History Supergirl / TropesMToN

* MechaMooks: Supergirl and her cousin are some of the few ''good guys'' to keep a contingent of Mecha-Mooks, the Superman and Supergirl Robots in the Fortress of Solitude. In the Silver Age, they were mainly used as [[RobotMe decoys]] to preserve their secret identities, and occasionally to pinch hit for one of them when they'd been incapacitated by Kryptonite or some such. A [[DroppedABridgeOnHim bridge got dropped]] on the bunch of them in UsefulNotes/{{the Bronze Age|OfComicBooks}}.

* MyHorseIsAMotorbike: In the [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] Supergirl rode a flying horse for a while. In New 52 story "Be Careful What You Wish For" Kara rides a space rocket bike.

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

* TheMole: In ''Comicbook/ActionComics'' #317, Kara believes her friend Lena's boyfriend Jeff Colby is an enemy spy. Later she finds out that Jeff was really working with the F. B. I. and trying to trap a spy ring.

* MortonsFork: ''Superman Family'' issue #214 has Supergirl depowered and trapped by Comicbook/LexLuthor in a cell. The only way out are two doors. One of them leads to a pit whose bottom is a bed of steel spikes. The other door opens onto a blast-furnace.

** Post Crisis Jeremiah and Eliza Danvers -two agents of the D. E. O. (Department of Extra-normal Operations), a Government agency created to deal with and neutralize alien threats- became Supergirl's foster parents in ''Comicbook/SupergirlRebirth''. They helped Kara understand Earthlings and adapt her new home-world.

** Supergirl has used sometimes her heat vision to roast marshmallows and her SuperSpeed to tidy an apartment (as seen in a flashback during the storyline ''Comicbook/RedDaughterOfKrypton'').
** Subverted in ''Comicbook/SupergirlRebirth''. Kara wants to use her SuperSpeed to rebuild the wrecked base of the DEO, but her foster mother suggests that she first needs to learn how non-powered people deal with disasters, so she helps out without using her powers for a bit.
** In ''[[Comicbook/{{Supergirl 1972}} Supergirl Vol 1]]'' #7, Linda stumbles upon Comicbook/{{Zatanna}}'s frozen body. She wraps her cape around the magician girl and uses her heat beams to warm up her cape like an electric blanket and revive Zatanna.

* MyFistForgivesYou: Grace Choi of ''[[ComicBook/BatmanAndTheOutsiders The Outsiders]]'' tried this on Supergirl as revenge for freezing during a battle and failing to watch her back, but broke her hand despite her formidable strength.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: In ''Comicbook/ActionComics'' #317 Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} thinks her friend Lena is dating an enemy spy and she makes them to break up to protect Lena from a future heartbreak. Shortly after Supergirl discovers said boyfriend wasn't an enemy spy and Lena is completely distraught because she thinks she is alone since her only friend has betrayed her. She has this reaction before explaining herself and apologizing to Lena and her lover.

** In ''[[Comicbook/{{Supergirl 1982}} her second solo book]]'' she saves two persons from a cascade of molten steel by using her cape to shield them.
** In ''[[Comicbook/{{Supergirl 2011}} the Post-Flashpoint universe]]'', her costume is Kryptonian armor and nearly as indestructible as her.

** In the end of ''Comicbook/NewKrypton'', Supergirl does this to [[spoiler:Sam Lane]] after he has [[spoiler:successfully engineered the death of New Krypton and the Kryptonian genocide]].

** In the beginning of the ''Comicbook/RedDaughterOfKrypton'' story arc (''Supergirl vol. 6 #28'') [[http://vokun.comli.com/comics/Supergirl/28/halaman/Supergirl-028-(2014)-(Digital)-(Nahga-Empire)-004.jpg Kara grabs Lobo's neck]] and slams him into the nearest wall before punching him through it.

** In ''Adventure Comics #397'', Nasthalthia 'Nasty' Luthor is transferred to Stanhope College, where Linda Danvers alias "Supergirl" takes classes, as part of a plan of her uncle Comicbook/LexLuthor to lure Supergirl out and kill her. Although their plan failed, 'Nasty' was a pain in the neck of Supergirl for the rest of that run.

* NonHumanSidekick: Comicbook/KryptoTheSuperDog, is Superman and Supergirl's Kryptonian pet. He was later joined by Streaky the Super-Cat and Comet the Super-Horse. And a long while later, by Beppo the Super-Monkey. Together, they formed the Legion of Super-Pets.

** In ''Action Comics #286'' Comicbook/LexLuthor shot at her with a machine gun even though he should know better than anybody how tough Kryptonians are. Naturally, she stood still while the bullets bounced off.

* NowOrNeverKiss: In ''Supergirl #51'' Kara kisses Mon-El as he flies towards Comicbook/Brainiac's ship.

* MakeMeWannaShout: Post-Flashpoint Supergirl displays this on occasion, first when attacked by the Powered Armour wearing mooks of Simon Tycho, then when fighting Black Banshee, and later when she accidentally shatters a windowpane. He specifically notes it and mocks it as a pale reflection of his own powers, before giving her a demonstration. Ironically, Silver Banshee is one of her best friends.

