastic weird SF Phantom Zone story with a dumb villain. Yeah I was not a fan. I liked that Babs was there but she was inconsequential. This story was just boring and taking Kara in the wrong direction.
Characters: Kara is good, her sense of hope and seeing the best in people is a really refreshing thing. She didn't have a lot to do this arc as it was all fighting and that's about it. The Superman issue really was a beautiful quiet issue which gave us the most development. The rest of the cast were just fairly Meh. Not a lot of time with the cast from the last arc and when we did get it Ben was zzz. Babs was asked, wanted more great banter, it was way better in the annual. The villain was just stupid, Phantom. Zone Soave pirate...zzz
It was not a good arc and not a good direction for the book.
Onward to the next book!
*read individual issues*
May 24, 2020
For someone who didn't follow the Supergirl storyline very closely, I think the Rebirth version of Supergirl is doing okay, the plot is nothing unique but it serves its purpose as an entertainment piece. The guest appearance of Batgirl is also welcomed, will move on to read the next book.
June 14, 2020
5 🌟
Supergirl and Batgirl team up and go into the Phantom Zone. Supergirl also meets with Superman and celebrates the Day of Truth.
Nice to see Supergirl and Batgirl team up. Also nice to see Kara with Clark. Glad they were able to help Psi. Hope Psi will be able to help the Phantom Zone. Wonder what Supergirl will do with Catco now.
Supergirl and Batgirl team up and go into the Phantom Zone. Supergirl also meets with Superman and celebrates the Day of Truth.
Nice to see Supergirl and Batgirl team up. Also nice to see Kara with Clark. Glad they were able to help Psi. Hope Psi will be able to help the Phantom Zone. Wonder what Supergirl will do with Catco now.
April 8, 2025
Team ups
It's a very good book. I really enjoyed the team up between Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) and Supergirl. I also like how Supergirl is trying to fit in, slightly less of Kara Danvers in this book, but I am ok with that.
Batgirl and Supergirl meet for the first time (though Supergirl does seem to know Batman and how he opperetes). Will Batgirl help Supergirl on a side project, and should she? Supergirl also meets up with her cousin and his family. A good filler and family affair. Then Batgirl and Supergirl are back together and trapped in the Phantom Zone. Can they lean on each other to survive and escape.
A very good set of stories. One of my personal pain points is that I hate when the series (not the book the series) finishes on a cliffhanger and more loose ends that answers. That is the main reason I could not round it up to five stars from four and a half. However, I did really enjoy this book up till then. The book finishes with a varient cover gallery.
It's a very good book. I really enjoyed the team up between Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) and Supergirl. I also like how Supergirl is trying to fit in, slightly less of Kara Danvers in this book, but I am ok with that.
Batgirl and Supergirl meet for the first time (though Supergirl does seem to know Batman and how he opperetes). Will Batgirl help Supergirl on a side project, and should she? Supergirl also meets up with her cousin and his family. A good filler and family affair. Then Batgirl and Supergirl are back together and trapped in the Phantom Zone. Can they lean on each other to survive and escape.
A very good set of stories. One of my personal pain points is that I hate when the series (not the book the series) finishes on a cliffhanger and more loose ends that answers. That is the main reason I could not round it up to five stars from four and a half. However, I did really enjoy this book up till then. The book finishes with a varient cover gallery.
November 25, 2017
Definitely not as good as the first volume. I really tried to stick with this series but I have to admit it was a bit of a chore to get through this book. There are too many pieces of plot converging here and after reading Volume 1 of the Supergirl Rebirth series I just do not like the art. This book is also a bit cheesy and cliche in some parts. I am not saying that the cheesiness in dialogue is horrible its just too much for my taste. This version of Supergirl is meant to be more optimistic and filled with hope, much like her CW counterpart. Maybe that is the problem with this take on the girl of steel, it is trying to hard to mimic the feel of the CW show. I admit I really enjoyed where writer Steve Orlando took Supergirl in the first volume. What I has hoping for was in the arc following the volume 1 we'd get to spend more time with Kara in school, which would be a different take on the character. The coloring in the book is good but the art style is more cartoon and less comic book. Maybe DC is marketing this book more for young girls and if so I have to give its style a past. Ultimately the plot was simple and the use of the villains Magog and Xa-Du with no context is just forgettable. It was nice seeing Batgirl team up with Supergirl, which old school fans will appreciate. I really hope the interesting build up with the Emerald Empress and the Fatal Five pays off in the next volume. I wish I had enjoyed this volume as much as the first. Series had a strong start to it. Usually artwork doesn't take me out of the story but I just feel another art style is needed to make this series pop.
