Kara Zor-El has much to deal with on her return from deep space. There’s some question of a sinister entity known as Leviathan. There’s also the mysterious disappearance of her adoptive mother, Eliza Danvers. Her investigations find her entering into a dangerous terrestrial adventure written by Marc Andreyko with art by Eduardo Pansica with inks by Julio Ferreira. The series seems to be searching for itself in the mixture of various plot elements that don’t fit together very well. That being said, Andreyko and company put together a relatively substantial issue in spite of the uneven narrative mix.

The issue opens with a Year of the Villain crossover scene. Lex Luthor has given Brainiac access to the Fortress of Solitude. Though he is reluctant to trust Luthor, Brainiac finds that he can access the fortress’ computer, downloading a wealth of data. Meanwhile, Kara’s investigation into the mysterious Leviathan takes her to a top-secret scientific facility. There she has a conversation with founder Dr. Veritas, who gives her a lead to the whereabouts of her adoptive mother. This lead brings Kara head-on with realities she’d rather not face.

It’s nice to see Kara firmly planted back on Earth and dealing with mysteries and mysterious groups back at her adoptive home. Andreyko finds a stable pulse to the scattered events which have fallen into this issue. The Brainiac opening feels interesting enough while the journey with Kara and her pet dog Krypto is given plenty of space to develop. A more solid central thematic thrust to the story is most definitely missing in an issue of scattered scenes that all feel pretty good on their own. Kara continues to come across as a powerful personality that feels very distinct from her cousin as she plies her way into a somewhat engaging mystery.

Pansica and Ferreira grant Kara stern confidence which contrasts beautifully against her shock at the major plot points at issues’ end. There isn’t much actual action in this issue. Tensions are beginning to draw together for confrontations that will emerge later-in. Pansica and Ferreira do a good job of building the tension and letting it flow in the issues only significant moment of physical aggression. In addition to some very well-rendered drama, Pansica and Ferreira deliver some really classy alien architectural backgrounds in the Fortress of Solitude. Brainiac comes across as a cold, alien AI climbing into space he’s not meant to be. The style of the action and drama helped to keep the overall flow of the issue feeling very smooth even as things feel somewhat disjointed. 

With all of the various elements that are coming into play. It feels as though a truly coherent theme and direction for the series will have to wait until the end of the current Tear of the Villain mega-crossover. For the time being, Kara feels every bit as lost as the series she’s in. So it doesn’t feel at all incongruous with its central character even if it’s kind of uneven.

Grade: B-