History Supergirl / TropesCToD

* CatSmile: In ''ComicBook/LetMyPeopleGrow'', Supergirl smiles wickedly when Brainiac hits himself with his shrinking ray and disappears.

** In 1988 one-shot ''Christmas with the Super-Heroes #2 '': "Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot", the Pre-Crisis ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}[[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pScx8BN4h3s/TRAR_CElMcI/AAAAAAAAK3Y/JIg2PlbMWkk/s1600/Xmas+1988-03.jpg briefly appears]] [[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pScx8BN4h3s/TRAR_dm1YiI/AAAAAAAAK3c/voPpHlP3snU/s1600/Xmas+1988-04.jpg right after having been erased from continuity]]:

** In ''DCU Infinite Holiday Special issue #1'', ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} gets to answer some of the Christmas letters that get sent to her cousin. One of those letters is from a girl who wants to see her father. However her father is an asshole who doesn't want his daughter to know he is a screw-up. Supergirl manages to talk him into clearing things up with his ex-wife and daughter through... unorthodox means. Several months later in ''ComicBook/Supergirl2005'' #50), the little girl thanks Supergirl for bringing her dad back:

** [[http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/5/52074/1630604-bottle.gif.gif The Bottle City of Kandor]]. Kandor was a Kryptonian city which was shrunk by ComicBook/{{Brainiac}} before Krypton's destruction. Superman managed to retrieve the city from Brainiac, and he and ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} spend most of Silver and Bronze Ages looking for ways to re-enlarge Kandor and its inhabitants (they finally succeeded in a 1979 story).

* CombatByChampion: In ''Adventure Comics'' issue #412, ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} is chosen by the ruler of planet Liquel II to be her champion:

* ComicsMerger: In 1974, DC Comics canceled ''Supergirl (1972)'', ''ComicBook/SupermansPalJimmyOlsen'' and ''ComicBook/SupermansGirlfriendLoisLane''. The three features were combined (along with other occasional Superman-related features) in the (ahem) super-sized ''ComicBook/SupermanFamily'' title, which ran until 1982.

** Due to the mediocre sales of ''{{WesternAnimation/Wonder Woman|2009}}'', the cover artist for the DVD of ''WesternAnimation/SupermanBatmanApocalypse'' was barred from showing ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} in her iconic costume. Instead, an image of a BrainwashedAndCrazy Supergirl clad in a {{Stripperific}} slave outfit was used. The film's female director was ''not'' pleased.

* CrazyJealousGuy: In ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl 1972}}'' #2, Linda Danvers' friend Jeff made several passes at her even though she was not really interested. Still he was jealous every time Linda spent time with another guy and behaved as if she was cheating on him in spite of them NOT being together.

* CryonicsFailure: Invoked in ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl 1972}}'' #7. Supergirl finds ComicBook/{{Zatanna}}'s frozen body and does her utmost to thaw her carefully because Zatanna can die if she is not careful.

* CrystalSpiresAndTogas: Krypton and Argo City (Kara's hometown) definitely fit this (and pre-Crisis planet Rokyn where the citizens of Kandor settled on). The ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'' books often go into detail about the culture and society of Krypton, showing people wearing colourful, bright clothes and long, flowing robes and capes, and tall buildings made of glass and metal.

** When ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} joined the Legion, Brainiac 5 gave her a force field belt. Its energy shields protected Kara from force impacts and Kryptonite radiation, but the belt broke right away.

** In the Pre-Crisis universe Supergirl and Superboy attempted to punch ComicBook/{{Darkseid}}. They were amped up by Highfather to insane amounts and let's remember they could ''pull an entire galaxy's worth of planets without said power up''. None of their punches [[NighInvulnerable even hurt]] Darkseid and barely even catches his attention.
** Earth's 1's ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} lays an absolute beatdown on the Anti-Monitor before being taken out by a lucky shot... and as he limped off the battlefield, the Anti-Monitor said she nearly killed him. That's right, she nearly killed a being who ate ''universes''.

