The last four Kryptonians (sort of) stand united against the threat of the executioner of their homeworld in Supergirl #33. They’re not the only ones involved in the conflict, so things are going to get messy. The final chapter in the “House of El: United” story is written by Marc Andreyko with art by Kevin Maguire. As a final moment of revenge, the high-powered drama fizzles a bit in the ongoing march of the continuity. As a result, the story might feel a bit anticlimactic, but a sense of wonder is maintained in an enjoyably pulpy adventure. Andreyko’s distinctive scripting is brought to the page by Maguire’s well-balanced artwork.

Somewhere in deep space, Supergirl Kara Zor-El has once again retaken the demon ax from hell from Krypton killer Rogol Zaar. She intends to use it to end him once and for all. As the weapon feeds on her anger, she might just be able to do it. Things are going to get complicated with the Thanagarians show-up and make their presence known. Whatever the outcome, they’re going to have a lot of loose ends to wrap-up in a space adventure that has spanned many, many issues for Supergirl. 

“The House of El: United” has been a very uneven mess, but when called on to wrap it-up, writer Marc Andreyko cleans-up like a pro. There’s a real brisk feeling about the story that doesn’t feel at all rushed even though resolving plot points are shooting by in a dizzying blur. The story feels perfectly in tune with exactly what it needs to get across at just the right time. Which is a hell of an accomplishment for Andreyko even if the final resolution of the El/Zaar conflict doesn’t feel even remotely satisfying. 

Maguire is something of a genius here. He brings drama to the page with very serious intensity. Whether it’s in the heat of highly kinetic and explosive deep-space action or struggling its way out of a simple conversation between a couple of Kryptonians. Kara’s personality is very distinct in vividly emotive in highly detailed facial expressions. Her inner struggles are given a solidly, respectable amount of space without feeling at all exaggerated. The pacing and placement of Kara’s inner monologue boxes feel remarkably well-thought-out. In agonizingly vivid multi-panel sequences that focus-in very, very closely on her face a couple of different times in the course of the issue. It can be very, very difficult to bring an inner struggle to the comic book page in a satisfying way. Maguire does an impressive job of bringing Kara’s emotional turmoil to the page. 

With Kara’s space adventures having come to a close, Eduardo Pansica takes over the art for the next few issues. Andreyko remains the writer, but the distinctively satisfying pairing with Maguire will be missed as Kara makes a steady path for a meeting with the Year of the Villain crossover in issues #35.

Grade: A