Supergirl #1 References and Homages

I reviewed Supergirl #1 last week when it came out and I was very impressed with how writer/artist Sophie Campbell created a story of a young hero, finding her way in the world, fighting for what's right, while realizing the presence of Superman in her life as a daunting inspiration. Supergirl was warm and funny and eager to help. 

But the book was a deep dive into Supergirl's history as well. This Kara seems to have lived the lives of all the prior iterations of Supergirl. There was a lot of historical nods to Supergirl's history from her first appearance to her last title.

I thought it might be fun to showcase the ones that I saw. (I will admit that I won't focus too much on Lar-On who was a big part of the last series, including Supergirl becoming his friend. 

When Lar-On is considered 'too big' to showcase, you know what is included must be subtle or deep cuts!

For me, it somehow showed me that Sophie Campbell cares about the character, enough to sow these seeds of Kara's life.

I mentioned most of these in the review but there so many I thought they deserved a closer look. So let's dive in, looking at the nods as the appeared in order in the issue, and recognizing all the eras Campbell threw into the mix.

"Daring Adventures" - Daring New Adventures of Supergirl

Right from the opening text box, we hear about Argo City and being sent to care for Kal.

But we also hear about her 'daring adventures' have taken her into the galaxy.

'Daring adventures' has to be a riff on 'The Daring New Adventures of Supergirl', her second volume of a solo title. 

But wait, there's more.

Review: Supergirl #1 (v8)

Supergirl #1 came out this week, the first new Supergirl solo issue to be on the racks for almost 5 years. And the first Supergirl issue that felt like the Supergirl I love in a long time.

Since the title was announced, writer/artist Sophie Campbell has been saying all the right things. She liked the character. She had read and enjoyed Supergirl's history, especially the Bronze Age. She wanted to bring a warmth to the character, something missing in recent times. She was bringing back Streaky.

All of that shows in this first issue. But there's more than that. There's a respect for the character's history that is evident too.

Grant Morrison's take on Batman was that all the stories happened. It seems like Campbell is a believer of that philosophy here. There are more nods, mentions, and homages to Supergirl's history in this issue than I can count. Moreover, they come from solidly Silver Age, through the bonkers 70s, into the 80s, and right up to the Rebirth era. 

Somehow all of that of that history has to fit into a Supergirl that seems like she is around 17 here. This is a sort of soft reboot, like what Paul Kupperberg did in Daring New Adventures of Supergirl #1 back in the 80s. By making Supergirl younger, it brings back one of the most important historical themes of her character. She's a young hero. She's learning. She is trying to figure out who she is. That sometimes isn't easy when Superman is your cousin. Supergirl questions herself a couple of times here in a way that feels both classic and fresh. 

But she isn't timid or reluctant to act or lacking confidence. She is a complete hero in this book, leaping into action to save people without a second thought, standing up for people who need help. 

That's my Supergirl. Warm, heroic, learning.

I really love Campbell's art, particularly in Jem and The Holograms in the past, and she shines here. She brings a sense of fun and whimsy and pizzazz to the action. The plot and art mesh completely.

Add a mystery and a cliffhanger and you have a winner.

Yes, this might feel like a small step backwards from the 20-something field general we saw by Joshua Williamson and Phillip Kennedy Johnson. But this is a step that historically works. 

It is definitely a huge step away from recent missteps like the catatonic hero of Mariko Tamaki or the depressed, drunk killer in Woman of Tomorrow. 

On to details.