Supergirl (Kara Zor-El)

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Supergirl
The current Supergirl, Kara Zor-El. Cover to Superman/Batman #13. Art by Michael Turner.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Historical: Action Comics #252 (1959) Modern: Superman/Batman #8 (2004)
Created by	Otto Binder Al Plastino
In story information
Alter ego	Kara Zor-El
Species	kryptonian
Place of origin	Krypton
Team affiliations	Teen Titans Legion of Super-Heroes Outsiders
Notable aliases	Flamebird, Linda Lee Danvers, Claire Connors
Abilities	Superhuman strength, speed & stamina, various extra sensory and vision powers, invulnerability, flight.

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. As Supergirl, Kara Zor-El serves as the female counterpart to DC Comic's iconic superhero Superman, created by writer Jerome Siegel and designed by artist Joseph Shuster. The 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, making her a cultural icon. However, during the 1980’s 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." To that end, Supergirl is killed during the 1985 limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths, then retconned out of existence. Following the character's death in Crisis, several other characters unrelated to Superman have used the alias "Supergirl."

DC Comics Senior Vice President and Executive Editor Dan DiDio, along with Editor Eddie Berganza and comic book writer Jeph Loeb reintroduced Kara Zor-El into mainstream continuity in 2004 with the Superman/Batman storyline "The Supergirl from Krypton"; an homage to the character’s original debut. As the current Supergirl, Kara Zor-El stars in her own monthly comic book series.

Contents 1 Publication History 1.1 Creation 1.2 Death during Crisis on Infinite Earths 1.3 Revival 2 Fictional character biography 2.1 Silver age 2.2 Bronze Age 2.3 Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot 2.4 Modern Age 3 Powers and abilities 4 In other media 4.1 Smallville 5 See also 6 Bibliography 6.1 Pre-Crisis 6.2 Post-Crisis 7 Trade Paperbacks and Hardcover Collections 8 Footnotes 9 External links

[edit] Publication History

[edit] 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.

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.^[1]

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. ^[2]

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.^[3]

In her debut story in Action Comics #252 (may 1959), 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.^[4] Following this debut appearance, Supergirl adopted the secret identity of an orphan "Linda Lee" and made Midvale Orphanage her base of operations. 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 cancelled. Supergirl, along with Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen, whose magazines were cancelled 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.

[edit] Death during Crisis on Infinite Earths

Main article: Crisis on Infinite Earths

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:

“

Before Crisis it seemed that half of Krypton had survived the explosion. We had Superman, Supergirl, Krypto, the Phantom Zone criminals, the bottle city of Kandor and many others. Our goal was to make Superman unique. We went back to his origin and made Kal-El the only survivor of Kyrpton. That, sadly was why Supergirl had to die. However, we were thrilled by all the letters we received saying Supergirl’s death in Crisis was the best Supergirl story they ever read. Thank you. By the way, I miss Kara, too.[5]

”

The cover shown here at right has been chosen by popular acclaim "and by a surprisingly large margin", by DC fans as: "The Best cover of a DC Comic Book of all time", in a poll conducted by the publisher in early 2007.

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.

[edit] 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 David’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:

“

Although it had always been in the back of my mind that doing a Kara-related storyline might be fun, the impetus at this point was, frankly, sales…I was trying to figure out who currently wasn’t reading the series, and came up with two groups that we’d have a shot at getting: Those who’d become bored with the current storyline, and those who didn’t accept any Supergirl save Kara. By doing ‘Many Happy Returns,’ I sought to pull in both potential audiences.[6]

”

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:

“

It was the convergence of two trains heading on toward each other. I was working on the Superman monthly when Superman Group Editor Eddie "Extravaganza" Berganza and I were kicking around an Armageddon type story where this giant asteroid from Krypton was making its way toward Earth, and somewhere out past Neptune Superman was beginning to feel it. We figured we could tie it into "The Fall of Luthor" since DC was very kind to let me both put Lex in the White House and figure out how to get him out. Eddie and I started giggling over the possibilities of there being "something" in the asteroid. Or "someone" in the asteroid -- neither of us daring to speak her name, but we both knew who [we] were talking about.[7]

”

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:

“

I love that she has all this power and has to learn what it is to be a superhero in the DCU," said Loeb. "It's one thing to try that with Manhunter (which is terrific), but when you have an icon like Supergirl trying to find her way and, at the same time, at a power level that we haven't even begun to explore ... it should make for a bitchin' good time.[8]