October 15, 2017
[Read as single issues]
The next five issues of the Supergirl Rebirth series are collected here, as well as material from Batgirl Annual #1 which feeds into the main story. When Supergirl and Batgirl find themselves trapped in the Phantom Zone, they must work together with another super-powered character named Psi (coming soon to a Supergirl TV show near you) to free themselves from the Phantom Zone King and get back home.
This story proves once again what separates Supergirl from her peers; she's the one that opts for compassion first, rather than fighting. I know Superman does it too, but Supergirl's seems more...honest? Or possibly more desperate. Considering all she's been through, wanting to avoid fighting as much as possible makes a lot of sense for the character. We also get a one-and-done featuring Lar-On, the werewolf from the Rebirth special that helps bring him back to the fore for later on, and a Superman: Reborn aftermath issue that has Kara and Clark team up against the Emerald Empress in a story that sets up the following arc. There's a lot of forward plotting going on here, which is one of the things I love about Rebirth in general - the creative teams are able to set all this stuff up and know that they're going to get to pay it off.
The art in the main story is by Brian Ching, who drew the opening volume, and his angular style fits the Phantom Zone almost more than the main universe, to be honest. It does feel a little rushed at times, however. Matias Bergara takes the opening two issues, and he's...okay? There's not a lot to be said here, but he fits the aesthetic of the character probably moreso than Ching does.
Good fun. Superhero team-ups should be fun, and this one nails that.
The next five issues of the Supergirl Rebirth series are collected here, as well as material from Batgirl Annual #1 which feeds into the main story. When Supergirl and Batgirl find themselves trapped in the Phantom Zone, they must work together with another super-powered character named Psi (coming soon to a Supergirl TV show near you) to free themselves from the Phantom Zone King and get back home.
This story proves once again what separates Supergirl from her peers; she's the one that opts for compassion first, rather than fighting. I know Superman does it too, but Supergirl's seems more...honest? Or possibly more desperate. Considering all she's been through, wanting to avoid fighting as much as possible makes a lot of sense for the character. We also get a one-and-done featuring Lar-On, the werewolf from the Rebirth special that helps bring him back to the fore for later on, and a Superman: Reborn aftermath issue that has Kara and Clark team up against the Emerald Empress in a story that sets up the following arc. There's a lot of forward plotting going on here, which is one of the things I love about Rebirth in general - the creative teams are able to set all this stuff up and know that they're going to get to pay it off.
The art in the main story is by Brian Ching, who drew the opening volume, and his angular style fits the Phantom Zone almost more than the main universe, to be honest. It does feel a little rushed at times, however. Matias Bergara takes the opening two issues, and he's...okay? There's not a lot to be said here, but he fits the aesthetic of the character probably moreso than Ching does.
Good fun. Superhero team-ups should be fun, and this one nails that.
July 15, 2017
Absolutely LOVED the team up with Batgirl this volume. Also, really cool getting to explore the phantom zone. In love with Brian Ching's artwork for this series so I'm sad to see him finish his work as the interior artist. But! I'm excited to see what the next team of artists brings to the series.
June 23, 2018
"Escape From the Phantom Zone" was an improvement over volume 1 of this series, but I still feel like the writing and art are doing a disservice to Supergirl. I'm glad to see a new artist picking things up in volume 3 and making Kara look less elvish.
