Supergirl (2016-) Vol. 3: Girl of No Tomorrow

Supergirl (2016)

by Steve Orlando, Robson Rocha (Illustrator), José Luís (Artist)

Fans of the hit Supergirl series on The CW will love this fresh take on the Girl of Steel from writer Steve Orlando in Supergirl Vol. 3: Girl of No Tomorrow.

 The Emerald Empress has had a vision. Sometime in the future, her greatest tragedy will come as a result of a battle with Supergirl...and she won’t allow that to happen. Now she’s manipulated Magog, Solomon Grundy, the sorceress Selena and the android Indigo into joining her as the Fatal Five, and they’re going to make sure that Supergirl’s future stops dead in its tracks.

 It starts with a devious attack on Supergirl that leaves her powers out of control and slowly destroying her. But the Fatal Five aren’t just going after Supergirl—every aspect of Kara Zor-El’s life on Earth is under attack. Her boss Cat Grant and the new CatCo Reporting app. Her family and friends at the Department of Extranormal Operations. Even her relationship to the National City citizens she loves and protects.

 One thing is certain—the Fatal Five will mean either the end of Supergirl’s life...or the end of her life as she knows it.

 Collects Supergirl #12-14 and Annual #1.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Superheroes, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics, Science Fiction

123 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 10, 2018

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, the art is certainly better now that Brian Ching has been jettisoned from the book. Robson Rocha, Steve Pugh, and Jose Luis make the art shine for the first time since Rebirth. The writing is still very clunky. The Fatal Five feels very contrived. The Emerald Empress is the only member from the original Legion of Super-Heroes foes. For some reason they gathered villains from other times to fill out the five. The story ends with changing the status quo and setting up a new beginning already for Supergirl after only 14 issues. Then Supergirl hangs out with the Chinese Superman (He really needs to find a new name to go by.) for an issue.

[Subham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was so good omg!

I loved this one and its such a great read!

So we see the return of the Fatal five led by Emerald empress and Selena (magic) and Indigo and well they unleash their attack on Kara, make people of National city afraid of her by releasing the footgae with her father and well he did attack the people a couple volumes back so can't blame them and thus begins the war between people, her wanting to protect them and the villains and I like how the fight ends up though it could have been better, now she is sort of a fugitive from the DEO and then a big story with Kenan Kong, the new Super-man and Kara learning to control her chi!

It was a pretty epic volume and well the fights are well worth it and I am enjoying the status quo and it feels like new ground for Kara and it will be interesting to see what happens with her next. Plus the art was so good here, really making the stories epic and I like how Steve is giving Kara such a great challenge! Plus the covers of Artgerm are just so gorgeous omg <3!

[Wing Kee · Rating 1 out of 5]

A mess of a book.

World: The art is okay, the colors are very flat and I feel like I’m reading a comic from 1990, that’s not good. The world building here is scattered just like the plot. There are the pieces the Orlando has been building since the start of Rebirth and new pieces from the past and present DCU that he has used are somewhat interesting. However, the world itself is rather fickle and basic so it doesn’t really stand out or really have that much depth for the world to be a good stage.

Story: The story was scattered, janky and illogical. The writing and dialog was very choppy and man the main story just makes very little sense and the logic tying it together is weak at best. The idea of the App was never fully explored and was only a plot device, the idea of Dad was barely touched on and only a plot device. The plot devices and the machinations and pieces moving around to create ‘DRAMA’ was too obvious and basic that it completely took me out of the book. The writing is not good making this nonsense of a story forgettable. Then there’s the even more choppy New Super-Man story which combines to really weak parts of the DCU at the moment to make a who care and unimportant tale. I know why this book is cancelled, the writing is bad. The pieces from arc was were there for some wonderful things. I wanted young Kara at school fitting in, kinda like Spider-man but we get nonsense slug fests that have barely any good motivation and it ends up being meh.

