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Supergirl (Kara Zor-El)
Encyclopedia
Kara Zor-El is a fiction
al character
appearing in comic book
s published by DC Comics
and related media, created by writer Otto Binder
and designed by artist Al Plastino
. As Supergirl
, Kara Zor-El serves as the biological cousin and female counterpart to DC Comic's iconic superhero
Superman
, created by writer Jerome Siegel
and designed by artist Joseph Shuster
. Since her introduction in 1959 Supergirl has become one of the most iconic and recognizable characters in comics.
The Supergirl character first appeared in a story published in Action Comics
#252 (May 1959) entitled "The Supergirl from Krypton." Since the character's comic book debut, Kara Zor-El's Supergirl has been adapted into various media relating to the Superman franchise including merchandise, television
, and feature film
. However, during the 1980s and the revolution of the Modern Age of Comics, Superman editors believed the character’s history had become convoluted, and desired to reestablish Superman as "The Last Son of Krypton." Supergirl was thus killed during the 1985 limited series
Crisis on Infinite Earths
and retcon
ned out of existence. Since Crisis, several characters unrelated to Superman have used the alias "Supergirl."
Kara Zor-El entered mainstream continuity again in 2004 when DC Comics Senior Vice President and Executive Editor Dan DiDio
, along with editor Eddie Berganza
and comic book writer Jeph Loeb
reintroduced the character in the Superman/Batman
storyline "The Supergirl from Krypton". The title paid homage to the character’s 1959 debut. As the current Supergirl, Kara Zor-El stars in her own monthly comic book series
. With the launch of the "New 52" by DC, Kara, along with most of the DC Universe, was relaunched. She is currently featured in her own series "Supergirl", in "The Last Daughter of Krypton" story line.
The first story to feature a female counterpart to Superman was "Lois Lane
– Superwoman
," which was published in Action Comics #60 (May 1943). In the story, a hospitalized Lois Lane dreams she has gained superpowers thanks to a blood transfusion from the Man of Steel. She begins her own career as "Superwoman", complete with a version of Superman's costume.
In the Superboy
#78 story entitled "Claire Kent, Alias Super-Sister", Superboy saves the life of an alien woman named Shar-La, who turns Superboy into a girl, in retaliation for his disparaging thoughts about women drivers which she picked up telepathically. In Smallville, Clark claims to be Claire Kent, an out-of-town relative who is staying with the Kents. When in costume, he appears as Superboy's sister, Super-Sister, and claims the two have exchanged places. Once Superboy has learned his lesson about feeling more respect for women, Shar-La reveals the episode to be a dream which she projected into Superboy's mind. This incident could be a reflection of the gender discrimination present against women at the time and the resent by women of the period.
In Superman #123 (August 1958), Jimmy Olsen
uses a magic totem to wish a "Super-Girl" into existence as a companion and aid to Superman; however, the two frequently get in each other's way until she is fatally injured protecting Superman from a Kryptonite meteor. At her insistence, Jimmy wishes the dying girl out of existence. DC used this story to gauge public response to the concept of a completely new super-powered female counterpart to Superman.
Otto Binder wrote, and Al Plastino illustrated, her debut story in Action Comics
#252 (May 1959), in which the definite Kara Zor-El is sent to Earth
by her parents Zor-El and Alura to be raised by her cousin Kal-El, known as Superman.
Reaction at the DC Comics offices to Supergirl's first appearance was tremendous, with thousands of positive letters-of-comment pouring in. The first published letter-of-comment in the August 1959 issue of Action Comics was from an eleven-year-old reader from Garland, Texas named David Mitchell. The same Dave Mitchell
would go on to become a well-known Miami radio personality.
Following this debut appearance, Supergirl adopted the secret identity of an orphan "Linda Lee", made Midvale Orphanage her base of operations, and like her cousin, as a teenager joined the Legion of Super-Heroes
. Supergirl acted for three years as Superman's "secret weapon," until she was at last introduced by her super-powered cousin to an unsuspecting world in Action Comics #285 in 1962. Supergirl shared Action Comics with Superman until transferring to the lead in Adventure Comics
at the end of the 1960s. In this period "Linda Lee" was adopted to become "Linda Danvers," eventually moving to Stanhope College, and then to San Francisco. In 1972 she was finally moved to her own named magazine, but the move, which involved a change in creative staff, was not successful and the magazine was canceled. Supergirl, along with Lois Lane
and Jimmy Olsen
, whose magazines were canceled at about the same time, was moved to Superman Family
, of which she soon became the lead, before her magazine was relaunched some years later.
In 1985, the maxi-series Crisis on Infinite Earths was conceived as a way to reduce DC Comic continuity to a single universe in which all characters maintained a single history. Despite Supergirl’s continued popularity and status as a central member of the "Superman Family", it was determined by the editors at DC Comics and the creators of the maxi-series that Supergirl would die during the Crisis. According to Marv Wolfman
, writer of Crisis on Infinite Earths:
Even following Kara Zor-El's death, the character of Supergirl proved impossible to suppress, and several characters unrelated to Superman soon took on the Supergirl persona, including the Matrix, Linda Danvers, and Cir-El.
In 1989, in the tale "Christmas with the Super-Heroes" the soul of Kara appears to Boston "Deadman" Brand
and cheers him up, not appearing in continuity again until the Linda Danvers' Supergirl series issues 48 and 49 in 2001.
A hero resembling the Pre-Crisis Kara would later appear in Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #5, along with an entire army of Legionnaires gathered from alternate worlds, times, and realities, to battle the Time Trapper
.
’s Supergirl: Many Happy Returns. The then-current Supergirl series, at the time starring Linda Danvers, was in danger of cancellation and Peter David thought a story arc involving Kara Zor-El would be enough to revitalize the series. In an interview with Cliff Biggers of Newsarama, David states:
While "Many Happy Returns" did not save the Supergirl series from cancellation, it did revitalize an interest in Kara Zor-El. After the launch of the Superman/Batman
comic book series, Executive Editor Dan DiDio
had been looking for a way to simplify the Supergirl character from her convoluted post-crisis history; the simplest version of course, was Superman’s cousin. Jeph Loeb
and editor Eddie Berganza
found an opening to reintroduce the character following the conclusion of the first story arc of Superman/Batman. Loeb states:
The modern version of Kara Zor-El made her debut in Superman/Batman
#8 (2004). Kara takes the mantle of Supergirl at the conclusion of the storyline. The Supergirl comic book series would later be relaunched, now starring Kara Zor-El as "The Girl of Steel". The first arc of the new series was written by Jeph Loeb and illustrated by Ian Churchill
. Loeb would later describe the appeal of writing for Supergirl:
As the character continued to be reinvented, steps towards regarbing the iconic character were some of the most prominent changes. Artist Jamal Igle
and editor Matt Idleson moved to transition the character away from panties under her skirt to biker shorts, feeling such a change was a logical progression and "more respectable."
of the planet Krypton
. Although Argo, which had survived the explosion of the planet, drifted through space as a self-sustaining environment, the soil of the colony eventually turned into Kryptonite
. Though Kara's father Zor-El placed lead sheeting above the ground to protect the citizens from radiation, meteorite
s pierced the sheeting and the Kryptonian
s died of radiation poisoning.
In Supergirl's subsequent backup feature in Action Comics drawn by her quintessential artist Jim Mooney
for ten years until 1968, Supergirl adopts the identity of Linda Lee, an orphan at Midvale Orphanage presided over by headmistress Miss Hart. She disguises herself by hiding her blonde hair beneath a brunette wig. During this time, Supergirl interacts with humans on a person-to-person basis performing good deeds and saving the world by helping one person at a time. Supergirl also uses clever schemes in order to act as "Superman's Secret Weapon" saving him many times, while avoiding adoption before Superman can introduce her publicly.
While temporarily powerless due to the scheming of Kandor
ian scientist Lesla-Lar, who is out to supplant her on Earth, Linda allows herself to be adopted by engineer and rocket scientist Fred Danvers and his wife, Edna. In time, she reveals her secret identity to her adoptive parents on the same day her cousin Superman finally introduces her to the world in the finale of then-DC's longest playing series ever (eight chapters) aptly called "The World's Greatest Heroine".
When frequent dreams about her parents being alive turn out to be real, she builds a machine aided by her engineer father's talent, and brings them both back alive from the "Survival Zone" where they had both teleported during Argo City's final moments. Zor-El and Allura eventually end up living in Kandor, and when the city in the bottle is enlarged, they both go on to live in Rokyn/New Krypton, where they have the sad duty of receiving her mortal remains after "Crisis" for burial.
Graduating high school in 1965, Linda Lee goes to college on a scholarship and stays in Stanhope College until she graduates in 1971. During this era, she is helped by her pet cat Streaky
, her Super-Horse pet Comet, and befriends Lena Thorul
, who had first appeared in the Lois Lane series. Kara is also a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes
, where she becomes close to Brainiac 5
. In addition, Linda has boyfriends from the orphanage (Richard "Dick" Malverne) and from Atlantis (Jerro the merboy).
In 1967, Supergirl meets Batgirl
for the first time in World's Finest Comics
. Developing a strong friendship, the two characters teamed up many times again, as in Superman Family
#171, or Adventure #381.
In 1969, Supergirl left Action Comics and became a featured character in Adventure Comics beginning with issue #381 (June 1969).
During the 1970s, Supergirl's costume changed frequently, as did her career in her civilian life. During this era, her most remembered outfit included a "V" necked blouse with a "S" in her heart, and red hot-pants. In her secret identity as Linda Lee Danvers, Kara Zor-El took a variety of jobs including graduate student in acting, television reporter, and student counselor, and finally became an actress on the TV soap Secret Hearts.
Supergirl starred in her first solo eponym
ous monthly series beginning in 1972 until October 1974, when her monthly title merged with Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane
, and Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen to produce a new title: then-highest DC selling series called The Superman Family
, where she rotated lead stories with them until 1982. In 1982 Supergirl received a second monthly solo series titled The Daring New Adventures of Supergirl and later simply Supergirl again. She made her home in Chicago
and began sporting a red headband. This series ran until sudden cancellation in 1984, only two months before the character's debut in a big-budget Hollywood film starring Helen Slater.
In the Crisis on Infinite Earths
(1985) the greatest heroes from Earth-One, Earth-Two, Earth-Four, Earth-S, and Earth-X join forces in order to defeat the Anti-Monitor
. When Superman comes face to face with the Anti-Monitor and is knocked unconscious, Supergirl rushes to save him before he is killed. She is able to fight him off long enough for Dr. Light
to carry her cousin to a safe distance, but is killed by the Anti-Monitor. A public memorial service for Supergirl takes place in Chicago, where Batgirl
(Barbara Gordon) delivers the eulogy. In her remarks she states "Kara is a hero. She will not be forgotten." Superman then gives his late cousin burial by taking her corpse to Rokyn/New Krypton to Zor-El and Allura. A Superman issue the next month reveals that Kara had experienced a premonition about her own passing. However, when the universe is rebooted, the timeline is altered. Kara Zor-El and all memory of her is erased from existence.
tries to feel the warmth of Christmas by possessing revelers' bodies. Feeling guilty upon the realization that he has been stealing others' Christmases, he flies off feeling sorry for himself for being denied a reward after a year of helping people. A warmly-dressed blonde woman approaches Brand, startling him. Somehow seeing the normally invisible Brand, she converses with him, reminding him,
She reminds Brand that even though he is dead, he is still human, and he should rejoice because it means his spirit is still alive. As the woman leaves, Brand asks her who she is, to which she replies, "My name is Kara. Though I doubt that will mean anything to you." The story, written by Alan Brennert
and penciled by Dick Giordano
, is dedicated to Otto Binder
and Jim Mooney
, adding: "We still remember."
Finally, the soul of Kara Zor-El appeared twice during Peter David
's run, specifically in issues #48 and #49 when she appears before a defeated and imprisoned then-Supergirl, Linda Danvers from Earth, and comforts her. Linda acknowledges she has been helped three times by her phantom-friend, and when she asks her name she is told by the smiling figure: "I have gone by many names, but the one I am most fond of is: Kara!"
In 2004, Jeph Loeb reintroduced Kara Zor-El into post Zero Hour continuity in Superman/Batman
: Supergirl. She is first discovered by Batman
in Gotham City
Bay. Kara Zor-El claims to be the biological cousin of Kal-El. Although chronologically older than Superman, the ship in which she traveled to Earth was caught in a large green kryptonite meteorite which held her in a state of suspended animation
for much of the journey. Superman accepts her claims but Batman is unconvinced. Kara Zor-El begins training in the use of her newly manifested powers under the tutelage of Wonder Woman
and the Amazons on the island of Themyscira
. She is then captured by the extraterrestrial supervillain
Darkseid
and brainwashed into becoming the leader of his Female Furies
. Following a rescue mission led by Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman, Kara Zor-El assumes her heroic identity as Supergirl.
Following the conclusion of "The Supergirl from Krypton," DC Comics relaunched the Supergirl monthly comic series starring Kara Zor-El. Jeph Loeb's first arc on the series Supergirl: Power (2005) showcases Supergirl on a journey of self-discovery. Along her journey, she encounters Power Girl
(Kara Zor-El's counterpart from another universe), the Teen Titans, the Outsiders
, the Justice League of America, and arch-villain Lex Luthor
.
(2005), a sequel to Crisis on Infinite Earths, Supergirl is recruited by Donna Troy
to assist in the upcoming battle, and befriends fellow teen superhero Firestorm. Following a chaotic battle where Firestorm and several other heroes are apparently killed, Supergirl vanishes during the return from deep space. During this time, DC Comics renamed the monthly comic book series Legion of Super-Heroes
to Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes. Beginning with issue #16, Supergirl reappears in the 31st century finding she is revered as a member of the Superman family and joins the Legion of Super-Heroes. In the limited series 52
, which chronicles the events that took place during the missing year after the end of Infinite Crisis, Donna Troy (after her rebirth and inheritance of Harbinger's Orb) recalls the original Kara Zor-El and her sacrifice to save the universe.
