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THE MAID OF STEEL # 7

Last Issue : Eclipso returned to Earth via Starman (Will Payton) and has managed to recreate his physical form using Supergirl's excess protomatter. Meanwhile, the Maid of Steel is still struggling with the deaths of her family and friends during the Cold Armageddon crossover.

Eclipso smiled wickedly, his features the very epitome of evil. "Thank you both... Without you, I never could have returned! I'll show my gratitude by allowing the two of you to become the first in my new army..."

Linda shook her head, seeking to clear it from the fog that was enveloping her mind. Eclipso's attack had left her drained and weary but she forced herself to change. Her slim features filled out, becoming more curvaceous and long, and her shoulder-length brown hair turned blonde...

Supergirl rose to her feet, immediately feeling that something was wrong -- her skirt had been replaced by a blue bodysuit that ran the length of her body and her normally long blonde hair was much shorter than even Linda's. "What the heck? This isn't right... This isn't what I should look like*."

(*Click here to see Supergirl's new look!)

Eclipso laughed at that. "I quite agree -- the skirt was more flattering, if a bit longer than I would have liked."

Supergirl ignored him, slamming her fist forward. Eclipso caught with his own hand, crushing with superior force. The Maid of Steel fell to her knees in pain. Putting aside the fact that her physical form was unusual to say the least, there was also the fact that her powers had yet to return to their previous level. "You shouldn't have bothered coming back to Earth, Eclipso... You're just going to get beaten again."

"I don't think so. If I gave the heroes of this world warning, perhaps. But this time I'm going to avoid the usual taking-over-the-world schemes. I'm going to build my powerbase very quietly and slowly. And you're going to help me..."

A loud gunshot echoed through the farm as a bullet tore through Eclipso's shoulder. The villain staggered back, releasing Supergirl. The Maid of Steel glanced first at Starman, noting that the hero seemed to almost come out of his mind-controlled trance as Eclipso's attention was diverted. But Starman wasn't the source of the attack... Supergirl turned to see Pa Kent slowly coming around the house, a sawed-off shotgun in his hand.

Pa's voice was steady as he said "I want you to back right out the front gate, stranger -- you're trespassing on private property."

Supergirl shook her head. "Mr. Kent... Please return to your house."

Pa glanced over at Supergirl, noting that the girl was a good actress. He wasn't sure why she was pretending not to know him (she had, after all, just snuck out of a window of his house and then transformed into Supergirl), but he figured it was because she didn't want Eclipso to know he was important to her. "I'm sorry, Supergirl, but I've got to defend my property!"

Eclipso, for his part, cared nothing for the theatrics going on about him. "Old man... You've made a very grave mistake." He felt the wound in his shoulder, literally forcing the bullet back out of the wound. It fell to the ground. "Join me, Mr. Kent..."

Supergirl stood up, rushing to Pa's side as quickly as she could in her weakened state. As she got there, Pa turned to stare at her, malice in his eyes. Half of his face was discolored in a crescent-shape, the mark of possession by Eclipso. With Eclipso's evil voice, Pa said "Such a brave old man, wasn't he? How would you feel about joining him in his new service to me, Supergirl?"

The Planet Olus circled a dying sun, many light-years away from Earth. Its people were humanoid, with purple skin and dark eyes. Their nearly hairless bodies were covered by ritualistic armor covered with hieroglyphs depicting their social caste and station. The Olusians had a proud, strong society that had survived over 7 million years... until today.

The attack had come early, just as the dying sun's rays had begun to splash across the capital city of H'rta. Most of the city's citizens still slept in their slumber pods, their dreams filled with secret desires and unknowable secrets.

There was no flashy military armada like the one that had so recently stormed Earth* -- this, instead, was an attack carried out by one single woman. She was stunningly beautiful, a human female far from home. She wore a tight-fitting bodysuit upon whose surface stars twinkled and comets flew. She channeled cosmic energy through her form, her energy blasts tearing through the streets and her force fields blocking the Proton Bombs that the Olus hurled at her. She conquered for no reason other to seek challenge. She was badly disappointed in the effort put forth by the natives of this planet.

(*In the recent Cold Armageddon crossover.)

She strode through the streets when it was all over, her lithe body moving with an almost animal grace. She was beautiful and quite aware of that fact, her long auburn hair decorated with specks of spacedust that glinted in the sunlight.

