Review: CONVERGENCE: SUPERGIRL: MATRIX #1

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CONVERGENCE: SUPERGIRL: MATRIX #1
Written by Keith Giffen
Art by Timothy Green II, Joseph Silver, and Hi-Fi
Published by DC Comics
Release Date: April 15, 2015

As the Convergence of cities begins to occur, what if the inevitable happens? What if the heroes of two worlds just flat out refuse to fight?

Naaahhhhh.

OK, I get it. That’s pretty unlikely. But that doesn’t mean every set of combatants have to be as serious about it. Zero Hour was running at the tail end of some truly funny work by this issue’s writer, the very prolific Keith Giffen, so it seems fitting that he gets a word in edgewise during this week’s releases. Rather than pick up his most famous work, however, Giffen takes on the challenge of a hero that was played mostly straight (this will seem funny later) at the time: Supergirl.

Not your traditional Maid of Might, this Supergirl was the creation known as Matrix, a protoplasmic being created by an alternate world Lex Luthor to mimic the brainwaves of Lana Lang and save their world from destruction by three Kryptonian villains. Protoplasmic. How could she not be played for laughs occasionally?

To Giffen’s credit, however, he mostly gives Matrix more than the respect she deserves, taking his unique brand of humor out on another pair of protagonists: Lady Quark and Lord Volt, heroes removed from their Earth before the days of Crisis on Infinite Earths. And answering the question no one ever asked (maybe because in one case, it was soooooo obvious), Giffen gives us the confirmation of both character’s homosexualities. Arranged marriage, resentment, and the butchest haircut in comics couldn’t have been as amusing in 1994 as it is today. That’s the benefit of hindsight right there.

The story is heavily predicated on witty banter and patterned dialogue, some of which hits the nail on the head (mostly Volt and Quark) and some falls a tad flat (Lex Luthor’s exaggerated — even for him — egotistical rants). If laughing out loud no less than three times is any indication, however, the issue wins more than it loses.

The same can be said for Green and Silver’s facial expressions and body language throughout, mimicking a nearly Maguire-esque style in certain places (most notably in Lord Volt), but reverting to a more standard flat in others. There’s not a consistency of that effect, but where it comes out, it shines. Elsewhere, the art is clean, pleasantly rendered, and keeps the action moving, so overall, the effect is very positive.

With a last page surprise guest that no Giffen fan will want to miss out on, Supergirl: Matrix #1 is a packed issue for anyone looking for a bit of fun in their reading this week. Great dialogue, great art, funny characters. Who knew a look back at an era where the greatest hero of all-time is six feet under could be so amusing?

The Verdict: 9.0/10

 

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