A History Of Recent Supergirl Cancellations - Always At The Wrong Time

It was recently revealed that Supergirl #20 would be the last issue of the current title.

The book, like Super Sons, has been cancelled, one of the casualties of Brian Michael Bendis taking over the Superman books. Much like John Byrne, Bendis was taking the reins, wresting control away from the current creators, and breaking away to a new direction.

For fans of the current creative teams and the super-books, which is a fair number of us given sales numbers, this has been a lamentable decision.

DC's Clark Bull came out to reassure fans of these books that plans are in place and to be patient.

But I have to tell you, this makes zero sense to me. Because the Supergirl book has finally found its groove. The book has been excellent over the last several months, after writers Steve Orlando and Jody Houser tightened things up.

The book initially was trying to be all things to all people. Supergirl as DEO agent, as student, as adopted daughter of Eliza and Jeremiah Danvers, as CatCo employee. There were too many ingredients and not enough 'egg' to hold the comic omelette together. Moreover, the first arc involved the Cyborg Superman and seemed like a step backwards. And the Phantom King arc was a bit too confusing for me.

But with these in the past, Orlando and Houser concentrated on student Kara and inspirational Supergirl. She chooses Earth to inspire people and to be inspired. She'll always continue to help.

It finally was all clicking!

So of course the book is cancelled.

History tells me, I shouldn't be surprised.

Why doesn't it surprise me? Because when you look back at the last three Supergirl titles, the book was cancelled just when it was flourishing. It is like DC hates prosperity when it comes to Supergirl. Just when the story is coming around, just when the characters is finding her niche and being the hero she should be, the plug gets pulled.

Let's go back to the prior title, Supergirl volume six, the new 52 Supergirl.

Now this title suffered at the beginning with Kara being an Earth-hating loner who shunned Superman and wanted to live alone on the ocean floor. Suffice it to say, those early issues didn't work for long term Kara fans.

But the last year of the book was just about perfect. So, of course it got cancelled.

Looking at Supergirl #40, writer K. Perkins has her become a leader at a universal school for young leaders. She is worthy of her position, an inspiration for the heroes around her.

She is suddenly not just a hero on Earth but a galactic hero!

This was after Tony Bedard and Charles Soule used a 'Supergirl as Red Lantern' arc to surprisingly turn things around for the character.

Again, after years of Kara wallowing in anger, she was consumed by rage, only to come out the other side redeemed. In Supergirl #33, before heading off to the Crucible school, Kara has purged herself of the Red Ring, defeated the last World Killer, and finally declared Earth her new home.

See ... in that title she went from a surly Supergirl to a hero. Perkins had set up a supporting cast. Kara was back on Earth, her new home she swore to defend.

So DC pulled the plug.

Remember, that was the end of the New 52 Supergirl book.

There was a whole universe that ended before that to clear the decks for the universal reboot.

Sadly, the Supergirl volume five book was firing on all cylinders just prior to the New 52. So, of course, DC cancelled the book. (Okay, they cancelled all books.)

Supergirl #67 was written by Kelly Sue DeConnick (just at the beginning of her illustrious career). Linda Lang was a student at Stanhope Academy. She had made some fun, carefree friends. She was embracing her life as a student and she was definitely a hero in the world. She was part of the JLA.

Even DeConnick worried that people would forget this Supergirl because she had come so far. Because this was a self-motivated and independent Supergirl, being the hero she should be.

So of course DC cancelled the book. (I know ... I know ... they cancelled all books.)

But remember where that Supergirl had come from.

Remember that this title started out with a Dark Supergirl book. It devolved into 'crazy Zor-El, kill Kal-El' Joe Kelly nonsense, a run on the book that ultimately insulted Supergirl fans, a whole issue devoted to showing a 'perfect' Supergirl that Kelly insisted no one wanted to read.

Then, thankfully, Sterling Gates and Jamal Igle came on board and righted the ship. It was their still-influential run that brought Supergirl back to where she should be. She was a hero. Her life wasn't perfect but she loved her life. She was a smiling hero, still finding her way in the world. In their last issue, Supergirl #59, Supergirl even impressed her nemesis Cat Grant.

Yes, that Supergirl book had gone over 2 years with a heroic Kara involved in solid stories. So of course, DC abandoned the book.

But let's go back even further.

What about Supergirl volume four?

Well, I loved this book even if it featured the Earth angel/Linda Danvers/Matrix hybrid Supergirl.

But even this book had its ups and downs. I still contend that the first 50 issues of this book are one of the best long-form story arcs that exist in comic. It is a complicated, religious, quasi-Vertigo look at the place of faith in a world filled with super-heroes mixed in with a redemption tale.

After that first 50 issues, writer Peter David gave us a 2 year yarn, a sort of sequel to the first mega-arc, which seemed to drag.

But in the last 5 issues, David gave us Many Happy Returns an arc which wowed readers, sold out, had early Ed Benes art, and re-established some Supergirl lore. Things were clicking.

So, of course, DC cancelled the book.

Many Happy Returns brought a squeaky clean Silver Age Supergirl back into the DCU, teaming her up with the more mature, slightly jaded Linda Danvers. Imagine Super Sons done as Super Girls, where the difference between the characters both provide excellent story-telling moments as well as force the characters to do some introspection.

This storyline crackled. Older Supergirl fans got to see the original Kara back again. It seemed like the book was grabbing new readers.

So, once again, just when the creative juices are flowing and the characters were done right, DC cancelled the book.

Look, who knows what is going to come out of this latest 'reboot'. Who knows if Supergirl will have her own book? Who knows what the next creative team thinks of Kara. It just irks me that just when a Supergirl book feels right, the powers-that-be kick it to the curb.

I shouldn't be surprised ... should I.

Posted in: Reviews