”

[edit] Fictional character biography

[edit] Silver age

In her debut story, Kara Zor-El is described as the last survivor of Argo City 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, meteorites pierced the sheeting and the Kryptonians died of radiation poisoning.^[9]

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. 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.^[10]

While temporarily powerless due to the scheming of Kandorian 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".^[11]

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 1971, when she graduates there, too. 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 Lois Lane series. Kara is also a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes where she develops a special friendship with its many-times leader Brainiac 5. In addition, Linda has boyfriends from the orphanage (Richard "Dick" Malverne) and from Atlantis (Jerro the merboy, who is Lori's family).

In 1967, Supergirl meets Batgirl for the first time in World's Finest Comics.^[12] 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).^[13]

During the 1970's, 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."

[edit] 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 Danverses, Linda goes on to San Francisco where she works for KSF-TV and gets a new beau: her own boss, Geoff. 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 eponymous monthly series beginning in 1972 until october 1974, when her monthly title merged with Superman's Girlfriend 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.^[14] In 1982 Supergirl received a second monthly solo series titled The Daring New Adventures of Supergirl and later simply Supergirl again, which ran until a sudden cancellation in 1984, surprisingly enough, this happened just two months before her big budget Hollywood debut starring Helen Slater.^[15]

In 1985, in the Crisis on Infinite Earths, the greatest heroes from Earth-One, Earth-Two,Earth-Four,Earth-S and Earth-X joined 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.^[16]Batgirl gives her eulogy at a publicly held memorial service in Chicago. Batgirl states, "Kara is a hero, she will not be forgotten."^[17] Superman then gives his late cousin burial by taking her corpse to Rokyn/New Krypton to Zor-El and Allura. It is later revealed in a "Superman" title the following month, that Kara had been granted a premonition about her own passing. However, when the universe is rebooted, the timeline is altered and Kara Zor-El is erased from remembrance by everybody else.

[edit] Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot

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" Brand 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,

“

We don't do it for the glory. We don't do it for the recognition... We do it because it needs to be done. Because if we don't, no one else will. And we do it even if no one knows what we've done. Even if no one knows we exist. Even if no one remembers we ever existed.[18]

”

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."^[19]

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!"^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Modern Age

In 2004, Jeph Loeb reintroduced Kara Zor-El into mainstream continuity in Superman/Batman: Supergirl.^[20] She is first discovered by Batman in Gotham City Bay. Similar to her Silver Age origin, the Modern Age Kara 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 and held her in a state of suspended animation for an extended period of time. While Superman accepts her claims, Batman is distrustful of her. After training her newly manifested powers under the tutelage of Wonder Woman and the Amazons on the island of Themyscira, Kara Zor-El is captured by the extraterrestrial supervillain Darkseid and brainwashed into becoming the leader of his Female Furies. Following a rescue mission lead by Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman, Kara Zor-El assumes the role of "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)^[21] 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.

During the company wide crossover series Infinite Crisis (2005),^[22] a sequel to Crisis on Infinite Earths, Supergirl is recruited by Donna Troy to assist in the upcoming battle, however, Supergirl vanishes during their 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 Superheroes. Beginning with issue #16,^[23] 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,^[24] 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.^[25]

In Joe Kelly's Supergirl: Identity (2006),^[26] 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, Cassandra Cain's attack, 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.^[27] Four months later, yet another new origin is given the girl of steel, where her father is a Ranger and her mother a scientist.^[28]

During Will Pfeifer's six-part limited series Amazons Attack! (2007),^[29] 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.^[30] 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. ^[31]

[edit] Powers and abilities

Main article: Powers and abilities of Superman

Like all Kryptonians under a yellow sun, the current version of Kara Zor-El possesses vast super strength, speed & stamina; various extra sensory and vision powers (including super hearing, x-ray vision, telescopic vision, microscopic vision, and heat vision); tremendous lung capacity and super breath (wind and ice); invulnerability and flight.^[32] The modern day Kara Zor-El is also a capable fighter, having trained with the Amazons.

