source for supergirl

source for kara zor el in comics and other media

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ULTIMATE SUPERGIRL READING GUIDE

since i've been asked a few times in the past for various reading guides for kara, i thought i'd compile them all into one post for the sake of convenience!

this guide has reading orders for supergirl comics in PRE-CRISIS (1959-1985), POST-CRISIS (2004-2011), NEW 52 (2011-2016), REBIRTH (2016-2021), and INFINITE FRONTIER (2021-present).

if you have any questions at all don't be afraid to shoot me an ask!

for each section bolded comics are required, italicized comics are recommended, and everything else is optional!

ORIGIN AND MIDVALE ERA (NOTE: you'll have to flip to the back of each issue to get to kara's section!) action comics (1938) #252-253, 254-255, 256, 257, 258, 259-260, 261-262, 263-264, 265-266 superman's girl friend, lois lane (1958) #14 action comics (1938) #267, 268, 269-270, 271-275 superman's pal, jimmy olsen (1954) #51 action comics (1938) #276-285, 286-287, 288, 289, 290, 291-294, 295-298, 299-302, 303, 304, 305-306, 307-308, 309-310, 311-312, 313-317

STANHOPE COLLEGE action comics (1938) #318-319, 322-323, 332-333, 337, 339, 340, 350, 358, 359, 366-368, 369-370, 371-372, 374-376 world’s finest (1941) #169 adventure comics (1938) #381-382, 383, 384, 386-389, 391, 393-394, 395-397, 399, 400, 402, 404-405

K-SFTV REPORTER — SAN FRANCISCO adventure comics (1938) #406-407 action comics (1938) #402 (second story titled "superman vs. supergirl: feud of the titans") adventure comics (1938) #409-415, 417, 419, 420, 421-424

VANDYRE UNIVERSITY supergirl (1972) #1-10

STUDENT ADVISOR — FLORIDA (NOTE: every member of the superfamily has a story in the superman family (1974), so you'll have to flip through to find kara's section!) the superman family (1974) #165, 168, 171, 174, 177, 180, 182 justice league of america (1960) #132-134 the superman family #183, 184-186, 187-189, 191-193, 194, 196-198, 199, 200, 201-202, 203, 204-205, 206-207

ACTRESS — NEW YORK the superman family (1974) 208-210, 211-214, 215-216, 217, 218 superman (1939) #373 (second story titled “an eye (and ear) on the world!”) detective comics (1937) #508-510 the superman family #219-222

THE GREAT DARKNESS SAGA (i recommend this storyline in it's entirety, but kara only appears in the last issue!) legion of superheroes (1980) #290-294

LAKE SHORE UNIVERSITY supergirl (1982) #1-12 (cw: nazi imagery in the brief interlude in #12)  supergirl (1982) #13-15 (cw: antisemitism, nazi imagery, depictions of the holocaust.) supergirl (1982) #16-23

LAST APPEARANCES AND DEATH legion of super-heroes (1980) #300-303 dc comics presents (1978) #28 tales of the legion of super-heroes (1984) #314-315 crisis on infinite earths (1985) #4-7

BONUS POST-COIE APPEARANCES christmas with the super-heroes (1988) #2 (last story titled “should auld acquaintance be forgot”) supergirl (1996) #49, 75-80 solo (2004) #1 (third story titled “young love”) convergence: adventures of superman (2015) #1-2

ORIGIN superman/batman (2003) #8-13  (or you can watch superman/batman: apocalypse (2010) instead which I recommend! the art is a lot more tasteful and it's a very faithful adaptation of the comic so you won’t be missing out on anything.)

KARA WITH THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES supergirl and the legion of super-heroes (2006) #16-36

LOEB AND KELLY HELL ERA supergirl (2005) #1-5, 9-10, 19 (you don’t have to read any of this since it gets retconned anyway, but if you’re interested in kara’s early characterization, the beginnings of her friendship with cassie sandsmark, or her difficulty fitting in on earth then you’re welcome to read what i’ve provided.)

