What does DC Comics canon say with regard to James Gunn’s recent words aboutSupergirlbeing “kind of a mess”? TheSupermandirector recently discussed Kara Zor-El’s upcoming DCU debut and contrasted her with her iconic cousin, saying that her experiences left her a bit more dysfunctional than Clark Kent.
And the truth is, as far as comics are concerned, Gunn is correct. Supergirl had a much rougherorigin compared to Superman. And when she arrived on Earth, it was a lot harder for Kara to adjust to Earth than it was for her cousin. Not to mention, living in Superman’s shadow didn’t make things easier.
No comic shows this better than the 2005Supergirlseries, especially when the creative team of Sterling Gates and Jamal Igle joins. This series cut to thecore of Supergirl’s struggles, from dealing with her post-traumatic stress disorder to the pressures she faces living up to the standard people expect from Superman’s closest living relative.
Supergirl’s Best Comic Run Proves James Gunn’s Point
Supergirl (2005)Showed Kara’s Best and Worst Traits
There have been many different versions of Supergirl over the years, but the best has always been Kara Zor-El, Superman’s cousin. She was formally reintroduced into continuity in 2004 and a year afterwards, she got her own ongoing series, which ran until the DC Universe reset in 2011 withFlashpoint.
Supergirl’s first modern appearance was inSuperman/Batman #8!
Kara’s series really took off with issue #34, when Sterling Gates and Jamal Igle took over. Unlike Superman, who is beloved the world over, Kara struggled with being a hero. She had a good heart, butSupergirl would do risky and impulsive things to stop villains(like throwing a truck at a villain in the middle of a baseball game).
Making things worse wasThe Daily Planet’sCat Grant, who wrote heavily-biased op-eds against Supergirl, destroying Kara’s self-esteem. When she wasn’t being vilified, she was being compared to her more perfect cousin, only making her feel worse about not being able to live up to the examplethat Superman had setfor Kryptonians.
Supergirlwas a captivating series because it portrayed Kara as flawed as anyone else.
Supergirlwas a captivating series because it portrayed Kara as flawed as anyone else. She made mistakes, she acted without thinking, and she accidentally hurt people she cared about. But Kara never let that get her down. No matter what happened or what the world said about her,Supergirl kept her head held high and saved the world anyway.
Supergirl’s Origin Was Far More Tragic Than Superman’s
Kara Witnessed Krypton’s Destruction Firsthand
Superman was just a baby when he lost Krypton, so he doesn’t have a strong connection to it. But Supergirl was a teenager when the planet was destroyed, and she lost everything. Her friends, her family, and the only culture she ever knew. She got a second chance on Earth, sure, butthe destruction of Krypton weighed heavily on Supergirl.
Over the years, writers have shown how that event impacted Kara. She’s got PTSD, survivor’s guilt, and even rage issues over Krypton. These things would often pop up when fighting villains or when confronted with reminders of her lost home. She’s in a better place now, butfor a long time Supergirl struggled in more ways than one.
Supergirl lost a home where everything made sense only to end up in a strange new world…
Of course, trauma isn’t a competition, and what happened to Supergirl doesn’t make Superman’s past any less sad. But Supergirl lost a home where everything made sense only to end up in a strange new world where her only living relative was seen as the gold standard of perfection. That’d be a lot for anyone.
Supergirl Doesn’t Need to Be Flawless, She Needs to Be Real
Her ‘Messiness’ Gives Her Humanity
Is it fair to call Supergirl ‘kind of a mess’? For a Supergirl that’s just getting started in her career, yes. What Kara went through is obviously going to impact her in ways that vastly differ from Superman. But it’s that ‘messiness’ that makes Supergirl such an interesting and captivating character to engage with.
Supergirl is, in many ways, more human than Superman. She’s not perfect and she knows it. Kara wants to be the best, and she fails at that sometimes. It’s a very human experience and, honestly, more relatable to humanity than a paragon of virtue like Superman.Supergirl’s flaws aren’t a bad thing, they’re what make her a more nuanced character.
…yes, Supergirl can be a mess and the comics say as much.
So yes, Supergirl can be a mess and the comics say as much. But they also show how determined, bright, and hopeful Kara is as she works to improve herself. Being a mess doesn’t meanSupergirlis a bad character, it just means she’s trying to do the best with what she has, just like everyone else.