Anyway, things I liked this time round: The team-up with Batgirl finally gives Kara a peer to banter with and lightens Supergirl up a lot and adds some spunk to her personality! (I still wish she'd use contractions in her speech, as she comes across like Starfire on the Titans Go cartoon.) I also liked seeing a modernized version of Psi, an adversary from Paul Kupperberg's Daring Adventures of Supergirl series of yesteryear. I hope she makes a comeback at some point. It was nice to see Supergirl get some family time with her famous cousin, too. And while the Phantom Zone itself made little sense (pirates? dragons? a phantom king?) compared to how I've always imagined it in decades of Superman lore, there was something about it that recalled Helen Slater's struggle to escape it in the Supergirl movie. Exactly how many people are imprisoned in the Phantom Zone though?
Things I didn't like: The portrayals of Cat Grant, DEO Director Chase, and Ben Rubel are terrible. If these characters are supposed to be the supporting cast, they need to be fleshed out and made likable. As it is, all come across as extremely self-serving, one-sided, and trite. I know the appearances of Magog and Emerald Empress are supposed to be setting up the next storyline, but how random is it that a sorceress from the 31st century shows up to wage war on Superman and Supergirl, is defeated in all of 5 minutes, and they just shrug it off with little question as to what is going on? How does Supergirl even know who the Emerald Empress is? I'm sure it will all be sorta explained in volume 3!
Anyway, things I liked this time round: The team-up with Batgirl finally gives Kara a peer to banter with and lightens Supergirl up a lot and adds some spunk to her personality! (I still wish she'd use contractions in her speech, as she comes across like Starfire on the Titans Go cartoon.) I also liked seeing a modernized version of Psi, an adversary from Paul Kupperberg's Daring Adventures of Supergirl series of yesteryear. I hope she makes a comeback at some point. It was nice to see Supergirl get some family time with her famous cousin, too. And while the Phantom Zone itself made little sense (pirates? dragons? a phantom king?) compared to how I've always imagined it in decades of Superman lore, there was something about it that recalled Helen Slater's struggle to escape it in the Supergirl movie. Exactly how many people are imprisoned in the Phantom Zone though?
Things I didn't like: The portrayals of Cat Grant, DEO Director Chase, and Ben Rubel are terrible. If these characters are supposed to be the supporting cast, they need to be fleshed out and made likable. As it is, all come across as extremely self-serving, one-sided, and trite. I know the appearances of Magog and Emerald Empress are supposed to be setting up the next storyline, but how random is it that a sorceress from the 31st century shows up to wage war on Superman and Supergirl, is defeated in all of 5 minutes, and they just shrug it off with little question as to what is going on? How does Supergirl even know who the Emerald Empress is? I'm sure it will all be sorta explained in volume 3!
June 25, 2018
just okay and not really impressive. Even the cliffhanger ending was meh.
dnf
June 6, 2018Supergirl, DC Rebirth Series Ratings:
Supergirl, Volume 1: Reign Of The Cyborg Supermen: ★★★
Supergirl Vol. 2: Escape from the Phantom Zone: Lost Interest in Series
—
I read the first one because I love the show and then realized there was no Alex Danvers in the GN series so that's a disappointment and the first one was average at best.
___
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Supergirl, Volume 1: Reign Of The Cyborg Supermen: ★★★
Supergirl Vol. 2: Escape from the Phantom Zone: Lost Interest in Series
—
I read the first one because I love the show and then realized there was no Alex Danvers in the GN series so that's a disappointment and the first one was average at best.
___
│Blog│Instagram│Twitter│Tumblr│
April 30, 2020
Not quite as good as volume one, but still not bad. This one was more hipster vibes than anything, despite all the fights. Overall, still interesting but the art still annoys me a bit... The colors are very vibrant, however and that helps some. I will be interested to see how this friendship with batgirl goes as well.
February 17, 2019
This was even worse than vol 1...
July 6, 2023
This was awesome! Great paced action, including Batgirl, everything, really well done. The art was slightly choppy but it still worked. Not sure why this is rated so low, was a blast.
November 21, 2017
I enjoyed the first volume of Supergirl's Rebirth series a lot, and this continues strong. I *really* liked the friendship between Batgirl and Supergirl, which was probably the best part of this set of episodes. This is definitely true of the opening episode of this volume
I really like the comic take on the character as compared to the show. She's younger and an immigrant teenager trying to cope with her place on Earth and among its people. In this volume she continues to grow as a hero, and we get to see her explore the Phantom Zone where she was stuck for so long.
