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Supergirl (2005) (Old Editions) #8
Supergirl: Death and the Family
The Silver Banshee is back in Metropolis! This time she's after an artifact that could finally break her family's eternal curse. When Inspector Mike Henderson gets involved, Supergirl is pulled into the conflict! Meanwhile, Lana Lang's mysterious condition takes a turn for the worse. Will the Girl of Steel be able to save her only two human friends? And in the wake of the shocking death of Lana Lang, is put to the test when she uncovers a terrible secret about Lana Lang.
This collection reprints Supergirl (2005 series) #48-50, Supergirl Annual #1
This collection reprints Supergirl (2005 series) #48-50, Supergirl Annual #1
144 pages, Paperback
First published August 18, 2010
About the author
Sterling Gates
243 books35 followersSterling Gates has written stories featuring some of the biggest superheroes in the world, including Superman, Supergirl, Spider-Man, Batman, Green Lantern, and the Flash. He is the cowriter of the New York Times best-selling "Superman: New Krypton Saga" graphic novel series, including SUPERMAN: NEW KRYPTON, SUPERMAN: THE LAST STAND OF NEW KRYPTON, and SUPERMAN: WAR OF THE SUPERMEN.
Gates was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and studied filmmaking and art at the University of Oklahoma. He moved to Los Angeles in 2006, where he worked first as a writer's room production assistant and later as personal assistant to comic book legend Geoff Johns.
Gates' critically acclaimed run on SUPERGIRL with artist Jamal Igle redefined the character for a new generation and was named one of the "100 Greatest Superhero Comics of All Time" by The Hollywood Reporter in 2016. ADVENTURES OF SUPERGIRL Vol. 1 was selected by YALSA as one of 2017's "Great Graphic Novels for Teens." Gates and artist Matthew Clark contributed a Supergirl story to the Eisner and Ringo award-winning anthology, LOVE IS LOVE.
Gates has written for various other media, including the independent superhero film THE POSTHUMAN PROJECT, Marvel Animation Studios' SPIDER-MAN, and The CW's SUPERGIRL and THE FLASH.
A proud Eagle Scout, Gates currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
Gates was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and studied filmmaking and art at the University of Oklahoma. He moved to Los Angeles in 2006, where he worked first as a writer's room production assistant and later as personal assistant to comic book legend Geoff Johns.
Gates' critically acclaimed run on SUPERGIRL with artist Jamal Igle redefined the character for a new generation and was named one of the "100 Greatest Superhero Comics of All Time" by The Hollywood Reporter in 2016. ADVENTURES OF SUPERGIRL Vol. 1 was selected by YALSA as one of 2017's "Great Graphic Novels for Teens." Gates and artist Matthew Clark contributed a Supergirl story to the Eisner and Ringo award-winning anthology, LOVE IS LOVE.
Gates has written for various other media, including the independent superhero film THE POSTHUMAN PROJECT, Marvel Animation Studios' SPIDER-MAN, and The CW's SUPERGIRL and THE FLASH.
A proud Eagle Scout, Gates currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 16, 2018
About a billion years ago, in an effort to prove to myself and by extension my Superman-loving friend, Anne, that there was in fact a decent Superman event out there, I read as much of the New Krypton saga as my library had misbegottenly had in stock.
The verdict: It was okay. It had a few great moments, but more often than not, it was just borderline entertaining. Now a billion years later, I come across another piece to this event in a bargain bin, so recalibrating my addled brain to New Krypton time, I dived in.
I needn’t have bothered trying to think so hard. This book is only peripherally tied into the master story line, sure the anti-E.T. sentiment is being drummed up by everyone, including amateur hooker, Cat Grant, but Superman isn’t even mentioned over a latte. So, now suffering from a storyline recalibrating headache and latent anger, I read on.
The storylines:
The Science Police (read: the We Hate Superman and Anything Kryptonian Police) have to interrupt their donut run to investigate a bank robbery with a possible Kryptonian on the premises.