One year
after Infinite Crisis, during World War III of Week 50 of 52, Supergirl returns to the 21st century. After briefly filling in for a temporarily depowered Superman as guardian of Metropolis, she assumes the identity of Flamebird
to fight crime in the bottle city of Kandor
with Power Girl as Nightwing
in Greg Rucka
's arc Supergirl: Kandor. While in Kandor, Kara is telepathically manipulated by an evil version of Saturn Girl
named Saturn Queen
into falling in love with Ultraman
who has claimed to be Kal-El. After Ultraman is defeated, Saturn Queen tells Kara of Argo city's survival in exchange for her sparing the life of Ultraman.
In Joe Kelly
's Supergirl: Identity (2006), Kara Zor-El attempts to create a secret identity
under the name Claire Connors, pretending to be a teenage girl from Kansas
. Supergirl also teams up with the Outsiders, engages in battle with Batgirl
, and begins a romantic relationship with Power Boy
. Supergirl's relationship with Power Boy ends after she discovers his obsessive and violent nature and learns that he was born on Apokolips
. Joe Kelly's following arc shows Supergirl learning the true origins of her past and apparently encountering her Silver Age counterpart. The defeat of Supergirl's counterpart in Supergirl #18 reveals that her recent ordeals, including the Phantom-infested Earth and Kara's direct encounter with her father, are part of a twisted "test" designed by Dark Angel
, who also masqueraded as the pre-Crisis Supergirl. Four months later, yet another new origin is given the girl of steel, where her father is a Ranger and her mother a scientist.
's six-part limited series Amazons Attack!
(2007), Wonder Girl
and Supergirl discover that the Amazons of Themyscira have invaded Washington, D.C.
Because of the McCarran Internal Security Act
, implemented by the US President, Wonder Girl's mother and a friend of Supergirl's, named Alison, are held at an internment camp. As they try to storm the camp and free the women, they are stopped by the Titans, and told by Robin
that negotiation would be a better solution. Consequently, they fly to Washington D.C. and talk to Queen Hippolyta, who tells them that negotiations are impossible, since the President is safe on Air Force One
. Agreeing to bring the US leader to the Amazon Queen, the two girls block the path of Air Force One and threaten to bring the plane down if the President does not come with them. After the Amazons then forcefully cause Air Force One to crash, Wonder Girl and Supergirl realize how foolish they are and aid the heroes battle against the Amazons.
Soon after the end of the Amazon War, Supergirl receives membership with the Teen Titans with Superman's approval. During her first mission as an official member of the team, she and the other Titans find themselves confronting the sinister "Titans of Tomorrow," and she finds herself battling against a re-cloned Conner Kent. After this, there is a big falling out between Wonder Girl and Supergirl, which leads to Supergirl leaving the Teen Titans.
, who holds a grudge against the Girl of Steel, starts a libel campaign in the Daily Planet
that turns public opinion against her.
Conversations with other heroes who maintain secret identities lead Kara to the conclusion that she needs to make a deeper connection with human beings. She accepts Lana Lang
's proposal to present her to the Daily Planet staff as "Linda Lang", Lana's teenaged niece.
Grant Morrison's Final Crisis
miniseries shows Supergirl in a major battle with Mary Marvel
in the ruins of Bludhaven.
of the false Kandor was right and Argo City did survive Krypton's destruction. However, Argo City's force field was on the verge of collapse. Zor-El, like his brother Jor-El, tries to warn the council on Argo of its eventual doom but they refuse to listen. Zor-El builds a spaceship in hopes of using it to discover a new planet to settle on. Before this can happen however, Brainiac
attacks Argo. Zor-El rushes a young Kara to the spaceship and launches it into space towards Earth as her mother, Allura tells her to watch over her little cousin, Kal-El. Argo ends up being an added edition to a shrunken Kandor. This is all seen in Supergirl #35 as Zor-El is using a machine to purge Kara of the kryptonite poisoning she sustained after her ship had been trapped in a giant kryptonite asteroid. Zor-El and Allura inform Kara that the symptoms for this poisoning is mood swings, aggressiveness, crystallizing blood, memory loss, and hallucinations—all of which Kara has exhibited since her arrival on Earth. Zor-El's machine succeeds in curing Kara and restoring all of her lost and distorted memories. Soon after, Metallo
and Reactron
are brought to Kandor by the Kryptonian military, having apparently surrendered. This is immediately revealed to be a ruse, and Reactron, using his newly implanted Gold Kryptonite heart, temporarily depowers several Kryptonians, and kills Zor-El. Allura blames Kara and Kal-El for Zor-El's death, berating them for failing to maintain order on Earth, which causes Kara to fly off in response. Kara then encounters the new Superwoman
, who helps her talk though her anger. After New Krypton is formed, Kara is torn between her life on Earth, and her obligation to her mother. Kara attempts to find Reactron and bring him to justice, only to be continually waylaid by Superwoman. During a final confrontation with her, Kara discovers that Superwoman is really Lucy Lane
, and accidentally kills her after rupturing her suit. Later, Kara joins the New Krypton Science Guild. Helping Superman in pursuing a Kryptonian criminal, Kara encounters Mirabai, who teleports her away.
After being teleported to an alley, Kara finds Chris Kent
and Thara Ak-Var
. Supergirl attacks Thara, for killing her father and trying to kill her. However, Chris stops her and tells her he is his cousin. The three are attacked by Guardian and the Science Police, for apparently killing Mon-El
. Chris tries to tell Guardian that they did not murder Mon-El, but Guardian ignores him. The three manage to escape to Paris. Chris, Thara, and Kara talk about what has happened. They then discover that the two sleepers they were fighting were Metallo and Reactron. However, they are attacked by Squad K.
Escaping from Squad K, the three go to Lana Lang
's apartment. They decide to get Lois' help in clearing their names. Chris and Lana go to find Lois while Kara and Thara stay in Lana's apartment. While staying in Lana's apartment, Thara tells Kara that Lana has been hiding something from her. They see Squad K flying to attack Chris. Kara and Thara help Chris to fight Squad K, but they are cuffed with red sun shackles. Fortunately, Chris' tactile telekinesis is not affected by red sunlight, so the three manage to free themselves and fight Reactron again. Thara transforms into Flamebird and destroys Reactron's Gold Kryptonite. Thara is about to kill him, but Supergirl stops her. Supergirl then takes Reactron to New Krypton, but says that she will return to talk about what Lana has been hiding from her.
Kara delivers Reactron to Alura. Alura has flashbacks of her time with Zor before Reactron killed him. She remembers how the Science Guild told her love is simply a chemical response to external stimuli and therefore should be ignored, but she does love Zor. Back in the present Reactron is standing trial. Before the verdict is announced many Kryptonians burst into the court room wanting revenge. Supergirl and Alura jump in to save Reactron but in the skirmish he is apparently killed. Supergirl decides to return to Earth.
. Kara grabs a box and is transformed into a Banshee. Meanwhile Lana has collapsed and is bleeding. The spirits that have possessed Supergirl are upset with the Silver Banshee. They silence the Silver Banshee with magical chains and berate her for not having found the artifacts before. The Inspector cuts a coin from his hand to stop the Banshee spirits and Supergirl breaks free from their control. Silver Banshee then eliminates the disembodied clan spirits by screaming their name. Kara rushes to the hospital and bursts through the door as Linda Lang just as Lana is pronounced dead. She simply is so overwhelmed by the moment that she tunes out the physician trying to explain things to her. She says it plainly she doesn't hear anything. Her mind is reeling, too busy trying to grasp the immensity of this moment to listen. It hits Linda that she is now truly alone on Earth and sheds a few tears. Linda goes to see the body and sees a Lana encased in a chrysalis. Lana's condition is somehow the result of her time as the Insect Queen.
After this, Supergirl is captured when the hospital is engulfed in a massive cocoon and an army of humanoid insects emerge. Once she is freed by Gangbuster
, Linda conspires with him and Kimiyo Hoshi to infiltrate the cocoon, rescue the hostages, and find out who is behind the invasion. After being ambushed and knocked out, Linda awakens bound and gagged at the feet of Lana, who has once again reverted back to her Insect Queen form. Insect Queen informs Linda that during her last encounter with Lana, she embedded a piece of her DNA within her in an attempt to retake her body. The two women engage in a drawn out battle, with Linda eventually expelling the Queen from Lana's body through the use of an advanced Kryptonian machine. After Lana is cured, Linda informs her that she is leaving her home, feeling betrayed about Lana's unwillingness to share her illness.
, Supergirl and Stephanie Brown team up for the first time. The two become quick friends, but are both captured by the Toyman
. They are ultimately rescued when Superman
and Dick Grayson
defeat the villain.
In the Justice League: Cry for Justice
miniseries, Kara, still seeking justice for her father's death, joins Hal Jordan
's team of proactive heroes. It is revealed that she was offered a chance to rejoin the Teen Titans after reconciling with Wonder Girl, but politely declined in order to join the League. After a few missions with Hal's team, Kara is the first to discover that her teammate Freddy Freeman
is in reality the supervillain Prometheus
in disguise. Before Kara can warn the other heroes, Prometheus shoots her with magical bullets he purchased from Mercy Graves
, severely injuring her.
During the Blackest Night event, Kara and Alura visit Zor-El's tomb, only for a black power ring to seek out the body and turn it into a Black Lantern
. Kara ultimately staves off her father long enough for Alura to trap him outside of Krypton through use of a force field.
that other planets are in Brainiac's ship. Zod sends Supergirl off and arrests the Legionnaires. Supergirl and Mon-El are fighting Brainiac probes when Mon-El gets a telepathic message from Tellus. Mon-El has to save Superman who has been captured by Brainiac and Lex Luthor. Supergirl kisses him just for luck. Supergirl rushes to her mother's aid and sees Alura fighting with Superboy. Kara punches Connor away but Superboy comes back to save them both from a Brainiac probe. Supergirl tells Alura of the Legion mission and challenges her to stand up to Zod. Alura pardons the Legion and sends Supergirl with them to fight Brainiac. Mon-El enters the ship the same way as Superman and manages to save him and the city of Lanothians. As Brainiac calls his army to fight the Supermen, Luthor slips away. Back on New Krypton Supergirl, Superboy, and the Legion attempt to get the Kryptonians to work together, but the differences in the guilds makes it impossible. Tellus decides to try a mass mind-wipe to get the Kryptonians to put aside their prejudice. He uses Supergirl to focus it through because she grew up in the society but has still managed to move past the inequalities. The plan fails. Tellus thinks the telepathic race the Lanothians can put their powers together to change the minds of all Kryptonians. With the battle raging on Supergirl, Superboy, and the Legion take the fight to the satellite. Alura confronted Zod and told him the Legion were not terrorists. On Brainiac's ship, Brainiac re-energizes and fights Superman. During the brawl, Superman is able to get hold of the telepathic Lanthians but Brainiac teleports away with all the others. The Legion manages to enter Brainiac's ship thanks to Brainiac 5's help. However, even this does not seem to help and New Krypton is put back into a bottle. Superman is pummeled by Brainiac's weapon's system and is declared dead. Still, Zod says that Brainiac has lost. Meanwhile, Supergirl and Brainiac 5 have met. In a brief moment alone, he reveals how hard it is to be near Supergirl, how much he loves her, and how hard it was when she died. It is revealed that Brainy is looking back at Supergirl's life historically. Luthor finds Reactron after killing Gor but instead of rescuing him says he has come for something. Brainy and Kara fight through Brainiac's satellite but Kara can't shake the feeling that she has met Brainy before. He tries to figure out if Kara has met him before but realizes Saturn Girl's memory blocks are masking her memories of the future. He tells her she needs to destroy the reactor while he attempts to hold off the Phages. She smashes the satellite's power core. He tells Kara to trust her friends and she needs to trust him. He can't tell her anything about the future but that she needs to live her own life and decide her own future. Supergirl finds it and his brooding way's cute and Brainy knows this even if she does not say this. With Brainiac's ship's force field down Superman is able to reenter the ship. On board Luthor emerges from Kandor and grabs a bottle city for himself. Superman goes to rescue Kandor while Zod and his soldier's fight Brainiac. In the meantime Mon-El remains captured but the Legion shows up to complete their mission and save him. Superman finds Kandor and meets up with Supergirl and Brainiac 5. He turns the city over to Supergirl calling it her home, trusting that she will keep protect it and re-enlarge it. The Legion tell Mon-El his destiny is to save the future and the cities. He changes back to his old costume and must leave Superman behind. Brainy re-sizes the city safely and Kandor is big once more. Superman joins Zod in fighting Brainiac. Luthor expands the city he grabbed right inside Brainiac's ship. Brainiac's ship begins to plummet to New Krypton's surface. Mon-El is left with the Legion after saving the bottled cities and Zod is fighting with Brainiac. Superman, Supergirl, and Superboy and the rest of New Krypton work together to stop the ship. Kandor is devastated, a huge crater smoldering in the center. The alien city is still growing. Brainiac 5 runs to help Supergirl, who is trying to hold back the expanding city. Brainy is able to stop it and re-bottles the city. They find a critically injured Superman. Brainiac punishes Luthor for his treachery by snapping his neck only to reveal that Luthor is a robot. After a blood transfusion from Superboy, Superman comes in time to save Brainiac from Zod who was about to kill him. Brainiac 5 walks up and teleport's away with his ancestor. Before leaving he tells Kara to watch out for her mother. It is revealed Luthor was working with General Lane all along. Zod is given total command over Krypton. All the guild leaders except Alura were killed in the attack. Zod declares war on Earth.