I've picked up several of the Rebirth series, and this is definitely one that I will continue to follow.
I really like the comic take on the character as compared to the show. She's younger and an immigrant teenager trying to cope with her place on Earth and among its people. In this volume she continues to grow as a hero, and we get to see her explore the Phantom Zone where she was stuck for so long.
I've picked up several of the Rebirth series, and this is definitely one that I will continue to follow.
November 15, 2017
Supergirl has her hands full. Not only is she adjusting to life on Earth as a superhero, she’s also busy with her alter ego's life as high school student Kara Danvers as well as working for Cat Grant. Helping the Department of Extranormal Operations with handling her fellow Kryptonian refugees keeps her distracted as well.
Supergirl’s becomes the target of the Fatal Five since they think they need to detroy her before she does something terrible. Their attack traps Supergirl’s friend in the Phantom Zone but Supergirl has help, Batgirl!
But they both get trapped in the Kryptonian prison dimension and at the mercy of the Phantom King!
This story marks the first time Kara /Supergirl and Barbara Gordon/Batgirl have teamed up in the Post-Crisis mainstream continuity
With both the great art and a plot to match this edition is a great volume to have for fans of Supergirl.
Critically acclaimed writer Steve Orlando (MIDNIGHTER) continues his run on SUPERGIRL in SUPERGIRL VOL. 2, collecting issues #7-11 and stories from BATGIRL ANNUAL #1.
Supergirl’s becomes the target of the Fatal Five since they think they need to detroy her before she does something terrible. Their attack traps Supergirl’s friend in the Phantom Zone but Supergirl has help, Batgirl!
But they both get trapped in the Kryptonian prison dimension and at the mercy of the Phantom King!
This story marks the first time Kara /Supergirl and Barbara Gordon/Batgirl have teamed up in the Post-Crisis mainstream continuity
With both the great art and a plot to match this edition is a great volume to have for fans of Supergirl.
Critically acclaimed writer Steve Orlando (MIDNIGHTER) continues his run on SUPERGIRL in SUPERGIRL VOL. 2, collecting issues #7-11 and stories from BATGIRL ANNUAL #1.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2018
Super-meh.
December 4, 2017
This trade collects Issues 7-11 of Supergirl as well as material from Batgirl Annual #1.
First up is "World's Finest" (Batgirl Annual) in which Batgirl and Supergirl meet and Supergirl invites Batgirl to help her break into Cadmus and rescue a young woman with mysterious powers. This story is okay, but its hurt by being a bit too overzealous in its attempts to be cool and hip and with a throw away line of Supergirl observing, "I'm a Super Strong illegal alien. There are lots of Americans who will take any excuse to hate people like me," as her explanation for why she wants Batgirl's help. She's not illegal if she's working for a government agency and it has nothing to do with why she wants Batgirl's help. We also get a recurring theme in the DC Universe that we don't ask Batman for help for fear he'll take over and do things "his way," as if he has time to do all that. The story is okay and sets the stage for later events, but there's some dumb stuff in it.
Next up is "Mission: Mind" which finds Supergirl traveling through the mind of Lar-On, a Kryptonian afflicted with werewolve symptoms. To find out what's going on, Supergirl journeys to his mind. It's a very touchy feely sort of psychological story, but it's also really imaginative in its content and art.
"Family of Tomorrow" features a brief battle with a baddie determined to stop Kara for something she hasn't done and then she gets to hang out with Clark and the rest of the Super Family and learn some information he's gathered in other books including his recent reboot. This is a lot of fun. I love how the Super Family guest stars in so many books. They make every book they appear in better. A very nice one shot.
Finally, we have the titular "Escape from the Phantom Zone," and it's okay. Despite the presence of Batgirl, this is nothing special storywise, although there is some impressive art. Throughout much of the story, Batgirl takes the lead as Supergirl doesn't have powers, but in the end, Supergirl gets an opportunity to show the type of hero she is and just like in the first volume, it's epic, brave, and a very different approach than most other heroes would take.
