Tom King, Bilquis Evely and Mathias Lopes have signed the best story of the Supergirl character and one of the best comics of recent times, now in the ECC Ediciones general edition.
It seems undeniable that the current trend in any art form (or maybe it’s always been this way) is to regret the lack of originality in the works of today and yearn for the past when the true masters created magic. This is irrefutable evidence of its futility. The world of comics is not a stranger to this, and even if works that cause stendhalazos among readers are not published every month, it happens from time to time.
Tom King is probably the best screenwriter working today, and Bilquis Evely is an incredible artist who impresses with every page. Apparently, what they did together is not just funny. Supergirl: The Woman of Tomorrow is now available in a volume published by ECC Ediciones and includes the entire series.
Kara Zor-El has never seen her
Kara Zor-El is a character created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino in the late 1950s, following the typical strategy of documenting different versions of a victorious hero (in this case, Superman) in order to exploit him before others do. And she will be the protagonist of this story, not other versions of the character like The Matrix, Kara Zor-El or Ariella Kent. As King has shown in many works, he likes to return to the original concept and roots.
Readers who especially like this character should be prepared to experience something different here than what has been seen so far. We’re not talking about an innocent young girl with a strength she shouldn’t be allowed to possess, we’re talking about a violent fascist who looks like a fifteen-year-old, and we’re not talking about a sex icon. Or we will talk about all these versions at once. In fact, the character presented here is so complex that it cannot be described in a sentence, but perhaps his indifference and the feeling of turning back from everything are his most striking features.
From the beginning, the first impression can be confusing. We meet Kara in a bar on a distant planet bathed in a red star. This is because thanks to that starlight, you can have fun one day without being too intense, and this means that if you drink too much alcohol, your body won’t process it as efficiently and you’ll get extremely drunk. It’s a way to celebrate his birthday with crypto.
A story of revenge
The plot begins when Kara crosses paths with Ruthie, a recently orphaned young girl, who is the victim of a senseless conflict that started a few meters above ground and is taking the lives of others. Innocent. Ruth goes in search of Krem, who killed her father, and when she realizes that this is her only chance to achieve her goal, she does not hesitate to ask for Kara’s help.
Despite the title of the comic, the narrator of the story will be Ruthie. This puts us in the perspective of someone who first meets Kara and gets to know her from chapter to chapter, where it’s interesting how her vision of Clark Kent’s cousin changes as she evolves. The relationship between the two.
This couple will have time not only to play galactic detectives in their quest for revenge, but also to live with problems and frustrations every day, solving the small problems that any person who walks in space, regardless of their ability to destroy, will encounter. Enemies with the light that comes from his eyes, fall, rise and meditate on the way the universe and the creatures that live in it work.
There will also be times to laugh, but let no one be deceived. The former CIA agent who wrote this story is here to be serious. Very difficult. Perhaps with works like Superman: Up in the Sky or Batman/Elmer Fudd, one would think that the screenwriter is soft and that this story could go that way. In fact, you can think like this for most narratives, but beware it’s a trap. The reader who finishes this story and shuts the joke without spending 15 minutes thinking about how awful the world is is soulless.
Visually amazing
While their names may not be well known to readers (despite the artist’s Eisner nomination), the work that Evely and Lopes do here in creating these characters and the world they operate in is incredible.
Bilquis is equally effective when drawing characters, vehicles, weapons or environments. The beauty, the off-the-nose style, the costume designs, the visual engineering, the magic wherever the action takes place, the ability to delight in a glimpse and the absolute mastery of the narrative are his hallmarks. One of the safest bets to become a legend in a few years as long as she keeps working.
Lopes, on the other hand, makes everything at Bilquis sound amazing, always providing the right sound for the right atmosphere at any time. Together you have toured these pages with your eyes.
In short, we are facing a great task. To say that this story is the best that has been done with this character would be a disservice as it goes beyond Supergirl or even superhero comics. It’s a story that transcends franchises and genres, written with the sweetness and passion of a 19th-century Russian novelist rather than someone who uploads pictures of his dog to social media every day. This is not just a DC Comics story, but a story of the ninth art.
This volume is presented in hardcover, has 224 color pages and includes a translation of the US edition of Supergirl: The Woman of Tomorrow, as well as matching covers and cover options for the final episode. It has a recommended retail price of €28.50 and goes on sale in October 2023.
Supergirl: The Woman of Tomorrow
Kara Zor-El is Superman’s cousin and also one of the most powerful superheroes in the world. However, she did not stop doubting herself. Now he celebrates his birthday with Crypto Superdog when a girl named Ruthie asks him for a favor: to help her get revenge on Cream, the criminal who killed her father. So begins an exciting journey that will take the girl of metal to the farthest corners of the universe.
Screenwriter Tom King joins artist Bilquis Evely in one of the most acclaimed stories of recent times. A true tribute to Supergirl, it delved into the characters’ motivations to lead her into a new era of greatness.
Authors: Tom King, Bilikis Evely and Matthew Lopes