Superman manages to stop her. Kara breaks down, feeling responsible for New Krypton's destruction because she brought Reactron there. Superman assures her it wasn't her fault, and they hug and are happy they still have each other. General Zod sends a bulk of his troops to the Human Defense Corps Mars base. The two sides fight, as General Lane calls upon Luthor to finish his 'second project'. Using the false Rao corpse and time-pool technology, Earth has a red sun.[46] Flamebird has taken off into space and dove into the sun. Thara pushes her body to the limit, destroying the Rao-bomb, returning the sun to yellow but killing herself in the process. With the sun now yellow the Kryptonians in space regain their powers. Some have survived but thousands are dead. Superman both saddened and angry takes off for Earth. The Kryptonian race is now down to a mere 7,000. Meanwhile, Supergirl comes to stop Ursa. As the two fly at each other, Superman meets Zod who has mobilized his troops to fight him in Metropolis. Supergirl has been defeated by Ursa but is saved at the last minute by the Superman family. They head to Project 7734. Before they leave they deposit Ursa in the Phantom Zone which has returned. While Superman fights Zod, Superboy goes around the world putting as many Kryptonians back into the Zone as he can. Supergirl has defeated Superwoman and fights General Lane. Lane commits suicide, as to him it was war without prisoners. With all the remaining Kryptonians in the Zone, Superman ends the war. Zod is sent back to the Zone and Chris seals the Zone off permanently. In the process he is turned back into a child. He and Mon-El explore the Zone. Supergirl mourns the loss of her people, setting up this memorial in deep space. Lois is flying with Superman and say this was a war that was born from ignorance and prejudice.
event, Kara is called to Germany by Congorilla
, and arrives just in time to see an insane Power Girl attempting to kill the members of the Justice League and the Justice Society of America
. The two women fight to a standstill, with Kara ultimately distracting Power Girl long enough for Jade
to knock her unconscious using her powers. Following this, Kara is told by the Batman that she can stay with the League, as they will likely need her help in discovering what drove Power Girl insane. After learning that Power Girl and other metahumans across the world are being possessed by a cosmic entity known as the Starheart
, Supergirl travels to Gotham in order to save the city from a crazed water elemental named Naiad
. After defeating and capturing Naiad, Supergirl is officially welcomed into the JLA by Batman.
Superman tries to convince Kara that he is her cousin but Kara, still believing only 3 days have passed since she last saw baby Kal, accuses him of being an imposter and attacks him. They fight until Kara throws Superman through the Great Wall Of China. Superman refuses to fight her, as now they will be putting innocents at risk. When Kara realises how close she's come to hurting innocent people, she also stops fighting. Superman explains Kara is now on Earth, and reveals to her that Krypton has been destroyed.
Continued exposure to a yellow sun will cause the level of her abilities to slowly increase. Many characters in the DC Universe have noted that Supergirl appears at times to be even more powerful than Superman. However, as Superman explains, this may be because he has spent a lifetime subconsciously suppressing his powers so that he doesn't hurt the people around him, while Kara, without such experience, simply uses her powers to the fullest without being as fearful of risks to others.
superheroine, making her first appearance
in All Star Comics
#58 (January/February 1976).
Power Girl is the Earth-Two
counterpart of Supergirl
and the first cousin of Kal-L, Superman
of the pre-Crisis
Earth-Two
. The infant Power Girl's parents enabled her to escape the destruction of Krypton
. Although she left the planet at the same time that Superman did, her ship took much longer to reach Earth-Two
.
Possessing superhuman strength and the ability to fly, she is a member of the Justice Society of America
and the team's first chairwoman. Power Girl sports a bob
of blond hair; wears a distinctive white, red, and blue costume; and has an aggressive fighting style. Throughout her early appearances in All Star Comics
, Power Girl was frequently at odds with Wildcat
, who had a penchant for talking to her as if she were an ordinary human female rather than a superpowered Kryptonian, which she found annoying.
The 1985 limited series
Crisis on Infinite Earths
eliminated Earth-Two
, causing her origin to change; she became the granddaughter of the Atlantean
sorcerer
Arion
. However, story events culminating in the 2005-2006 Infinite Crisis
limited series restored her status as a refugee from the Krypton
of the destroyed pre-Crisis
Earth-Two
universe.
also ranked this version of Supergirl as the 94th greatest comic book hero stating that for a character born of the Silver Age that saw everything from a Super Baby to a Super Monkey, Kara Zor-El grew into something much more than simply another marketing ploy to slap an “S” on.
Kara Zor-El appeared in over 750 stories published by DC from 1959 to 1985.
Kara Zor-El also appears as a supporting character in several issues of other DC Comics, including Superman, Action Comics, Teen Titans, Amazons Attack, World War III, and Wonder Girl. She has also appeared in many issues of Superman, Action Comics, and Superman New Krypton starting with the World Without Superman event in 2009, and continuing with the World Against Superman event going into 2010.
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
al character
Character (arts)
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
appearing in comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
s published by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
and related media, created by writer Otto Binder
Otto Binder
Otto Oscar Binder was an American author of science fiction and non-fiction books and stories, and comic books...
and designed by artist Al Plastino
Al Plastino
Al Plastino is an American comic book artist best known as one of the most prolific Superman artists of the 1950s, along with his DC Comics colleague Wayne Boring...
. As Supergirl
Supergirl
Supergirl is a female counterpart to the DC Comics Superman. As his cousin, she shares his super powers and vulnerability to Kryptonite. She was created by writer Otto Binder and designed by artist Al Plastino in 1959. She first appeared in the Action Comics comic book series and later branched out...
, Kara Zor-El serves as the biological cousin and female counterpart to DC Comic's iconic superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
, created by writer Jerome Siegel
Jerry Siegel
Jerome "Jerry" Siegel , who also used pseudonyms including Joe Carter, Jerry Ess, and Herbert S...
and designed by artist Joseph Shuster
Joe Shuster
Joseph "Joe" Shuster was a Canadian-born American comic book artist. He was best known for co-creating the DC Comics character Superman, with writer Jerry Siegel, first published in Action Comics #1...
. Since her introduction in 1959 Supergirl has become one of the most iconic and recognizable characters in comics.
The Supergirl character first appeared in a story published in Action Comics
Action Comics
Action Comics is an American comic book series that introduced Superman, the first major superhero character as the term is popularly defined...
#252 (May 1959) entitled "The Supergirl from Krypton." Since the character's comic book debut, Kara Zor-El's Supergirl has been adapted into various media relating to the Superman franchise including merchandise, television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, and feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
. However, during the 1980s and the revolution of the Modern Age of Comics, Superman editors believed the character’s history had become convoluted, and desired to reestablish Superman as "The Last Son of Krypton." Supergirl was thus killed during the 1985 limited series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then 50-year-old continuity...
and retcon
Retcon
Retroactive continuity is the alteration of previously established facts in a fictional work. Retcons are done for many reasons, including the accommodation of sequels or further derivative works in a series, wherein newer authors or creators want to revise the in-story history to allow a course...
ned out of existence. Since Crisis, several characters unrelated to Superman have used the alias "Supergirl."
Kara Zor-El entered mainstream continuity again in 2004 when DC Comics Senior Vice President and Executive Editor Dan DiDio
Dan DiDio
Dan DiDio is an American writer, editor and publisher who has worked in the television and comic book industries. He is currently the Co-Publisher of DC Comics, along with Jim Lee...
, along with editor Eddie Berganza
Eddie Berganza
Eddie Berganza is the Executive Editor for DC Comics.Berganza was born in Guatemala and moved to New York City at seven years old. He learned to speak English by watching reruns of the Adventures of Superman television series starring George Reeves, often shouting 'Look, up in the sky!' without...
and comic book writer Jeph Loeb
Jeph Loeb
Joseph "Jeph" Loeb III is an American film and television writer, producer and award-winning comic book writer. Loeb was a producer/writer on the TV series Smallville and Lost, writer for the films Commando and Teen Wolf and was a writer and Co-Executive Producer on the NBC TV show Heroes from its...
reintroduced the character in the Superman/Batman
Superman/Batman
Superman/Batman was a monthly comic book series published by DC Comics that features the publisher's two most popular characters: Batman and Superman...
storyline "The Supergirl from Krypton". The title paid homage to the character’s 1959 debut. As the current Supergirl, Kara Zor-El stars in her own monthly comic book series
Supergirl (comic book)
Supergirl is the name of six comic book series published by DC Comics, featuring various characters of the same name. The majority of the titles feature Superman's cousin Kara Zor-El.-Volume 1 :...
. With the launch of the "New 52" by DC, Kara, along with most of the DC Universe, was relaunched. She is currently featured in her own series "Supergirl", in "The Last Daughter of Krypton" story line.
Creation
Although Kara Zor-El was the first character to use the name "Supergirl," DC Comics tested three different female versions of Superman prior to her debut.Lois Lane
Lois Lane is a fictional character, the primary love interest of Superman in the comic books of DC Comics. Created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, she first appeared in Action Comics #1 ....
– Superwoman
Superwoman
Superwoman is the name given to several fictional characters published over the years by DC Comics, most of them being, like the popular Supergirl, a woman with powers similar to those of DC's highly popular Superman. The name "Superwoman" was originally copyrighted by Detective Comics in an effort...
," which was published in Action Comics #60 (May 1943). In the story, a hospitalized Lois Lane dreams she has gained superpowers thanks to a blood transfusion from the Man of Steel. She begins her own career as "Superwoman", complete with a version of Superman's costume.
In the Superboy
Superboy
Superboy is the name of several fictional characters that have been published by DC Comics, most of them youthful incarnations of Superman. These characters have also been the main characters of four ongoing Superboy comic book series published by DC....
#78 story entitled "Claire Kent, Alias Super-Sister", Superboy saves the life of an alien woman named Shar-La, who turns Superboy into a girl, in retaliation for his disparaging thoughts about women drivers which she picked up telepathically. In Smallville, Clark claims to be Claire Kent, an out-of-town relative who is staying with the Kents. When in costume, he appears as Superboy's sister, Super-Sister, and claims the two have exchanged places. Once Superboy has learned his lesson about feeling more respect for women, Shar-La reveals the episode to be a dream which she projected into Superboy's mind. This incident could be a reflection of the gender discrimination present against women at the time and the resent by women of the period.
In Superman #123 (August 1958), Jimmy Olsen
Jimmy Olsen
Jimmy Olsen is a fictional character who appears mainly in DC Comics’ Superman stories. Olsen is a young photojournalist working for the Daily Planet. He is close friends with Lois Lane, Clark Kent/Superman and Perry White...
uses a magic totem to wish a "Super-Girl" into existence as a companion and aid to Superman; however, the two frequently get in each other's way until she is fatally injured protecting Superman from a Kryptonite meteor. At her insistence, Jimmy wishes the dying girl out of existence. DC used this story to gauge public response to the concept of a completely new super-powered female counterpart to Superman.
Otto Binder wrote, and Al Plastino illustrated, her debut story in Action Comics
Action Comics
Action Comics is an American comic book series that introduced Superman, the first major superhero character as the term is popularly defined...
#252 (May 1959), in which the definite Kara Zor-El is sent to Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
by her parents Zor-El and Alura to be raised by her cousin Kal-El, known as Superman.
Reaction at the DC Comics offices to Supergirl's first appearance was tremendous, with thousands of positive letters-of-comment pouring in. The first published letter-of-comment in the August 1959 issue of Action Comics was from an eleven-year-old reader from Garland, Texas named David Mitchell. The same Dave Mitchell
Dave Mitchell
James David Mitchell better known as "Dave Mitchell" is an American radio personality, producer, engineer, voice-over artist and former broadcast executive who has appeared on over 100 radio stations in Texas, Mississippi, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and on Sirius Satellite Radio...
would go on to become a well-known Miami radio personality.
Following this debut appearance, Supergirl adopted the secret identity of an orphan "Linda Lee", made Midvale Orphanage her base of operations, and like her cousin, as a teenager joined the Legion of Super-Heroes
Legion of Super-Heroes
The Legion of Super-Heroes is a fictional superhero team in the 30th and 31st centuries of the . The team first appears in Adventure Comics #247 , and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino....
. Supergirl acted for three years as Superman's "secret weapon," until she was at last introduced by her super-powered cousin to an unsuspecting world in Action Comics #285 in 1962. Supergirl shared Action Comics with Superman until transferring to the lead in Adventure Comics
Adventure Comics
Adventure Comics was a comic book series published by DC Comics from 1935 to 1983 and then revamped from 2009 to 2011. In its first era, the series ran for 503 issues , making it the fifth-longest-running DC series, behind Detective Comics, Action Comics, Superman, and Batman...
at the end of the 1960s. In this period "Linda Lee" was adopted to become "Linda Danvers," eventually moving to Stanhope College, and then to San Francisco. In 1972 she was finally moved to her own named magazine, but the move, which involved a change in creative staff, was not successful and the magazine was canceled. Supergirl, along with Lois Lane
Lois Lane
Lois Lane is a fictional character, the primary love interest of Superman in the comic books of DC Comics. Created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, she first appeared in Action Comics #1 ....
and Jimmy Olsen
Jimmy Olsen
Jimmy Olsen is a fictional character who appears mainly in DC Comics’ Superman stories. Olsen is a young photojournalist working for the Daily Planet. He is close friends with Lois Lane, Clark Kent/Superman and Perry White...
, whose magazines were canceled at about the same time, was moved to Superman Family
Superman Family
Superman Family was a DC Comics comic book series which ran from 1974 to 1982 featuring stories starring supporting characters in the Superman comics...
, of which she soon became the lead, before her magazine was relaunched some years later.
Death during Crisis on Infinite Earths
Marv Wolfman
Marvin A. "Marv" Wolfman is an award-winning American comic book writer. He is best known for lengthy runs on The Tomb of Dracula, creating Blade for Marvel Comics, and The New Teen Titans for DC Comics.-1960s:...
, writer of Crisis on Infinite Earths:
Even following Kara Zor-El's death, the character of Supergirl proved impossible to suppress, and several characters unrelated to Superman soon took on the Supergirl persona, including the Matrix, Linda Danvers, and Cir-El.
