History Supergirl / TropesOToP

!!!Tropes found in ''Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}''

* OrwellianRetcon: In Supergirl's first story with the ''Comicbook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'', the following dialogue occurred when Supergirl figures out that the Legion who wants to induct her into their club is the same one that inducted ComicBook/{{Superboy}}.

** Lar-On is a Kryptonian werewolf whom Franchise/{{Superman}} and Franchise/{{Batman}} fought in ''World's Finest #256'' (way back in the Bronze Age) and who fought ''Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}'' in ''Comicbook/SupergirlRebirth''. His lycanthropy was a sickness caused by Red Kryptonite poisoning (Red-K does weird things to Kryptonians as opposite to the lethal and most famous green type). He turns into a muscled, huge, purple-red, humanoid wolf with firey EyeBeams.
** In ''Adventure Comics'' #387 Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} is accidentally turned into a [[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pScx8BN4h3s/Sd40lrAfbNI/AAAAAAAADY8/fDtEtx-rFa8/s320/adventure+287+-+01.jpg wolf-girl]], while a wolf-girl Supergirl from a lupine alternate universe is turned into a human.

** In ''Comicbook/ActionComics'' #308, Kara takes care of a missing little girl for a while she seeks her parents out. The little kid -named Candy- called her mommy, too.

** In ''Comicbook/DemonSpawn'', after having an argument with a bullying co-worker, Linda shuts herself in her office and she is so angry that she punches -and cracks- a wall.

** In ''Comicbook/{{Supergirl 2005}}'' #33, Supergirl is severely distraught after failing to save a child. Then she runs into super-villain Clayface and decides he is exactly the punching bag she is looking for.

** In ''Comicbook/RedDaughterOfKrypton'', [[spoiler:villain Worldkiller-1]] holds a dying [[spoiler:Supergirl]] in his arms before dumping her in the Sun (a move which was fortunate for her and incredibly dumb of him).
** In ''Comicbook/{{Justice}} #12'' Kara does this to Comicbook/PoisonIvy after knocking her out with a blast of heat vision.

* OverprotectiveDad: Even though they're cousins, and she's actually chronologically older than he is, Superman took on this role with Supergirl when she first arrived on earth. He even jumped down the throat of one of the Amazons of Themyscira for besting her while they were ''sparring'' in ''The Supergirl Fom Krypton''.

* PinealWeirdness: ''Action Comics'' #287 had Supergirl visiting the future in response to a call for help from the Legion of Super-Heroes. To get her up to date on the pending crisis, they used a future-tech device to download the info into her "'Third Eye' pineal gland."

* PinocchioSyndrome: Comet the Super-Horse was originally a centaur called Biron who wanted to be fully human; unfortunately Circe's transforming potion was sabotaged and made him fully horse instead. The reason he has superpowers is because the spell couldn't be reversed, so Circe gave him superpowers to try and make up for it.

** In ''Supergirl #3'', Supergirl was exposed to black kryptonite and she was split into her normal self and an evil (and oversexed) alternate personality that wore a black-and-silver version of her normal costume. The black costume returned in a later ''Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica'' storyline where a battle with the Omega Man accidentally reawakened the Dark Supergirl persona within her.
** This was based on a [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] story in which Supergirl was exposed to a piece of ''red'' kryptonite that created [[http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Satan_Girl_(Pre-Zero_Hour) Satan Girl]], who likewise wore a black outfit. Her version had a cowl and no S-symbol, because her identity was originally a mystery.

* ParentalSexualitySquick:
** Downplayed in ''Comicbook/SupergirlRebirth''. Supergirl ''really'' doesn't like hearing her foster parents flirt when she's around (or when she is ''not'' around. She can hear them from anywhere, literally). They are not concerned about her squicked reaction, though.
--->'''Jeremiah:''' What I did miss?\\

** In ''Comicbook/ManyHappyReturns'', Linda learns that her mother got pregnant. When their parents explain the hows and whys, she decides she did NOT need to know that.
--->'''Linda:''' How did this happen?!\\
'''Fred:''' What--\\
'''Linda:''' Are you responsible for this?\\
'''Fred:''' What the hell kind of question's that?\\
'''Linda:''' Haven't you ever heard of protection?\\
'''Fred:''' I had a gun nearby. Didn't help.\\
'''Sylvia:''' Remember that afternoon you kind of surprised us, when your dad and I reconciled? Well, I think that's when...\\
'''Linda:''' Oh, I SO don't need to hear that! Jeez, Ma, you're too old old to be having--\\
'''Sylvia:''' Sex?\\
'''Linda:''' I was gonna say "a baby", but yeah, the other thing, too.