Characters: Kara is all over the place and the situation she is put in by Orlando does not allow for her to develop any depth as a character. Where is the small quiet moments to build up characters, none here at all. Then there’s Chase who is smart but dumb at the same time. Add Cat who is a walking stereotype and does no favors to herself and the world at large. The cast of villains was cool on paper but there was no development and there was nothing to do except fight for them, a waste.

A really bad arc, and a series heading towards the toilet.

Onward to the next book!

*read individual issues*

[Robert · Rating 1 out of 5]

I finished this 10 minutes ago and already can't remember it. Completely forgettable.

[Mizuki · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7 stars.

I think this volume is mostly...fine, but I have no patience for the Chinese Superman part, which I feel is a huge ad at best. Will read the next volume.

[Iris Nevers · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Read in single issues)
I'm so sad that Supergirl was put on hiatus.
But better things are in store!

[T.J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It really is amazing how a different artist can completely change the tone of a comic book. Not to knock Brian Ching, because I DO like his style of drawing - it's fun, it's feisty, I'm just not sure it worked with this character or, for that matter, this writer in earlier issues of this series. Volume 3 of the rebirth Supergirl series only contains 3 issues of the comic plus the annual, but brings in 3 new artists, all of them remarkably complimentary to one another and to Supergirl. There are some really gorgeous panels here. Posterworthy. And a lot more emotion and facial expression. The main story involves Supergirl battling the Emerald Empress and her Fatal 5 who have gone through a lot of effort to smear Supergirl's reputation even as they try to physically destroy her over some vague premonition that Supergirl, not Saturn Girl, will be the cause of Emerald Empress's father dying 1000 years in the future...? I do like the change in the status quo at the end of that little saga, which has me intrigued as to where the stories might go next. Supergirl shouldn't be tied to the D.E.O. She needs to be a free spirit working on her own or partnering up with other like-minded heroes, like the Chinese Super-Man in the final story collected here. It's probably my favorite of the bunch.

[Fraser Sherman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This gets a three only because the story with Superman and the Superman of China was quite fun, and shows Kara at her idealistic best. The main plot, involving a rebooted version of the Fatal Five, feels very forced — a villain discovers Supergirl will bring doom to her family in the far future, so she decides the only solution is to go back and destroy her in the present. The selection of her team is ... idiosyncratic. Or maybe random. And once again we get a superhero with their reputation blackened, struggling to prove themselves. Spider-Man called and he wants his cliches back.
Not the worst of Steve Orlando's run, but not good either.

[Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 🌟

Fake Cat Grant amplifies Kara's powers. Kara deals with the Fatal Five.

She goes to China to get help controlling her powers. She and Kenan help a Russian Rocket guy.

[Gerry Sacco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Art was really fantastic, but the story was a bit all over the place. Too many threads going on at the same time.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I'd say GIRL OF NO TOMORROW continues the excellent run of Supergirl's REBIRTH era. The artwork is probably the best I've seen for this title since before the New 52 run (where, in terms of artwork and story, no one at DC seemed to know what to do with her).

The Fateful Five is a fairly nice DC counterpoint to Marvel's Sinister Six, but we don't really get to see the group formed. The Emerald Empress makes for an interesting character, but her motivations for fighting Supergirl struck me as very ho-hum. We've seen this in so many comics and sci-fi books/TV/movies before. In fact, for me, I kept comparing the Empress's story to the third season Xindi arc of STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE.

But as I've said before in other reviews, it really seems to me to be nigh on impossible to come up with any truly original plots/motivations/characters/powers in comics anymore. Even with all I haven't read I'm sure somewhere there is a comic new or old that has covered whatever material writers and artists are currently producing. That being said, this was still a fun read. Yes, with Supergirl as my personal favorite I'm biased towards favorable reviews no matter what. But I can honestly say this is very good, but not great.