In 1989, in the tale "Christmas with the Super-Heroes" the soul of Kara appears to Boston "Deadman" Brand
Deadman
Deadman is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe. He first appeared in Strange Adventures #205 , and was created by Arnold Drake and Carmine Infantino.-Publication history:...
and cheers him up, not appearing in continuity again until the Linda Danvers' Supergirl series issues 48 and 49 in 2001.
A hero resembling the Pre-Crisis Kara would later appear in Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #5, along with an entire army of Legionnaires gathered from alternate worlds, times, and realities, to battle the Time Trapper
Time Trapper
The Time Trapper is a fictional character, a supervillain in stories published by DC Comics. The Time Trapper's main enemies are the Legion of Super-Heroes...
.
Revival
Prior to the post-Crisis introduction of Kara Zor-El into mainstream continuity, the pre-Crisis Kara Zor-El made an appearance in Peter DavidPeter David
Peter Allen David , often abbreviated PAD, is an American writer of comic books, novels, television, movies and video games...
’s Supergirl: Many Happy Returns. The then-current Supergirl series, at the time starring Linda Danvers, was in danger of cancellation and Peter David thought a story arc involving Kara Zor-El would be enough to revitalize the series. In an interview with Cliff Biggers of Newsarama, David states:
While "Many Happy Returns" did not save the Supergirl series from cancellation, it did revitalize an interest in Kara Zor-El. After the launch of the Superman/Batman
Superman/Batman
Superman/Batman was a monthly comic book series published by DC Comics that features the publisher's two most popular characters: Batman and Superman...
comic book series, Executive Editor Dan DiDio
Dan DiDio
Dan DiDio is an American writer, editor and publisher who has worked in the television and comic book industries. He is currently the Co-Publisher of DC Comics, along with Jim Lee...
had been looking for a way to simplify the Supergirl character from her convoluted post-crisis history; the simplest version of course, was Superman’s cousin. Jeph Loeb
Jeph Loeb
Joseph "Jeph" Loeb III is an American film and television writer, producer and award-winning comic book writer. Loeb was a producer/writer on the TV series Smallville and Lost, writer for the films Commando and Teen Wolf and was a writer and Co-Executive Producer on the NBC TV show Heroes from its...
and editor Eddie Berganza
Eddie Berganza
Eddie Berganza is the Executive Editor for DC Comics.Berganza was born in Guatemala and moved to New York City at seven years old. He learned to speak English by watching reruns of the Adventures of Superman television series starring George Reeves, often shouting 'Look, up in the sky!' without...
found an opening to reintroduce the character following the conclusion of the first story arc of Superman/Batman. Loeb states:
The modern version of Kara Zor-El made her debut in Superman/Batman
Superman/Batman
Superman/Batman was a monthly comic book series published by DC Comics that features the publisher's two most popular characters: Batman and Superman...
#8 (2004). Kara takes the mantle of Supergirl at the conclusion of the storyline. The Supergirl comic book series would later be relaunched, now starring Kara Zor-El as "The Girl of Steel". The first arc of the new series was written by Jeph Loeb and illustrated by Ian Churchill
Ian Churchill
Ian Churchill is a British comic book artist, who has mostly worked in the American comic book industry.-Career:Churchill's early work included stints on Supergirl, Uncanny X-Men as well as the Deadpool: Sins of the Past limited series, in addition to a lengthy stay on Cable, the latter gaining him...
. Loeb would later describe the appeal of writing for Supergirl:
As the character continued to be reinvented, steps towards regarbing the iconic character were some of the most prominent changes. Artist Jamal Igle
Jamal Igle
Jamal Yaseem Igle is an American comic book artist, editor, art director and animation storyboard artist.-Career:...
and editor Matt Idleson moved to transition the character away from panties under her skirt to biker shorts, feeling such a change was a logical progression and "more respectable."
Silver Age
In her debut story, Kara Zor-El is described as the last survivor of Argo CityArgo City
Argo City is a fictional Kryptonian city in the DC Comics Universe, and the birthplace of Supergirl. Argo City was first seen in Action Comics #252 .-Earth-One:...
of the planet Krypton
Krypton (comics)
Krypton is a fictional planet in the DC Comics universe, and the native world of the super-heroes Superman and, in some tellings, Supergirl and Krypto the Superdog. Krypton has been portrayed consistently as having been destroyed just after Superman's flight from the planet, with exact details of...
. Although Argo, which had survived the explosion of the planet, drifted through space as a self-sustaining environment, the soil of the colony eventually turned into Kryptonite
Kryptonite
Kryptonite is a fictional material from the Superman mythos —the ore form of a radioactive element from Superman's home planet of Krypton. It is famous for being the ultimate physical weakness of Superman, and the word kryptonite has since become synonymous with an Achilles' heel —the one weakness...
. Though Kara's father Zor-El placed lead sheeting above the ground to protect the citizens from radiation, meteorite
Meteorite
A meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives impact with the Earth's surface. Meteorites can be big or small. Most meteorites derive from small astronomical objects called meteoroids, but they are also sometimes produced by impacts of asteroids...
s pierced the sheeting and the Kryptonian
Kryptonian
Kryptonians are a fictional extraterrestrial race of the DC Comics universe who hail from the planet Krypton. The term originated from the stories of DC Comics superhero, Superman...
s died of radiation poisoning.
In Supergirl's subsequent backup feature in Action Comics drawn by her quintessential artist Jim Mooney
Jim Mooney
James Noel "Jim" Mooney was an American comic book artist best known as a Marvel Comics inker and Spider-Man artist, and as the signature artist of DC Comics' Supergirl, both during what comics historians and fans call the Silver Age of comic books...
for ten years until 1968, Supergirl adopts the identity of Linda Lee, an orphan at Midvale Orphanage presided over by headmistress Miss Hart. She disguises herself by hiding her blonde hair beneath a brunette wig. During this time, Supergirl interacts with humans on a person-to-person basis performing good deeds and saving the world by helping one person at a time. Supergirl also uses clever schemes in order to act as "Superman's Secret Weapon" saving him many times, while avoiding adoption before Superman can introduce her publicly.
While temporarily powerless due to the scheming of Kandor
Kandor
Kandor is the name of the former capital city of the fictional planet Krypton in the DC Universe. It is best known for being stolen and miniaturized by the supervillain Brainiac...
ian scientist Lesla-Lar, who is out to supplant her on Earth, Linda allows herself to be adopted by engineer and rocket scientist Fred Danvers and his wife, Edna. In time, she reveals her secret identity to her adoptive parents on the same day her cousin Superman finally introduces her to the world in the finale of then-DC's longest playing series ever (eight chapters) aptly called "The World's Greatest Heroine".
When frequent dreams about her parents being alive turn out to be real, she builds a machine aided by her engineer father's talent, and brings them both back alive from the "Survival Zone" where they had both teleported during Argo City's final moments. Zor-El and Allura eventually end up living in Kandor, and when the city in the bottle is enlarged, they both go on to live in Rokyn/New Krypton, where they have the sad duty of receiving her mortal remains after "Crisis" for burial.
Graduating high school in 1965, Linda Lee goes to college on a scholarship and stays in Stanhope College until she graduates in 1971. During this era, she is helped by her pet cat Streaky
Streaky the Supercat
Streaky the Supercat is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Streaky first appeared in Action Comics #261 , and was created by Otto Binder and Jim Mooney.-Fictional character biography:...
, her Super-Horse pet Comet, and befriends Lena Thorul
Lena Luthor
Lena Luthor is a fictional character in DC Comics' Superman series.-Pre-Crisis version:In Silver Age continuity, Lena is Lex Luthor's younger sister. After Lex began his villainous career, his family changed their last name in shame to the anagram 'Thorul'...
, who had first appeared in the Lois Lane series. Kara is also a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes
Legion of Super-Heroes
The Legion of Super-Heroes is a fictional superhero team in the 30th and 31st centuries of the . The team first appears in Adventure Comics #247 , and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino....
, where she becomes close to Brainiac 5
Brainiac 5
Brainiac 5 is a fictional character who exists in the 30th and 31st centuries of the DC Universe. He is a long standing member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Brainiac 5 is from the planet Colu...
. In addition, Linda has boyfriends from the orphanage (Richard "Dick" Malverne) and from Atlantis (Jerro the merboy).
In 1967, Supergirl meets Batgirl
Batgirl
Batgirl is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, frequently depicted as female counterparts to the superhero Batman...
for the first time in World's Finest Comics
World's Finest Comics
World's Finest Comics was an American comic book series published by DC Comics from 1941 to 1986. The series was initially titled World's Best Comics for its first issue; issue #2 switched to the more familiar name...
. Developing a strong friendship, the two characters teamed up many times again, as in Superman Family
Superman Family
Superman Family was a DC Comics comic book series which ran from 1974 to 1982 featuring stories starring supporting characters in the Superman comics...
#171, or Adventure #381.
In 1969, Supergirl left Action Comics and became a featured character in Adventure Comics beginning with issue #381 (June 1969).
During the 1970s, Supergirl's costume changed frequently, as did her career in her civilian life. During this era, her most remembered outfit included a "V" necked blouse with a "S" in her heart, and red hot-pants. In her secret identity as Linda Lee Danvers, Kara Zor-El took a variety of jobs including graduate student in acting, television reporter, and student counselor, and finally became an actress on the TV soap Secret Hearts.
Bronze Age
When DC Editor Mort Weisinger retired in 1971, under Assistant Editor Joe Orlando & artist Mike Sekowsky the character underwent revitalization. Wearing a series of new outfits, leaving her adopted foster home with the Danvers Family, Linda goes on to San Francisco where she works for KSF-TV and gets a new beau: her own boss, Geoffrey Anderson. These stories introduced Supergirl's most memorable villain from this period: Lex Luthor's niece Nasthalthia, or Nasty. The villain doggedly pursues Supergirl for two years, trying to determine her secret identity.Supergirl starred in her first solo eponym
Eponym
An eponym is the name of a person or thing, whether real or fictitious, after which a particular place, tribe, era, discovery, or other item is named or thought to be named...
ous monthly series beginning in 1972 until October 1974, when her monthly title merged with Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane
Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane
Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane was a comic book series published monthly by DC Comics focusing on the adventures of supporting character Lois Lane. The series began publication March/April 1958 and ended its run September/October 1974 with 137 regular issues and 2 80-page Annuals...
, and Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen to produce a new title: then-highest DC selling series called The Superman Family
Superman Family
Superman Family was a DC Comics comic book series which ran from 1974 to 1982 featuring stories starring supporting characters in the Superman comics...
, where she rotated lead stories with them until 1982. In 1982 Supergirl received a second monthly solo series titled The Daring New Adventures of Supergirl and later simply Supergirl again. She made her home in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and began sporting a red headband. This series ran until sudden cancellation in 1984, only two months before the character's debut in a big-budget Hollywood film starring Helen Slater.
In the Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then 50-year-old continuity...
(1985) the greatest heroes from Earth-One, Earth-Two, Earth-Four, Earth-S, and Earth-X join forces in order to defeat the Anti-Monitor
Anti-Monitor
The Anti-Monitor is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain and the antagonist of the 1985 DC Comics miniseries Crisis on Infinite Earths. He first appeared in Crisis on Infinite Earths #2 , and was destroyed in Crisis on Infinite Earths #12, only to return after a long absence in Green...
. When Superman comes face to face with the Anti-Monitor and is knocked unconscious, Supergirl rushes to save him before he is killed. She is able to fight him off long enough for Dr. Light
Doctor Light (Kimiyo Hoshi)
Doctor Light is a fictional comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe.Kimiyo Hoshi is a distinct character from the DC villain of the same name...
to carry her cousin to a safe distance, but is killed by the Anti-Monitor. A public memorial service for Supergirl takes place in Chicago, where Batgirl
Batgirl
Batgirl is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, frequently depicted as female counterparts to the superhero Batman...
(Barbara Gordon) delivers the eulogy. In her remarks she states "Kara is a hero. She will not be forgotten." Superman then gives his late cousin burial by taking her corpse to Rokyn/New Krypton to Zor-El and Allura. A Superman issue the next month reveals that Kara had experienced a premonition about her own passing. However, when the universe is rebooted, the timeline is altered. Kara Zor-El and all memory of her is erased from existence.
Echoes
After these events, the soul of Kara Zor-El made another appearance in continuity three years later in a story titled "Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot" in Christmas with the Super-Heroes #2 (1989). Within the story, Boston "Deadman" BrandDeadman
Deadman is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe. He first appeared in Strange Adventures #205 , and was created by Arnold Drake and Carmine Infantino.-Publication history:...
tries to feel the warmth of Christmas by possessing revelers' bodies. Feeling guilty upon the realization that he has been stealing others' Christmases, he flies off feeling sorry for himself for being denied a reward after a year of helping people. A warmly-dressed blonde woman approaches Brand, startling him. Somehow seeing the normally invisible Brand, she converses with him, reminding him,
She reminds Brand that even though he is dead, he is still human, and he should rejoice because it means his spirit is still alive. As the woman leaves, Brand asks her who she is, to which she replies, "My name is Kara. Though I doubt that will mean anything to you." The story, written by Alan Brennert
Alan Brennert
Alan Brennert is a United States television producer and screenwriter.Brennert has lived in Southern California since 1973 and completed graduate work in screenwriting at the University of California Los Angeles....
and penciled by Dick Giordano
Dick Giordano
Richard Joseph "Dick" Giordano was an American comic book artist and editor best known for introducing Charlton Comics' "Action Heroes" stable of superheroes, and serving as executive editor of then–industry leader DC Comics...
, is dedicated to Otto Binder
Otto Binder
Otto Oscar Binder was an American author of science fiction and non-fiction books and stories, and comic books...
and Jim Mooney
Jim Mooney
James Noel "Jim" Mooney was an American comic book artist best known as a Marvel Comics inker and Spider-Man artist, and as the signature artist of DC Comics' Supergirl, both during what comics historians and fans call the Silver Age of comic books...
, adding: "We still remember."
Finally, the soul of Kara Zor-El appeared twice during Peter David
Peter David
Peter Allen David , often abbreviated PAD, is an American writer of comic books, novels, television, movies and video games...