* DynamicAkimbo: Supergirl pulls this off once in a while. She doesn't often do this, though, because she's impatient and more concerned with stopping criminals than looking good. Kara also [[http://www.newsarama.com/images/i/000/151/251/original/supergirl-cast-kara-143921.jpg?1436810990 pulls this pose off]] in ''[[Series/{{Supergirl 2015}} her tv show]]''.

** In ''ComicBook/SupergirlRebirth'' Cyborg Superman turns the people of Argo into Cyborgs to bring them back from the dead. However they are only soulless zombie robots.

* CanonImmigrant: National City, Supergirl's home base in [[Series/Supergirl2015 her 2015 TV series]], was brought into the comics in ''ComicBook/TheFinalDaysOfSuperman'', and serves as her home base in ''ComicBook/SupergirlRebirth''. Her foster parents Jeremiah and Eliza Danvers also first appeared in her TV show. Her enemy Selena hails from her [[Film/Supergirl1984 film feature]].

** New 52 Supergirl didn't want to hurt anyone and was willing to help people, but her obsession to bring Krypton back and her anger and loneliness issues were holding her back. During the ''ComicBook/RedDaughterOfKrypton'' arc she finally faced her inner demons and outgrew her angst and anger. When ''ComicBook/SupergirlRebirth'' starts out, she has become the kind of hero who will punch criminals and monsters but also try to reach them out.
* CapeSnag: Supergirl has also ran into this problem. In ''Supergirl Vol 2 #20'', Parasite grabs her cape, and after spinning Kara around, slams her into a railroad track.

** In ''ComicBook/SupergirlRebirth'' story arc "Reign of the Cyborg Supermen", a Kryptonian Cyborg attempts to throw a car at her. Supergirl wraps the car around him.

** Rare heroic example in ''Supergirl vol 1 #6''. The eponymous heroine needs to stop a gang war so she picks two huge rolls of insulation, and lays them out, knocking the gangers over and rolling them up inside. Once they are paralyzed, they have no option but listening to her.

* CatSmile: In ''Superman'' Vol 1 #338, Supergirl smiles wickedly when Brainiac hits himself with his shrinking ray and disappears.

* ChekhovsGunman: At the beginning of Supergirl's sixth volume, some aliens were seen floating in several pods in the background. Later on, Supergirl met and fought four of those aliens -who were called Worldkillers-, and her leader revealed that there was a fifth worldkiller. Guess who fights Supergirl almost thirty issues later?

* ChildOfTwoWorlds: Unlike Superman, ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} spent most of her formative years in Krypton, and often she feels like she kind of belongs to both worlds but fits in neither. In ''[[ComicBook/Supergirl2005 Supergirl Vol. 5]]'' issue #30 she mutters "[She] barely understands [Earth] and barely can remember [Krypton]". Though, in the ''ComicBook/NewKrypton'' arc she realizes she's become more human-like without realizing, and has nightmares where crowds of Terrans and Kryptonians demand her to pick a side.

** In ''Supergirl vol 2 #1'', she feels guilty because she needs to give herself space to be "Linda Danvers" rather than "Supergirl". In the same scene she admits she would interrupt a date with Robert Redford to rescue a kitten from a tree.
** Per Word Of God, in ''ComicBook/SupergirlRebirth'' she is the kind of hero who will punch you, throw in a cell... and try to help you.

** ''ComicBook/SupergirlRebirth'' Kara wears loose clothes, glasses, dyes her hair brown and braids it into a ponytail, and behaves like a insecure, quiet, geeky girl (as opposite to her hot-blooded, fiery and determined real self).

** In ''ComicBook/SupergirlRebirth'', Kara's SecretIdentity wears loose clothes and baggy trousers to hide her super-strong physique.

