Supergirl's Got a Mouth on Her? What This Means for the DCU's Future (and Our Entertainment)
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
James Gunn's new DCU is shaking things up with a Supergirl who's a bit more 'punk rock' than we're used to, drawing inspiration from darker comic storylines and giving Kara a chance to finally explore the trauma of Krypton's destruction. Seems like a decent attempt to give us heroes with actual depth (and maybe a drinking problem or two).
Right, so Superman's finally hit the big screen, and fair play to James Gunn, it sounds like he's actually made a decent flick – colourful, compassionate, the whole shebang. But the real kicker? It's the surprise appearance of Supergirl that's got everyone, including yours truly, doing a double-take. Apparently, Kara Zor-El isn't your goody-two-shoes cousin anymore. She's been out partying on planets with red suns and comes crashing into Superman's Fortress of Solitude looking for Krypto, her dog, after having a few too many. And she calls Clark a 'bitch.' Bloody hell, things are getting interesting.
Now, if you're expecting the sweet, innocent Supergirl from the comics or the CW show, think again. This Kara is… different. She's rough around the edges, swears a bit, and seems to have a penchant for the hard stuff. Gary the Superman Robot (voiced by Alan Tudyk!) even comments on her 'unhealthy lifestyle.' But what's behind this sudden shift in character?
Gunn himself said that this version of Kara is "much more hardcore and not the Supergirl we're used to", and he's not kidding. It's heavily inspired by the 'Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow' comic series by Bilquis Everly and Tom King. In that story, Kara's a 21-year-old who's been galavanting across the galaxy, downing drinks on planets with red suns. Why? Because she was raised on a chunk of Krypton that exploded, and she was forced to watch her loved ones die. Dark, right?
This ain't your typical superhero story, mate. It's more like 'True Grit' in space, with Kara teaming up with a young woman named Ruthye to get revenge on the bloke who killed her father. Sounds a bit heavier than Superman's whole 'truth, justice, and a better tomorrow' gig, eh?
But here's the thing: this new attitude *works*. It allows the DCU to explore the trauma and the weight of being a Kryptonian survivor. Kara was originally meant to be the older cousin, sent to look after baby Kal-El. She was frozen in time and arrived on Earth after he was already Superman. That's a lot to deal with! This Supergirl gives the DCU a chance to dive into those complexities and give Kara the layered, nuanced story she deserves. It's a chance for her to grow up and deal with her demons (literally or figuratively, who knows?).
Plus, Gunn's not just pulling this out of thin air. He's drawing inspiration from the comics, specifically the 'Supergirl' series by Sophie Campbell. He's clearly trying to build a cohesive universe where the films and comics inform each other. It's a bold move, and one that could pay off big time.
So, what does this all mean for the future of the DCU? Well, it means we're getting a Supergirl who's not afraid to be a bit of a mess. She's flawed, she's got baggage, and she's probably going to make some questionable decisions along the way. But that's what makes her interesting, right? It feels like Gunn is trying to show us that women, even superhero women, can be complicated and thoughtful. And sometimes, that looks like a woman with a hangover calling the Man of Steel a 'bitch.' Fair dinkum.
Tags: DCU, Supergirl, Superman, James Gunn, Comic Books
Original article: IGN South Africa