's run, specifically in issues #48 and #49 when she appears before a defeated and imprisoned then-Supergirl, Linda Danvers from Earth, and comforts her. Linda acknowledges she has been helped three times by her phantom-friend, and when she asks her name she is told by the smiling figure: "I have gone by many names, but the one I am most fond of is: Kara!"
Modern Age
Superman/Batman
Superman/Batman was a monthly comic book series published by DC Comics that features the publisher's two most popular characters: Batman and Superman...
: Supergirl. She is first discovered by Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
in Gotham City
Gotham City
Gotham City is a fictional U.S. city appearing in DC Comics, best known as the home of Batman. Batman's place of residence was first identified as Gotham City in Batman #4 . Gotham City is strongly inspired by Trenton, Ontario's history, location, atmosphere, and various architectural styles...
Bay. Kara Zor-El claims to be the biological cousin of Kal-El. Although chronologically older than Superman, the ship in which she traveled to Earth was caught in a large green kryptonite meteorite which held her in a state of suspended animation
Suspended animation
Suspended animation is the slowing of life processes by external means without termination. Breathing, heartbeat, and other involuntary functions may still occur, but they can only be detected by artificial means. Extreme cold can be used to precipitate the slowing of an individual's functions; use...
for much of the journey. Superman accepts her claims but Batman is unconvinced. Kara Zor-El begins training in the use of her newly manifested powers under the tutelage of Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
and the Amazons on the island of Themyscira
Themyscira
Themyscira is a fictional island nation in the DC Comics universe that is the place of origin of Wonder Woman and her sister Amazons. Known as Paradise Island since Wonder Woman and the island's first appearance in All Star Comics #8 , it was renamed "Themyscira" with the character's February...
. She is then captured by the extraterrestrial supervillain
Supervillain
A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the villain character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies and science fiction in various media.They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes...
Darkseid
Darkseid
Darkseid is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 and was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby....
and brainwashed into becoming the leader of his Female Furies
Female Furies
The Female Furies are a group of fictional women warriors appearing in comics published by DC Comics. They first appeared in Mister Miracle #6 , and were created by Jack Kirby.-Team history:...
. Following a rescue mission led by Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman, Kara Zor-El assumes her heroic identity as Supergirl.
Following the conclusion of "The Supergirl from Krypton," DC Comics relaunched the Supergirl monthly comic series starring Kara Zor-El. Jeph Loeb's first arc on the series Supergirl: Power (2005) showcases Supergirl on a journey of self-discovery. Along her journey, she encounters Power Girl
Power Girl
Power Girl is a DC Comics superheroine, making her first appearance in All Star Comics #58 ....
(Kara Zor-El's counterpart from another universe), the Teen Titans, the Outsiders
Outsiders (comics)
The Outsiders are a fictional DC Comics superhero team. As its name suggests, the team consists of superheroes who allegedly do not fit the norms of the mainstream superhero community, namely the Justice League....
, the Justice League of America, and arch-villain Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
.
Legion of Superheroes and One Year Later
During the company wide crossover series Infinite CrisisInfinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis is a 2005 - 2006 comic book storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous, seven-issue comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, and a number of tie-in books...
(2005), a sequel to Crisis on Infinite Earths, Supergirl is recruited by Donna Troy
Donna Troy
Donna Troy is a comic book superheroine published by DC Comics. She first appeared in The Brave and the Bold vol. 1 #60 , and was created by Bob Haney and Bruno Premiani...
to assist in the upcoming battle, and befriends fellow teen superhero Firestorm. Following a chaotic battle where Firestorm and several other heroes are apparently killed, Supergirl vanishes during the return from deep space. During this time, DC Comics renamed the monthly comic book series Legion of Super-Heroes
Legion of Super-Heroes (2004 team)
The 2004 version of the Legion of Super-Heroes is a fictional superhero team in the 31st century of the . The team is the third major incarnation of the Legion of Super-Heroes after the 1958 and 1994 versions...
to Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes. Beginning with issue #16, Supergirl reappears in the 31st century finding she is revered as a member of the Superman family and joins the Legion of Super-Heroes. In the limited series 52
52 (comics)
52 was a weekly American comic book limited series published by DC Comics that debuted on May 10, 2006, one week after the conclusion of the seven-issue Infinite Crisis. The series was written by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, and Mark Waid with layouts by Keith Giffen...
, which chronicles the events that took place during the missing year after the end of Infinite Crisis, Donna Troy (after her rebirth and inheritance of Harbinger's Orb) recalls the original Kara Zor-El and her sacrifice to save the universe.
One year
One Year Later
"One Year Later" was a 2006 storyline event running through the DC Universe. As the title suggests, it involves a narrative jump exactly one year into the future of the DC Comics Universe following the events of the Infinite Crisis event, to explore major changes within the continuities of the many...
after Infinite Crisis, during World War III of Week 50 of 52, Supergirl returns to the 21st century. After briefly filling in for a temporarily depowered Superman as guardian of Metropolis, she assumes the identity of Flamebird
Flamebird
Flamebird is the name used by six different fictional comic book characters who have appeared in books published by DC Comics, specifically from the Superman and Batman mythos....
to fight crime in the bottle city of Kandor
Kandor
Kandor is the name of the former capital city of the fictional planet Krypton in the DC Universe. It is best known for being stolen and miniaturized by the supervillain Brainiac...
with Power Girl as Nightwing
Nightwing
Nightwing is a name that has been used by several fictional characters in the DC Comics Universe. It was conceived as a Kryptonian analogue to the character of Batman, with Nightwing's frequent partner Flamebird based on Robin...
in Greg Rucka
Greg Rucka
Gregory "Greg" Rucka is an American comic book writer and novelist, known for his work on such comics as Action Comics, Batwoman: Detective Comics, and the miniseries Superman: World of New Krypton for DC Comics, and for novels such as his Queen & Country series.-Career:Rucka's writing career...
's arc Supergirl: Kandor. While in Kandor, Kara is telepathically manipulated by an evil version of Saturn Girl
Saturn Girl
Saturn Girl is a fictional character appearing in DC comic books. A talented telepath from the 30th century, Imra first appeared in Adventure Comics #247 as a founding member of the Legion of Super-Heroes...
named Saturn Queen
Saturn Queen
Saturn Queen is a fictional comic book character owned by DC Comics. She debuted in Superman #147 , and was created by Jerry Siegel and Curt Swan.-Fictional character biography:...
into falling in love with Ultraman
Ultraman (comics)
Ultraman is the name of several fictional characters, who are supervillains appearing in stories published by DC Comics. The characters are all evil alternate-universe counterparts of Superman. Ultraman first appeared in Justice League of America #29 .-Publication history:Ultraman first appeared as...
who has claimed to be Kal-El. After Ultraman is defeated, Saturn Queen tells Kara of Argo city's survival in exchange for her sparing the life of Ultraman.
Joe Kelly (comics)
Joseph "Joe" Kelly is an American comic book writer, penciler and editor who has written such titles as Deadpool, Uncanny X-Men, Action Comics, and JLA...
's Supergirl: Identity (2006), Kara Zor-El attempts to create a secret identity
Secret identity
A secret identity is an element of fiction wherein a character develops a separate persona , while keeping their true identity hidden. The character also may wear a disguise...
under the name Claire Connors, pretending to be a teenage girl from Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. Supergirl also teams up with the Outsiders, engages in battle with Batgirl
Cassandra Cain
Cassandra Cain is a fictional character in the , one of several who has served as Batgirl, an important character in the Batman comic book franchise. Cassandra's backstory presents her as the daughter of assassins David Cain and Lady Shiva, she was deprived of speech and human contact during her...
, and begins a romantic relationship with Power Boy
Power Boy
Power Boy is the name of three fictional superheroes that appear in comic books published by DC Comics.-Zarl Vorne:The first Power Boy's origin paralleled Superboy's...
. Supergirl's relationship with Power Boy ends after she discovers his obsessive and violent nature and learns that he was born on Apokolips
Apokolips
In the DC Comics fictional shared Universe, Apokolips is the planet ruled by Darkseid, established in Jack Kirby's Fourth World series. It is also integral to many DC Comics stories. The planet is considered the opposite of New Genesis....
. Joe Kelly's following arc shows Supergirl learning the true origins of her past and apparently encountering her Silver Age counterpart. The defeat of Supergirl's counterpart in Supergirl #18 reveals that her recent ordeals, including the Phantom-infested Earth and Kara's direct encounter with her father, are part of a twisted "test" designed by Dark Angel
Dark Angel (DC Comics)
Dark Angel is a fictional DC Comics villain who battled Wonder Woman. She is a wandering spirit who inhabited the body of Baroness Paula Von Gunther during World War II...
, who also masqueraded as the pre-Crisis Supergirl. Four months later, yet another new origin is given the girl of steel, where her father is a Ranger and her mother a scientist.
Amazons Attack and Teen Titans
During Will PfeiferWill Pfeifer
-Personal life:Will Pfeifer was born in 1967 in the town of Niles, Ohio. He attended Kent State University and graduated in 1989. He has resided in Rockford, Illinois since 1990, with his wife, Amy....
's six-part limited series Amazons Attack!
Amazons Attack!
Amazons Attack! is a six-issue comic book limited series that was published by DC Comics. Written by Will Pfeifer and pencilled by Pete Woods, the first issue was released April 25, 2007.-Development:...
(2007), Wonder Girl
Wonder Girl
Wonder Girl is the name of three fictional characters featured as superheroes in comic books and other media produced by DC Comics. The original was a younger version of Wonder Woman...
and Supergirl discover that the Amazons of Themyscira have invaded Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Because of the McCarran Internal Security Act
McCarran Internal Security Act
The Internal Security Act of 1950, , also known as the Subversive Activities Control Act or the McCarran Act, after Senator Pat McCarran , is a United States federal law of the McCarthy era. It was passed over President Harry Truman's veto...
, implemented by the US President, Wonder Girl's mother and a friend of Supergirl's, named Alison, are held at an internment camp. As they try to storm the camp and free the women, they are stopped by the Titans, and told by Robin
Tim Drake
Timothy "Tim" Drake is a superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics and in related media. The character was created by Marv Wolfman and Pat Broderick. From 1989 to 2009, he was known as Robin in the Batman comics, becoming the third character to take up the identity...
that negotiation would be a better solution. Consequently, they fly to Washington D.C. and talk to Queen Hippolyta, who tells them that negotiations are impossible, since the President is safe on Air Force One
Air Force One
Air Force One is the official air traffic control call sign of any United States Air Force aircraft carrying the President of the United States. In common parlance the term refers to those Air Force aircraft whose primary mission is to transport the president; however, any U.S. Air Force aircraft...
. Agreeing to bring the US leader to the Amazon Queen, the two girls block the path of Air Force One and threaten to bring the plane down if the President does not come with them. After the Amazons then forcefully cause Air Force One to crash, Wonder Girl and Supergirl realize how foolish they are and aid the heroes battle against the Amazons.
Soon after the end of the Amazon War, Supergirl receives membership with the Teen Titans with Superman's approval. During her first mission as an official member of the team, she and the other Titans find themselves confronting the sinister "Titans of Tomorrow," and she finds herself battling against a re-cloned Conner Kent. After this, there is a big falling out between Wonder Girl and Supergirl, which leads to Supergirl leaving the Teen Titans.
Linda Lang
Kara's lack of experience with humans, her new home planet and her own powers cause trouble in subsequent episodes. She commits a series of blunders. In the middle of a skirmish she promises a little boy she can "save" him without realizing that he has terminal cancer and will interpret her promise accordingly. Her battles against various villains and metahumans result in widespread collateral damage across the city of Metropolis. Cat GrantCat Grant
Catherine "Cat" Jane Grant is a fictional DC Comics character appearing in Superman comics. She first appeared in Adventures of Superman #424 as a gossip columnist for the Daily Planet...
, who holds a grudge against the Girl of Steel, starts a libel campaign in the Daily Planet
Daily Planet
The Daily Planet is a fictional broadsheet newspaper in the , appearing mostly in the stories of Superman. The building's original features were based upon the AT&T Huron Road Building in Cleveland, Ohio...
that turns public opinion against her.
Conversations with other heroes who maintain secret identities lead Kara to the conclusion that she needs to make a deeper connection with human beings. She accepts Lana Lang
Lana Lang
Lana Lang is a fictional supporting character in DC Comics' Superman series. Created by writer Bill Finger and artist John Sikela, the character first appears in Superboy #10...
's proposal to present her to the Daily Planet staff as "Linda Lang", Lana's teenaged niece.
Grant Morrison's Final Crisis
Final Crisis
Final Crisis is a crossover storyline that appeared in comic books published by DC Comics in 2008, primarily the seven-issue miniseries of the same name written by Grant Morrison. Originally DC announced the project as being illustrated solely by J. G. Jones; artists Carlos Pacheco, Marco Rudy and...
miniseries shows Supergirl in a major battle with Mary Marvel
Mary Marvel
Mary Marvel is a fictional character, a comic book superheroine, originally published by Fawcett Comics and now owned by DC Comics. Created by Otto Binder and Marc Swayze, she first appeared in Captain Marvel Adventures #18 in...
in the ruins of Bludhaven.
