Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the 8th Grade #1
- Posted by Johanna on December 10, 2008 at 7:11 am
- Category: Superhero Reviews
- PUBLISHER: DC Comics
I’d been looking forward to this new kids’ comic because of its creative team. It’s written by Landry Walker with art by Eric Jones, the same team behind Little Gloomy.
I was expecting something cute and funny (like Tiny Titans, for example), but I was surprised to see this comic skew a little older and deeper.
Walker and Jones don’t shy away from some of the darker aspects of the classic Supergirl story. There’s comedy in how the girl, new to Earth, doesn’t understand or overreacts to her new powers, but there’s also depression: a whim on her part results in her being separated from her parents and home, perhaps forever, and she doesn’t fit in anywhere any more.
These are potent childhood fears that provide welcome depth to the fluffy top layer, which keeps it all from being too grim. It’s a tricky balance handled impressively well. Landry and Walker have modernized the story to make something that kids may actually want to read (as opposed to something that their parents want them to read because it’s safe).
Plus, you know, she’s cute.
The publisher has put up some preview pages. Here’s an interview with the writer.
8 Responses to “Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the 8th Grade #1”
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December 10, 2008 at 8:35 AM
Johanna,
I really enjoyed this comic too. I’m looking forward to seeing how the story and characters develop. I also like the fact that Supergirl is wearing a nice modest outfit befitting her age.
December 10, 2008 at 8:43 AM
Thanks for pointing that out – I would have, but I didn’t want to be predictable. :)
December 10, 2008 at 12:27 PM
This looks really cute. I like the costume too (the tights are a good addition, considering she’s a flying superheroine in a short skirt), but my favorite Supergirl look by far is in Busiek and Immonen’s “Superman: Secret Identity.”
December 11, 2008 at 10:43 PM
When you say it skews older than you thought, what age do you think would be appropriate for it? As you know, I’ve been looking for a Supergirl comic that my daughter (now five) might like, and this seemed the best option in a while.
December 13, 2008 at 7:51 AM
I’m bad at estimating ages — and I think an individual parent is going to know their kid better than I could guess. But I would want to make sure that they could cope with the idea of being separated from their parents, possibly permanently, and understand that it’s only a story. That strikes me as a particularly potent fear for younger ones. If you read it with her, I think it would probably be fine.
December 23, 2009 at 11:00 AM
[...] a “girly” comic book. Here are links to some more info if you’re curious: ComicsWorthReading.com, [...]
June 29, 2010 at 4:54 PM
Although great, this book is really for young girls below the onset of puberty, not above it (say, eight to twelve years old.) Girls thirteen and up are going to want to read the regular Supergirl title (now past it’s 50th issue with a story by Helen Slater, who was Supergirl in the movies!) It all depends on the maturity level, though.
August 15, 2011 at 11:35 PM
Really? Because I read Cosmic Adventures and loved it, and I read the main title and hated it. Socially-awkward, yet well-meaning prepubescent gangly geek tries to fit in and cover up their ability to fly in space, or anorexic-looking constantly-snarling über-bitch wears about a square foot of fabric and beats up honest, hardworking heroes who don’t have nostalgia-motivated editorial mandates to fall back on? Cosmic Adventures any day.