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A primeira edição do Renascimento DC da Supergirl vislumbrava um belo futuro para a personagem, com um enredo linkado com a série de TV e desenhos com um estilo bastante interessante levando em conta o teor da personagem. Já o segundo volume, parece que quis voltar para o que ela era em Os Novos 52, deixando o leitor um tanto náufrago nas histórias. Esse terceiro volume, então retorna para o que foi o primeiro, mais integrado com os elementos da série e do Renascimento DC. Assim que a série da Supergirl está parecendo uma barca sem capitão, em que pra qualquer lado que se atire está valendo. E agora, com a aparatação de Brian Michael Bendis no Universo Superman, a garota de aço vai sofre outra mudança e vai para o espaço atrás dos assassinos de Krypton. É bem complicado acompanhar uma personagem assim, por mais carismática que ela seja. Afinal, haja mudança de tons e de clima na sua história. Acho que assim nem mesmo o leitor mais fiel consegue resistir. Fico pensando como o pessoal que começou a curtir a Kara na série de TV deve se sentir ao se depara com um quadrinho tão divergente assim... Eita nóis!

[Adam Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Volume covers multiple ways that Supergirl's reputation is being destroyed.

1) Continuing attacks from Cat Grant and Catco.
- It turns out that when Cat shot Kara at the end of the last Volume, it was the sorceress Selena glamouring herself to look like Cat.
- Catco's news app provides users the ability to submit news stories, so with all the additional confusion, and mistrust against Supergirl, her popularity drops.
- The Catco App also is used by Selena, who is controlling Cat at that time, to show the security footage of Kara promising to help her father (Cyborg Superman) heal. The people really turn on her for this, as he was responsible for a lot of death and destruction.

2) The Fatal Five
- Emerald Empress, Selena, Solomon Grundy, Magog, and Indigo
- The Emerald Empress is a villain from the future who's family got killed in a battle that she had with Supergirl. Swearing vengeance, she gathers up the other 4 to help take Supergirl down:
- Selena to abuse the power of the media to turn people against her
- Grundy to cause mass destruction, requiring Supergirl to overuse her enhanced powers,
causing even more damage
- Magog to act as an enforcer to assist the others
- Indigo to use her emotionless android programming to save others from Supergirl, making her
appear to be the real hero, having to stop Kara's rampaging
- Causing so much chaos throughout the Volume, they are stopped eventually, but the damage is done. Emerald Empress gets sent back to her time, Selena escapes, Grundy gets destroyed by Supergirl, Indigo is obliterated by Cyborg Superman, and Magog is sent off-world with the androids remains. The Director of the DEO has to step down and is replaced by Bones. "Oz" sneaks in a uses Red Plasma to destroy Cyborg Superman.

In order to try to gain control over her increased powers, she goes to see Kenan Kong, the New Super-Man and his mentor I-Ching, who attempt to teach her about controlling her Qi. I really love that they went in this direction. I think both Kara and Kenan could use the support of each other in their titles.

Overall, a good Volume. I'm hoping that Kara's increase is in preparation for something epic with her. Recommend.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Girl of No Tomorrow" is a decent read. There are some nice concepts. For example, the Emerald Empress comes from the future to destroy Supergirl through her reputation. Her plan is sinister and effective. Through an out of context clip and other actions that cause Supergirl's powers to go out of control, she turns National City against Supergirl quickly. It's strategic and brutal and she is a three-dimensional character herself. I can see the motives for her actions though Supergirl does bring up a good point about why she wouldn't try to explore alternatives. Nevertheless, this plot of hers is, as mentioned earlier, effective. The reveal of the one who was behind it was also well done.

The execution of this storyline, however, is a bit rushed. It's true that one video clip can change minds, but the pacing was too fast. It probably would've been better to break it into two books. Moreover, a lot of the Emerald Empress' plans were told with lots of exposition. Thus, there were info-dumps. I also find it a bit too easy how she was able to manipulate some other foes that easily. The story with Noi was too fast also.