Supergirl, who foiled the attempt in her Earth disguise, because she’s trying to do the right thing in spite of the hatorade, is still in the bank.
Wasn’t Superwoman, aka Lucy Lane, dead?
She was indeed dead, astute reader, now she’s not dead. She now has the Super-powers previously granted her only by wearing a nifty suit. Her daddy, General Lane, who hates all things Kryptonian, isn’t happy. Her My-Heart-Belongs-to-Daddy-But-Daddy-Ignores-Me-In-Favor-of-My-Big-Sister-Lois dilemma is explored.
Supergirl rocks the Silver Banshee look.
Supergirl’s pal, Lana Lang has been trying to help her grow comfortable in her new life on Earth, but poor Lana isn’t feeling so well.
And Lana’s condition takes a turn for the worst.
If it’s a cocoon, this must be an infestation from some sort of bug entity. *hackles rise*
Bottom Line: For anyone looking for more insight into The New Krypton saga, keep looking; this one is strictly for Supergirl fans.
September 22, 2023
Starts off strong with the Silver Banshee storyline, but fades away after that with an invasion of insect bugs who don't really register. Strong artwork helps keep it interesting enough.
May 11, 2023
Not bad. Probably would've enjoyed it more if I read it in context
February 13, 2011
Nice solid entry by Sterling Gates. The online reviews are what prompted me to try the last two volumes in this series, and Gates does a very good job with the supporting characters. Actually the work with the supporting characters, including Lana's "illness", outshines his work on the series lead. Overall enjoyable, and a continuing attempt to make this character a relevant player for the company.
August 29, 2012
I've been looking forward to this read for reasons. Many reasons. And I just may cry a little bit for those reasons.
But I also love Jamal Igle. He's wonderful at what he does and he's a nice guy.
But I also love Jamal Igle. He's wonderful at what he does and he's a nice guy.
March 1, 2013
It was the last great pre-TheNew52 Superman storyline. It was supposed to entertain and enlighten and energize the Superman books for years to come. It was one of the most massive, interconnected tales of Kal-El ever told.
And I thoroughly enjoyed it.
And I think I was one of the few who did.
And that is a complete shame.
Superman New Krypton is a storyline that takes place over almost two years worth of Superman, Action Comics, Supergirl, Superboy, World of New Krypton, Adventure Comics and various one shots and mini-series. One of the slight modifications after Infinite Crisis to the mythos was opening the floodgates to plenty of other Kryptonians being alive and well, and this concept became a tidal wave when Superman faced off against Brainiac for the “first” time and freed the kidnapped bottled city of Kandor.
In all classic and neo-modern versions of this tale, these fellow Kryptonians become jolly good friends of Superman and benevolent helpers to him. Those stores would always bore me to tears. Even when they enlarged and got their own planet, I couldn’t have cared less.
This time, this contemporary version, they range from arrogant to somewhat ungrateful to outright hostile to all sorts inbetween. It is made abundantly clear that one of the points of New Krypton is that a great part of makes Superman “Super” is the parentage of Ma and the now late Pa Kent. Early on the now powered up Kandorians relish “their” new planet, and view the current inhabitants, namely us humans, as like pets. The part with the whale illustrates this dichotomy so precisely, it is downright prescient of what future troubles are brewing.
Tensions immediately escalate when Lois’s presumed dead father, General Lane, enacts Project 7734, with the goal of fulfilling his genocidal hatred of all things Superman. Plots within plots within plots, each met with large body counts, becomes the constant theme here. Anyone and anything that gets in the way of eliminating these filthy aliens must be abolished. The massacres the Kandorians have to endure, and their counter measures to ensure their safety, cause global tensions and bring about a huge cadre of superheroes to sort the situation out.
At this point the preamble is done, the Kandorians see the welcome mat yanked away, which makes them launch their city off into space, create a crystalline planet for themselves, and take up orbit on the far side of the sun. Goodbye you crazy humans!