New Krypton
In the New Krypton story arc, in which Superman discovers and frees the real Kandor, Supergirl is reunited with her father, Zor-El and mother, Allura. It seems that the Saturn QueenSaturn Queen
Saturn Queen is a fictional comic book character owned by DC Comics. She debuted in Superman #147 , and was created by Jerry Siegel and Curt Swan.-Fictional character biography:...
of the false Kandor was right and Argo City did survive Krypton's destruction. However, Argo City's force field was on the verge of collapse. Zor-El, like his brother Jor-El, tries to warn the council on Argo of its eventual doom but they refuse to listen. Zor-El builds a spaceship in hopes of using it to discover a new planet to settle on. Before this can happen however, Brainiac
Brainiac (comics)
Brainiac is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Action Comics #242 , and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino....
attacks Argo. Zor-El rushes a young Kara to the spaceship and launches it into space towards Earth as her mother, Allura tells her to watch over her little cousin, Kal-El. Argo ends up being an added edition to a shrunken Kandor. This is all seen in Supergirl #35 as Zor-El is using a machine to purge Kara of the kryptonite poisoning she sustained after her ship had been trapped in a giant kryptonite asteroid. Zor-El and Allura inform Kara that the symptoms for this poisoning is mood swings, aggressiveness, crystallizing blood, memory loss, and hallucinations—all of which Kara has exhibited since her arrival on Earth. Zor-El's machine succeeds in curing Kara and restoring all of her lost and distorted memories. Soon after, Metallo
Metallo
Metallo is a comic book supervillain and cyborg who appears in Superman stories published by DC Comics. Metallo's trademark is his kryptonite power source, which he often uses as a weapon against Superman. His traditional identity is John Corben...
and Reactron
Reactron
Reactron is a fictional supervillain in the DC Comics Universe, who has appeared in at least two versions. He originally appeared in The Daring New Adventures of Supergirl #8 , in a story written by Paul Kupperberg and drawn by Carmine Infantino....
are brought to Kandor by the Kryptonian military, having apparently surrendered. This is immediately revealed to be a ruse, and Reactron, using his newly implanted Gold Kryptonite heart, temporarily depowers several Kryptonians, and kills Zor-El. Allura blames Kara and Kal-El for Zor-El's death, berating them for failing to maintain order on Earth, which causes Kara to fly off in response. Kara then encounters the new Superwoman
Superwoman
Superwoman is the name given to several fictional characters published over the years by DC Comics, most of them being, like the popular Supergirl, a woman with powers similar to those of DC's highly popular Superman. The name "Superwoman" was originally copyrighted by Detective Comics in an effort...
, who helps her talk though her anger. After New Krypton is formed, Kara is torn between her life on Earth, and her obligation to her mother. Kara attempts to find Reactron and bring him to justice, only to be continually waylaid by Superwoman. During a final confrontation with her, Kara discovers that Superwoman is really Lucy Lane
Lucy Lane
Lucy Lane is a fictional character in the DC universe. She is the younger sister of Lois Lane and the most recent person to take on the identity of Superwoman.-Fictional character biography:...
, and accidentally kills her after rupturing her suit. Later, Kara joins the New Krypton Science Guild. Helping Superman in pursuing a Kryptonian criminal, Kara encounters Mirabai, who teleports her away.
After being teleported to an alley, Kara finds Chris Kent
Chris Kent (comics)
Christopher Kent is a fictional character, a Kryptonian in the , who first appeared in Action Comics #844 , the first part of the Action Comics story arc "Superman: Last Son". Created by Richard Donner and Geoff Johns, he is the biological son of General Zod and Ursa, and the foster son of Clark...
and Thara Ak-Var
Thara Ak-Var
Thara Ak-Var is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, created by Geoff Johns and James Robinson. The character first appeared during the Superman: New Krypton storyline in Superman #681 . She is the latest character to take on the role of Flamebird...
. Supergirl attacks Thara, for killing her father and trying to kill her. However, Chris stops her and tells her he is his cousin. The three are attacked by Guardian and the Science Police, for apparently killing Mon-El
Lar Gand
Lar Gand, known primarily as Mon-El , is a fictional character in DC Comics' universe who is associated with the Legion of Super-Heroes, Superboy, and Superman...
. Chris tries to tell Guardian that they did not murder Mon-El, but Guardian ignores him. The three manage to escape to Paris. Chris, Thara, and Kara talk about what has happened. They then discover that the two sleepers they were fighting were Metallo and Reactron. However, they are attacked by Squad K.
Escaping from Squad K, the three go to Lana Lang
Lana Lang
Lana Lang is a fictional supporting character in DC Comics' Superman series. Created by writer Bill Finger and artist John Sikela, the character first appears in Superboy #10...
's apartment. They decide to get Lois' help in clearing their names. Chris and Lana go to find Lois while Kara and Thara stay in Lana's apartment. While staying in Lana's apartment, Thara tells Kara that Lana has been hiding something from her. They see Squad K flying to attack Chris. Kara and Thara help Chris to fight Squad K, but they are cuffed with red sun shackles. Fortunately, Chris' tactile telekinesis is not affected by red sunlight, so the three manage to free themselves and fight Reactron again. Thara transforms into Flamebird and destroys Reactron's Gold Kryptonite. Thara is about to kill him, but Supergirl stops her. Supergirl then takes Reactron to New Krypton, but says that she will return to talk about what Lana has been hiding from her.
Kara delivers Reactron to Alura. Alura has flashbacks of her time with Zor before Reactron killed him. She remembers how the Science Guild told her love is simply a chemical response to external stimuli and therefore should be ignored, but she does love Zor. Back in the present Reactron is standing trial. Before the verdict is announced many Kryptonians burst into the court room wanting revenge. Supergirl and Alura jump in to save Reactron but in the skirmish he is apparently killed. Supergirl decides to return to Earth.
Insect Queen
Inspector Henderson is investigating a crime and finds the dead body of a woman, her body covered in runes. Kara confronts Lana about her mysterious illness and Lana says she doesn't want to be like the time Kara tried to save the cancer stricken boy. Kara figures out that the illness is nothing the doctor's in Metropolis can figure out. The Inspector calls Kara and the two fight Silver BansheeSilver Banshee
Silver Banshee is a fictional character appearing in DC Comics, primarily as an opponent of Superman.-Fictional character biography:Siobhan McDougal was the first-born child of Garrett McDougal, the patriarch of an old Gaelic clan that has occupied an island midway between Scotland and Ireland for...
. Kara grabs a box and is transformed into a Banshee. Meanwhile Lana has collapsed and is bleeding. The spirits that have possessed Supergirl are upset with the Silver Banshee. They silence the Silver Banshee with magical chains and berate her for not having found the artifacts before. The Inspector cuts a coin from his hand to stop the Banshee spirits and Supergirl breaks free from their control. Silver Banshee then eliminates the disembodied clan spirits by screaming their name. Kara rushes to the hospital and bursts through the door as Linda Lang just as Lana is pronounced dead. She simply is so overwhelmed by the moment that she tunes out the physician trying to explain things to her. She says it plainly she doesn't hear anything. Her mind is reeling, too busy trying to grasp the immensity of this moment to listen. It hits Linda that she is now truly alone on Earth and sheds a few tears. Linda goes to see the body and sees a Lana encased in a chrysalis. Lana's condition is somehow the result of her time as the Insect Queen.
After this, Supergirl is captured when the hospital is engulfed in a massive cocoon and an army of humanoid insects emerge. Once she is freed by Gangbuster
Gangbuster
Gangbuster is a comic book fictional character, a DC Comics superhero. He first appeared as Jose Delgado in Adventures of Superman #428 , and as Gangbuster in Adventures of Superman #434 . He was created by Marv Wolfman and Jerry Ordway.-Fictional character biography:Jose Delgado grew up in the...
, Linda conspires with him and Kimiyo Hoshi to infiltrate the cocoon, rescue the hostages, and find out who is behind the invasion. After being ambushed and knocked out, Linda awakens bound and gagged at the feet of Lana, who has once again reverted back to her Insect Queen form. Insect Queen informs Linda that during her last encounter with Lana, she embedded a piece of her DNA within her in an attempt to retake her body. The two women engage in a drawn out battle, with Linda eventually expelling the Queen from Lana's body through the use of an advanced Kryptonian machine. After Lana is cured, Linda informs her that she is leaving her home, feeling betrayed about Lana's unwillingness to share her illness.
World's Finest, Cry for Justice, Blackest Night
In World's FinestWorld's Finest Comics
World's Finest Comics was an American comic book series published by DC Comics from 1941 to 1986. The series was initially titled World's Best Comics for its first issue; issue #2 switched to the more familiar name...
, Supergirl and Stephanie Brown team up for the first time. The two become quick friends, but are both captured by the Toyman
Toyman
The Toyman is the name of three comic book supervillains and one adolescent superhero in the DC Comics universe. They mostly appear in Superman stories. The first Toyman appeared in Action Comics #64 . His real name is Winslow Schott.The Toyman uses toy-based or toy-themed devices and gimmicks in...
. They are ultimately rescued when Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
and Dick Grayson
Dick Grayson
Dick Grayson is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger and illustrator Jerry Robinson, he first appeared in Detective Comics #38 in April 1940....
defeat the villain.
In the Justice League: Cry for Justice
Justice League: Cry for Justice
Justice League: Cry for Justice is a seven-issue comic book limited series, written by James Robinson, drawn by Mauro Cascioli, and published by DC Comics in 2009...
miniseries, Kara, still seeking justice for her father's death, joins Hal Jordan
Hal Jordan
Harold "Hal" Jordan is a DC Comics superhero known as Green Lantern, the first human shown to join the Green Lantern Corps and a founding member of the Justice League of America. Jordan is the second DC Comics character to adopt the Green Lantern moniker...
's team of proactive heroes. It is revealed that she was offered a chance to rejoin the Teen Titans after reconciling with Wonder Girl, but politely declined in order to join the League. After a few missions with Hal's team, Kara is the first to discover that her teammate Freddy Freeman
Captain Marvel Jr.
Captain Marvel Jr. is a fictional character, a superhero originally published by Fawcett Comics and currently in the . A member of the Marvel Family team of superheroes, he was created by Ed Herron and Mac Raboy, and first appeared in Whiz Comics #25 in December 1941.Captain Marvel Jr.'s...
is in reality the supervillain Prometheus
Prometheus (comics)
Prometheus is the name of three fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics.The first Prometheus debuted in New Teen Titans vol. 2, #24 and was created by Marv Wolfman and Eduardo Barreto . The second version debuted in New Year's Evil: Prometheus Prometheus is the name...
in disguise. Before Kara can warn the other heroes, Prometheus shoots her with magical bullets he purchased from Mercy Graves
Mercy Graves
Mercedes "Mercy" Graves is a fictional supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. She debuted on Superman: The Animated Series as the bodyguard/personal assistant of Superman's archenemy, Lex Luthor...
, severely injuring her.
During the Blackest Night event, Kara and Alura visit Zor-El's tomb, only for a black power ring to seek out the body and turn it into a Black Lantern
Black Lantern Corps
The Black Lantern Corps is a fictional organization of revenants appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The group is composed of deceased fictional characters that seek to eliminate all life from the DC Universe.-Publication history:...
. Kara ultimately staves off her father long enough for Alura to trap him outside of Krypton through use of a force field.
Last Stand of New Krypton
As Brainiac unleashes his robot troops onto New Krypton and the Kryptonian citizens, Supergirl and Superman rise up to fight the drones. Superboy, Mon-El, and the Legion of Superheroes join the fight and reveal to ZodGeneral Zod
General Zod is a fictional character who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, a supervillain who is one of Superman's more-prominent enemies. The character first appeared in Adventure Comics #283 , and was created by Robert Bernstein and George Papp...
that other planets are in Brainiac's ship. Zod sends Supergirl off and arrests the Legionnaires. Supergirl and Mon-El are fighting Brainiac probes when Mon-El gets a telepathic message from Tellus. Mon-El has to save Superman who has been captured by Brainiac and Lex Luthor. Supergirl kisses him just for luck. Supergirl rushes to her mother's aid and sees Alura fighting with Superboy. Kara punches Connor away but Superboy comes back to save them both from a Brainiac probe. Supergirl tells Alura of the Legion mission and challenges her to stand up to Zod. Alura pardons the Legion and sends Supergirl with them to fight Brainiac. Mon-El enters the ship the same way as Superman and manages to save him and the city of Lanothians. As Brainiac calls his army to fight the Supermen, Luthor slips away. Back on New Krypton Supergirl, Superboy, and the Legion attempt to get the Kryptonians to work together, but the differences in the guilds makes it impossible. Tellus decides to try a mass mind-wipe to get the Kryptonians to put aside their prejudice. He uses Supergirl to focus it through because she grew up in the society but has still managed to move past the inequalities. The plan fails. Tellus thinks the telepathic race the Lanothians can put their powers together to change the minds of all Kryptonians. With the battle raging on Supergirl, Superboy, and the Legion take the fight to the satellite. Alura confronted Zod and told him the Legion were not terrorists. On Brainiac's ship, Brainiac re-energizes and fights Superman. During the brawl, Superman is able to get hold of the telepathic Lanthians but Brainiac teleports away with all the others. The Legion manages to enter Brainiac's ship thanks to Brainiac 5's help. However, even this does not seem to help and New Krypton is put back into a bottle. Superman is pummeled by Brainiac's weapon's system and is declared dead. Still, Zod says that Brainiac has lost. Meanwhile, Supergirl and Brainiac 5 have met. In a brief moment alone, he reveals how hard it is to be near Supergirl, how much he loves her, and how hard it was when she died. It is revealed that Brainy is looking back at Supergirl's life historically. Luthor finds Reactron after killing Gor but instead of rescuing him says he has come for something. Brainy and Kara fight through Brainiac's satellite but Kara can't shake the feeling that she has met Brainy before. He tries to figure out if Kara has met him before but realizes Saturn Girl's memory blocks are masking her memories of the future. He tells her she needs to destroy the reactor while he attempts to hold off the Phages. She smashes the satellite's power core. He tells Kara to trust her friends and she needs to trust him. He can't tell her anything about the future but that she needs to live her own life and decide her own future. Supergirl finds it and his brooding way's cute and Brainy knows this even if she does not say this. With Brainiac's ship's force field down Superman is able to reenter the ship. On board Luthor emerges from Kandor and grabs a bottle city for himself. Superman goes to rescue Kandor while Zod and his soldier's fight Brainiac. In the meantime Mon-El remains captured but the Legion shows up to complete their mission and save him. Superman finds Kandor and meets up with Supergirl and Brainiac 5. He turns the city over to Supergirl calling it her home, trusting that she will keep protect it and re-enlarge it. The Legion tell Mon-El his destiny is to save the future and the cities. He changes back to his old costume and must leave Superman behind. Brainy re-sizes the city safely and Kandor is big once more. Superman joins Zod in fighting Brainiac. Luthor expands the city he grabbed right inside Brainiac's ship. Brainiac's ship begins to plummet to New Krypton's surface. Mon-El is left with the Legion after saving the bottled cities and Zod is fighting with Brainiac. Superman, Supergirl, and Superboy and the rest of New Krypton work together to stop the ship. Kandor is devastated, a huge crater smoldering in the center. The alien city is still growing. Brainiac 5 runs to help Supergirl, who is trying to hold back the expanding city. Brainy is able to stop it and re-bottles the city. They find a critically injured Superman. Brainiac punishes Luthor for his treachery by snapping his neck only to reveal that Luthor is a robot. After a blood transfusion from Superboy, Superman comes in time to save Brainiac from Zod who was about to kill him. Brainiac 5 walks up and teleport's away with his ancestor. Before leaving he tells Kara to watch out for her mother. It is revealed Luthor was working with General Lane all along. Zod is given total command over Krypton. All the guild leaders except Alura were killed in the attack. Zod declares war on Earth.