Overall, this book isn't great, but it's lot more good than it is bad. The art is impressive and the character is compelling . I wish we'd seen more of Jeremiah and Eliza in this book as theyw ere so great in the last one, but this book was an enjoyable read with an admirable and noble lead.
First up is "World's Finest" (Batgirl Annual) in which Batgirl and Supergirl meet and Supergirl invites Batgirl to help her break into Cadmus and rescue a young woman with mysterious powers. This story is okay, but its hurt by being a bit too overzealous in its attempts to be cool and hip and with a throw away line of Supergirl observing, "I'm a Super Strong illegal alien. There are lots of Americans who will take any excuse to hate people like me," as her explanation for why she wants Batgirl's help. She's not illegal if she's working for a government agency and it has nothing to do with why she wants Batgirl's help. We also get a recurring theme in the DC Universe that we don't ask Batman for help for fear he'll take over and do things "his way," as if he has time to do all that. The story is okay and sets the stage for later events, but there's some dumb stuff in it.
Next up is "Mission: Mind" which finds Supergirl traveling through the mind of Lar-On, a Kryptonian afflicted with werewolve symptoms. To find out what's going on, Supergirl journeys to his mind. It's a very touchy feely sort of psychological story, but it's also really imaginative in its content and art.
"Family of Tomorrow" features a brief battle with a baddie determined to stop Kara for something she hasn't done and then she gets to hang out with Clark and the rest of the Super Family and learn some information he's gathered in other books including his recent reboot. This is a lot of fun. I love how the Super Family guest stars in so many books. They make every book they appear in better. A very nice one shot.
Finally, we have the titular "Escape from the Phantom Zone," and it's okay. Despite the presence of Batgirl, this is nothing special storywise, although there is some impressive art. Throughout much of the story, Batgirl takes the lead as Supergirl doesn't have powers, but in the end, Supergirl gets an opportunity to show the type of hero she is and just like in the first volume, it's epic, brave, and a very different approach than most other heroes would take.
Overall, this book isn't great, but it's lot more good than it is bad. The art is impressive and the character is compelling . I wish we'd seen more of Jeremiah and Eliza in this book as theyw ere so great in the last one, but this book was an enjoyable read with an admirable and noble lead.
January 2, 2018
I got this from a giveaway. Fair warning -- I'm not huge into the Super Family -- but I like graphic novels and haven't read much Supergirl, so I thought it would be fun to try.
The art was a mixed bag. The style goes through changes throughout the book, and some is definitely better than others. None of it is awful, though, and I love looking through the variant covers at the end.
The stories were also mixed. I am a huge Batgirl fan, so I was happy to see her make appearances, and those were definitely my favorite. Not just because of Batgirl, but also because I liked seeing Supergirl contrasted with another hero. Sometimes Supergirl comes off like she feels she's too good for Earth, comparing everything to Krypton and *their* superior technology, but with Batgirl around, it keeps her grounded. I especially liked their time in the Phantom Zone, as it made it so Supergirl had to rely on her inner strength, rather than her normal outer strength, which is far more interested.
Much of the book was forgettable, though. Again, nothing awful, just stuff that you forget about the moment you shut the book. It's not a bad book, and if you're interested in it, then you should totally read it, but if you're looking for something to really hook you into Supergirl, I'm not sure this will do it.
The art was a mixed bag. The style goes through changes throughout the book, and some is definitely better than others. None of it is awful, though, and I love looking through the variant covers at the end.
The stories were also mixed. I am a huge Batgirl fan, so I was happy to see her make appearances, and those were definitely my favorite. Not just because of Batgirl, but also because I liked seeing Supergirl contrasted with another hero. Sometimes Supergirl comes off like she feels she's too good for Earth, comparing everything to Krypton and *their* superior technology, but with Batgirl around, it keeps her grounded. I especially liked their time in the Phantom Zone, as it made it so Supergirl had to rely on her inner strength, rather than her normal outer strength, which is far more interested.
Much of the book was forgettable, though. Again, nothing awful, just stuff that you forget about the moment you shut the book. It's not a bad book, and if you're interested in it, then you should totally read it, but if you're looking for something to really hook you into Supergirl, I'm not sure this will do it.
November 11, 2017
I'd like Batgirl and Supergirl to team up all the time.