Her victory march ended when she bent down to pick up a small news transmission device. She'd seen many throughout the capital city. To amuse herself, she flicked it on. Images scoured from many light-years away began to move on the tiny screen. Her eyes widened as she saw the planet of her birth under attack by alien forces. She saw a multitude of heroes (many of whom wore similar costumes to the American mystery men she recalled from her youth in Warsaw) fighting against the forces of Mongul. And one in particular caught her eye -- a young blonde wearing blue and red. She wore a bright red 'S' on her chest and the conqueror stared at her with interest. "After all these years... Supergirl. To think that I've waited almost 50 years to battle you again. You may have defeated me in Warsaw all those years ago... but you'll find Blackstarr to be a tougher foe now..." The news transmitter exploded as Blackstarr channeled her energy through it, her eyes flashing with rage. "I'm coming for you, old enemy -- coming to settle an old score!"

"Pa!" Supergirl backed away quickly, her already fragile mental state deteriorating even further. She'd just lost her parents and friends in Leesburg -- being confronted with possibly losing her surrogate father was almost too much to bear.

Starman was resisting Eclipso on the subconscious level, but his will was still weak. He raised his hands fired a powerful energy blast that struck Supergirl full in the back. The Maid of Steel went down immediately, succumbing to unconsciousness.

Eclipso glanced at Starman. "Pick her up and bring her inside. I'm anxious to begin my plans."

Ma Kent backed away from the window, letting the curtain fall back. Her heart was hammering as she thought of her husband enslaved by that madman, but she forced herself to be calm. She moved quickly to the back bedroom, picking up the phone and dialing Clark's number. If there was ever a time that she needed Superman, it was now.

Starman carried Supergirl inside, dropping her on the couch with no concern for her well-being. Somewhere deep inside, Will Payton asserted himself for a moment. He'd had experience with Eclipso before* and that gave him a slight edge in this rematch. Now that Eclipso was in his own body, his hold on Starman was weakened somewhat -- especially now that Mr. Kent was under his thrall as well. Starman held his features in their 'eclipsed' state, not wanting the villain to sense that he was now free.

(*Back in the immortal Eclipso : The Darkness Within crossover.)

Will knelt beside Supergirl, staring into her beautiful features. She looked different than he remembered but he didn't mind -- she was still gorgeous. She was obviously out of it and not just from the effects of the energy blast. She was still wasted from the stolen protomatter that Eclipso had taken.

Eclipso stepped into the kitchen, surveying his new domain. He was arrogant and confident, enjoying the return to physicality that had been granted him. As such, he failed to notice what was occurring in the living room.

Starman whispered, "I don't know how closely related to Superman you are but I know he's a living solar battery... In fact, he's come to me to get recharged on more than one occasion*. Maybe that's what you need, too..." He put his hands on Supergirl's shoulders and began flooding her cells with the energy of a yellow sun...

(*Including during the recent Cold Armageddon crossover.)

Supergirl's protomatter cells began lapping up the energy offered to them, using it to repair the damage done to her in recent days. Her body's system altered itself, adapting to the sudden influx of solar energy... The protomatter had always left her very malleable -- in the past, it allowed her to alter her physical form. Now it altered her interior workings instead...

Her eyes opened suddenly, making Will jump back in surprise. She sat up, power flooding through her. She felt... different... She glanced quickly at Starman and noticed that his face still bore the mark of Eclipso. "You..."

Starman held up his hands pleadingly. "No! You've got it all wrong..."

Twin beams of solar energy burst from Supergirl's eyes, knocking Starman back through the living room wall. He landed with a thud in the yard, unharmed since he could absorb the energy she'd hit him with. "I don't know what you've done to me but I think you might regret it..."

Eclipso stepped back into the room, blinking in confusion. "What is going on here?!"

Supergirl smiled, feeling refreshed. She felt strong enough to take on an army -- but she was confused too. Those beams of energy hadn't been her usual flame projection... it had been heat vision, like Superman used. "You're about to get your head handed to you, that's what! You picked the wrong farm to attack..."

Supergirl flew through the air, striking Eclipso hard. The villain staggered back, blood oozing from his lip. "I don't understand -- how could you have recovered so quickly?"

The Maid of Steel drew back her fist. "I have no idea and I could care less -- as long as I take you down!" She struck Eclipso again and again, keeping him off-balance.

Starman re-entered the room, his features now restored to normal. He held back at first, trying to stay out of Supergirl's way. The heroine was attacking with both fists and heat vision, battering Eclipso into submission. When the villain sagged back, he moved forward, grasping Supergirl and pulling her back with all his strength. "Hey! He's down, he's down!"

Supergirl whirled on him, her fists clenched. Tears stood out wetly on her cheeks. She looked at him in confusion for a moment before letting her shoulders sag. For a moment, Eclipso had become the symbol of all her problems... but beating him up didn't bring Leesburg back.

Starman let her pull away from him, his eyes never leaving her face. She was beautiful -- and obviously in a lot of pain. His heart went out to her.