New Powers as the Plot Demands:
** During the Joe Kelly's run, Supergirl gained the ability to grow sharp glass shards from her body. Later, it was explained away as Kryptonite poisoning causing her blood to crystallize in the oxygen when she was cut and never mentioned again.

--->'''Alphonse Luzano:''' The same technology that merely repairs Shelley's body is capable of so much more! Hyper-Strength! Hyper-Speed! Plasmagenesis! Yes, that's a word! Hyper-sensual perception!

* NoGuyWantsAnAmazon: ''ComicBook/TheBraveAndTheBold #63'' (from 1965) revolves around this trope. Basically, Supergirl and Wonder Woman both get new boyfriends who don't approve of what they do and would be disillusioned if they saw them at work. This leads the two to bend over backwards trying to save lives without losing their boyfriends by lying to them about their actions. Finally, they give it up and return to [[TheyFightCrime fighting crime]], as they realize that it is what they need to do.

* NoRomanticResolution: Kara's second solo book ends with her childhood crush Dick Malverne showing up and kissing her all of sudden. Readers never got to see Kara's reaction because the series was abruptly cancelled and the character killed two years later (DC had plans for a relaunch but they never materialized). Several decades later writer Paul Kupperberg revealed that [[http://comicboxcommentary.blogspot.com.es/2012/04/fate-of-dick-malverne.html Supergirl would turn Dick down]]. However, 2004 book ''Solo #1'' picked up that plot thread and solved it after twenty years: [[http://comicboxcommentary.blogspot.com.es/2008/06/it-came-from-back-issue-box-solo-1-tim.html Dick confesses that he loves Linda, he always knew she was Supergirl... and he's dying from cancer. They kiss and he passes away later that night]].

* MainstreamObscurity: Most of people are aware of the existence of Supergirl and most of them know her name's Kara and she's Superman's cousin. Even before being given ''[[Series/Supergirl2015 her own show]]'' she had showed up in a ''[[Film/{{Supergirl}} live-action film]]'' as well as several animated features, ''[[Series/{{Smallville}} shows]]'', cartoons and video games. But ask them about her RoguesGallery, supporting cast and relevant storylines and they'll be hard-pressed to name one. The'll be too unaware that the character remained dead for eighteen years during which DC tried and failed to replace her with several non-Kryptonian Supergirls.

* {{Novelization}}: The 1984 ''Film/{{Supergirl}}'' movie also had an [[https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Supergirl:_The_Official_Movie_Novelization official novelization]] by Norma Fox Mazer which delved more deeply into characters like the witch Selene.

** In ''ComicBook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton'', Alura made her daughter's super-hero costume before Kara left Argo because it would be indestructible on Earth.

** In ''ComicBook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton'', Linda uses her powers to tidy her bedroom up. She bends the iron leg of her cot straight, dusts out her room in a big blow and fixes a broken mirror.

** Post-Crisis Kara also did this once. 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. [[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pScx8BN4h3s/SU-kKYaVUmI/AAAAAAAACGc/LKdSPl0ht34/s1600-h/holiday-09.jpg It turns out that]] Comicbook/{{Batgirl}}/Oracle teamed up with Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} and both girls handled covertly all emergency calls during that day. Supergirl ended up completely exhausted, though, making clear she cannot keep it up forever.

** In origin story ''Comicbook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton'' Alura makes her daughter's costume, saying that it will become indestructible super-cloth on Earth, which explains how Supergirl can fly through a supernova without ruining it.

* MagicSkirt: [[DependingOnTheArtist Some artists]] draw it so short, but ''so short'' that you will need a massive WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief to accept something so short not allowing {{Panty Shot}}s free of charge. Carmine Infantino and Gary Frank are among the few ones to regularly show the leotard underneath.

* MagneticPlotDevice: Peter David's Linda Danvers moved to a small town. Naturally, crazed super villains followed. This was partly explained by a mystical river that ran underneath the town, it attracted oddness like deer to a salt lick.

** ''ComicBook/TheUnknownSupergirl'': Lesla-Lar plans to pose as [[ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} a hero]] as helping ComicBook/LexLuthor kill Superman, and once the Man of Steel is dead, kill Luthor ''accidentally'' while pretending to capture him so he cannot reveal she was in cahoots with him.

* MistakenForGay: In the Peter David title, Linda Danvers's parents get the wrong idea when she attempts to tell them about the huge, identity-altering secret she's been keeping.
-->'''Linda''': I'm ''not gay!'' I'm ''Supergirl!''

* MistakenForProstitute: In ''Comicbook/SupermanBatman #8'', a naked Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} wanders confused into an alley, having just woken up from her rocket, and is spotted by three workers. One of them mistakes her for a prostitute and decides to play Lothario only to have his hand crushed and be slammed through a wall. The second tries to help his friend. The third wisely proclaims he's not with the other two and offers her his coat.

** In ''ComicBook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton'', a naked Kara wanders confused into an alley, having just woken up from her rocket, and is spotted by three workers. One of them mistakes her for a prostitute and decides to play Lothario only to have his hand crushed and be slammed through a wall. The second tries to help his friend. The third wisely proclaims he's not with the other two and offers her his coat.