At this point, Kal is still trying to fix all the myriad problems that have come about here, and so with a heavy heart he talks to wife Lois and mother Martha and goes off to outer space and New Krypton.
The stage is set and the players are now in place.
Kal-El is now world building, society changing and evil plot solving in the World of New Krypton comic by James Robinson, Greg Rucka and Pete Woods. Guest stars like Green Lantern, Adam Strange and Jemm pop up here because of the new galactic power this planet represents. We also see the creators reinvent Krypton by incorporating as many different previous versions as possible, and somehow keeping internal logic. Kal learning about how things work here does not make him a happy Superman, and brings out the social revolutionary in him.
Meanwhile, back in Metropolis, new protectors have emerged in the Superman comic, by James Robinson and Renato Geudes. Through a series of flukes, Mon-El has been plucked from the Phantom Zone and managed to be cured, while another clone of the golden age hero The Guardian has come to town. These two bring truth and justice and subplots galore here every month.
But what of all the subterfuge between the two planets? Action Comics by Greg Rucka and various artists plays with this concept by showcasing the hunt for Kryptonian infiltrators by Nightwing and Flamebird. This crime fighting duo, and potential couple, are also Kryptonians and fighting against the evil General Zod’s plans for Earth.
The tale of someone genuinely torn between the two worlds is in the Supergirl comic, by Sterling Gates and Jamal Igle. Whether she is on New Krypton endlessly arguing with her mother – and leader of Kandor, or learning about humanity while living with Lana Lang back on Earth, Supergirl is constantly challenged. She is also subjected to relentless yellow journalism by Daily Planet gossip hound Cat Grant, trying on the secret identity of Linda Lang, and recovering from Kryptonite poisoning, which by the way, is a brilliant pot device to fix the many many problems plaguing the character over the years. Supergirl 43 is the absolute best of this series, featuring her birthday and choosing a guild.
Joining in on the fun is Adventure Comics, by Geoff Johns and Francis Manapul. Starting with Superboy slowly becoming a part of everything, the series than evolves into telling the tale of how the time travelling Legion of Super Heroes are involved with this crisis.
Along the way with this sweeping storyline, we get some one shots giving us the journey of Jimmy Olsen as he investigates General Lane, and another one shot at a critical junction of everything. A personal favourite is the World’s Finest miniseries, by Sterling Gates and various artists, which has several very important plot developments. But the real reason this is a classic part of New Krypton is that these four issues have a literal whackload of Superman and Batman supporting characters teaming up, arguing, bantering, and just giving us readers a grand old adventure. Come on, Guardian and Robin Damian taking on Mr Freeze and the Parasite, what more can you ask for?
The only downside to this undertaking is the midway point. You can tell the gears behind the scenes were being shifted slightly, with some ideas, like Mon-El’s powers or what to do with Guardian’s “kid”, becoming increasing sidelined. By the time of the epic ending with The Last Stand of New Krypton comic, you can feel the lethargy kicking in. This is not to say the conclusion, which reaches its final crescendo with the War Of The Supermen mini-series, was not good and gripping and emotional, but it is obvious the fatigue from creating all those stories had taken it’s toll.
Afterall, besides everything I have mentioned, New Krypton also stars Lois Lane on a quest for the truth about her father, Perry White trying to guide her, Lex Luther being the master manipulator, Atlas being a brute, Steel helping out in Metropolis, the Creature Commandos making a comeback, Reactron being a ruthless murderer, Doomsday terrorizing everyone, Captain Atom playing a role, Daxam history getting re-explained, Codename: Assassin getting a dust-off, Silver Banshee giving a shout out, Insect Queen crawling about, Rao gaining new followers, and a partridge in a pear tree. With all this, and so much more, is it any wonder that everyone involved probably needed a nice long vacation when it was all said and done?
One issue that was present from the start, as related in interviews by writer Greg Rucka, is that New Krypton was very much behind schedule right from inception. Playing catch-up was always a present concern for all creators, who all want to do their best, but are facing a super deadline looming before them.
