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Mild Mannered Reviews - Supergirl Comics

Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #27

Scheduled to arrive in stores: February 28, 2007

Cover date: April 2007

Writer: Mark Waid
Penciller: Barry Kitson
Inker: Mick Gray

Reviewed by: Jeffrey Bridges

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On the Dominion homeworld, the Dominators discuss the A.I. Virus, which was the mysterious red payload that covered earth at the end of last issue. The virus brings to life anything with a "robot soul" and makes it theirs to command. The Dominators have also captured Sun Boy and his team in a trap they had hoped would catch members of the Legion or Wanderers. The Dominators are using "DNA scrapes" from the members of Sun Boy's team the Dominators are engineering an army of warriors better suited to combat.

In the United Planets buildings, we learn that the Dominator virus has spread worldwide and all mechanical devices are failing. The ambassadors can't leave because the transporters don't work, and even if they did no one would allow the connection for fear of the virus spreading. As such, they're trapped and must defend themselves with ancient firearms. All around the world Legion members battle robots and other effects of the virus.

As Cosmic Boy and Mekt debate what to do, the robots have broken into the UP building and are starting to chuck the ambassadors out a hole in the wall. Invisible Kid flies up to try to save them, but by using his flight ring the virus was able to take control of it and it explodes. Chameleon turns into a hawk-like creature and saves him, and then turns into a giant moth and with Cosmic Boy's help flies around trying to rescue the ambassadors.

In the middle of a forest, Brainiac-5 is building a transporter that forces open a portal on the other end so that they can try to save the ambassadors, and Plant Lad is growing more and more foliage all around them to keep them as hidden as possible. Cosmic Boy and Chameleon show up with the ambassadors in tow, and Brainy activates the transporter but due to help from a less-than-capable assistant, it's not functioning correctly and he's got to recalibrate it. The second it's activated the Dominators realize it, and open a portal of their own and send a bunch of their genetically-engineered troops through.

As Lighthing Lad and Mekt try to hold off the Dominators, Mekt reveals that all he ever wanted was to not be an outsider, and now that he's built a family with the Wanderers he's terrified that he's going to get them killed.

Brainy says the time it took him to repair the transporter may have caused it to be infected by the virus. He tells Cosmic Boy they either need to scrap the gate and rescue plan, or send the ambassadors through and hope they survive. Cos chooses to send them through, but the gate malfunctions and the ambassadors start losing body parts left and right.

Cos orders everyone to retreat to higher ground and tries to hold off the encroaching Dominators, but appears to be overwhelmed.

The book ends with a nice four-page retrospective and tribute to Legion artist Dave Cockrum who passed away last November.

Story - 5: Yeah, it's all coming together.

Recently it was announced that Waid and Kitson are leaving the title after issue 30, and it brings me great sadness to see either of them go. But they're going out with a bang and things are clearly ramping right into what should be an explosive final issue for them.

The only thing that worries me are the "forgotten" storylines. I know there's really no place for them here, and so that's why I didn't knock the score down any. But it feels like it's been so long since we've heard about them and with only three more issues until Waid's magnificent run on the book ends, I worry they're going to fall by the wayside.

What of the criminals from Big City? What of Shadow Lass and her plans to run for Legion leader? Mon-El? Hopefully, before Waid makes his grand departure, we'll find out.

Art - 5: I'm running out of ways to praise Kitson. I don't even know what else to say that I haven't already except that seeing his art in comics makes me feel like a kid again. And not because it's childish, it's just... what comic book art should be.

Cover Art - 4: Pretty cool, and directly from the issue (even if there's a weird random wall behind Garth and Mekt) and there's no lame puns or characters that don't actually appear in the book. It's an action scene, the play of light and shadows is great, and so is the glow on the lightning running down Lightning Lad's costume. And yet, this cover seems to be missing that true "wow" factor that makes me really want to grab the book or see the art as a poster. That's just personal preference, though, there's technically nothing wrong with this that I can see. It's just another example of Kitson rocking on with his bad self.

Mild Mannered Reviews

2007

Note: Month dates are from the issue covers, not the actual date when the comic went on sale.

January 2007

February 2007

March 2007

April 2007

May 2007

June 2007

July 2007

August 2007

September 2007

October 2007

November 2007

December 2007

Back to the Mild Mannered Reviews contents page.

Check out the Comic Index Lists for the complete list of Superman-related comics published in 2007.

Mild Mannered Reviews - Supergirl Comics

Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #27

Mild Mannered Reviews

2007

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