** ''[[ComicBook/DetectiveComicsNumber508To510 The Attack of the Annihilator]]'': Supergirl uses her super-strength, super-speed and heat vision to build a new garage for Batgirl's Batcycle.

* MeteorMove: Supergirl does this in ''Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica #134'' when she fights Despero (one of the worst enemies of the League). First [[http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r7RkMZ0zyx8/UN3CSbJhNWI/AAAAAAAAVH4/aLvVgA9AKVA/s1600/jla+134-05.jpg Kara grabs him and throws him hard enough to put him into orbit]], and then [[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KFA-bEU6jaE/UN3CSit9ehI/AAAAAAAAVH8/B12ebfp-Hb4/s1600/jla+134-06.jpg she flies out of the planet, meets Despero in space and knocks him out with one punch]].

* NewPowersAsThePlotDemands: Although Kara was created in the late Silver Age and she was so overpowered like her cousin, she was not liable to come up with new powers every issue. Still she used super-ventiloquism, in ''Action Comics #258'' she used super-aiming and in ''Supergirl Vol 1'' issue #1 she uses [[VacuumMouth Super-Suction Breath]] to capture a serial killer (she draws out the air out of a cab so the man in there faints).

* NotSoDifferent:

* MusclesAreMeaningless: When Kara returned in 2004, she looked like a slender, sixteen-year-old... who could bench-press airplanes, lift mountains and outrun ''light''. Writers were easily able to tease the fan base with the idea that teenager might be stronger than her full grown powerfully built cousin Superman. Turns out, he just holds himself back [[WorldofCardboardSpeech due to living his whole life in a world made of cardboard]]. Though one of the teases was correct. She can fly faster owing to her smaller size.

** In ''Comicbook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton'', Alura made her daughter's super-hero costume before Kara left Argo because it would be indestructible on Earth.
** ''[[Comicbook/{{Supergirl 2011}} In the Post-Flashpoint universe]]'', her cape and costume are a kind of indestructible Kryptonian armor.
** In ''Comicbook/RedDaughterOfKrypton'', Red Lantern Kara's outfit and cape never get damaged, not matter what happens to her. Justified since her RL uniform is made of raw energy.

** During the Sterling Gates' run, General Sam Lane and his minions Reactron and Superwoman used this tactic against the eponymous heroine over and over again: they harass Supergirl and try to murder her, and when Kara defends herself, and she gets in trouble for aggravated assault and battery, and attempted murder.
** In ''Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the Eight Grade'', Linda Lee's classmates glare at her when they hear her recorded voice calling them "shallow, petty, mean and bad-smelling". That would be understandable, except that she was venting after spending several weeks putting up with their bullying and their mocking.

** In ''Many Happy Returns'', super-villain rebel shoots a beam weapon at Kara. Kara stands her ground as several laser rays "hit" her and asks if they were supposed to hurt because she is feeling ''nothing''.

* NoBigDeal: The inhabitants of Midvale, Stanhope, National City... tend to get pretty jaded about the constant supervillain attacks and what-not.

** In the cover of ''Red Lanterns #31'', Sheko does this to both Supergirl and Bleez.

* MindControlEyes: In ''Comicbook/SupermanBatman #77'', Kara gets glowing red eyes when she is under the influence of Scarecrow's fear toxin.

** In ''Red Daughter Of Krypton'', Red Lantern Sheko does this telepathically to judge people. If she finds them innocent, she let them go; If she finds them guilty, she burns them down. She tried to read Supergirl's mind, but she got thrown out.

* MissingMom: She always losts her parents. In some universes, ''twice''.

** In ''Superman/Batman #8'', a naked Kara wanders confused into an alley, having just woken up from her rocket, and is spotted by three workers. One of them mistakes her for a prostitute and decides to play Lothario only to have his hand crushed and be slammed through a wall. The second tries to help his friend. The third wisely proclaims he's not with the other two and offers her his coat.

** In ''Comicbook/SupermanBatman #8'', a naked Kara wanders confused into an alley, having just woken up from her rocket, and is spotted by three workers. One of them mistakes her for a prostitute and decides to play Lothario only to have his hand crushed and be slammed through a wall. The second tries to help his friend. The third wisely proclaims he's not with the other two and offers her his coat.

* MundaneUtility: Kara has used sometimes her heat vision to roast marshmallows and her Super Speed to tidy an apartment (as seen in a flashback in New 52 Supergirl #29).

* NakedOnArrival: Post-Crisis Kara was found naked in stasis in her spaceship, justified as allowing her to absorb more yellow sun energy. This was later retconned out, though.

* NewMediaAreEvil: ''Supergirl #60'' has a guy launch an attack on the entire DCU metahuman community by creating a Foursquare-esque smartphone app for people to post metahuman sightings so villains can then track them down and attack them.

* MysteriousProtector: Silver Age Kara was this for a while. Since she was not supposed to reveal her existence to the world until her hero training was concluded, she secretly patrolled the small town of Midvale at night, trying not to get caught while she stopped crimes and saved people. Midvale locals rumored that they were protected by a "guardian angel".

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