Supergirl #34

It's the question that has plagued comics companies since they began publishing their four-color wares: why can't a super-powered female be the star of a successful comic?

The only exception to the rule is Wonder Woman, though some might argue about the success of her sales.

The companies have certainly tried, and the quarter bins are littered with well-intentioned comics (some of them quite good) that just didn't catch on: Spider-Woman, Amethyst, Elektra and Hawkgirl, to name a few.

Add to the list several different incarnations of Supergirl, from her original appearance in the 1960s as Superman's cute little cousin, to her later growth into a young adult who was killed in the first Crisis on Infinite Earths. She was eventually brought back as some kind of android, which was merged with a young woman who was sort of an angel, then they did away with that version and brought her back as Kara Zor-El, once again Superman's cousin and a teenager again. (Ah, the magic of reboots.)

But despite a strong start (her return was featured in the Superman/Batman comic), the character has been meandering around the DC Universe ever since, sometimes being fun and interesting (see Waid and Perez's Brave and the Bold), and sometimes barely necessary.

If the plan is to give the Girl of Steel an actual direction, this comic is a good start. It's a quiet issue (aside from the opening battle with the Silver Banshee), as Kara realizes she's made some mistakes and begins to question her purpose. She seeks guidance from the ones she trusts the most - and finds a kindred spirit along the way.

It's a nice start by writer Sterling Gates, who does a good job fleshing out the supporting cast, and making Kara more than a paper-thin character. The artwork is also excellent, and penciller Jamal Igle and inker Keith Champagne turn in a strong effort, both with the action sequences and the quieter moments. Supergirl is depicted as an actual teenager - cute, but not ridiculously oversexed or pumped up.

The creative team still has a lot of work ahead of them, but they're off to a great start. If they keep up the momentum, maybe Wonder Woman will have some company over there on the "success" side of the aisle.

Grade: B+