Who Is Supergirl?

Jul 13

With DC Studios undergoing significant changes and shifts under co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran, it looks like Superman’s cousin, Kara Zor-El, the Girl of Steel, is on course to land in theaters in her own film just next year. But who is she? What is her purpose?

Ironically enough, these are questions that Supergirl often asks herself, regardless of which iteration of her story is shared. This sense of struggling to find one’s place in the world, combined with the need for hope and strength, makes Supergirl a relatable character to many in the fandom.

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Kara is the daughter of Alura In-Ze and Zor-El, Superman’s uncle. We all know the story of how Kal-El came to Earth from Krypton as their home planet faced inevitable destruction. Kara was a teenager at the time and was also placed in a spaceship bound for Earth with the mission to protect her baby cousin. While in transit, her ship was caught in a green kryptonite meteor shower, which knocked it off course and trapped her for 24 years. She was only about 13 years old at the time.

When she arrived on Earth, she found that in her absence, Kal-El had not only grown up but had already established himself as Superman. Upon her arrival, Kara was overwhelmed by the sensory input of Earth and the sudden acquisition of superhuman abilities under its yellow sun.

Like Superman, she possesses incredible strength, speed, flight, heat vision, X-ray vision, and super-hearing. She also shares his vulnerability to Kryptonite. In addition to her powers, Kara is highly intelligent, another gift of her Kryptonian heritage.

Initially, Kara struggled to find her purpose. In addition to survivor's guilt, she suffered from Kryptonite poisoning in some of her iterations, but it went undiagnosed for quite a long time. This resulted in her memories being skewed and mood swings. Some iterations explore darker storylines, with her character either being sent to kill her cousin or even serving as an accomplice to Lex Luthor. In others, she feels immense guilt over failing to protect Kal-El and struggles to reconcile her past on Krypton with her new reality on Earth. Her grief and self-doubt make her arguably one of the most relatable characters in the DCU. The time differential allowed for a switching of roles. Superman, understanding her plight, became a mentor figure, helping her to understand and control her powers and to acclimate to human society. Over time, Kara adopted a secret identity and began to use her abilities to help others, eventually embracing the mantle of Supergirl.

Given the complexities of her backstory and relation to Superman, Supergirl's character arc often explores themes of identity, belonging, and the weight of legacy. Unlike Superman, Kara vividly remembers Krypton and the life she lost (albeit, in the darker stories, some of those memories falter). Regardless, though, it often leads to a more nuanced perspective on her powers and responsibilities, as she navigates the memories of her past with the demands of her present. She is a powerful alien, yet also a young woman trying to find her way in the world, make friends, and pursue her dreams.

Throughout her long history, Supergirl has been a vital member of various superhero teams, including the Justice League and the Legion of Super-Heroes. She has faced an array of formidable villains as well, including Kryptonian threats such as General Zod and Brainiac, and Earth-based antagonists who seek to exploit or destroy her. Her adventures often see her protecting the innocent, righting wrongs, and serving as a beacon of hope, much like her famous cousin.

Beyond the comics, Supergirl has enjoyed significant cultural impact, appearing in animated series, live-action television shows, and films. Each adaptation has brought new facets to her character, further solidifying her place as a beloved hero.

Supergirl is more than just a powerful Kryptonian; she is a testament to the idea that even when faced with unimaginable loss and displacement, one can rise above adversity and use their gifts for something bigger than themselves. She represents the enduring power of hope, the complexities of identity, and the extraordinary potential that lies within us all.

As we have discussed, there are many iterations of this character, making it challenging to answer the question: Who is Supergirl? One thing is sure…regardless of the story or timeline she shows up in, Supergirl is a formidable superhero in her own right and, on June 26, 2026, Kara will be reintroduced to the DCU, compliments of Gunn and Safran to fill in the gaps of her story, including, as IMDb describes it, “her darker origin before she finally made her way to Earth.”

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