It was with sadness that I heard recently that Peter David had passed away after a few years of what sounds like medical hardship.
David's career is truly prolific including legendary runs on The Incredible Hulk and X-Factor. He also is known for Star Trek novels, independent characters, and other comic runs worth noting like Young Justice and Madrox. I honestly can't name all the things he did here without making this too long.
I felt I really needed to do some post to recognize David for his contributions to the Supergirl character. I have covered many of the issues in the long Supergirl run on the site (probably easiest to find by clicking the Peter David keyword).
But I absolutely loved it.
Remember, this was the late 80s/early 90s Supergirl. This was the Matrix Supergirl, the super-powered protoplasm from the Pocket Universe. The Supergirl that was schizophrenic then self-exiled to space then Brainiac's slave then Lex Luthor's duped girlfriend. She was finally finding her way around the death of Superman, leaving Lex behind and becoming a hero. But ... she was still a sort of mistreated and struggling.
Enter David, a self-proclaimed Supergirl fan.
Starting in Showcase '96 #8, David started a longform story which stretched all the way to Supergirl #50! He had the Matrix Supergirl wondering if she was 'alive', did she have a 'soul', was she a hero. She sacrificed herself, merging with a troubled Linda Danvers. During the adventures we had this slow story of religion, redemption, angels and demons, free speech and human trafficking, and learning to love yourself.
This wasn't your grandfather's Supergirl. This was almost Vertigo-like in its look at religion and life and sin and forgiveness.
It was glorious. Supergirl was a complex and complicated character, growing haughty and then brought low, learning about who she was and what her place was in the world. Brilliant.
But there was more.