“I’ll just have to be someone else.”
Sophie Campbell began a high-octane storyline for Kara Zor-El in Supergirl #1 that makes numerous callbacks to her Silver Age history. Apart from being a delightful love letter to Kara’s fans, Campbell shows no signs of slowing down in Supergirl #2.
Supergirl #1 focused on restoring the titular heroine’s classic status quo, which was definitely needed for the Girl of Steel after DC Comics struggled for some time to get her back on her feet. Restoring Kara to her more iconic status quo included bringing back her Linda Danvers identity (complete with the brown hair), her adopted family in Midvale (though they are The New 52 versions), and her superpets, Streaky and Krypto.
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Campbell delivered Kara’s glorious classic history in spades, but didn’t neglect her new foe and impersonator in Midvale. Though fans may be turned off by giving Supergirl a storyline that was very recently given to Power Girl (her Earth-2 counterpart) in her own book by Leah Williams, fans will want to stick around for issue #2. Not only does Campbell reveal the faux Supergirl’s identity very early on, but explores the tragic circumstances for this character’s heel turn.
The shocking reveal of the faux Supergirl’s identity is not who she is, but how he met Kara. Originally a citizen of the Bottled City of Kandor, the faux Supergirl is a young woman whose life Kara saved from her brief visit to the city in issue #1. But where Campbell truly shines in Supergirl #2 is in how she fleshes this villain’s backstory and what drove her down the sad path she ultimately took.
Throughout issue #2, Campbell expertly revisits Krypton’s elitist scientific community and the negative impact that has on Kryptonian citizens who don’t measure up to their standards. Though Campbell plays up the trope of superhero envy with a Silver Age flavor, she doesn’t neglect the villain’s very human reasons for wanting to usurp Supergirl’s identity.
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In just one issue, Campbell succinctly examines the consequences of consistent invalidation on young people, and the maladaptive ways they can respond to it. In the case of the faux Supergirl, the need for validation manifested in her need to live someone else’s life. Campbell further dissects this idea by showing more of the faux Supergirl’s thought process – namely her incorrect belief that Kara doesn’t appreciate the attention she gets.
This creates an exiting juxtaposition with Kara – a character who already validates herself. While it is true that Kara has a strong support system in the form of the Super Family, she’s also in a place in her life where she doesn’t fear rejection from others. This also means she doesn’t save lives out of a need to prove herself to anyone, but out of a desire to do good in the world like the rest of her family.
Once Kara learns the true identity of her impersonator, this leaves the Girl of Steel with a more complex problem than she’s prepared to deal with: how does she help a fellow Kryptonian with an existential crisis who doesn’t want her help? The dilemma Campbell establishes for Kara here is excellent, because it’s not a problem she can punch her way out of or fix with her heat vision.
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Kara realizes she needs to be tactful in how she deals with her impersonator to not make an already bad situation even worse. But this establishes another core difference between the two Women of Steel: whereas Kara is motivated to find a way to help this troubled young woman, the latter only wants to double down on her need to discredit Kara.
What’s absolutely brilliant about the way Campbell captures this descent into villainy is by depicting this behavior as a weakness the faux Supergirl is aware of. This comes through in the quieter moments of the issue when she’s alone with her pet rabbit, Kandy. She hugs the animal in a way that strongly confirms her need to be loved. Exactly where Campbell takes this villain’s journey will no doubt be the heart of the comic’s future issues.
In addition to the story itself, Campbell throws some additional Easter eggs for Kara fans in the form of the character’s pre-Crisis suits. Though she ultimately settles on one that fans of 1970s Supergirl will enjoy, she also throws in another iconic look 1980s fans will easily identify. All in all, Supergirl continues to fly sky-high in terms of story and art, which promises to make Kara’s DC All-In era her best one yet.
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