Because of this rushed nature of the series, and despite the promotional push from DC Comics, fans seemed slightly jaded before New Krypton even began. I myself got every issue, but only read them all last month. Because of this malaise, I firmly believe sales of the entire storyline were far below expectations, which is most likely why virtually all aspects of it were promptly ignored as soon as it ended. And this failure was also the most probable reason why the major surgery was committed on Superman’s history with The New 52 Relaunch. Think about it, this massive sweeping tale of epic proportions with far reaching ramifications vanishes from continuity a year later? Such a shame.
Everyone has a favourite Superman. Mine is the From Crisis To Crisis era. This storyline, with a nip and tuck and a bit of mental rewiring, can still fit somewhat gently into that beloved version of the Man of Steel. Yes, some leaps are harder to take than others, and I am looking at you Lucy Lane, but so many of the basic concepts are still present and accounted for.
So many thoughts and ideas are expressed here. The Clark Kent of Ma and Pa Kent faces off against the Kal-El of Krypton, nature versus nurture on a planetary scale. Earth and New Krypton on a collision course caused by madmen, people who know nothing of what Superman stands for. All this encompassing something like 150 comics in total.
A Super tale for a Superman.
And I thoroughly enjoyed it.
And I think I was one of the few who did.
And that is a complete shame.
Superman New Krypton is a storyline that takes place over almost two years worth of Superman, Action Comics, Supergirl, Superboy, World of New Krypton, Adventure Comics and various one shots and mini-series. One of the slight modifications after Infinite Crisis to the mythos was opening the floodgates to plenty of other Kryptonians being alive and well, and this concept became a tidal wave when Superman faced off against Brainiac for the “first” time and freed the kidnapped bottled city of Kandor.
In all classic and neo-modern versions of this tale, these fellow Kryptonians become jolly good friends of Superman and benevolent helpers to him. Those stores would always bore me to tears. Even when they enlarged and got their own planet, I couldn’t have cared less.
This time, this contemporary version, they range from arrogant to somewhat ungrateful to outright hostile to all sorts inbetween. It is made abundantly clear that one of the points of New Krypton is that a great part of makes Superman “Super” is the parentage of Ma and the now late Pa Kent. Early on the now powered up Kandorians relish “their” new planet, and view the current inhabitants, namely us humans, as like pets. The part with the whale illustrates this dichotomy so precisely, it is downright prescient of what future troubles are brewing.
Tensions immediately escalate when Lois’s presumed dead father, General Lane, enacts Project 7734, with the goal of fulfilling his genocidal hatred of all things Superman. Plots within plots within plots, each met with large body counts, becomes the constant theme here. Anyone and anything that gets in the way of eliminating these filthy aliens must be abolished. The massacres the Kandorians have to endure, and their counter measures to ensure their safety, cause global tensions and bring about a huge cadre of superheroes to sort the situation out.
At this point the preamble is done, the Kandorians see the welcome mat yanked away, which makes them launch their city off into space, create a crystalline planet for themselves, and take up orbit on the far side of the sun. Goodbye you crazy humans!
At this point, Kal is still trying to fix all the myriad problems that have come about here, and so with a heavy heart he talks to wife Lois and mother Martha and goes off to outer space and New Krypton.
The stage is set and the players are now in place.
Kal-El is now world building, society changing and evil plot solving in the World of New Krypton comic by James Robinson, Greg Rucka and Pete Woods. Guest stars like Green Lantern, Adam Strange and Jemm pop up here because of the new galactic power this planet represents. We also see the creators reinvent Krypton by incorporating as many different previous versions as possible, and somehow keeping internal logic. Kal learning about how things work here does not make him a happy Superman, and brings out the social revolutionary in him.
Meanwhile, back in Metropolis, new protectors have emerged in the Superman comic, by James Robinson and Renato Geudes. Through a series of flukes, Mon-El has been plucked from the Phantom Zone and managed to be cured, while another clone of the golden age hero The Guardian has come to town. These two bring truth and justice and subplots galore here every month.
