By Jonathan Edwards

I went into Supergirl Being Super eager to become more familiar with the title character. With the first issue, I wasn't completely satisfied with the pace and characterization, and I wasn't hooked by the end. When I was looking at this week's releases to review, I was initially planning on skipping this one. I don't think I even intended to check it own for my own personal reading. I don't really have a good reason for why I ultimately had a change of heart, but I'm glad that I did. The main thing I was worried about last time was the potential for it to continue at a plodding pace, but this issue has removed that reservation. And while that doesn't necessarily make the first issue better, it does increase my enthusiasm for the series as a whole.

Supergirl: Being Super #2 hits the ground running, picking up in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake from the end of last issue. The pace picks up dramatically, and before I knew it, there was a payoff to all the setup in issue #1.  I'm going to be vague about exactly what it is, mainly because I was actually surprised when it happened, and I want to preserve that for others. What I will say is, even though I'm super dubious of its permanence, I wasn't expecting the story to go as far as suggesting it happened, it was done well, and the exploration of the effect it has on the characters throughout the rest of the issue is interesting. A part of me kind of wishes we could've ended last time with that payoff instead of just the earthquake.

We also get a bit more to chew on regarding some of the stuff only hinted at previously, like Kara's track and field coach. She's definitely acting weird when she shows up here, and I'm glad Kara picks up on that. Because, it shows that her weirdness is intentional and not just awkward character writing. If I'm reading the last few pages right, those fitbits (or whatever they are) that she gave Kara, Dolly, and Jen definitely have ulterior motives. I'm inclined to think it has something to do with someone (the coach, I imagine) knowing the truth about Kara, and it still very well might. However, I do then wonder why her human friends would get them as well.

The art is still pretty good. I would actually say it's better this time around, if only because of comparatively more diverse pace and events. And, I don't know if it's just because I was more engaged in the story this time, but the things I nitpicked last time didn't really bother me here. Well, okay, there was maybe one facial expression that, again, didn't quite land, but the single-colored backgrounds (which I talked about a bit more in my review of Justice League of America: The Atom Rebirth #1) all worked for me. Finally, I must say, I loved the sequence of Kara and Dolly at the diner.

Unless you're particularly opposed to Supergirl or DC, I think this issue is worth checking out, even if you didn't read the first one. Obviously, you'd have to infer some context, but I can't think of anything really integral that'd be missed by jumping on here. And if you read and liked issue #1, you definitely need to pick this one up. As for me, I'm invested. So barring any huge missteps in issue #3, I want to see how this series pans out.

Score: 4/5

Supergirl: Being Super #2
Writer: Mariko Tamaki
Artist: Joëlle Jones
Publisher: DC Comics