In the wake of Superman’s death, Metropolis was scooped out of the Multiverse by Brainiac, all the better to watch heroes fight to their death. What does this mean for the creature called Matrix, aka the 90s Supergirl? Your Major Spoilers review of Convergence Supergirl: Matrix #1 awaits!
CONVERGENCE SUPERGIRL: MATRIX #1
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: Created by the Lex Luthor of a pocket dimension, given the memories of Lana Lang, the creature known as Matrix began calling herself Supergirl in that world. When she crossed over to the mainstream reality, she continued as Supergirl, with additional powers of telekinesis, invisibility and her natural shape-shifting powers. In the wake of Superman’s death at the hands of Doomsday, she served as both Lex Luthor’s bodyguard and one of the interim protectors of her city. This is a tale of Pre-Zero Hour Metropolis…
EVEN *I* DON’T KNOW LORD VOLT’S DEAL
Once again, I have picked up an issue of Convergence that has left me wondering at whom it is aimed. Keith Giffen’s story quickly establishes our Matrix/Supergirl as an unwilling straight man to the hilarious abuses of Lex Luthor II (the bearded clone Luthor who claimed to be his own son after he died of cancer due to continuously wearing a radioactive Kryptonite ring.) The tone is nothing like any of the previous Supergirl stories featuring Matrix, nor is it much like the 90s-era Superman titles from which it sprung. Unlike last week’s offerings from Pre-Flashpoint Gotham, she has her full powers even under the dome, and is quick to respond when Telos decrees the ritual of dome-to-dome combat, rising to meet the challenge of Lord Volt and Lady Quark of Electropolis. Volt and Quark were created as cannon fodder during the original Crisis, and have had very little development as characters, so it’s kind of funny to see Giffen reimagine them as bickering jerks, forced into a marriage for show.
I DON’T LIKE ANYONE IN THIS BOOK
The problem comes in that, being both jerks, played against the jerkassery of Lex Luthor, makes for a wearying reading experience. Supergirl tries to beg off on fighting, instead searching for a mysterious teleportation signature that Luthor has identified, but the rulers of Electropolis keep attacking her (and each other.) It’s a very snarky book, from the opening titles (wherein the creators sarcastically point out that nobody cares about these characters, more than once), to the final page reveal that the teleportation energy is… AMBUSH BUG! Artwise, it’s an okay book, with attempts to ape the late-80s style of Giffen himself, as well as the expressive style of Kevin Maguire on the legendary JLI run, and while it never quite nails that aesthetic, it looks fine throughout most of the issue…
THE BOTTOM LINE: A BIT TOO SARCASTIC AND SELF-AWARE
As a long-term fan of Giffen, his sarcastic tone can be wonderful in the right context, but can easily feel like sneering dislike of comics when it’s not quite right, and this issue crosses that line more than once for me. While it is funny in places, and the appearance of Ambush Bug could make next issue fun, Convergence Supergirl: Matrix #1 doesn’t really get the tone right, with less making Matrix fun and more making fun of Matrix (and Lord Volt and Lady Quark and pretty much everything else) earning 2.5 out of 5 stars overall…
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3 Comments
I remember the first time I saw Matrix Supergirl was in the Death of Superman (?) when she started to die and melted into a pile of clay gooey-ness. It freaked me out and I for the longest time did not know why she was like that. Luckily I grew up and learned how to research. It still freaks me out and I find it weird.
I’m really hoping next issue is all Ambush Bug all the time.
I might disagree on some levels. For me this book was my favorite issue (from the few Convergence books I read so far). I really liked the expressions on Matrixes face when she thought of a way to defeat the Lady and the Tramp… Lord. Yes, it reminded me of the classic JLI, too. But I found this tongue in cheek tone really refreshing after 4 years of nihilistic and dark New 52 comics. I actually wished, Giffen had also written the JLI book. Maybe his style would have been even more suitable for that one. But after all, Supergirl Matrix was my highlight book so far!!!
Also my first time with Supergirl Matrix was seeing her in the Death of Superman, and the way she looked after being hit by Doomsday really confused me. It is weird!!!