Supergirl #1 is written by Sophie Campbell and published by DC. Artwork and main cover are also by Campbell with colours by Tamra Bonvillain and letters by Becca Carey.
Supergirl #1 is available from today, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your digital copy from Amazon Comixology UK right here.
Synopsis
Kara Zor-El has been a key member of the Super-Family in Metropolis, butwhat happens when she strikes out on her own? Follow Kara as she returns to her roots in Midvale…home of Supergirl! But how could this be?! Our hero has not been back in years, and the protector of that town has been saving the day for weeks. Can Supergirl stop the impostor before they steal her fresh start and life? Celebrated writer/artist Sophie Campbell (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, WetMoon) makes her mark on the DC Universe with this thrilling debut issue! Plus a new costume designed by bestselling cover artist Stanley “Artgerm” Lau!
Review
DC’s All-In era continues today with another brand new issue. One which gives Kara Zor-El her first ongoing series since 2020 and her first since 2022’s incredible Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. With fans crying out for Kara to have her own series again, DC has tasked Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles writer/artist Sophie Campbell with bringing the Woman of Tomorrow back to mainstream comics.
Campbell has so much ground to cover in helping Kara take flight. The character has spent a lot of time supporting the Super-Family rather than championing her own story. But with Woman of Tomorrow such a runaway success. Plus her own movie on the way in 2026. DC has rightly decided that now is the time to put Kara back in the spotlight. I’ve been a fan of Campbell’s with the TMNT so was genuinely excited to see what she could bring to the party here.
There’s an interesting conundrum which comes up in trying to start a new series like this. On the one hand Kara has existed in the pages of DC’s comics for over six decades. But after a lengthy absence and with new fans brought on board, Campbell has to find a way to balance new introductions with fresh starts. In doing so Supergirl #1 manages to – mostly – unshackle itself from the complex continuity of Prime Earth. The book doesn’t labour itself with endless Super-Family cameos as it seeks to separate itself from the pack. Instead Campbell solely focusses on Kara from beginning to end making this the perfect entry point for new readers.
By definition, first issues are allowed to be exposition heavy. So as Kara talks Krypto through her daily routine it neatly brings us in to her world. Kara’s sense of duty, particularly to those living in Kandor is abundantly clear. Campbell is quick to communicate both her physical strength in the fight with Princess Shark, but also her strength of character. As Kara visits Kandor there’s also plenty of opportunity to glimpse how she perceives herself.
Campbell also does an incredible job of pitching Kara in her mid-20s. Between the overall look of Supergirl to the use of language. It all fits perfectly. I don’t want to call it a full on identity crisis. But there’s an aspect to the storytelling which finds Kara questioning where she fits in to the world. Of course that’s dressed up in exciting superhero antics. But it’s still a great analogy of adolescence and self discovery.
Kara’s uncertainty over her future neatly leads her back to Midvale which is where our story really begins. I really like the idea of tying Kara’s future in to her past. Even her own hesitation at knowing what to call herself in her Midvale alter-ego helps to tie in to this idea that we’re exploring Kara really coming in to her own. So it plays really well to have that identity challenged at the heart of this first arc. The second half of issue #1 sets up the conundrum of two Supergirl’s appearing in Midvale with Campbell’s artwork giving the two very different styles to stop it from becoming confusing. This is less of a doppelgänger and more of replacement. When it’s revealed that replacement runs deeper than just Supergirl it more than opens up enough intrigue to tide us over until issue #2.
Campbell’s visual style is the perfect fit for Supergirl. As are Tambra Bonvillain’s colours. There’s a youthful energy to Supergirl which leaps off the page from the beginning. It’s bright and colourful and that naturally instils the kind of hope we’ve come to expect from our Kryptonian heroes. It stands apart from the main Superman book but remains rooted in that corner of the DCU. Its unique setting of Midvale also helps in setting it apart from Metropolis or any of the other major DC cities. This is certainly an encouraging start for the Woman of Tomorrow.
Verdict
Supergirl leaps out of the gate with a high energy first issue. Sophie Campbell exudes a level of understanding and connection with the Kara which makes them a dynamic storytelling duo. In the style of classic teen-tales like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, there’s plenty of real world analogies to be found wrapped up within high stakes superhero antics.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