KELLEY PUCKETT ERA Amazons Attack! teen titans (2003) #47-48  amazons attack! (2007) #3  supergirl (2005) #20  amazons attack! (2007) #4  teen titans (2003) #49

supergirl (2005) #21-22  teen titans (2003) #50, 51-55  supergirl (2005) #25-33

superman/supergirl: maelstrom (2009) #1-5

Superman: Brainiac  action comics (1938) #866-870

GATES AND IGLE HEAVEN ERA supergirl (2005) #34

New Krypton (new krypton is one of my favorite events and i recommend it in its entirety, but for the sake of brevity I’ll only be listing the issues relevant to kara.) superman: new krypton special #1  superman (1939) #681  adventure comics special featuring guardian #1  action comics (1938) #871  supergirl (2005) #35  superman (1939) #682  action comics (1938) #872  supergirl (2005) #36  superman (1939) #683  action comics (1938) #873

teen titans (2003) #66  supergirl (2005) #37-42

Friends and Fugitives superman: secret Files 2009 #1  supergirl (2005) #43  action comics (1938) #881  supergirl (2005) #45  action comics (1938) #882  supergirl (2005) #46-47

supergirl (2005) annual 1, #48-50

Last Stand of New Krypton  adventure comics (2009) #8  superman: last stand of new krypton #1  supergirl (2005) #51  superman (1938) #698  adventure comics (2009) #9  superman: last stand of new krypton #2  adventure comics (2009) #10  supergirl (2005) #52  superman (1938) #699  superman: last stand of new krypton #3 superman: war of the supermen (2010) #0, 1-4 

supergirl (2005) #53-57, annual 2, 58-59

END OF SUPERGIRL VOL 5 supergirl (2005) #60-64 supergirl (2005) #65-67

REIGN OF THE DOOMSDAYS action comics (1938) #900-904

ORIGIN and SUPERGIRL VS THE WORLDKILLERS supergirl (2011) #1-7

SUPERGIRL and SILVER BANSHEE supergirl (2011) #8-11

SUPERGIRL and SUPERBOY superboy (2011) #6

SANCTUARY supergirl (2011) #12, 0, 13

H’EL ON EARTH superman (2011) #13 supergirl (2011) #14 superman (2011) #14 superboy (2011) #15 supergirl (2011) #15 superboy (2011) #16 superboy (2011) Annual #1 supergirl (2011) #16 superman (2011) #16 superboy (2011) #17 supergirl (2011) #17 superman (2011) #17

SUPERGIRL and POWERGIRL supergirl (2011) #18-20

CYBORG SUPERMAN supergirl (2011) #21-23 action comics (2011) #23.1 supergirl (2011) #24

KRYPTON RETURNS action comics (2011) annual #2 superboy (2011) #25 supergirl (2011) #25 superman (2011) #25

SUPERGIRL VS LOBO supergirl (2011) #26-27

RED DAUGHTER OF KRYPTON supergirl (2011) #28-29 red lanterns (2011) #28-29 supergirl (2011) #30 red lanterns (2011) #30 supergirl (2011) #31 red lanterns (2011) #31-32 supergirl (2011) #32-33

SUPERMAN: DOOMED (this is a whole storyline but I'll only be listing the issues that kara appears in!) superman/wonder woman (2013) #9 action comics (2011) #33 supergirl (2011) #34 superman: doomed (2014) #2 action comics (2011) #35 supergirl (2011) #35

FUTURES END supergirl: futures end (2014) #1

JUSTICE LEAGUE UNITED justice league united (2014) #1-5 justice league united (2014) annual #1 justice league united (2014) #6-10

CRUCIBLE supergirl (2011) #36-40

FINAL DAYS OF SUPERMAN (kara only appears in the issues i've italicized and bolded, but i put all the relevant issues if you wanted to read the full storyline!) superman (2011) #51 batman/superman (2013) #31 action comics (2011) #51 superman/wonder woman (2013) #28 batman/superman (2013) #32 action comics (2011) #52 superman/wonder woman (2013) #29 superman (2011) #52