However, I did like how Orlando wrote the way that Kara approached these challenges. Orlando showed the difficulties that Kara faced. Orlando also did a nice job in showing how she dealt with the aftermath - though I wasn't a fan of how the Asian mentor stereotype was used. Still, I did like how she was able to talk Noi down and how she worked with Kenan.

Overall, this book was okay. It had some great concepts and story, but the execution was too rushed and the characterization was a mixed bag. The art was good too. I look forward to Volume 4.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

[Read as single issues]
In the fallout from Justice League Vs. Suicide Squad, the Emerald Empress is out for blood; thinking that Supergirl is responsible for her fate, she forms a new Fatal Five, and they have Kara in their sights!

This is pretty good. It's not great, but it's pretty good. This book seems to have lost its way a bit since the first volume, but this one's definitely trying to get back there. We get some repercussions from the events of Superman Reborn to start us off with, before the Fatal Five strike.

The story does get a decent amount of time to breathe, since there's two issues and an annual devoted to it, but a lot of the Five feel a bit pointless. I get that the Empress only grabbed them because they were people that Kara wouldn't be able to fight easily, but they don't leave much of an impression. The final page cliffhanger is pretty good though, even if it's easily explained away. We then get a one-shot story featuring the New Super-Man of China which was much better than I expected, especially since I'm mostly unfamiliar with the character outside of crossover stuff.

Art-wise, we get Robson Rocha take over the main series, though he only pencils #12-13, with Steve Pugh taking the Annual in some rare DC work and Jose Luis doing a solid job on issue #14. Rocha's the stand-out, having really come into himself since Green Lanterns paired him with a new inker and colourist.

Supergirl's latest collection doesn't revolutionize the Girl Of Steel, but it's a decent little tale that puts her through her paces.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

In reading this reboot of the Supergirl character, it is clear that the people at DC have learned a lot from the Marvel days of Stan Lee. Supergirl is still extremely powerful, but she is now vulnerable with problems and faults, something that Stan Lee designed to perfection with his Marvel characters, specifically Spider-Man.
Supergirl is now a young woman that female readers can relate to. She expresses self-doubts, she has male parent difficulties and her “civilian” clothing is very stylish. With all of this going on, she still finds time to battle the evil ones that threaten to take over and destroy her city.
Another interesting feature of this story is that the Lex Luthor equivalent is a strong, ruthless female executive that gets things done using tactics that would make Lex proud and envious. Luthor was always the best antagonist for Superman, a mortal that was always on the verge of defeating Superman. There are other protagonists, one of which is female and utters the line that only a woman could utter when describing her surroundings, “It’s so beige.”
This is a character reboot that even older males such as me with a long history of reading comic books will find entertaining.

[Alex E · Rating 2 out of 5]

Supergirl takes on the Fatal Five and tries to wrangle her powers as they have been amplified to possibly catastrophic levels.

The story starts really abruptly with Supergirl getting shot with something that boosts her powers. What it was or even who shot it wasn't really explained thoroughly, but the story presses forward. The Fatal Five, assembled by the Emerald Empress, attack Supergirl as they all have been wronged by her, or will be wronged in the future. So the volume is all about her defeating the 5, and also finding a way to control her newly amplified powers.

The best part about this book is the art by Robson Rocha. I'm glad the collected edition has some of the pencils as the back matter, as I was really wowed by the guys art at times and it was a treat to see the raw pencils. Great job on the art overall.

The story itself... it felt to me like Steve Orlando had a bunch of moving parts and had a tough time balancing all of them. The pacing is really uneven, the story can get jumbled and confusing at times, and the character of Supergirl often seems lost or at least aimless as to who she is. I think there was a potential for a really cool story but unfortunately it was lost in this mess.

Recommended for diehard fans of Supergirl only.

