"Hope, Help and Compassion for All"

What does Supergirl stand for?

Sterling Gates story, across a six-issue mini-series focuses on the life and adventures of Kara as Supergirl. Defining moments. Facet attempted to define her as a judge, following in the footsteps of her birth-mother Alura. Stripping away the life and relationships she had developed over her time on Earth, in order to be a guard and judge of the criminals of Fort Rozz. Facet engineered the efforts of Rampage, Vril Dox and Psi in a confused devotion to Alura. It was her desire to retrain Kara.

Kara and Alex manage to calm Rampage, dampen Vril Dox - with some help from Director Henshaw - and finally perform last rights and burial for Psi.

Supergirl manages to brace herself and prepare for a final conflict with Facet. Gates manages to wrap things up on a high note with art by Emma Vieceli, colors by Sandra Molina, lettering by Saida Temofonte under a truly super cover by Cat Staggs.

Gates defines the conclusion of the series that Supergirl stands for "hope, help and compassion for all."

The Adventures of Supergirl 6 wraps with five stars. 

Alura Dearest... The Adventures of Supergirl 5 Review

Facet sends Kara to her mother Alura for answers. The mystery of why Supergirl and her associates have been targeted by Rampage, Vril Dox and Psi. Kara and Alex head back to DEO headquarters to interrogate the AI version of Alura. What challenges credibility is that Supergirl - along with Superman - would arrive on Earth with some sort of accompanying program from their parents. It's a convenient trope. A little too convenient. The Superman Family seems overwhelmingly burdened by the past.

Another troubling aspect is Alura's ethics and morality. It's one thing to face a generation gap, and another thing to see a parent as basically evil, unethical and immoral. Kara comes to a point where she questions Alura's sense of right and wrong.

The first half of the issue "Who is Facet?" features art by cover artist Cat Stagg and comes close to the look of the live action series. "Pieces" with art by Emma Vieceli retreats back to the standard comic book style.

Vril manages to commandeer DEO headquarters! Rampage is free and on the loose! The cliffhanger finds Facet at Eliza Danvers' front door!

Sterling Gates' story leans on a couple of troubling tropes. Yes, it's true that the past stays with us. It's never really gone. It catches up to us, haunts us and sometimes traumatizes us. Too often that's somewhat overwhelming. Your mileage may vary on that.

DC seems to be leaning more into digital first, splitting an issue in half for online chapters. It's particularly noticeable here, as the art is so different from one chapter to the next.

The Adventures of Supergirl 5 earns two stars.

I Hate a Mystery! The Adventures of Supergirl 4 Review!

Previously, when Kara encountered Psi in a dream-state, the disembodied figure planted a seed sending The Girl of Steel to the Fort Rozz crash site in the desert. Kara believes that she and sister Alex are there to collect Psi's physical form - her body - from the crash site and re-bury it so she can finally be at peace. In reality, the sisters encounter Kryptonian robots. They discover that Facet, one of Fort Rozz's guards has been watching Kara from afar.

Now, Facet is ready to complete Supergirl's training so she can become one of Krypton's Finest.

Meanwhile, Vril Dox monitors the DEO agents that are supposed to be monitoring him.

Sterling Gates deepens the mystery. Gates reveals that Kara is not so much a fan of mysteries as Clark is. Carmen Carnera and Sandra Molina handle the imagery.

Red Tornado is once again mentioned.

Facet tells Kara to ask her mother for more answers. That's where the trail leads...

The Adventures of Supergirl 4, "Sistery Mystery (Reprise)" and "our Backs to the Wall" earns three stars.  

Super Strength and Super Intelligent! The Adventures of Supergirl 3 Review

Kara confronts Vril Dox in his cell at DEO headquarters. He responds by taking control of the DEO agents beside her and turning them into zombies. She "wakes" from that nightmare and is confronted by another - the destruction of DEO headquarters and Director Henshaw and her sister Alex transformed into zombies! Through one alternate reality after another, Kara fights a "never-ending battle", nearly reaching the one controlling her dream. Finally, through determination and persistence, she confronts her tormenter: the disembodied Psi! Who was used as a tool at Fort Rozz to keep all the alien super-criminals calm and under control.

Psi developed a bond with Rampage and her sister. Her actions are in retaliation to what Alex Danvers did to Rampage's sister.

Sterling Gates once again provides enjoyable storytelling under a Cat Staggs psychedelic cover. Emanuela Luppachino and Ray McCarthy handle the trippy dreamscape, with Hi-Fi colors and Saida Temofonte providing characters an individual voice through lettering.

There are references to instances of the CBS live action series. Red Tornado is name-dropped. It may not be essential; however, it may be helpful to follow the series to appreciate the companion comic.

Overall, Adventures of Supergirl earns three stars.