* ComicsMerger: In 1974, DC Comics canceled ''Supergirl'''s first book, ''Superman's Pal, ComicBook/JimmyOlsen'', and ''Superman's Girlfriend, ComicBook/LoisLane''. The three features were combined (along with other occasional Superman-related features) in the (ahem) super-sized ''ComicBook/SupermanFamily'' title, which ran until 1982.
* ComplainingAboutRescuesTheyDontLike: In ''Supergirl vol 5 #34'' Kara saved ComicBook/JimmyOlsen and Cat Grant from being hit by falling debris. Unfortunately Cat accidentally got bruised when Jimmy landed on her. Cat was so irate she devoted herself to wage a smear campaign against Supergirl.

** ''Supergirl Rebirth'' writer Steve Orlando stated that he created Kryptonian grammar in the book, from scratch.

** In her [[ComicBook/Supergirl2005 Post-Crisis book]] ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'' likes, trusts and relies on [[Franchise/{{Superman}} her cousin's]] adoptive parents Jonathan and Martha and her surrogate aunt ComicBook/LanaLang whenever she feels she can't talk to Clark.
** In ''ComicBook/SupergirlRebirth'' she's a kind of cool aunt to her first cousin once removed Jonathan "ComicBook/{{Superboy}}" Samuel Kent. He pretty much worships her.

** In ''Supergirl Rebirth'', the Batman Who Laughs uses drugs and mental manipulation to lure Supergirl into his side.

** In ''ComicBook/AdventureComics'' #392, the Stanhope College dedicates one day to honor ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} for all she has done for the place, and want all students to war Supergirl's costumes. Ironically, Linda Danvers is the only one who cannot wear one because someone is trying to find out her secret identity.

* CostumeEvolution: Supergirl has worn dozens of different costumes, although she always reverts to her iconic blue shirt/red skirt combination. She started out with a red cape, blue long-sleeved shirt and a blue skirt which she sometimes swapped with a red one. At the onset of [[MediaNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks the Bronze]] [[ComicBook/Supergirl1972 Age]] she tried a different costume every two issues until deciding on a puffy-sleeved deep-cleavage blue shirt and red cape, choker, short pants and boots that she wore until [[ComicBook/Supergirl1982 the early 80's]] when she changed back to her classic look plus a red hairband. In the [[ComicBook/Supergirl2005 Post-Crisis era]] she changed to midriff blue shirt with yellow-rimmed cuffs and long blue shirt, and [[ComicBook/Supergirl2011 Post-Flashpoint]] she changed to a high-collared blue leotard and boots with knee-holes. During ''ComicBook/RedDaughterOfKrypton'' she wore a [[Franchise/GreenLantern Red Lantern]] variant before the [[ComicBook/SupergirlRebirth Rebirth relaunch]] when she returned to her classic look.

** In the cover of ''Supergirl vol 1 #7'', Supergirl and Zatanna [[LoverTugOfWar are pulling the arms of a guy they liked]] and who had been turned into a Snowman. It doesn't happen in the book.

** When Supergirl ''[[ComicBook/{{Supergirl 2005}} was rebooted in the Post-Crisis continuity]]'', several writers and editors thought the best way to update the character was turning her into a mood-swinger, self-centered, bratty jerkass. This strategy continued until DC realized that Supergirl's fans hated it. Supergirl's earlier characterization was retconned out and she became a troubled, insecure but ultimately good and heroic teenager again.
** ''[[ComicBook/{{Supergirl 2011}} Post-Flashpoint Supergirl]]'' started out this way, with Kara being a reluctant hero at best, traumatised and, like most teenagers would under her circumstances, feeling overwhelmed and simply wanting to go home. She also holds a fairly dim view of humanity at large, but considering that they keep shooting at her and have poisoned the atmosphere with Kryptonite. Grief morphed to rage, partly under the influence of being manipulated and betrayed by H'el, and ''[[ComicBook/RedDaughterOfKrypton she became a Red Lantern for a little bit]]''. Now, however, she's discarded the Red Lantern Ring, has come to terms with her losses, matured and become that much wiser. She has since accepted Superman's charge to be Earth's hero in his stead in ''ComicBook/TheFinalDaysOfSuperman'' and ''ComicBook/SupergirlRebirth''.

