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Comic Book / Supergirl: Wings

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Story by J. M. De Matteis. Art by Jamie Tolagson

Supergirl: Wings is a DC Comics one-shot comic published under the Elseworlds imprint, written by J.M. DeMatteis (Justice League International) and illustrated by Jamie Tolagson (The Crow).

The story is a reinterpretation of Supergirl-and Superman- as literal angels. The titular heroine is an Amenlee, specifically an angel whose role is to help human beings turn away from their inner darkness. Unfortunately, she is beginning to question whether her latest charge, a human girl named Linda Danvers, can even be saved.

What follows is a tale of redemption as Supergirl finds herself being forced to question who she is and why she does what she does, and it becomes increasingly murky just who, Supergirl or Linda, needs to be saved.


This story provides examples of:

  • Adaptation Species Change: This setting reimagines the DC superheroes as angels, even if they were aliens or amazons before.
  • Angelic Transformation: At the end Matrix and Linda merge into an angelic version of Linda.
  • Angels in Overcoats: The angel that explains to Matrix how a lot of them live disguised amongst humans wear one but none of the others do.
  • Become a Real Boy: Clark hopes to be reborn as a human some day.
  • Big Eater: When Lana asks if he wants more pancakes, Clark says only another 10 or 12.
  • The Cameo: There are angelic versions of Wonder Woman, Hawkman, and Hawkgirl seen in the story's beginning.
  • Composite Character: The demon M'yaa has the appearance of Buzz, Linda Danver's demonic boyfriend from the main continuity, but his true demonic form bears resemblance to Batman.
  • Crisis of Faith: Of an actual angel.
  • Devil in Disguise: Linda's boyfriend, Buzz is actually the demon, M'yaa.
  • Evil-Detecting Dog: Clark and Lana's dog starts barking at the invisible angels watching the family.
  • Fallen Angel: The devil M'yaa. Except not quite.
  • Good All Along: Buzz/M'yaa, who turns out to be Supergirl's own guardian angel.
  • Good Is Not Nice: The Spectre, who twice tries to kill Linda for her sins.
  • Hive Mind: The denizens of the underwater city are all part of Ceetka's mind. Matrix would have been absorbed into it if she'd chosen to stay.
  • Hope Bringer: Linda in the very end. When the Spectre finally decides to come for her, Linda prays, and the power of that prayer is enough to shatter Supergirl disillusionment and create a brand new being.
  • Humans Are Bastards: What the Spectre and M'yaa believe, and Supergirl herself comes dangerously close to believing.
  • Humans Are Insects: Matrix can't understand why Clark would love amongst humans, calling them maggots.
  • Humans Are Special: The comic makes a point that human beings, despite all their flaws, are capable of becoming anything they want, whereas angels like will always be what they are now. Except when Supergirl and her ward merge into a new being.
  • Merger of Souls: Matrix and Linda merge at the end.
  • Otherworldly and Sexually Ambiguous: The Presence is only ever referred to with "Hir" pronouns.
  • Our Angels Are Different: There are many breeds and classes of angels in this world. Supergirl and Zauriel are in the top of the hierarchy, and there are even spirits that protect the Earth and those that protect the ocean. All angelic beings go through each level in the hierarchy, with it mentioned that Supergirl was at one point an Earth spirit and a water spirit.
  • Our Fairies Are Different: Fairies are actually divine beings, guardian angels of the Earth and nature itself.
  • Our Mermaids Are Different: Mermaids are really the guardian angels of the oceans and seas.
  • Our Nymphs Are Different: Ceetka refers to the mermaid people in his city as Nereids.He implies that he has nymph, naiads and water sprites as part of his kingdom.
  • Secret Test of Character: The story ends with the reveal that the whole ordeal was actually a test for Supergirl, who evolves into a brand new being when she merges with Linda.
  • You Are Not Alone: Linda feels like she's thoroughly corrupted and horrible after the things she did following the deaths of her parents, but Zauriel steps in and tells Linda that many people have gone through dark phases like this. He assures Linda she's not beyond redemption, and is capable of doing more with her life, as all humans can, than himself and the other angels.

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