I found this completely by chance in my local comic book shop, visited on a whim.
It's about young Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl, and her cousin Kal-El, aka Clark Kent, aka Superman, his wife Lois Lane, their young son Jon, and Kara's best friend Natasha Irons (soon to be the next Steel!), as they space-travel to their holiday spot - Argo City, which Kara has set her heart on - and get diverted by superhero duties along the way, much to Kara's chagrin.
The story contains themes of identity, legacy, living in a more famous family member's shadow, disappointment, grief, colonisation, imperialism, tyranny, dictatorship, fascism, with-great-power-comes-great-responsibility, and overall, family. And life with said family, blood related or founded.
Kara/Supergirl is very flawed in 'Supergirl's Family Vacation'. She is often shallow, moody, hotheaded, obstinate, selfish, thoughtless, reckless, and irresponsible. But, she is a preteen in this DC universe/
continuity, Bizarro-ly. To her, it wasn't that long ago that her home planet was destroyed, and her parents and people died, and she arrived on earth after Supes had not only already established himself, but had married and had a kid, too. These make her flaws understandable.
This "lighthearted" kids' comic does not erase or downplay Kara's tragic past. It is an important part of her character development, her coming-of-age journey.
Extra great and fun details include: Lois Lane as a badass, kickass reporter and journalist, whether she's on holiday or not; Natasha, a Black girl, dressing and acting exactly like a Ghostbuster; Kara's shirts displaying anime and Magical GirlTM references, such as 'Sailor Moon'! (and "Space Girls", which looks like "Spice Girls", as in, one of their albums); the character Rori Dag, who uses they/them pronouns (though they are an alien - pop culture media, please have more human characters be nonbinary as well, please); space dolphins (very briefly); and, if you can believe it, magical girl transformations! (It is like a manga!) Plus homages to other 'Superman' and 'Supergirl' comics and media - if you are well read and familiar with them, you can spot them.
Cameos include Krypto the Superdog (why couldn't he come along on the super-vacation? Isn't he super-important to Kara?), Batman, Wonder Woman, Lex Luthor, Lobo, Hawkman, Hawkgirl (sadly no Galaxy/
This "lighthearted" kids' comic does not erase or downplay Kara's tragic past. It is an important part of her character development, her coming-of-age journey.
Extra great and fun details include: Lois Lane as a badass, kickass reporter and journalist, whether she's on holiday or not; Natasha, a Black girl, dressing and acting exactly like a Ghostbuster; Kara's shirts displaying anime and Magical GirlTM references, such as 'Sailor Moon'! (and "Space Girls", which looks like "Spice Girls", as in, one of their albums); the character Rori Dag, who uses they/them pronouns (though they are an alien - pop culture media, please have more human characters be nonbinary as well, please); space dolphins (very briefly); and, if you can believe it, magical girl transformations! (It is like a manga!) Plus homages to other 'Superman' and 'Supergirl' comics and media - if you are well read and familiar with them, you can spot them.
Cameos include Krypto the Superdog (why couldn't he come along on the super-vacation? Isn't he super-important to Kara?), Batman, Wonder Woman, Lex Luthor, Lobo, Hawkman, Hawkgirl (sadly no Galaxy/
Taylor Barzelay, who would have fit perfectly in this story), and the Green Lantern Corp.
'Supergirl's Family Vacation' (subtitled 'A Supergirl Graphic Novel') - a delightful super-surprise. So good, and so fashionable!
I really can't wait for the new 'Supergirl' movie now.
In the meantime, here are my other 'Supergirl' comic reviews:
'Supergirl: Being Super'
'Supergirl Vol. 1: Misadventures in Midvale'
'Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow'
Final Score (for 'Supergirl's Family Vacation'): 4/5
'Supergirl's Family Vacation' (subtitled 'A Supergirl Graphic Novel') - a delightful super-surprise. So good, and so fashionable!
I really can't wait for the new 'Supergirl' movie now.
In the meantime, here are my other 'Supergirl' comic reviews:
'Supergirl: Being Super'
'Supergirl Vol. 1: Misadventures in Midvale'
'Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow'
Final Score (for 'Supergirl's Family Vacation'): 4/5
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