*** In ''The Daring Adventures of Supergirl'' vol. 1 #12, while several mooks are shooting at her:

** Post-Crisis Kara often makes sarcastic remarks when she gets angry. In Supergirl vol. 5 #22 she fights a SuperSoldier who claims to be "your tax dollars at work". After defeating him, she grumbles:

** In ''ComicBook/SupergirlRebirth'' #1, Kara and her foster mother Eliza have a friendly battle of wits:

** In ''Supergirl Vol 2 #8'', Medusa's disembodied ghost tries to take over Supergirl's body. The Kryptonian girl manages to defeat the spirit, but with the help of another ghost.
* DemotedToExtra: In the 60's, Kara Zor-El was treated as a prominent member of Superman's core cast, had her own backup strip, her own supporting cast and made frequent appearances across all books of the line. Then she was gradually pushed to the background during MediaNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks and [[ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths eventually killed off]]. She wouldn't be brought back until 18 years later, after half dozen of failed attempts to replace her with non-Kryptonian Supergirls.
* DependingOnTheArtist: Some artists picture Supergirl as well-built or waif-like, but back when she was an adult in the Pre-Crisis comics, she generally looked curvaceous and athletic. Her hair has been depicted cropped-short and curly, long and curly, shoulder-length and straight, shoulder-length and wavy, and even waist-length and wavy. Also, her Post-Crisis suit included golden cuffs whose length fluctuated wildly. On the other hand, her Post-Flashpoint red cape was gold-trimmed until ''DC Rebirth'' started and artists forgot about it.

** In ''Supergirl vol. 6 #7'' she and four enemies turned Manhattan into a war zone.
** In ''Supergirl vol. 6 #31'' and ''ComicBook/RedLanterns #31'', she and several Red Lanterns tried to save planet Primeen's capital city. Unfortunately they almost burned it down when they fought Atrocitus, and Kara used her heat vision to stop a blood storm. Supergirl felt horribly guilty, and Blezz muttered she thought that they were supposed to be the good Red Lanterns.

* DieHardOnAnX: In ''[[ComicBook/{{Supergirl 2005}} Supergirl Volume 5]]'' Annual #1 several bank robbers are holding several hostages. Supergirl cannot tip her identity off (long story), so she breaks a restroom's window, crawls into the place and pretends to be one of the hostages until she has a chance to take the crooks down anonymously.

** In Supergirl vol. 6 #27 Supergirl kicks ''Lobo'' so hard that she -apparently- kills him. Kara is so upset that she swears she didn't want to kill him and she cries she doesn't know her own strength.

** In Supergirl vol. 7 #1, as Kara is learning how to drive, she puts her foot on the brake... and through the bottom of the car. When it happens, her foster mother cries out: "Again?".

** Subverted in ''Supergirl Vol 1''. The eponymous heroine thinks villain Orgox pretends to be a kind of demon-sorcerer in order to deceive a bunch of superstitious, insular villagers, but it turns out that Orgox is really a demonic sorcerer.
** Played straight in a story of ''Supergirl Vol 2'' in which villain Kraken pretends to be a wizard, but he uses devices hidden inside his bracelets and belt to perform his tricks. Kara realizes he cannot be a wizard when one of his "spells" hits her and hurts her but doesn't blow her head off.

* DueToTheDead: In ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths'' #7 Supergirl's public funeral in Chicago, where she was eulogized by long-time and close personal friend ComicBook/{{Batgirl}}, was attended by literally thousands of people, many among whom were heroes and super-beings of greater stature or presence than herself (such as Batman, Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel); her actual final rites were conducted by her cousin Franchise/{{Superman}} alone and in private outside his Fortress of Solitude, where he wrapped her in her cape and flew her off into space, heading towards New Krypton/Rokyn to leave her body with her natural parents, Zor-El and Alura (as seen in ''Superman Volume 1 #414).