War of The Supermen
With the military guild ready to attack Earth, Zod is holding Superman captive. Alura is torturing Reactron for information, only to be found by Kara. She is shocked and disgusted. She tells Alura that he father said to 'watch out for your mother', warning her about what Alura is capable of. Reactron tells Supergirl Project 7734 wanted him brought to New Krypton. He begins to glow brightly; Alura shoves Kara into a radiation deck room and seals it, protecting Supergirl and sacrificing herself. Reactron explodes, followed by New Krypton. The majority of New Krypton citizens are dead and the only guild left is the military guild, since they were not on the planet when it exploded. Superman finds Supergirl and they grieve while Supergirl clutches a piece of Alura's shield. Enraged by her mother's death at the hands of Reactron, of Luthor, of Earth. Supergirl grabs the flag of Krypton, carrying the standard into battle, racing to Earth to join the war effort.Superman manages to stop her. Kara breaks down, feeling responsible for New Krypton's destruction because she brought Reactron there. Superman assures her it wasn't her fault, and they hug and are happy they still have each other. General Zod sends a bulk of his troops to the Human Defense Corps Mars base. The two sides fight, as General Lane calls upon Luthor to finish his 'second project'. Using the false Rao corpse and time-pool technology, Earth has a red sun.[46] Flamebird has taken off into space and dove into the sun. Thara pushes her body to the limit, destroying the Rao-bomb, returning the sun to yellow but killing herself in the process. With the sun now yellow the Kryptonians in space regain their powers. Some have survived but thousands are dead. Superman both saddened and angry takes off for Earth. The Kryptonian race is now down to a mere 7,000. Meanwhile, Supergirl comes to stop Ursa. As the two fly at each other, Superman meets Zod who has mobilized his troops to fight him in Metropolis. Supergirl has been defeated by Ursa but is saved at the last minute by the Superman family. They head to Project 7734. Before they leave they deposit Ursa in the Phantom Zone which has returned. While Superman fights Zod, Superboy goes around the world putting as many Kryptonians back into the Zone as he can. Supergirl has defeated Superwoman and fights General Lane. Lane commits suicide, as to him it was war without prisoners. With all the remaining Kryptonians in the Zone, Superman ends the war. Zod is sent back to the Zone and Chris seals the Zone off permanently. In the process he is turned back into a child. He and Mon-El explore the Zone. Supergirl mourns the loss of her people, setting up this memorial in deep space. Lois is flying with Superman and say this was a war that was born from ignorance and prejudice.
Who is Superwoman?
Kara is having a nightmare about fighting Superwoman (Lucy Lane) in Project 7734 headquarters. The nightmare quickly turns into her friends and family in Hell telling her she hurts everyone she touches. She wakes up. Lana tells Kara that she regards her as family. Kara says she no longer wishes to be Kara Zor-El but Linda Lang, full-time. She says she will no longer be Supergirl, either. They go to enjoy some coffee. Lana suggests that Linda attend Metropolis University. Meanwhile, Doctor Light and Gangbuster are investigating a crash site. The ship opens and reveals a Bizarro Supergirl.Brightest Day
In the midst of the Brightest DayBrightest Day
Brightest Day is a year-long comic book maxi-series that began in April 2010. The story follows the ending of the series Blackest Night and how the aftermath of these events affect the entire DC Universe.-Plot:...
event, Kara is called to Germany by Congorilla
Congorilla
Congorilla, originally a human character known as Congo Bill, is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in comic books published by DC Comics and Vertigo Comics. Originally co-created by writer Whitney Ellsworth and artist George Papp, he was later transformed into Congorilla by Robert...
, and arrives just in time to see an insane Power Girl attempting to kill the members of the Justice League and the Justice Society of America
Justice Society of America
The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. Conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox, the JSA first appeared in All Star Comics #3 ....
. The two women fight to a standstill, with Kara ultimately distracting Power Girl long enough for Jade
Jade (comics)
Jade is a fictional character, a superheroine in the . Known affectionately as "Jennie" or "Jen", she is the daughter of Alan Scott, the Golden Age Green Lantern. Her mother is Rose Canton, the Golden Age villain known as Thorn...
to knock her unconscious using her powers. Following this, Kara is told by the Batman that she can stay with the League, as they will likely need her help in discovering what drove Power Girl insane. After learning that Power Girl and other metahumans across the world are being possessed by a cosmic entity known as the Starheart
Alan Scott
Alan Scott is a fictional character, a superhero in the and the first superhero to bear the name Green Lantern.-Publication history:The original Green Lantern was created by young struggling artist Martin Nodell, who was inspired by the sight of a New York Subway employee waving a red lantern to...
, Supergirl travels to Gotham in order to save the city from a crazed water elemental named Naiad
Naiad (comics)
Naiad is a fictional water elemental published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Firestorm, the Nuclear Man vol. 2 #90 , during the four part Elemental War storyline that ran to issue #93, and was created by John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake.-Fictional character biography:Mai Miyazaki was a...
. After defeating and capturing Naiad, Supergirl is officially welcomed into the JLA by Batman.
The New 52
Supergirl #1 was one of the New 52, and featured a new origin for Kara. In this new continuity, Kara's ship lands as part of a meteor shower in Smallville, Kansas, but Kara's ship travels through the Earth's crust and Kara emerges in . Kara has no memory of the destruction of Krypton, and is believes she is dreaming. Her arrival is tracked by the military, and she is immediately attacked by a group of American soldiers in mech suits. She fights them as her powers suddenly start emerging as the fight goes on, terrifying Kara, who has no idea what is happening. She defeats the soldiers, and then Superman arrives.Superman tries to convince Kara that he is her cousin but Kara, still believing only 3 days have passed since she last saw baby Kal, accuses him of being an imposter and attacks him. They fight until Kara throws Superman through the Great Wall Of China. Superman refuses to fight her, as now they will be putting innocents at risk. When Kara realises how close she's come to hurting innocent people, she also stops fighting. Superman explains Kara is now on Earth, and reveals to her that Krypton has been destroyed.
Powers and abilities
Like all Kryptonians under a yellow sun, the current version of Kara Zor-El possesses vast superhuman strength, speed, and stamina; invulnerability; flight; super breath; x-ray vision; telescopic and microscopic vision; freeze breath; heat vision; and super hearing. The modern day Kara Zor-El is also a capable martial artist, having trained with both the Amazons and the New Gods of Apokolips.Continued exposure to a yellow sun will cause the level of her abilities to slowly increase. Many characters in the DC Universe have noted that Supergirl appears at times to be even more powerful than Superman. However, as Superman explains, this may be because he has spent a lifetime subconsciously suppressing his powers so that he doesn't hurt the people around him, while Kara, without such experience, simply uses her powers to the fullest without being as fearful of risks to others.
Power Girl of Earth-Two
Power Girl (real name Kara Zor-L, also known as Karen Starr) is a DC ComicsDC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
superheroine, making her first appearance
First appearance
In comic books and other stories with a long history, first appearance refers to the first occurrence to feature a fictional character.-Monetary value of first appearance issues:...
in All Star Comics
All Star Comics
All Star Comics is a 1940s comic book series from All-American Publications, one of the early companies that merged with National Periodical Publications to form the modern-day DC Comics. With the exception of the first two issues, All Star Comics primarily told stories about the adventures of the...
#58 (January/February 1976).
Power Girl is the Earth-Two
Earth-Two
Earth-Two is a fictional universe appearing in American comic book stories published by DC Comics. First appearing in The Flash #123 , Earth-Two was created to explain how Silver-Age versions of characters such as the Flash could appear in stories with their Golden Age counterparts...
counterpart of Supergirl
Supergirl (Kara Zor-El)
Kara Zor-El is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by DC Comics and related media, created by writer Otto Binder and designed by artist Al Plastino. As Supergirl, Kara Zor-El serves as the biological cousin and female counterpart to DC Comic's iconic superhero Superman, created...
and the first cousin of Kal-L, Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
of the pre-Crisis
Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then 50-year-old continuity...
Earth-Two
Earth-Two
Earth-Two is a fictional universe appearing in American comic book stories published by DC Comics. First appearing in The Flash #123 , Earth-Two was created to explain how Silver-Age versions of characters such as the Flash could appear in stories with their Golden Age counterparts...
. The infant Power Girl's parents enabled her to escape the destruction of Krypton
Krypton (comics)
Krypton is a fictional planet in the DC Comics universe, and the native world of the super-heroes Superman and, in some tellings, Supergirl and Krypto the Superdog. Krypton has been portrayed consistently as having been destroyed just after Superman's flight from the planet, with exact details of...
. Although she left the planet at the same time that Superman did, her ship took much longer to reach Earth-Two
Earth-Two
Earth-Two is a fictional universe appearing in American comic book stories published by DC Comics. First appearing in The Flash #123 , Earth-Two was created to explain how Silver-Age versions of characters such as the Flash could appear in stories with their Golden Age counterparts...
.
Possessing superhuman strength and the ability to fly, she is a member of the Justice Society of America
Justice Society of America
The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. Conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox, the JSA first appeared in All Star Comics #3 ....
and the team's first chairwoman. Power Girl sports a bob
Bob cut
A "bob cut" is a short haircut for women in which the hair is typically cut straight around the head at about jaw-level, often with a fringe at the front.-The beginning:...
of blond hair; wears a distinctive white, red, and blue costume; and has an aggressive fighting style. Throughout her early appearances in All Star Comics
All Star Comics
All Star Comics is a 1940s comic book series from All-American Publications, one of the early companies that merged with National Periodical Publications to form the modern-day DC Comics. With the exception of the first two issues, All Star Comics primarily told stories about the adventures of the...
, Power Girl was frequently at odds with Wildcat
Wildcat (comics)
Wildcat is the name of several fictional characters, all DC Comics superheroes. The first and most famous of these is Ted Grant, a long-time member of the Justice Society of America...
, who had a penchant for talking to her as if she were an ordinary human female rather than a superpowered Kryptonian, which she found annoying.
The 1985 limited series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then 50-year-old continuity...
eliminated Earth-Two
Earth-Two
Earth-Two is a fictional universe appearing in American comic book stories published by DC Comics. First appearing in The Flash #123 , Earth-Two was created to explain how Silver-Age versions of characters such as the Flash could appear in stories with their Golden Age counterparts...
, causing her origin to change; she became the granddaughter of the Atlantean
Atlantis (DC Comics)
Atlantis is a fictional location in the DC Comics Universe. The very first DC Universe version of Atlantis debuted in Action Comics #18 , and was created by...
sorcerer
Magician (fantasy)
A magician, mage, sorcerer, sorceress, wizard, enchanter, enchantress, thaumaturge or a person known under one of many other possible terms is someone who uses or practices magic that derives from supernatural or occult sources...
Arion
Arion (comics)
Arion is a fictional sword and sorcery hero published by DC Comics. He debuted in Warlord #55 , and was created by Paul Kupperberg and Jan Duursema.-Publication history:...
. However, story events culminating in the 2005-2006 Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis is a 2005 - 2006 comic book storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous, seven-issue comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, and a number of tie-in books...
limited series restored her status as a refugee from the Krypton
Krypton (comics)
Krypton is a fictional planet in the DC Comics universe, and the native world of the super-heroes Superman and, in some tellings, Supergirl and Krypto the Superdog. Krypton has been portrayed consistently as having been destroyed just after Superman's flight from the planet, with exact details of...
of the destroyed pre-Crisis
Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then 50-year-old continuity...
Earth-Two
Earth-Two
Earth-Two is a fictional universe appearing in American comic book stories published by DC Comics. First appearing in The Flash #123 , Earth-Two was created to explain how Silver-Age versions of characters such as the Flash could appear in stories with their Golden Age counterparts...
universe.
Reception
This version of Supergirl is ranked as the 153rd greatest comic book character of all time by Wizard magazine. IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
also ranked this version of Supergirl as the 94th greatest comic book hero stating that for a character born of the Silver Age that saw everything from a Super Baby to a Super Monkey, Kara Zor-El grew into something much more than simply another marketing ploy to slap an “S” on.
Television
- Supergirl appears in Superman: The Animated SeriesSuperman: The Animated SeriesSuperman: The Animated Series is an American animated television series starring DC Comics' flagship character, Superman. The series was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on The WB from September 6, 1996 to February 12, 2000. Warner Bros...
voiced by Nicholle TomNicholle TomNicholle Tom is an American actress, best known for her role as Maggie Sheffield on The Nanny.-Career:Since 2006, Tom has starred in the IFC original The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman as Tara, an underling at a film production company.Before her fame on The Nanny, she was known for...