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 himself explains, this is 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.^[33]

[edit] In other media

Main article: Media adaptations of Supergirl

[edit] Smallville

In the seventh season of the CW's hit show Smallville, Kara is introduced into the cast. She is portrayed by Laura Vandervoort. In her first appearance she saves the life of Lex Luthor who grows obsessed with her.^[34]

In her second appearance she reveals she is Clark's cousin from Krypton and discovers her spaceship was buried and she was in suspended animation for 18 years.^[35] Her ship was caught in the 1989 meteor shower and sank in the lake outside of Reeve's Dam. This version has both some elements of her original origin story in Action Comics #252 in 1959 and the Modern Era version (see section above). She teaches Clark about his origins and is devastated to learn Krypton's fate. In her third appearance she is taught how to control her heat vision by Clark, wins a beauty pageant and saves Smallville and Clark.^[36]Kara also develops a crush on Jimmy Olsen. In her fourth appearance she leaves Smallville over a conflict with Clark and the Martian Manhunter.^[37] She returns later when Clark saves her from a green kryptonite trap set by a crooked government official. A realization that her father was misguided and corrupt, results in Clark's discovery of her powers and a prior trip to Earth. Kara subsequently returns to Smallville and apologizes to Clark. At the end of the episode "Blue"^[38] , when a double of Zor-El is defeated, Kara is involuntarily teleported to Detroit with a case of amnesia.

After being taken in by a waitress, she works at a diner for several weeks, and eventually takes on the name of "Linda".^[39] Her memories and powers remain mysteriously gone, as Clark brings her back to Smallville. However, he decides to hide her Kryptonian identity from her, hiding her Kryptonian bracelet. Because of this, by the episode "Hero" she becomes drawn to Lex, moving in with him, because of Clark and Lana's secrecy.

In the episode Traveler, Kara's memory and powers are restored by Jor-El making her able to save Clark, who was imprisoned in a Kryptonite cell.

In the following episode entitled "Veritas," Kara attempts to teach Clark how to fly so as to further his chances of surviving a confrontation with the newly-restored Brainiac. When Kara resists Brainiac's offer of help in restoring Krypton, Lana falls victim to Brainiac's brain-probe. This, in turn, prompts Kara to voluntarily travel into space with Brainiac, and she is last seen entering hyperspace high above earth.

So, in the seventeenth episode titled "Sleeper", Kara is discovered to be on Krypton, in the year 1989.

In the episode 18, "Apocalypse", we see Kara on an alternative universe where Kal-El never made it to earth. Kara was found and raised by Lex and Lionel Luthor, and took on the name Linda Danvers, being head of DDS (Department of Domestic Security). There, when she finds Clark from the original Smallville universe, she reveals that was sent to Earth to kill him. Back on year 1989, Kara is fighting Brainiac, when she is helped by Clark, destroy Brainiac, and make it to Earth again.

In the season finale, "Arctic", Kara confronts Edward Teague on his private plane, demanding to know the location of the device that can control "The Traveler". After learning that Lex has the device, Kara flies out of the plane through the tail causing the plane to subsequently crash, killing Teague and the two pilots. After Chloe hacks into a recording from the plane's black box, Clark learns of Kara's involvement in the crash and that she will be going after Lex next. Clark confronts Kara in Lex's mansion and takes her back to his barn. Kara angrily informs Clark that she intends to take the device from Lex before he figures out how to use it to control Clark. Kara later appears in Lex's mansion where she tells Lex how to get into the Fortress of Solitude and convinces him that he must take the device there and use it to stop Clark from destroying Earth. Later, Chloe confronts Kara with kryptonite, but she is unaffected. "Kara" then reveals that she is actually Brainiac, who has been posing as Kara since returning from Krypton. Brainiac uses his brain probe on Chloe, leading to a final confrontation between Brainiac and Clark. After Clark destroys Brainiac permanently, it is shown that the real Kara is trapped in the Phantom Zone.

Laura Vandervoort will not return as a regular for Season 8 of Smallville, though she expects to return for one or two episodes.^[40]

[edit] See also

• Supergirl
• Alternate versions of Supergirl
• Power Girl

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] 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 Family #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.

[edit] 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

Kara Zor-El also appears as a supporting character in several issues of other DC Comics, including Superman, Action Comics, Teen Titans, Amazon Attacks, World War III, and Wonder Girl.

[edit] Trade Paperbacks and Hardcover Collections

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
Supergirl Vol. 1: Power	Supergirl #0-5
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

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] External links

• DC Comics
• Kara Zor-El at the Grand Comic-Book Database
• Supergirl (Earth-1) at the Comic Book DB
• Supergirl (Zor-El of New Earth) at the Comic Book DB

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