** In ''ComicBook/SupergirlRebirth'', Supergirl dyes her hair brown to disguise herself.

** In ''Supergirl vol. 6 #31'', Red Lantern Sheko is about to mind-rape several more innocent bystanders when a heat blast hits her from behind. Cue Supergirl swooping in on her.

** In ''ComicBook/SupergirlRebirth'' #1, Kara interrupts the battle between [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent Lar-On]] and the DEO agents when she suddenly swoops in on the werewolf, grabs him and flies away with him.

* CostumeEvolution: Supergirl has worn dozens of different costumes, although she always reverts to her iconic blue shirt/red skirt combination. She started out with a red cape, blue long-sleeved shirt and a blue skirt which she sometimes swapped with a red one. At the onset of [[UsefulNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks the Bronze]] [[ComicBook/Supergirl1972 Age]] she tried a different costume every two issues until deciding on a puffy-sleeved deep-cleavage blue shirt and red cape, choker, short pants and boots that she wore until [[ComicBook/Supergirl1982 the early 80's]] when she changed back to her classic look plus a red hairband. In the [[ComicBook/Supergirl2005 Post-Crisis era]] she changed to midriff blue shirt with yellow-rimmed cuffs and long blue shirt, and [[ComicBook/Supergirl2011 Post-Flashpoint]] she changed to a high-collared blue leotard and boots with knee-holes. During ''ComicBook/RedDaughterOfKrypton'' she wore a [[Franchise/GreenLantern Red Lantern]] variant before the [[ComicBook/SupergirlRebirth Rebirth relaunch]] when she returned to her classic look.

* DemotedToExtra: In the 60's, Kara Zor-El was treated as a prominent member of Superman's core cast, had her own backup strip, her own supporting cast and made frequent appearances across all books of the line. Then she was gradually pushed to the background during UsefulNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks and [[ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths eventually killed off]]. She wouldn't be brought back until 18 years later, after half dozen of failed attempts to replace her with non-Kryptonian Supergirls.

** In ''[[http://comicboxcommentary.blogspot.com.es/2013/12/back-issue-holiday-box-dcu-infinite.html DCU Infinite Holiday Special issue #1]]'', ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} gets to answer some of the Christmas letters that get sent to her cousin. One of those letters is from a girl who wants to see her father. However her father is an asshole who doesn't want his daughter to know he is a screw-up. Supergirl manages to talk him into clearing things up with his ex-wife and daughter through... unorthodox means. Several months later ([[http://comicboxcommentary.blogspot.com.es/2010/02/review-supergirl-50-part-2.html in Supergirl #50]]), the little girl thanks Supergirl for bringing her dad back:

** In the ''DC Universe Holiday Special 2008: A Day Without Sirens'', a "Day Without Sirens" is proposed right before Christmas. Commissioner Gordon believes such an initiative is doomed to failure. The criminals of Gotham would never heed such a calling. However, the day proceeds without police sirens. It turns out that Kara Zor-El and [[ComicBook/{{Batgirl}} Barbara Gordon]] [[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pScx8BN4h3s/SU-kKYaVUmI/AAAAAAAACGc/LKdSPl0ht34/s1600-h/holiday-09.jpg It turns out handled covertly all emergency calls during that day]].
--->'''Oracle:''' Just rest easy knowing you did something special today.\\

'''Oracle:''' I know so. Never discount the healing power of a little hope, Kara.

* DisappearedDad: In most continuities, Kara's father Zor-El dies shortly after sending his daughter to Earth where she becomes a superhero. In ''[[http://comicboxcommentary.blogspot.com.es/2013/12/back-issue-holiday-box-dcu-infinite.html DCU Infinite Holiday Special issue #1]]'', Kara has to reunite a little girl with her absent father. It turns out that the man is a jerkass drunk who refuses to be around his daughter because doesn't want her to realize her father is a screw-up. Supergirl convinces him maybe he can get his act together and be a good dad, if he stops to run away.