. This version is based on the original Silver Age concept of Supergirl according to writer Paul Dini ' We wanted to do the original version, which is Superman’s cousin from Krypton; [however], we ran into a wall with DC because they insisted that Superman be the last Kryptonian. So we did a compromise: she’s from a small planet in the neighboring system that was colonized by Kryptonians, but they’ve evolved slightly differently.' She is depicted as Kara In-Ze, not Superman's cousin as in the comic book but rather a near-Kryptonian from Krypton's sister planet of Argo.
- Nicholle Tom reprises her role of Supergirl in Justice League UnlimitedJustice League UnlimitedJustice League Unlimited is an American animated television series that was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on Cartoon Network. Featuring a wide array of superheroes from the DC Comics universe, and specifically based on the Justice League superhero team, it is a direct sequel to the...
. As continued in in this show, she and Superman have grown very close, almost like siblings. She joins the Justice League in "Initiation" and assists Green Lantern, Green Arrow, and Captain Atom in fighting a robot based on Brimstone which is attacking Japan. In "Far From Home," Supergirl talks about how she wanted to be seen as more than just 'Superman's cousin'. She departs his company when she discovers love for Brainiac 5Brainiac 5Brainiac 5 is a fictional character who exists in the 30th and 31st centuries of the DC Universe. He is a long standing member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Brainiac 5 is from the planet Colu...
of the Legion of Super-HeroesLegion of Super-HeroesThe Legion of Super-Heroes is a fictional superhero team in the 30th and 31st centuries of the . The team first appears in Adventure Comics #247 , and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino....
in the distant future.
- In the seventh seasonSmallville (season 7)Season seven of Smallville, an American television series, began airing on September 27, 2007. The series recounts the early adventures of Kryptonian Clark Kent as he adjusts to life in the fictional town of Smallville, Kansas, during the years before he becomes Superman...
(2007-2008) of the CWThe CW Television NetworkThe CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
's hit show SmallvilleSmallvilleSmallville is the hometown of Superman in comic books published by DC Comics. While growing up in Smallville, the young Clark Kent attended Smallville High with best friends Lana Lang, Chloe Sullivan and Pete Ross...
, Kara is introduced into the cast and is portrayed by Laura VandervoortLaura VandervoortLaura Dianne Vandervoort is a Canadian actress known for her roles as Kara Zor-El in the television series Smallville, Sadie Harrison in the television series Instant Star and Lisa in the television series V....
. Smallville closely depicts her as Clark's (Tom WellingTom WellingThomas John Patrick "Tom" Welling is an American actor, director, producer, and former model, best known for his portrayal of Clark Kent in the WB/CW series Smallville....
) cousin whose spaceship became trapped in stasis until the events of the sixth seasonSmallville (season 7)Season seven of Smallville, an American television series, began airing on September 27, 2007. The series recounts the early adventures of Kryptonian Clark Kent as he adjusts to life in the fictional town of Smallville, Kansas, during the years before he becomes Superman...
finale. Much of season seven is concerned with Kara's attempts to adjust to life on Earth, especially after learning of Krypton's destruction. Her storyline sees her simultaneously become the object of Lex Luthor's (Michael RosenbaumMichael RosenbaumMichael Owen Rosenbaum is an American actor and director. He is best known for portraying Lex Luthor on the Superman-inspired television series Smallville and Dutch on FOX's Breaking In, and for providing the voice for the Flash in the DC animated universe...
) obsessions and Jimmy Olsen's (Aaron AshmoreAaron AshmoreAaron Robert Ashmore is a Canadian film and television actor, perhaps best known for his role as Jimmy Olsen in Smallville and as Steve Jinks in Warehouse 13. He is the twin brother of actor Shawn Ashmore.-Career:...
) affections, suffer a bout of amnesia, discover her father's (Christopher HeyerdahlChristopher HeyerdahlChristopher Heyerdahl is a Canadian actor who has had roles in many prominent television shows and movies. He is tall.-Biography:Heyerdahl was born in the mountains of British Columbia and is of Norwegian and Scottish descent...
) sinister motives and become a target of evil android BrainiacBrainiac (comics)Brainiac is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Action Comics #242 , and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino....
(James MarstersJames MarstersJames Wesley Marsters is an American actor and musician. Marsters first came to the attention of the general public playing the popular character Spike, a platinum-blond yobbish English vampire in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off series, Angel from 1997 to 2004...
). The season finale sees Kara become trapped in the Phantom ZonePhantom ZoneThe Phantom Zone is a fictional prison dimension featured in the Superman comic books and related media published by DC Comics. It first appeared in Adventure Comics #283 , and was created by Robert Bernstein and George Papp...
, and Vandervoort is no longer a regular in the show's eighth seasonSmallville (season 8)Season eight of Smallville, an American television series, began airing on September 18, 2008. The series recounts the early adventures of Kryptonian Clark Kent as he adjusts to life in the fictional town of Smallville, Kansas, during the years before he becomes Superman...
(2008-2009), but returned for a guest appearance. The episode in which she stars shows her release from the Phantom Zone and her departure from Smallville and her cousin's company, to search for Kandor, her birthplace, that is rumored to have survived during Krypton's explosion. Laura Vandervoort returned for the third episode in the tenth season of Smallville titled "Supergirl". Her picture also appeared in the 11th episode on a government wanted poster under the name Supergirl. Supergirl's next appearance is in the episode "Prophecy" in which she helps Green Arrow locate the "Bow of Orion" in order to be used against Darkseid. She is then called to the Fortress of Solitude, where she is told by the A.I. of Jor-El that her job on Earth is done, and then using a Legion of Super-Heroes Ring, travels to the future to seek her own destiny.
Film
- A live action depiction of Supergirl first appears in the eponymous 1984 filmSupergirl (film)Supergirl is a 1984 superhero film directed by Jeannot Szwarc, and stars Helen Slater in her first motion picture role in the title role of the DC Comics superheroine Supergirl. Faye Dunaway played the primary villain, Selena. The film was a spin-off from the Salkinds' Superman film series which...
starring Helen SlaterHelen SlaterHelen Rachel Slater is an American actress and singer-songwriter.She appeared in the title role in the 1984 film Supergirl. In the following years she starred in several very successful comedy-drama films such as Ruthless People, The Secret of My Success, and City Slickers...
as Supergirl. The film is a spin-off from the Superman film series starring Christopher ReeveChristopher ReeveChristopher D'Olier Reeve was an American actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, author and activist...
, to which it is connected by Marc McClureMarc McClureMarc A. McClure is an American actor. McClure was born in San Mateo, California. He is not, despite a popular misconception, related to the late Doug McClure.-Superman film series:...
's character Jimmy OlsenJimmy OlsenJimmy Olsen is a fictional character who appears mainly in DC Comics’ Superman stories. Olsen is a young photojournalist working for the Daily Planet. He is close friends with Lois Lane, Clark Kent/Superman and Perry White...
. The film was poorly received, and it was not a box-office success. Its plot concerns Supergirl, Superman's cousin, leaving her isolated Kryptonian community of Argo City for Earth in an effort to retrieve the unique "Omegahedron." The item has fallen into the hands of evil witch Selena (Faye DunawayFaye DunawayFaye Dunaway is an American actress.Dunaway won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Network after receiving previous nominations for the critically acclaimed films Bonnie and Clyde and Chinatown...
), and havoc ensues.
- Summer GlauSummer GlauSummer Lyn Glau is an American actress, known for playing River Tam in the science fiction series Firefly and follow-up film Serenity, and for playing Cameron in the series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.-Early life:...
voices the post-Crisis version of Kara Zor-El in Superman/Batman: ApocalypseSuperman/Batman: ApocalypseSuperman/Batman: Apocalypse is a 2010 direct-to-video animated film based on the Superman/Batman comic storyline "The Supergirl from Krypton" and is a sequel to Superman/Batman: Public Enemies. The art style is partly based on that of Michael Turner, who penciled the Superman/Batman comic book arc...
, which is based on the Superman/BatmanSuperman/BatmanSuperman/Batman was a monthly comic book series published by DC Comics that features the publisher's two most popular characters: Batman and Superman...
storyline "The Supergirl from Krypton". Despite this, it was confirmed by director Lauren MontgomeryLauren MontgomeryLauren Montgomery is a film animation director and storyboard artist. She is noted for her storyboard work for animated television and DVD movie features...
that Supergirl's name was removed from the title due to the poor sales of the previous Wonder WomanWonder Woman (film)Wonder Woman is a 2009 direct-to-video animated film focusing on the superheroine Wonder Woman. The plot of the film is loosely based on George Pérez' reboot of the character, specifically the "Gods and Mortals" arc that started the character's second volume in 1987. It is the fourth in the line of...
animated movie, and the character was not permitted to appear on the cover in her trademark outfit. In the movie, Kara arrives on Earth in a rocket and is discovered by Batman and Superman. After living amongst the human race and receiving training from the Amazons, Kara is kidnapped by Darkseid and brainwashed into becoming one of his Female Furies. She is ultimately rescued by her cousin, and returns to Earth. After arriving back at the Kent home, Kara and Clark are attacked by Darkseid, and a massive battle ensues. Kara ultimately saves the day by using a Boom Tube to teleport Darkseid into an unknown area of space, where he is shown to be frozen and floating aimlessly. At the film's conclusion, Kara adopts the Supergirl identity and vows to fight injustice alongside her cousin.
Video games
- Supergirl appears in DC Universe OnlineDC Universe OnlineDC Universe Online or DCUO is an MMORPG by Sony Online Entertainment – Austin. Jim Lee serves as the game's Executive Creative Director, along with Carlos D'Anda, JJ Kirby, Oliver Nome, Eddie Nuñez, Livio Ramondelli, and Michael Lopez...
. In the villain campaign, the players help Doctor Psycho capture Supergirl using Kryptonite. In the hero campaign, the players fight Doctor Psycho to save Supergirl.
See also
- SupergirlSupergirlSupergirl is a female counterpart to the DC Comics Superman. As his cousin, she shares his super powers and vulnerability to Kryptonite. She was created by writer Otto Binder and designed by artist Al Plastino in 1959. She first appeared in the Action Comics comic book series and later branched out...
- Alternative versions of Supergirl
- Power GirlPower GirlPower Girl is a DC Comics superheroine, making her first appearance in All Star Comics #58 ....
- Laurel Gand
Pre-Crisis
- 1959 to 1969: Action Comics #252 to #376.
- 1969 to 1972: Adventure Comics #381 to #424.
- 1972 to 1974: Supergirl #1 to #10.
- 1974 to 1982: Her comic merges with Jimmy Olsen's and Lois Lane's to become Superman FamilySuperman FamilySuperman Family was a DC Comics comic book series which ran from 1974 to 1982 featuring stories starring supporting characters in the Superman comics...
#164 to #222. - 1982 to 1984: The Daring New Adventures of Supergirl #1 to #23.
Kara Zor-El appeared in over 750 stories published by DC from 1959 to 1985.
Post-Crisis
- 2004 to 2005: Superman/Batman #8 to #13 and #19
- 2005 to Present: Supergirl, Vol. 5 #0 to (ongoing)
- 2006 to 2008: Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes (Legion of Super-Heroes, Vol. 5) #16 to #37
- 2007: Action Comics #850
- 2008: Final CrisisFinal CrisisFinal Crisis is a crossover storyline that appeared in comic books published by DC Comics in 2008, primarily the seven-issue miniseries of the same name written by Grant Morrison. Originally DC announced the project as being illustrated solely by J. G. Jones; artists Carlos Pacheco, Marco Rudy and...
Kara Zor-El also appears as a supporting character in several issues of other DC Comics, including Superman, Action Comics, Teen Titans, Amazons Attack, World War III, and Wonder Girl. She has also appeared in many issues of Superman, Action Comics, and Superman New Krypton starting with the World Without Superman event in 2009, and continuing with the World Against Superman event going into 2010.
Trade paperbacks and hardcover collections
Listed in chronological order. All ages titles are not in continuity with the original or modern Kara.| Title | Material collected |
|---|---|
| Original | |
| Supergirl Archives Vol. 1 | Superman #123, Action Comics #252-268 |
| Supergirl Archives Vol. 2 | Action Comics #269-285 |
| Showcase Presents: Supergirl Vol. 1 | Action Comics #252-282, Adventure Comics #278, Superboy #80, Superman #123, 139, 140, 144, Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #14, Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #40, 46, 51 |
| Showcase Presents: Supergirl Vol. 2 | Action Comics #283-321 |
| Modern | |
| Supergirl Vol. 1: Power | Supergirl #1-5 Superman/Batman #19 |
| Supergirl and the Legion of Super-heroes Vol. 3: Strange Visitor from Another Century | Legion of Super-Heroes#14-15, Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #16-19 |
| Supergirl and the Legion of Super-heroes Vol. 4: Adult Education | Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #20-25 |
| Supergirl and the Legion of Super-heroes Vol. 5: The Dominator War | Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #26-30 |
| Supergirl and the Legion of Super-heroes Vol. 6: The Quest for Cosmic Boy | Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #31-36 |
| Supergirl Vol. 2: Candor | Supergirl #6-9 Superman/Batman #27 Superman #223 JLA #122-123 |
| Supergirl Vol. 3: Identity | Supergirl #10-19 Infinite Holiday Special #1 |
| Supergirl Vol. 4: Beyond Good and Evil | Supergirl #23-27 Action Comics #850 |
| Supergirl Vol. 5: Way of the World | Supergirl #28-33 |
| Superman/Supergirl: Maelstrom | Superman/Supergirl: Maelstrom #1-5 |
| Supergirl Vol. 6: Who is Superwoman? | Supergirl #34, 37-42 |
| Superman: New Krypton Vol. 2 | Supergirl #35-36 |
| Superman: Codename Patriot | Supergirl #44 Action Comics' #880 Superman #691 Superman:World of New Krypton #6 |
| Supergirl Vol. 7: Friends and Fugitives | Supergirl #43, #45-47 Action Comics #881-882 |
| Supergirl Vol. 8: Death and the Family | Supergirl #48-50 Supergirl Annual #1 |
| All Ages | |
| Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the 8th Grade | Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the 8th Grade #1-6 |