Superman’s origin as a tragic orphan turned symbol of hope has passed beyond comic books to broader popular culture. It’s a story that’s too big to be changed — too definitive, memorable, and emotional. But while core parts of Superman’s history are encased in Kryptonian crystal, it’s bad news for his extended super-family.
Over the years, DC has struggled to balance the expanded soap opera of Clark Kent and his alter-ego’s status as the Last Son of Krypton. DC Crises have continually reset the Man of Steel’s universe around him over the decades, but few members of his family have suffered like Supergirl.
The Maiden of Might is always a significant loss when she’s out of the limelight, impersonated, or even wiped from continuity. She is Superman’s cousin but far more than a gender-swapped carbon copy. Kara Zor-El’s story is undeniably more complicated, sadder, and engaging than Kal-El’s. Having won over the Arrowverse and returning to DC live-action movies for the first time in four decades, we might be entering the Age of Supergirl. So, who is she, and why is she far more than just another Kryptonian?
Supergirl’s disposable cousin?
Like many DC characters, Supergirl’s history has continually changed since her introduction in 1959 (following several prototype superwomen). DC’s massive multiversal resets have taken it out on many characters, but Supergirl was a major casualty of one of the first — 1985’s Crisis on Infinite Earths. When the Antimonitor shot her in the back with a devastating blast of anti-matter, her death launched a thousand tributes thanks to the iconic cover of the event’s seventh issue. But it served a more practical purpose too.
DC was looking to simplify nearly 50 years of continuity, and a big part of that was trimming down Superman’s extended family to make him unique. Over the years, the Man of Steel had been joined by Superboy, the Legion of Super-Pets, including Krypto the Superdog, and relatives, including Van-Zee and supergirl Kara Zor-El. After Kara’s cruel dispatch, she didn’t return for nearly 20 years until she was reintroduced in Superman/Batman in 2004.
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