[John Yelverton · Rating 2 out of 5]

I do not like bait and switch cliffhangers or covers and this graphic novel was guilty of both. They try to make it look like in the previous book and first individual cover of this one that Supergirl was shot by a Kryptonite bullet. Nope, it was a bait and switch with a weapon that hyped up her powers. I thought Superman and Supergirl being "too powerful" was the number one complaint by the plethora of bad writers who can't conjure up a single good story about them, because they're "too powerful" and "nothing can harm them." You have the privilege of writing probably the greatest fictional character and his supporting cast of characters in the 20th Century. The depth is there, the backstory is there. Use it! Investigate these characters' rich moral code and their need to help and inspire. Don't sink to cheap, tawdry tricks to make a quick book and buck. Invest the time to take advantage of this extreme privilege that you have been granted, and earn the right to be mentioned in the same breath with Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster, Otto Binder, Curt Swan, and the like.

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book better than the previous ones. The artwork is much better, Supergirl is more involved and the story is believable if a little fractured. It still keeps the sci-fi element and uses it much better than before—no mad scientists with questionable motives here. Also, the citizens of National City take a leading role at the expense of the normal support players. I could get behind that as the usual crew did little for me. There was a segment with the Superman of China - of whom I know nothing - and a Zen-Nirvana quest for understanding that seemed forced but did fit in with the larger story arc so I rode along with it. If the series had begun this way it would have been better all around. Supergirl is a stronger character, the action is good and the writing hits the mark. This book puts the other installments to shame.

[Ellen Kunce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume was ten times better than the first two by Steve Orlando. It actually gave me the same feeling as the show did. The artwork was much better- no skinny girls and pointy breasts. A very diverse set of characters, and Supergirl had two powerful speeches that I loved. It reminds me a lot of season 1 and season 2 of CW’s Supergirl. It was action all the way through, and I love Supergirl and Cat Grant In this one. I thought Cat Grant was going to be turned into a bad guy- but she wakes up. She may not trust Supergirl right now, but she didn’t in the middle of Season 1 either when Kara’s body gets infected with the plant. I just really loved this comic and can’t wait for the next volume!

[Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far, Orlando's storytelling is just about perfect. His retelling of the Supergirl story doesn't kowtow to the TV series, nor to what's gone before - but it acknowledges both, while fitting her at last into the DC Universe at large.
It's a very nearly seamless fit. Here's the girl of steel, not a Wonder Woman, not a Super-Slut or mindless clone of Superman. Supergirl has depth, character, and personality.
In terms of art, it doesn't seem to matter - ALL the artists who've worked on the book have their own charms, their own excellence. All know how to draw the character well. The backgrounds are spectacular, and there are no "dark scenes" where the colors are muted to show "a darkness rising".
Well done

[Nolan Gutenschwager · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. This was more enjoyable than the first two volumes primarily because it featured new artists. There were a few working on this volume and they were all really good with similar styles, so a major upgrade over Brian Ching. The story was mostly forgettable but I still enjoy the characters.

The main plot here is the Fatal Five going after Supergirl because of something she supposedly did in the future. An attack has supercharged her powers so she works to get them under control and interacts with the Super Man of China in one of the issues. Ends with a change in the status quo as both of her parents resign from the DEO and the new director is Mr. Bones. Overall enjoyable to read but not noteworthy.

[Khurram · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fatal Five

I really enjoyed this book. I would have given it 4.5 stars, but being a lifelong martial arts student myself, the story made it an easy round up.

The Emerald Empress returns, and she is not alone. She has brought four others who will have a gripe with Supergirl in the future. However, it is the information Supergirl has not disclosed from the past that might be her ultimate undoing.

I like the story and the divided opinions on the Supergirl debate, I also like in the artwork that she looks older. Of course, the comic book moment of not giving up is always great for me. I like in the last story where science stops martial arts and spirituality might be the answer. The book finishes with a varient covers gallery and a sketchbook.

