Summer isn’t just for toasty temperatures and poolside fun—it’s also time for the Super-fam! Superman fans are eating well right now with an outstanding lineup of comic books showcasing the legacy of the Man of Steel, and of course, the highly anticipated Superman movie hitting theaters on July 11^th. But what about Superman’s little cousin (well, older younger cousin), Supergirl? The Maiden of Might has returned with a new solo series as a part of DC’s “Summer of Superman.”

Kara Zor-El was one of the characters that made me a DC fan when I first started reading comics a decade ago. I remember picking up Supergirl: The Girl of Steel in high school and immediately falling in love with her as a character. Her tragic story differs from Clark’s because she carries the memories of Krypton with her. Tom King and Bilquis Evely’s Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow explores these dark themes excellently.

Kara Zor-El deserves her own spotlight and to exist far beyond Superman’s shadow, and she’s getting both right now thanks to writer and artist Sophie Campbell, who’s taking Kara back to her roots in a modern way with her new Supergirl series. Issue #1 landed in comic shops last Wednesday and Campbell’s acknowledged that she takes a lot of inspiration from Silver Age and Bronze Age Supergirl comics. And yet, after reading the first issue, I immediately thought of 2016’s Supergirl: Rebirth as well as The CW’s Supergirl show. These stories focus on Kara’s human identity while she tries to find her place in a world where her cousin Superman is a beloved and famous hero that she has to live up to.

In Campbell’s Supergirl, Kara heads back to her hometown of Midvale to visit her parents, who have just moved back. When she arrives, she is pleasantly surprised to see her town celebrating the legacy of Supergirl with signs and memorabilia everywhere. Except…she quickly learns Midvale’s Supergirl isn’t her. Who is flying around brandishing the symbol of the House of El? And how far is she willing to go to become Supergirl—to become Kara? And most of all, why and how is she doing this?

This isn’t the first time there have been two different Supergirls in the DCU, a fun trope that I was glad to see Campbell put her own twist on. In Supergirl: The Girl of Steel, we saw an evil Kara brought about by exposure to black Kryptonite—giving us an iconic good Supergirl vs. bad Supergirl battle. Then there is Matrix, a shapeshifter from a pocket universe who took over the mantle of Supergirl for a while.

Not too much was revealed in Supergirl #1 about who this imposter might be, but visually we can see that she is a different person, so that rules out shapeshifters or evil clones. This Supergirl flies like a Kryptonian, but uses gadgets instead of powers—which presumably means her powers, if she has any, are limited compared to Kara and Clark’s. We learn that this new Supergirl warned everyone in Midvale that an imposter might show up—as in the real Kara—which suggests this was a calculated and malicious attempt to replace Kara. But like I said, it doesn’t stop there. To what extent will this girl attempt to replace Kara completely? Is the mantle of Linda Danvers safe?

This first issue does a great job of dropping you into a world that feels alive, referencing so much that has happened off the page and in previous classic storylines that all helps to flesh out this story. The action starts in the very first panel, and we get to see eccentric characters such as the red werewolf Lar-On from Kandor. Truly honoring her Silver and Bronze Age roots, Kara’s human name is Linda Danvers instead of Kara Danvers in this run.

We also get a new Supergirl suit featuring a mock turtleneck crop top paired with her signature red skirt and cape with the House of El symbol on it. In fact, we actually get two costumes since there are two Supergirls—the fake Maiden of Might has a unique one-piece t-shirt/skater dress cinched at the waist with Supergirl’s iconic gold belt and a mini red cape. And in addition to Krypto, we also get to see another super-pet: a rabbit sidekick that accompanies the second Supergirl. I can’t wait to see Super-Bunny in action—I have so many questions. I love the details that went into subtly changing and redesigning the other Supergirl, which gives her a unique identity that differs from the real Supergirl.

Supergirl #1 has fast-paced action and witty dialogue creating a whimsical tone that takes us back to some of Supergirl’s early stories. This is a genuinely fun superhero story that honors the tone of classic comics in the modern age. The concept of somebody trying to replace Kara in her own life leaves us with so many questions that set up so much for this run.

Kara deserves her own spotlight outside of Superman and it’s apparent that Campbell is honoring the character by knowing her history and bringing together the many eras of Kara Zor-El. We have seen action, exciting characters, super-animals and cute and funny slice-of-life moments…and that’s just in issue #1. I can’t wait to see what awaits us in issue #2.
 

Supergirl #1 by Sophie Campbell and Tamra Bonvillain is now available in print and as a digital comic book.

Sami DeMonster writes about superheroes, horror and sci-fi for DC.com and reviews comics every week on social media. Follow her at @samidemonster on Instagram and Substack.

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Sami DeMonster and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.