"Starman? Is that you? Could you tell me what's going on here?" Superman stood in the kitchen entrance, looking as tall and proud as ever.

Starman started to answer but Supergirl did it first. "Eclipso came and tried to use me and Starman to form a new army. I think... I think Starman did something to me..." She had wiped her eyes, but they were still moist.

Superman stepped forward. He took Supergirl in his arms as Pa entered the room, still befuddled. "Shh. It'll be okay. I promise." And the Man of Steel took her in his arms while Starman looked on.

Linda Danvers and Clark Kent sat together on the front porch, staring at the setting sun. "You're welcome to stay with Lois and I, Linda..."

Linda shook her head. She was seated with her legs drawn up into her chair, her arms locked around her knees. "No...but thanks. I don't want to impose. I think the best thing for me is to get back to work. I want to start sculpting again, too -- there were a few galleries interested in my work."

Clark nodded, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. He looked so sweet, Linda thought, sitting there and wanting to make everything better. "So you're going to stay here with Ma and Pa?"

"Not for long."

"About that new look you have for Supergirl..."

Linda smiled. "I think that was my subconscious at work. In the past, my Supergirl form has shifted in time with my emotions... I think I needed something new, you know? Besides, it looks a bit more mature and I'm feeling old right about now...With the new powers, it's even more appropriate. I'm still super-strong and can fly but now I have heat vision instead of flame... And I think that my telekinesis might be gone, too."

"Well, I was going to say I like the new look. There's no one who wears that S-shield that I'm prouder of, Linda. You've earned it."

Linda looked at him, her eyes still sad but hopeful. "Thanks for being there for me, Kal. I appreciate it."

Clark stood up, pushing his hands into his pockets. "Anytime. Take care, Linda. And please keep in touch..."

"I will." Linda watched him re-enter the house and then leaned back in her chair. She could see Starman flying in the sky overhead, enjoying the feel and smell of Earth's atmosphere. He looked so carefree... Impulsively, she rose from her chair and stepped off the porch. With each step her form shifted into that of Supergirl's. With a smile, she flew up to Starman's side, eager to make a fresh start.

NEXT ISSUE : Linda Danvers gets a new job -- in Midway City! Plus : Starman checks in on his family and Blackstarr comes to Earth!

First off, everyone raise your hand if you remember Blackstarr... Hmm... Just one of you? For shame! Blackstarr was a classic Supergirl foe back in the pre-Crisis days. She battled Supergirl in the pages of The Daring New Adventures of Supergirl and in an issue of DC Comics Presents. This Blackstarr bears some similarities but is a new incarnation, with no ties to the old in terms of continuity. How and why did Supergirl battle Blackstarr in the 1940s, as Blackstarr mentions in this story? Suffice to say, it will be told in a future tale. As for the costume change (you did follow the image link, didn't you?), that costume first saw print in one of DC's Elseworlds but I love the design and think it makes Supergirl look a little bit less like a cheerleader. Besides, with her recent stress levels, she needed a new look. :-) Now, on to the letters!

Ralph Angelo Writes :

Great story Barry. Really, really great. I was surprised that Linda's parents didn't make it out of Leesburg after last issue.I was sure they might have. The whole scene with the angel figure really got to me. I had a feeling this was Eclipso from the way you had things going for Will. Good story. Supergirl's grief was very strong. Was Cutter in town when the attack occurred? I was wondering if he had been off somewhere booking dates for Linda's art exhibit.

Thanks, Ralph. I thought long and hard about saving some of Linda's Leesburg friends (and family) but in the end I decided not to. Why? Because the first few issues of the book were, in essence, Peter David's Supergirl. I'm not Peter David. I want to write *my* Supergirl -- and that means some wholesale changes for the character and her supporting cast. I've never been a big fan of the Angel aspect of the character -- it makes an already confusing character even moreso. I want to meld the things I like about the post-Crisis Supergirl with the things that made her pre-Crisis incarnation so long lived. That doesn't mean a return to the sometimes silly and downright insulting aspects of the old Supergirl but it does mean a closer tie to Superman (and the Kents). It means moving her in what I see as a more classic superhero direction and away from the soap opera quality of the Peter David series. I actually planned to save Linda's parents originally but the scene with Linda and Wally in # 6 wrote itself. I imagine some people won't like these changes and think I'm 'ruining' Supergirl for FDC. If so, then I'm sorry. But I plan to tell some very exciting stories from here on, stories that will challenge everything you know about the character of Supergirl. And in this series, you never know who will live... and who will die.

Isn't that fun? :-)

Everyone can reach me by writing to aric_dacia@yahoo.com

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