Supergirl An Origin Story

As I mentioned before, this month is my birthday month and one of the small gifts I got for myself arrived last week.

Supergirl: An Origin Story is written by Steven Brezenoff with art by Scooby Doo artist Dario Brizuela and is a children's book retelling how Kara came to Earth and became Supergirl.

This is a big book, think Tintin and Asterix size. And it is a good story which truly gives us Supergirl's history and establishes her on the planet.

I got this on a whim but am so happy I did. Because after reading 2 years of dark and brooding and evil Supergirl, I was amazed at how easily this book showed me, again, just who Supergirl should be. Any creator who goes to DC editorial and has a pitch for a Supergirl book should be given this to make sure they get just who Kara is. Kudos to Brezenoff for being so pithy and true.

I love Brizuela's art in the Scooby Doo books DC publishes so no surprise I love the work here. I especially like seeing the artist's take on Krypton. It is interesting that we get a DCAU look to Kara here, albeit with a full white shirt. Perhaps this is the look DC is going for in these kids books. It is the same costume that we saw in Supergirl is Patient .

On to the book.

We start out on Krypton with the planet about to explode.

Kara gets put in her rocket by Alura. Kara will have to take care of baby Kal when she lands.

That is one cool looking Alura!

It is interesting that the 'Kara being older than Kal' is now the de facto origin. No more 'younger, born on the displaced Argo'. I miss that.

In standard fashion, the rocket is delayed in getting to Earth.

When she arrives, baby Kal is waiting for her ... and almost 30 years old.

I do like how this scene is sort of like the classic Action Comics #252 cover.

When Superman explains that Kara will have powers on Earth, she gives them a whirl. We read that she struggles with flying and with aiming her heat vision.

One of the things that I like about Supergirl is that she is still learning. So I like that we see she is early on in the hero's journey.

It is also interesting that while Danvers is still Supergirl's adoptive family, the names are now Jeremiah and Eliza.

How interesting that the television show has impacted other media.

They are a nice couple with no children. So no scientist/DEO connection here ... at least for now.

But similar to Silver Age stories, Superman wants her to hide her powers and not be active.

And in her secret identity, we see Kara thrive in high school.

She makes friends, joins the sports team, and other than being bored in Math seems to have embraced her new life.

One day while in school, Kara hears screams and zips into action as Supergirl. She comes upon a mall on fire and helps the firefighters keep everyone safe.

Initially, both the Danvers and Superman aren't too pleased that Kara went into action.

And then Brezenoff made me smile.

"Earth saved us when we needed help. We should help Earth back."

It's that simple. Supergirl wants to help.

She doesn't hate Earth. She isn't angry. She doesn't want to be left alone. She isn't inherently evil.

She wants to help.

Someone should wallpaper DC Editorial with that top paragraph.

From that day on, Supergirl was there to save the day.

Not leave Earth.
Not be angry.
Not be goth.
Not be sullen.

She was there to save the day.

Anyways, great children's book to own if you are a Supergirl fan. Great book to give to children to introduce them to Supergirl.

Happy Birthday to me!

Posted in: Reviews