(And on the last page, I refuse to believe that's the true Cat Grant.)
(And on the last page, I refuse to believe that's the true Cat Grant.)
June 24, 2023
"Escape from the Phantom Zone" is a decent book. I liked seeing Batgirl and Supergirl work together. It reminded me of the animated series episode where they teamed up. It was a lot of fun then and in this book. They work well together. Their dialogue and banter is good too. Plus, it was great seeing them try to free Gayle as well as confront Xa-Du. The latter battle was great and action-packed.
However, Xa-Du himself didn't really stand out. He felt one-dimensional. There wasn't much to him and his plans/schemes weren't too complex. He was actually overshadowed much more by Gayle herself.
Gayle was a much more compelling character. She has suffered through much betrayal and pain. Her anger and distrust of others, including Supergirl, was understandable. Orlando did a nice job writing her and her struggles. I like how her character arc ended up in this book too.
I also like the ways that Supergirl tries to resolve issues. Sure, there are times in which she'll fight and use her fists. However, she also tries to peacefully solve problems and her kindness is endearing. Indeed, the essence of her character is her goodness and light, which leads also to some nice interactions with Clark and his son, Jonathan.
With that said, the structure of the book could've been better in some ways. I like how most of the book focused on the story with Gayle, Batgirl, and Supergirl. However, during the middle of the book, it cut back to a story with Superman and the Emerald Empress. This opens up opportunities for future stories. However, it felt a bit out of place and probably could've been put towards the end of the book (or in a different book) instead. The ending of the book was also a bit abrupt. There was a great twist. However, it led to this book ending a bit too abruptly.
Still, it was a nice read. I give it a 3.5/5 (rounded up to 4). The art was decent. The story was good. The characters are cool for the most part. The structure could be better, but the book is enjoyable. I am excited for the third volume of this series.
However, Xa-Du himself didn't really stand out. He felt one-dimensional. There wasn't much to him and his plans/schemes weren't too complex. He was actually overshadowed much more by Gayle herself.
Gayle was a much more compelling character. She has suffered through much betrayal and pain. Her anger and distrust of others, including Supergirl, was understandable. Orlando did a nice job writing her and her struggles. I like how her character arc ended up in this book too.
I also like the ways that Supergirl tries to resolve issues. Sure, there are times in which she'll fight and use her fists. However, she also tries to peacefully solve problems and her kindness is endearing. Indeed, the essence of her character is her goodness and light, which leads also to some nice interactions with Clark and his son, Jonathan.
With that said, the structure of the book could've been better in some ways. I like how most of the book focused on the story with Gayle, Batgirl, and Supergirl. However, during the middle of the book, it cut back to a story with Superman and the Emerald Empress. This opens up opportunities for future stories. However, it felt a bit out of place and probably could've been put towards the end of the book (or in a different book) instead. The ending of the book was also a bit abrupt. There was a great twist. However, it led to this book ending a bit too abruptly.
Still, it was a nice read. I give it a 3.5/5 (rounded up to 4). The art was decent. The story was good. The characters are cool for the most part. The structure could be better, but the book is enjoyable. I am excited for the third volume of this series.
October 6, 2024
2.75 stars. Steve Orlando's run remains ok but rather forgettable and I still do not care much for the art. The characterization is really good, and this version of Supergirl is so hopeful yet conflicted. It was also fun seeing Supergirl and Batgirl teaming up this whole time.
There is a good issue with Kara and Clark spending time together and just comparing their experiences, and I enjoyed this more character-centric issue. Then the main arc is Kara's classmate Ben getting sucked into the Phantom Zone when someone opens up a portal to it and Batgirl jumps in after him so then Supergirl does too. The main villain in the Phantom Zone, Xa-Du, is fairly generic, just killing everybody so that it gives him some more power as he looks to escape. He has trapped this woman PSI in there as she is the key to opening the portal back up. There is a lot of fighting but ultimately Kara uses her words and compassion to convince PSI she can trust them, so she then opens up a portal to let them return home, but she stays back to keep peace within the Phantom Zone. It was nice to see Kara resolving a conflict more with her words than with fighting.