But what of all the subterfuge between the two planets? Action Comics by Greg Rucka and various artists plays with this concept by showcasing the hunt for Kryptonian infiltrators by Nightwing and Flamebird. This crime fighting duo, and potential couple, are also Kryptonians and fighting against the evil General Zod’s plans for Earth.
The tale of someone genuinely torn between the two worlds is in the Supergirl comic, by Sterling Gates and Jamal Igle. Whether she is on New Krypton endlessly arguing with her mother – and leader of Kandor, or learning about humanity while living with Lana Lang back on Earth, Supergirl is constantly challenged. She is also subjected to relentless yellow journalism by Daily Planet gossip hound Cat Grant, trying on the secret identity of Linda Lang, and recovering from Kryptonite poisoning, which by the way, is a brilliant pot device to fix the many many problems plaguing the character over the years. Supergirl 43 is the absolute best of this series, featuring her birthday and choosing a guild.
Joining in on the fun is Adventure Comics, by Geoff Johns and Francis Manapul. Starting with Superboy slowly becoming a part of everything, the series than evolves into telling the tale of how the time travelling Legion of Super Heroes are involved with this crisis.
Along the way with this sweeping storyline, we get some one shots giving us the journey of Jimmy Olsen as he investigates General Lane, and another one shot at a critical junction of everything. A personal favourite is the World’s Finest miniseries, by Sterling Gates and various artists, which has several very important plot developments. But the real reason this is a classic part of New Krypton is that these four issues have a literal whackload of Superman and Batman supporting characters teaming up, arguing, bantering, and just giving us readers a grand old adventure. Come on, Guardian and Robin Damian taking on Mr Freeze and the Parasite, what more can you ask for?
The only downside to this undertaking is the midway point. You can tell the gears behind the scenes were being shifted slightly, with some ideas, like Mon-El’s powers or what to do with Guardian’s “kid”, becoming increasing sidelined. By the time of the epic ending with The Last Stand of New Krypton comic, you can feel the lethargy kicking in. This is not to say the conclusion, which reaches its final crescendo with the War Of The Supermen mini-series, was not good and gripping and emotional, but it is obvious the fatigue from creating all those stories had taken it’s toll.
Afterall, besides everything I have mentioned, New Krypton also stars Lois Lane on a quest for the truth about her father, Perry White trying to guide her, Lex Luther being the master manipulator, Atlas being a brute, Steel helping out in Metropolis, the Creature Commandos making a comeback, Reactron being a ruthless murderer, Doomsday terrorizing everyone, Captain Atom playing a role, Daxam history getting re-explained, Codename: Assassin getting a dust-off, Silver Banshee giving a shout out, Insect Queen crawling about, Rao gaining new followers, and a partridge in a pear tree. With all this, and so much more, is it any wonder that everyone involved probably needed a nice long vacation when it was all said and done?
One issue that was present from the start, as related in interviews by writer Greg Rucka, is that New Krypton was very much behind schedule right from inception. Playing catch-up was always a present concern for all creators, who all want to do their best, but are facing a super deadline looming before them.
Because of this rushed nature of the series, and despite the promotional push from DC Comics, fans seemed slightly jaded before New Krypton even began. I myself got every issue, but only read them all last month. Because of this malaise, I firmly believe sales of the entire storyline were far below expectations, which is most likely why virtually all aspects of it were promptly ignored as soon as it ended. And this failure was also the most probable reason why the major surgery was committed on Superman’s history with The New 52 Relaunch. Think about it, this massive sweeping tale of epic proportions with far reaching ramifications vanishes from continuity a year later? Such a shame.
Everyone has a favourite Superman. Mine is the From Crisis To Crisis era. This storyline, with a nip and tuck and a bit of mental rewiring, can still fit somewhat gently into that beloved version of the Man of Steel. Yes, some leaps are harder to take than others, and I am looking at you Lucy Lane, but so many of the basic concepts are still present and accounted for.