KARA IN NATIONAL CITY supergirl: rebirth #1

supergirl (2016) #1-8 batgirl (2016) annual 1 supergirl #9-12

supergirl (2016) annual 1 supergirl #13-20

world's finest: batwoman and supergirl #1-2

ROGOL ZAAR and THE SINS OF THE CIRCLE the man of steel #1-2, 3-6 supergirl #21-33, #34-36

LEVIATHAN and BATMAN WHO LAUGHS superman: leviathan rising special #1 supergirl #34-36 supergirl (2016) annual 2 supergirl #37-42

HOUSE OF KENT action comics (2016) #1022-1023 action comics (2016) #1024-1028

FUTURE STATE superman of metropolis (2021) #1-2 kara zor el, superwoman (2021) #1-2

action comics 2021 annual

WOMAN OF TOMORROW supergirl: woman of tomorrow (2021) #1-8

WORLD'S FINEST batman/superman: world's finest (2022) #2-6, 8, 12, 44

A WORLD WITHOUT CLARK KENT and RED MOON (kara is featured in the back-up story! if you want the full context of this plot i recommend reading the full warworld arc in action comics [action comics #1030-1046, superman: warworld apocalypse #1]!) action comics (2016) #1044-1046, 1047-1049

DAWN OF DC action comics (2016) #1051-1053, 1055-1056 superman (2023) #1-3 power girl special #1 steelworks (2023) #1-3

KNIGHT TERRORS knight terrors: superman (2023) #1-2

DAWN OF DC (continued) action comics: doomsday special (2023) superman (2023) #7 hawkgirl (2023) #4 supergirl special (2023)

NEW WORLDS [this arc starts on action comics #1057—kara doesn't appear in that issue but I recommend reading it for context!] action comics (2016) #1058-1060 action comics 2023 annual

JOURNEY TO FERIMBIA powergirl (2023) #5, 6-7

HOUSE OF BRAINIAC action comics (2016) #1064 superman (2023) #13 action comics (2016) #1065 superman (2023) #14 action comics (2016) #1066 superman (2023) #15

UNIVERSE END action comics (2016) #1070-1081

MISCELLANEOUS RECENT APPEARANCES: justice league unlimited (2024) #1, 4-6 superwoman special #1 superman (2023) #21-22

SUMMER OF SUPERMAN superman unlimited (2025) #1-2

NEW HISTORY new history of the dc universe (2025) #2-3

MISADVENTURES IN MIDVALE supergirl (2025) #1-10

HERO OF KANDOR supergirl (2025) #11-12

OTHER RECENT APPEARANCES dc's supergirl next door (2026) supergirl's family vacation (2026)

UPCOMING: supergirl (2025) [monthly ongoing] supergirl: the world (2026) [out june 2nd] supergirl: survive (2026) [out june 3rd] summer of supergirl special (2026) [out june 24th]

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SUPERGIRL: SURVIVE (2026) #1 written by Ethan S. Parker and Griffin Sheridan art by Rod Reis

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KARA ZOR EL Supergirl: The World (2026) art by Jöel Jurion and Yoann Guillé

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SUPERGIRL: THE WORLD (2026) story by Francesca Michielin script by Irene Marchesini art by Federica Croci

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SUPERGIRL: SURVIVE (2026) #3 art by Rod Reis, Stephen Byrne, and Taurin Clarke

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KARA ZOR EL Adventure Comics (1938) #410-411 art by Bob Oksner

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SUPERGIRL (2025) #13 written by Sophie Campbell art by Sophie Campbell and Tamra Bonvillain

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ACTION COMICS (1938) #309 written by Leo Dorfman art by Jim Mooney

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SUPERGIRL'S FAMILY VACATION (2026) written by Brandon T. Snider art by Sarah Leuver

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ADVENTURE COMICS (1938) #387 written by E. Nelson Bridwell art by Kurt Schaffenberger

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ADVENTURE COMICS (1938) #384 written by Robert Kanigher art by Kurt Schaffenberger

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KRYPTON CHRONICLES (1981) #2 written by E. Nelson Bridwell art by Curt Swan