Nothing special with this one but it is enjoyable enough because Kara is such a fun character with some depth to her.
There is a good issue with Kara and Clark spending time together and just comparing their experiences, and I enjoyed this more character-centric issue. Then the main arc is Kara's classmate Ben getting sucked into the Phantom Zone when someone opens up a portal to it and Batgirl jumps in after him so then Supergirl does too. The main villain in the Phantom Zone, Xa-Du, is fairly generic, just killing everybody so that it gives him some more power as he looks to escape. He has trapped this woman PSI in there as she is the key to opening the portal back up. There is a lot of fighting but ultimately Kara uses her words and compassion to convince PSI she can trust them, so she then opens up a portal to let them return home, but she stays back to keep peace within the Phantom Zone. It was nice to see Kara resolving a conflict more with her words than with fighting.
Nothing special with this one but it is enjoyable enough because Kara is such a fun character with some depth to her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2018
This was a mixed bag for me. The direct plot was all right. Although it felt like background for a character story that kind of fizzled. We see Barbara and Kara together, but we don't really learn anything particularly knew about them. It was definitely an attempt by Orlando to do the Batman/Superman or Superman/Batman thing only with the girls, but they don't have the history that just plunks down and fills in a lot of the silences in those stories, and Orlando treats it as if they did. So the story isn't about subtle reflections on a deep, long-term friendship, instead it's a relatively fresh relationship that undergoes exactly zero growth or change.
Good stuff--both characters feel right for their current incarnations, and both look good under the hand of the volumes new penciler. Interestingly this book is slightly more cartoony than the last in a way that leans a bit toward cute. It doesn't descend to Marvel tween girl book parody levels--THANK GOODNESS!--but the look comes close. Thankfully the story gives Kara and Barbara more credit than to reduce them to that.
I'm curious to see where the balance falls as the book moves on.
Good stuff--both characters feel right for their current incarnations, and both look good under the hand of the volumes new penciler. Interestingly this book is slightly more cartoony than the last in a way that leans a bit toward cute. It doesn't descend to Marvel tween girl book parody levels--THANK GOODNESS!--but the look comes close. Thankfully the story gives Kara and Barbara more credit than to reduce them to that.
I'm curious to see where the balance falls as the book moves on.
May 19, 2020
Sometimes it's difficult to write these team up books because of the shared spotlight. By splitting the time between characters, it makes it harder to convey a sense of drama and conflict when we have to keep bouncing back and forth.
For the most part, the relationship between Supergirl and Batgirl is really cool. I enjoyed their laid back friendship vibe and how they take care of business when the time comes. I think Orlando has a good grasp on the voices of each character and handles their decisions wisely.
However, the main plot regarding the Phantom zone, is a bit of a mess. It relies very heavily on past volumes, and feels scattered and disorderly. There is also a lack of urgency within the book. I mean, they are stuck in the freakin Phantom Zone! you would think they would be a bit more freaked out... but there is a much more casual attitude about the whole situation than it usually warrants.
Overall, not sure if Orlando was going for more of an "all - ages" type of vibe, but the lack of danger or threat, even though they clearly should have been, just didn't work for me.
For the most part, the relationship between Supergirl and Batgirl is really cool. I enjoyed their laid back friendship vibe and how they take care of business when the time comes. I think Orlando has a good grasp on the voices of each character and handles their decisions wisely.
However, the main plot regarding the Phantom zone, is a bit of a mess. It relies very heavily on past volumes, and feels scattered and disorderly. There is also a lack of urgency within the book. I mean, they are stuck in the freakin Phantom Zone! you would think they would be a bit more freaked out... but there is a much more casual attitude about the whole situation than it usually warrants.
Overall, not sure if Orlando was going for more of an "all - ages" type of vibe, but the lack of danger or threat, even though they clearly should have been, just didn't work for me.
January 15, 2018
Time for Kara's first Rebirth Era team-up: Batgirl!
Receiving telepathic messages from someone calling themselves "Gayle", Kara asks Batgirl to help her break into a black site, to rescue Gayle and find out why she keeps talking about "the key to the Phantom Zone". Saving Gayle only puts her in more danger, as she soon after uses Kara's energy to travel to the Phantom Zone, needing to 'set things right'.