** In ''ComicBook/ManyHappyReturns'', Kara does this to one-time villain Rebel when they first fight.

* PositiveDiscrimination:
** With her reintroduction in ''ComicBook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton2004'', many efforts were made suggest that Kara was possibly a greater FlyingBrick than her cousin. Many stories written soon after her introduction as Supergirl had other heroes saying that she might be faster than Superman, might be stronger than Superman, etc. Overall, characters seemed to believe Kara would eventually surpass Clark in all parameters. Later these compliments and expectations simply vanished, and the more traditional "as strong as Superman, but maybe slightly less so because she's smaller" interpretation again prevailed.
** In ''ComicBook/TheUnknownSupergirl'' story arc about Supergirl's secret apprenticeship and training, Kara had a power outage. Then she briefly got everything back -- along with invulnerability to Green Kryptonite. (Mr. Mxyzptlk was responsible.) Superman seriously regarded her as superior to him, and wondered if he should become ''her'' assistant.

* PensieveFlashback: In ''ComicBook/{{Convergence}}: Adventures of Superman'', Pre-Crisis Supergirl walks through a series of three-dimensional visions narrating her life since [[ComicBook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton her arrival on Earth]] to [[ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths her impeding death]].

** Post-Crisis Linda Danvers had pyrokinesis and flaming wings for a while.

** Pre-Crisis Supergirl stands apart from her replacements and successors because she always strived to see the good side of things, no matter what. In ''ComicBook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton'', Kara saw her entire civilization dying, lost her parents, was stranded in an alien planet and then she was dumped into an orphanage by her only living relative... and she still tried to think positively. In ''ComicBook/TheUnknownSupergirl'', Superman is about to reveal her existence to the world after forcing her to train hard and operate in secret during one year, when her powers suddenly and mysteriously vanish. Kara is initially upset that her hard work was all for nothing, but then she says herself crying is useless and she must simply adapt to her new life.

** DC's first DistaffCounterpart characters to Franchise/{{Superman}} (a normal girl pretending to a superhero in ''Superboy Vol 1 #5'', ComicBook/LoisLane temporarily getting powers and operating as "Superwoman" and ComicBook/{{Superboy}} [[GenderBender turning into a girl]] and operating as "Claire Kent, Super-Sister") were probably not tryouts so much as one-shot story ideas. But 1958's "Superman 123: The Girl of Steel" was clearly a dry run for ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}. In that story, ComicBook/JimmyOlsen uses a magic totem to wish for a "Super-Girl" who would be a companion and helpmate for Superman. It doesn't work out all that well, and Jimmy ends up wishing the girl out of existence at her own request (ItMakesSenseInContext... sorta.) Reaction was positive enough that DC introduced Kara Zor-El, the real Supergirl, one year later in ''ComicBook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton''.

* PubliclyDiscussingTheSecret: Subverted in a Silver Age ''Adventure Comics'' issue when Linda Danvers visits Clark Kent's workplace and openly calls him Franchise/{{Superman}}. Although there was nobody nearby, her cousin is ''not'' amused and chides Kara for her carelessness.

* OutOfFocus: During the Silver Age, Supergirl was a mainstay of the ''Superman'' comics, having her own backup monthly strip and making frequent appearances in all books of the line. During the 70's, though, she was gradually phased out, and by the 80's she seldom appeared out of her own book (even so, some creatives still insisted that her presence was harming the sales of the entire line), eventually being killed off in ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths'' and remaining dead for eighteen years. When she returned in ''ComicBook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton'', though, she came back with a vengeance, becoming an important player in the DC Universe for ten years. During the ''DC Rebirth'' relaunch, though, she began losing focus and importance again.

** This is even part of the introduction story of the post-Crisis Supergirl in ''Comicbook/SupermanBatman #8''. Some guy crashes onto Kara as she roams the streets of Gotham aimlessly just after her crash-landing.

** ''ComicBook/SupermanBatman'' issue #19 picks up on Kara Zor-El's story after the events of the ''ComicBook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton'' story arc. It mainly, however, serves a staging ground for the ''ComicBook/Supergirl2005'' spin-off series. It was even republished as Supergirl #0.