So many thoughts and ideas are expressed here. The Clark Kent of Ma and Pa Kent faces off against the Kal-El of Krypton, nature versus nurture on a planetary scale. Earth and New Krypton on a collision course caused by madmen, people who know nothing of what Superman stands for. All this encompassing something like 150 comics in total.
A Super tale for a Superman.
September 15, 2025
En realidad serían dos estrellas y media. Después del último compilado (que tiene un crossover con el Action Comics de Rucka) este último compilado no me gustó. Aunque en los números sueltos tienen el banner de "World against Superman" la verdad es que estos números solamente tocan tangencialmente esa historia. En realidad se sacan de la manga una enfrentamiento contra Silver Banshee y después se cierra lo que estaba pasando con Lana Lang que es algo que se venía fraguando desde que Kurt Busiek estuviera en los títulos de Superman. Quizás lo único que me gustó es que en el último número salió Gangbuster un personaje interesante que siento que DC ha desaprovechado.
August 30, 2018
V. enjoyable comic, giant bugs, what it means to be human, Batman reference, Superman, Lana and Lois, c-list heroes Guardian and Crimebuster. Nice art, but wish she wasn't dressed like a sixteen year old girl drawn by an adult male. Worth the read if you see it in the library or want a easy gift.
December 18, 2017
Not sure why I didn't like this.
September 10, 2020
Standard Supergirl fare. Nothing bad, but nothing particularly memorable.
February 21, 2015
Review originally posted at http://wp.me/p4Wvzn-sg
Death and the Family fills in some of the side-story of the huge epic that is the New Krypton story arc. Centering around Superman's cousin, Kara Zor-El the book ties up some of the loose ends in the Supergirl storyline before heading into the "Last Stand of New Krypton" arc.
Beginning with an an encounter with the Silver Banshee, Death and the Family then takes a turn at exploring Kara's more vulnerable side as she discovers that Lucy Lane is suffering from an unexplained illness and fighting for her life.
The book explores the lengths Kara was willing to go to for "family" even at one stage refeeing to herself as a Lane. The book also deals with the origin of the mysterious Superwoman and her eventual fate. For such a small arc (three issues) there's a lot going on here and that's no bad thing.
Overall this was a great read and really whet my appetite for more of the New Krypton arc
Death and the Family fills in some of the side-story of the huge epic that is the New Krypton story arc. Centering around Superman's cousin, Kara Zor-El the book ties up some of the loose ends in the Supergirl storyline before heading into the "Last Stand of New Krypton" arc.
Beginning with an an encounter with the Silver Banshee, Death and the Family then takes a turn at exploring Kara's more vulnerable side as she discovers that Lucy Lane is suffering from an unexplained illness and fighting for her life.
The book explores the lengths Kara was willing to go to for "family" even at one stage refeeing to herself as a Lane. The book also deals with the origin of the mysterious Superwoman and her eventual fate. For such a small arc (three issues) there's a lot going on here and that's no bad thing.
Overall this was a great read and really whet my appetite for more of the New Krypton arc
July 6, 2020
This run has been consistently good. I like Gates take on the character, though I prefer the New 52 era.
For more on Supergirl check out this episode of Comic Book Coffee Break: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj5wm...
For more on Supergirl check out this episode of Comic Book Coffee Break: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj5wm...
November 26, 2013
There is a lot going on in this one. You have the origin of Superwoman, the silver banshee and Lana Lane's mysterious illness. For any fan of Supergirl this is a must read. The story is good and the artwork outstanding.
July 24, 2012
The best Supergirl story that I have ever read! Though the mistreated of the Lucy Lane character did sting a bit.
January 20, 2013
I just can't get into this book. I like Supergirl but this stuff just makes me feel lost and unattached.
April 3, 2013
Nice artwork and enjoyable storyline but makes me realise just how behind I am in my Supergirl reading as quite a bit about the character was different from what I remember.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews