By The new Supergirl series is a mess. The only thing that could save it now would be another series of puzzle pieces that falls into Infinite Crisis. I really like Jeff Loeb's writing on most of his other projects, and I did like the Supergirl arc in Superman\Batman. The first three issues of Supergirl's new series are a compendium of super-powered fight scenes; I'm reminded of Scott McCloud's one-shot called Destroy!
In the first issue, we see Supergirl's recollections of her escape from Krypton; her name is Kara Zor-El, Superman's cousin. She's discussing her past with Stargirl, when Power Girl shows up and they start fighting. For no apparent reason, Power Girl just keeps going berserk and hitting Supergirl! After a few double splash pages of battling super-fems, Mr. Terrific figures out they are "…like the same person trying to occupy a single space." In the end, they resolve to keep their distance, but Power Girl tells Kara: "I felt something dark inside you. Something you might want to look into."
The second issue wastes no time at all-Supergirl immediately slugs it out with Connor (Superboy) above Smallville. Just when they decide to become friends, the Teen Titans storm in and Supergirl fights all of them. This incarnation of Supergirl is truly powerful. In taking on some of DC's greatest heroes, you start to wonder what villain could ever give her a challenge. Then we see Luthor in his super-suit, equipping his gloves with Green, Red, Blue and Black kryptonite.
In Supergirl #3, we immediately find Kara, bound with Kryptonite chains, getting pounded on by various members of the Outsiders. We have no idea what this is all about. Is it to show how tough Kara is? You do get to see a lot of super-fems fighting each other. Once Nightwing shows up (in a cute sequence where Supergirl has a crush on him), the battle stops and she's given her next puzzle piece: where to find Luthor.
Luthor subdues Supergirl pretty easily and unleashes the black kryptonite. What happens next is really weird: Supergirl lapses into a coma. What arises from body can only be described as…Dark Supergirl! Huh? First of all, I thought she was pretty bitchy already. I never heard of Black K before this story. Wikipedia's Kryptonite entry says that Black K was created in an episode of Smallville. Loeb worked on the show that year; this is its first appearance in DC Comics. This seems premature to me. Usually we see these "Dark" characters long after the primary "Light" characters have been long established: Dark Phoenix, Dark Scarlet Witch, etc.
After the Superman\Batman arc and these first three issues of Supergirl, I still have no impression of Kara's personality. What are her redeeming qualities? What happened to Jeff Loeb's talents with character building? And what's the point of that tiny skirt, she's probably just wearing a thong underneath anyway! I just see Kara punching her way through a tour of the DC Universe. Next issue: more of the same as she fights the JLA. Is this series really meant to go the distance or is it going to change One Year Later? I'm kind of hoping that after OYL, this Kara gets replaced with Karen Star (aka Power Girl): her heart is even bigger than her chest. Nuff said.
Hmm, indeed, Supergirl is sent from one beating to the next, at least in her own series. Still I don't think this book is bad.
So far - 3 issues guys! Not that much - she was thrown from one trouble into the next. It wasn't her picking fights, it just happened. She indeed didn't have time to develop and display much depth, but I doubt it will stay like this. Give it some time. 3 issues isn't really much. Besides: Wasn't she about to leave earth?
I totally dig the black supergirl here. I am pretty sure, she will make it into my gallery, when I have the comic. Really sexy.
I fear that you are right and only powergirl will be left, though that's not a development I would like to see. I think this DC universe has room for Powergirl AND Supergirl.