** With her reintroduction in the ''Comicbook/SupermanBatman'' series, many efforts were made suggest that Kara was possibly a greater FlyingBrick than her cousin. Many stories written soon after her introduction as Supergirl had other heroes saying that she might be faster than Superman, might be stronger than Superman, etc. Overall, characters seemed to believe Kara would eventually surpass Clark in all parameters. Later these cheap compliments and expectations simply vanished, and the more traditional "as strong as Superman, but maybe slightly less so because she's smaller" interpretation again prevailed.

** Several examples in ''ComicBook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton''. In the first chapter, a random guy harasses Kara. She shoves him away and he goes flying and crashes into a pile of boxes. Later on, a Doomsday clone punches Superman so hard that Kal-El goes flying. And Darkseid does this to Batman several times during their fight.

* PutTheirHeadsTogether: In Franchise/GreenLantern storyline ''Atrocities'', Kara slams two enemies' heads together when she, Guy Gardner and Bleez are being swarmed by a mob of Red Lanterns.

* PensieveFlashback: In ''ComicBook/{{Convergence}}: Adventures of Superman'', Pre-Crisis Supergirl walks through a series of three-dimensional visions narrating her life since [[ComicBook/ActionComicsNumber252 her arrival on Earth]] to [[ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths her impeding death]].

** Pre-Crisis Supergirl stands apart from her replacements and successors because she always strived to see the good side of things, no matter what. In ''ComicBook/ActionComicsNumber252'', Kara saw her entire civilization dying, lost her parents, was stranded in an alien planet and then she was dumped into an orphanage by her only living relative... and she still tried to think positively. In ''ComicBook/TheUnknownSupergirl'', Superman is about to reveal her existence to the world after forcing her to train hard and operate in secret during one year, when her powers suddenly and mysteriously vanish. Kara is initially upset that her hard work was all for nothing, but then she says herself crying is useless and she must simply adapt to her new life.

** DC's first DistaffCounterpart characters to Franchise/{{Superman}} (a normal girl pretending to a superhero in ''Superboy Vol 1 #5'', ComicBook/LoisLane temporarily getting powers and operating as "Superwoman" and ComicBook/{{Superboy}} [[GenderBender turning into a girl]] and operating as "Claire Kent, Super-Sister") were probably not tryouts so much as one-shot story ideas. But 1958's "Superman 123: The Girl of Steel" was clearly a dry run for ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}. In that story, ComicBook/JimmyOlsen uses a magic totem to wish for a "Super-Girl" who would be a companion and helpmate for Superman. It doesn't work out all that well, and Jimmy ends up wishing the girl out of existence at her own request (ItMakesSenseInContext... sorta.) Reaction was positive enough that DC introduced Kara Zor-El, the real Supergirl, one year later in ''ComicBook/ActionComicsNumber252''.

* PlotRelevantAgeUp: Along with [[ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} Dick Grayson]], the [[ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths original]] Kara was allowed to grow up, even if it [[ComicBookTime took thirty years]]. She started out as a cute little teenybopper, and became a beautiful young woman. There's a huge tear-jerking moment in ''ComicBook/WhateverHappenedToTheManOfTomorrow'', when time-travelling young Kara asks Superman if she grows up to be pretty. This is after Kara's own death, and Supes can't tell her that; but he does tell her, as they pass a statue of her adult self in the Fortress, "You grew up beautiful, Kara."]]

* PreAssKickingOneLiner: In New 52 Supergirl issue 28, after Kara shots Lobo's ship down:
-->'''Lobo:''' Bloody Nass! That ship was custom built! The things I did just to pay for it...!\\

* PromotedFanboy: Sterling Gates was a '''huge''' Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} fan from a very young age when he read ''Comicbook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths''. In 2008 he got to write her solo book, penning a critically acclaimed and comercially successful run. Since then he has written a good number of comics, often featuring Supergirl, and even one episode of ''[[Series/{{Supergirl 2015}} her show]]''.

** In ''ComicBook/{{Bizarrogirl}}'', the SelfDemonstrating/{{Bizarro}}'s rocket ship is controlled by sunstones. Supergirl also learns information about the Bizarro race via a Sunstone.

* PlotRelevantAgeUp: Along with [[ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} Dick Grayson]], the [[ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths original]] Kara was allowed to grow up, even if it [[ComicBookTime took thirty years]]. She started out as a cute little teenybopper, and became a beautiful young woman. [[spoiler: There's a huge TearJerker in "ComicBook/WhateverHappenedToTheManOfTomorrow,'' when time-travelling young Kara asks Superman if she grows up to be pretty. This is after Kara's own death, and Supes can't tell her that; but he does tell her, as they pass a statue of her adult self in the Fortress, "You grew up beautiful, Kara."]]