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SUPERGIRL (2025) #12 written by Sophie Campbell art by Sophie Campbell and Tamra Bonvillain

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ADVENTURE COMICS (1938) #389 written by Robert Kanigher art by Win Mortimer

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WORLD'S FINEST (2022) #50 written by Mark Waid art by Adrián Gutiérrez and Luis Guerrero

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Hi! Started reading Kara comics and was wondering about your thoughts on some things, would you consider the Danvers to be an important part of her character? Nothing against them, but considering they're not always there in her runs, and when they do like in the ongoing supergirl, Kara's relationship with them feels a bit flat (but maybe that's because I lack the knowledge of her history with them). Found it so odd that someone impersonated their daughter but nothing came out of that.

hello! i think at one point, fred and edna danvers were an important part of pre-crisis kara’s character, but I don’t consider jeremiah and eliza danvers to be that important to her modern characterization, and i agree that their dynamic feels pretty flat.

i’d say the biggest reason for this is the overall lack of consistency with kara’s canon. the modern version of her foster parents were introduced in supergirl (2016), and steve orlando actually did a good job (imo) of developing their relationship with kara and making them feel important to her—especially in helping her adjust to life among humans on earth. but they only stuck around for 20 issues before a new writer had kara leave earth for the “killers of krypton” arc, and when she returned 14-ish issues later, it was revealed that eliza had died somehow and jeremiah was undercover doing… something? i don’t know—i don’t remember the leviathan story arc (nor do i care to). and after supergirl (2016) ended, they weren’t mentioned at all, and after things like waid’s world’s finest (2021) and woman of tomorrow (2021) re-canonized parts of kara’s pre-crisis lore, it wasn’t even clear if they were still canon at all until supergirl (2025) brought them back.

so all the development kara had with jeremiah and eliza danvers occurred in supergirl (2016), but none of that is really canon anymore because kara has her pre-crisis origin back (living in the orphanage in midvale and getting adopted by the danvers). so now we just have two stock versions of these characters that have some sort of history with kara… but we don’t know what that is.

really, the issue is campbell trying to fit all of kara’s very contradictory canon into one timeline, when that doesn’t really make for a cohesive character. if she wanted to use jeremiah and eliza danvers, she should’ve tried to make supergirl (2025) fit with supergirl (2016). but since she wants to use kara’s pre-crisis history, i have no idea why fred and edna danvers (kara’s adoptive parents from the silver and bronze age, who actually have history with her in midvale and were incredibly important to her pre-crisis characterization) weren’t used instead:

"If it weren't for them, I'd have never gotten over the bitterness I felt when I thought my natural parents had died—and I doubt I'd ever be able to really look at my new world and see it as it truly is… not just a world that's not Argo City—but a beautiful, special place in this universe!" — Supergirl (1982) #1

TL;DR: fred and edna danvers were (consistently) an important part of pre-crisis kara’s character, and jeremiah and eliza danvers were an important part of kara’s character in the first 20 issues of supergirl (2016)—but I don’t think the stock, amalgamated versions of the danvers seen in supergirl (2025) are all that important.

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SUMMER OF SUPERGIRL SPECIAL (2026) art by Belén Ortega, Tula Lotay, Pablo Villalobos, and Mahmud Asrar

DC is turning up the spotlight on Kara Zor-El with a new one-shot, Summer of Supergirl Special #1, arriving June 24.

The 48-page anthology brings together a stacked lineup of creators to tell three stories celebrating Supergirl’s impact across the DC Universe. Writers Sophie Campbell, Mark Waid, and Gail Simone join artists Belén Ortega, Cian Tormey, and Emma Kubert for a collection that highlights different sides of the character.

The lead story, from Campbell and Ortega, takes place in Midvale as Supergirl clashes with the intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo. It sets up a high-energy showdown as Kara faces one of DC’s most unpredictable heavy hitters. The issue also includes two additional stories, one by Waid and Tormey and another by Simone and Kubert, each focusing on Supergirl’s role as a key figure in the House of El.