Convergence: Supergirl Matrix #2 Review

Supergirl and Ambush Bug!  Doo Dah!  Doo Dah!

Supergirl and Ambush Bug!  Someone’s gotta die!

Your Major Spoilers review of Convergence: Supergirl Matrix #2 awaits!

CONVERGENCE: SUPERGIRL MATRIX #2
Writer: Keith Giffen
Penciler: Timothy Green II
Inker: Joseph Silver
Colorist: Hi-Fi
Letterer: Corey Breen
Editor: Marie Javins
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

Previously in Convergence: Supergirl Matrix: Originally created in an alternate pocket universe, the creature known as Matrix made her way to the mainstream DCU and became the new Supergirl, circa 20 years ago.  After a year trapped under the dome in Metropolis, serving as a much-abused bodyguard servant of Lex Luthor II (who is actually just a younger clone of the grown-up Luthor, after the original died of Kryptonite poisoning/cancer), she has gotten her powers back and been forced to confront Lord Volt and Lady Quark of Electropolis in battle for the survival of one of their home cities.

Then, Ambush Bug showed up…

IT GETS WEIRD

One thing that I really enjoy about this issue:  Giffen forgoes the complicated “Post-Crisis Pre-Flashpoint Zero Hour Adjacent Earth 1.5” nomenclature, instead immediately identifying this issue as taking place in “Metropolis, circa 1994.”  Ambush Bug tries to explain to Supergirl what is going on, even if he can’t remember everything about Earth-6 and Electropolis since he quit reading comic books.  Things quickly get freaky, with Lady Quark on the warpath, Bug teasing Supergirl that she smells like spackle, and a sudden chase through the worlds of Convergence.  From a bar on Earth-AD (Kamandi’s future) to the New York City of the Extremists (where Ambush bonds with Louse-Man, who is totally not Peter Parker, as far as you know) to the future of the Legion of Super-Heroes (where Matter-Eater Lad makes fun of Arm-Fall-Off Boy, leading to a game of “No, you are!” between green-clad heroes.)  While all of this goes on, Supergirl keeps tracking him down, fighting off Lady Quark (no sign of Lord Volt this time around), finally culminating in an epic, tooth-cracking super-satisfying beating…

…for Lex Luthor II.

CONVERGENCE TRAVELOGUE!

It’s clear that Giffen’s mantra with this issue was to have some fun at the expensive of one of the more outre 90s characters, but I have to give him credit for creating one of the few books to really take advantage of the “multiple cities strewn across the planet” setting of Convergence.  Timothy Green II delivers art that is…  Well, to be honest, it’s weird, but weird in a very unique and approachable way.  Lady Quark’s strange energy suit is fascinating to look at, while Supergirl’s hair is a lovingly-rendered Medusa tangle throughout the book, and there’s not a single panel that’s anything less than interesting.  The problem with so many of the Convergence #2s, a complete lack of ending) is handled well here, with Ambush Bug strolling off into the sunset while Supergirl and Lady Quark battle in the sky above, leaving the question of survivors unanswered (though Electropolis is destroyed in ‘Green Lantern/Parallax #2’), but giving the whole freak show a closing to echoes the best of Bugs Bunny…

THE BOTTOM LINE: THIS ONE IS THE BUG’S SHOW

In short, this book skimps a bit on the Convergence, a little bit less on the Supergirl Matrix, but manages to succeed on the perverse sense of humor of its writer and guest-star.  Gifffen’s 80s Ambush Bug series was a real thunderbolt for me, back in the day, so I’m totally onboard with him showing up and hijacking the story from the sorta boring Supergirl, even if it’s not so much a linear story as a running gag given life on the page.  Convergence: Supergirl Matrix #2 is better than the first issue, and ends up being enjoyable in spite of the premise and purported title character, with art that’s strange but fun, earning 4 out of 5 stars overall.  You might have to be a little weird to love it, but if you are, it’s a real doozy…

(Plus, I’ve been looking forward to someone smacking Luthor for over 20 years.)