* PowerGlows: Modern Supergirl's body often glows when she is super-charged with solar energy or is using her solar flare attack. In Supergirl #33, her body gave off a golden glow after she took a literal sunbath.

** [[http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qSG1pbROrbA/Tp2chFhUoaI/AAAAAAAANEE/zF0M84jBz2Y/s1600/dccp+29-10.jpg Superman did this to Supergirl]] long before the Crisis in ''DC Comics Presents'' issue #29. A reviewer made the next quip: "Again with the anticipation. Superman cradling a Supergirl literally at death’s door. All they need now is copious amounts of blood and a sweatband."
** In the Post-Crisis ''Comicbook/NewKrypton'' storyline, Supergirl holds her dying father's body while he dies.

** DC's first DistaffCounterpart characters to Franchise/{{Superman}} (ComicBook/LoisLane temporarily getting powers and operating as "Superwoman" and ComicBook/{{Superboy}} [[GenderBender turning into a girl]] and operating as "Claire Kent, Super-Sister") were probably not tryouts so much as one-shot story ideas. But 1958's "The Girl of Steel" was clearly a dry run for Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}. In that story, ComicBook/JimmyOlsen uses a magic totem to wish for a "Super-Girl" who would be a companion and helpmate for Superman. It doesn't work out all that well, and Jimmy ends up wishing the girl out of existence at her own request (ItMakesSenseInContext... sorta.) Reaction was positive enough that DC introduced Kara Zor-El, the "real" Supergirl, shortly after in ''Comicbook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton''.
** ''Comicbook/SupermanBatman'' issue #19 picks up on Kara Zor-El's story after the events of the ''Comicbook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton'' story arc. It mainly, however, serves a staging ground for the ''Comicbook/{{Supergirl 2005}}'' spin-off series. It was even republished as Supergirl #0.

** In the lengthy 1959 story arc about Supergirl's secret apprenticeship and training, Kara had a power outage. Then she briefly got everything back -- along with invulnerability to Green Kryptonite. (Mr. Mxyzptlk was responsible.) Superman seriously regarded her as superior to him, and wondered if he should become ''her'' assistant.
** In her ComicBook/PostCrisis reintroduction, she seemed stronger than Clark for a while, but it proves to be because Clark's long since gotten used to holding himself back in a {{world of cardboard|Speech}}, while Kara hadn't yet.

** In ''Last Daughter of Krypton'', a sunstone guides ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} back to Argo City and then displays a message recorded by her father.

** In ''Who Is Superwoman?'', Supergirl keeps a communication device made from Sunstones. Kara smashes it to pieces in a fit of anger and gets her hand bleeding, which shows sunstones are not only glowing and multipurpose but also ''hard''.
* PoweredArmor: In the ''Crucible Academy'' arc, Kara wears a blue-and-red Kryptonian powered armor during her first fighting tests.

* PreemptiveApology: In the "Bizarrogirl" story arc, ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} apologizes to Dr. Light before knocking her out and making off with her Bizarro clone.

* OnlyOneMeAllowedRightNow: In the Pre-Crisis Superman comics, this was declared physically impossible. If you time travelled back to a period where you already existed as a distinct being, you could only observe things as an invisible, intangible phantom. So, in ''ComicBook/WhateverHappenedToTheManOfTomorrow'', when young, teenage Supergirl visits the present and doesn't understand why she's not intangible. It's because it's after her own death. She asks if the contemporary version of herself is visiting another era and Superman, fighting back tears, confirms that "Supergirl is in the past.

** ''Comicbook/SupermanBamtn'' issue #19 picks up on Kara Zor-El's story after the events of the ''Comicbook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton'' story arc. It mainly, however, serves a staging ground for the ''Comicbook/{{Supergirl 2005}}'' spin-off series. It was even republished as Supergirl #0.

* PositiveDiscrimination: With her reintroduction in the ''Superman/Batman'' series, many efforts were made suggest that Kara was possibly a greater FlyingBrick than her cousin. Many stories written soon after her introduction as Supergirl had other heroes saying that she might be faster than Superman, might be stronger than Superman, etc. Overall, characters seemed to believe Kara would eventually surpass Clark in all parameters. Later these cheap compliments and expectations simply vanished, and the more traditional "as strong as Superman, but maybe slightly less so because she's smaller" interpretation again prevailed.