[Jamie Revell · Rating 2 out of 5]

The artwork is quite good, but there's little else to recommend in this volume. It's mostly a long drawn-out fight, followed up with some cobblers about qi in the final episode. The plot isn't entirely without merit, but it suffers from forgettable foes - the only one with potential gets killed off before getting a chance to use it. But the real problem is that the writing is terrible, with clunky and unbelievable dialogue in almost every scene. And that easily drowns out whatever it was that the story was trying to say.

I'll try the next volume, but only because Orlando appears to have got a co-author, and one I've enjoyed in the past.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kara Danvers (aka Supergirl) has a very big problem. She has gotten infected with a superbug that is increasing her powers beyond her control. And the Emerald Empress has gathered together the Fatal Five to put an end to Supergirl due to a vision of her future actions. And even after The Emerald Empress and the Fatal Five are defeated, Supergirl still has the power surges to learn to control. Plenty of Supergirl action, intrigue, guest appearances of New Superman and Superman plus world travel. And another new menace is revealed!

[Adam Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book collects two stories. The Four Issue of Girl of No Tomorrow which finds Supergirl's powers elevated to unsafe levels as she deals with the Fatal Five, a group of powerful attackers led by a woman from the future who blames Supergirl for things going terribly wrong.

The plot of this story is okay, but just okay. It's actually somewhat repetitive that at the similar time, both the Flash and Supergirl are dealing with out of control powers. Where I think the story works are its character moments where the strength of Supergirl as a girl is tested and she has to decide whether to do the right thing and show mercy even if it costs her in the eyes of her public and Miss Grant, who enters a, "Can we trust Supergirl?" stage.

We also saw Jeremiah and Eliza Danvers taking a bigger role in the story and that's a positive.

The annual, "Heave to Earth" has Supergirl turning to the Chinese Superman for help in managing her out of control powers through a meditation method. I actually find that a pretty creative idea. However, before you know it, Supergirl and the New Superman have to fly to Mongolia to deal with a downed Russian pilot in an armored suit. The story contains speakers of many different languages and some people speak one language or all languages, so it gets a little confusion whose speaking and if they can understand. But it has a good ending and a thought-provoking little message. The back of the book contains a gorgeous variant cover gallery.

The book ends with a new status quo after 14 issues. I'm not certain that was necessary from a plot perspective, but it was from a sales perspective since it was canceled after 20 issues. Not a great story, but a pretty good one.

[Simon Kenneth John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Supergirl is similar to Marvel's Carol Danvers (a.k.a. Captain Marvel), in that they're both powerful in a "male"/ gender-less way; I find Supergirl compelling in that she possesses powers that are usually associated with women, girls: qualities like compassion, strength as tremendous endurance (as opposed to overwhelming force, though she has that, too), empathy.

I like that Supergirl suffers from mental health issues in this comic book .. that's a very relevant problem that people face, and the writers have her getting through it thanks to her support network. She even ends up teaming up with a "Chinese" super-boy. I like that she speaks many languages.

A highly enjoyable read, with lots of positive messages contained therein. s.

[Vanessa Yeazel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ok. It was sorta enjoyable, but confusing at times. It didn't grab my attention at all or stand out from other comics I've read. I do enjoy the new drawing style more than the first, but it took a little bit to get used to it. I still love Supergirl as a character; she's what really saves this for me. The storyline did feel a little rushed, but I still enjoyed it up to a certain point. I just wish I wasn't as confused, or that things didn't feel as rushed. I still enjoyed it though!

[Max Van Dyke · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. I really loved the story in issues #12-13 and the Annual. The story was short but concise and had a lot of good action. Also I like the art A LOT better than the previous 11 issues. #14 was a bit of a downer and kind of slow and felt like filler. But the ending was good. I'd comfortably give it 4 stars but #14 takes it down to 3.5.

[Lissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great volume. While Batgirl’s still my favourite, I am really enjoying Supergirl’s story arc. The characters are great and there were a few plot twists I didn’t see coming. I also really liked getting to know Kenan (Mandarin Superman).