Random Happenstance

There were 25 "Legends of the Dead Earth" annuals, and so far we've blogged, um, maybe 7? But, helluva lineup on this one: from 1996, Supergirl Annual #1, featuring "The Surrogate" Written by Chuck Dixon, pencils by Ron Wagner, inks by Bill Reinhold; "The Legend Lives On" Written by Barbara and Karl Kesel, layouts by Dick Giordano, finishes by George Perez; and "Shootout at Ice Flats" Written by Joe Lansdale and Neal Barrett Jr, pencils by Robert Teranishi, inks by Stan Woch. 

The legend of Supergirl lives on in the far-flung future, even if it has combined aspects of various versions: Kryptonian, protoplasmic matrix, angel, what-have-you. In "The Surrogate," a young woman is forced into high-tech slavery; her mind irreversibly linked to remote-control a mining robot. But she transfers her mind and spirit to her "tooljerk" and upgrades its look, frees others, and then destroys her captors before heading off into space, indestructible and forever. A surprisingly affecting tale, I thought. Also, it's impressive that she's able to give herself an 'S,' I would've accidentally made myself a Bizarro.

After a big heist, an all-girl criminal gang finds one of their own dead, in "The Legend Lives On," and the victim carved an 'S' in the floor before dying, as a warning to the others. Could Supergirl be among them? One argues, there's no such thing; but another thinks, that's exactly what Supergirl would say! This doesn't go great for them.

Lastly, "Shootout at Ice Flats" features the local schoolmarm-slash-sheriff, who's going to face a showdown with the local ruffians. Her mom gives her an 'S' charm, that might give her the power of...Sardine Girl? Maybe! A fun bit of nonsense, with an interesting look; like most of the "Dead Earth" stories.