After a one issue side story celebrating the family and relationship between Kara and Clark, Supergirl is called to witness a new technology being activated. The machine develops a problem and it opens a portal to the Negative Zone, sucking in Supergirl and Barbara, as well as a few others. Searching for Gayle, our heroes cross paths with Xa-Du, first Kryptonian prisoner ever, and battle breaks out.
Surprise ending.... Last frame is Cat Grant shooting Supergirl, having determined she has no use left. Wonder how that will turn out?
Supergirl is a good Rebirth comic and I hope to see something larger come from her, but still very much a recommend.
Receiving telepathic messages from someone calling themselves "Gayle", Kara asks Batgirl to help her break into a black site, to rescue Gayle and find out why she keeps talking about "the key to the Phantom Zone". Saving Gayle only puts her in more danger, as she soon after uses Kara's energy to travel to the Phantom Zone, needing to 'set things right'.
After a one issue side story celebrating the family and relationship between Kara and Clark, Supergirl is called to witness a new technology being activated. The machine develops a problem and it opens a portal to the Negative Zone, sucking in Supergirl and Barbara, as well as a few others. Searching for Gayle, our heroes cross paths with Xa-Du, first Kryptonian prisoner ever, and battle breaks out.
Surprise ending.... Last frame is Cat Grant shooting Supergirl, having determined she has no use left. Wonder how that will turn out?
Supergirl is a good Rebirth comic and I hope to see something larger come from her, but still very much a recommend.
January 22, 2022
Huh. Still no resolution of the "tons of Red Kryptonite landing on Earth" stuff from volume 1, and now we have out-of-nowhere changes in how the Phantom Zone works. Among other things, this story implies that there were a zillion prisoners in there, many of whom have now been boiled down for ingredients to be used by the eeevil villain who was the first prisoner sent there. At least that part of the story was consistent with established lore, but the rest of the story was pretty iffy.
In any case, I do like the interaction between Supergirl and Batgirl in most stories, but here it was only okay. Both of them risked their lives without pausing to create an actual plan, and escaped with their lives and that of the person they were trying to rescue largely because the OTHER character they were trying to rescue had enormous power, above and beyond what they had known about. Um...okay, but a deus ex psionica seemed like a very weird plot device, and we still never found out who she really was or what was really going on.
So, good but not great.
In any case, I do like the interaction between Supergirl and Batgirl in most stories, but here it was only okay. Both of them risked their lives without pausing to create an actual plan, and escaped with their lives and that of the person they were trying to rescue largely because the OTHER character they were trying to rescue had enormous power, above and beyond what they had known about. Um...okay, but a deus ex psionica seemed like a very weird plot device, and we still never found out who she really was or what was really going on.
So, good but not great.
November 27, 2023
I liked this volume better than the first installment, but it was nothing special. There was a lot of filler in here. Characters were introduced and then soon forgotten without overlapping with the main story. The teaming with Batgirl worked well, but neither she nor Supergirl did anything special. The writing was confusing and deeply dependent on the mad scientist genre. The artwork was passable but underwhelming. It seemed to me that a place like the Phantom Zone should open up a wealth of opportunities to an artist with strange uses of colors and scenery. But there was none of that in this book. It was little more than swirling winds and a big castle that was only there to be destroyed. This book was a light read and somewhat fun but had little to recommend it.
November 22, 2018
2.5/5 This was very meh. There was no joy or comedy in this at all. The characters were pretty flat. They had a weird meh family dinner party. The writing and storyline was quick, pointless, and felt removed from everything I know about the Universe. I guess that's why they call it "rebirth," but I expected some of it to be at least recognizable.
Really, the only reason why the rating is this high is the artwork which was vibrant and colorful. Not always super consistent, but I liked the color choices and intensity.
To be honest, most GN's I can read in a day or two. I had to put this down several times and come back to it.
Really, the only reason why the rating is this high is the artwork which was vibrant and colorful. Not always super consistent, but I liked the color choices and intensity.
To be honest, most GN's I can read in a day or two. I had to put this down several times and come back to it.
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