It is 2025 and a new Supergirl book has been announced. A new Supergirl movie is being filmed.
The character is suddenly stepping into the spotlight in a way she hasn't since the announcement of her television show.
But things are uncertain and interesting.
What will Sophie Campbell's book be like? A return to classic superhero adventures? Or something else?
What will the Supergirl movie be like? A pure 'True Grit' adaptation of Tom King's Woman Of Tomorrow? A book I had major issues with which may unfortunately define the character for a whole new audience?
Imagine my surprise to head to Instagram and see some of my hopes and fears laid out in front of me.
First I stumble upon this pic on Dan Mora's story.
I have loved any time Mora has drawn Supergirl, so seeing this picture (which must be a variant cover for the upcoming series) made me smile. Mora makes everything look great. But this is spectacular.
She's young and vibrant. She's smiling. She is in a position of confidence and strength. And we are looking up at her, like we should to our heroes.
It is perfect.
But then I stumbled on to more ...
Because nearby on my stream was this one from DC Official.
Quotes from Woman of Tomorrow that 'go impossibly hard'.
Three of them include an angry, cursing Supergirl.
And they showcase the worst scene in the book when Supergirl brought the child Ruthye to witness a stoning execution. It is as if they want this sentiment to be looked upon as 'cool' or 'bad ass'. It is just wrong.
Surely Supergirl would say 'there is another way' rather than watching someone be killed in such a horrific way.
Clearly, she shouldn't bring a child to witness it.
But that's Tom King.
So which Supergirl is it?
The smiling, heroic vision in Mora's picture?
Or the sullen, angry, sad one in Woman Of Tomorrow? The one who thought bringing a kid to a stoning and standing by and watching it was the right thing to do?
Sadly, it looks like it's both.
I have said it before. I created this blog because the Supergirl stories on the shelves back then were so horrible, so twisted, so unlike the Supergirl I was a fan of that I felt I needed to showcase her and trumpet the best things about the character.
Seeing DC's official media showing those Woman Of Tomorrow scenes as ways to spotlight the character makes me think my work isn't done.
Keep your eyes peeled for that Mora work!
2 comments:
Tom King and Sophie Campbell/her variant cover artists seem to be worlds apart in their takes on Supergirl. I hope that the reason for Campbell's book being published a year in advance of the movie isn't just to be ready to take advantage of the current Superman movie publicity and to be ready for her own movie which, in itself, shows more foresight than usual for DC editorial when it comes to Supergirl. I hope that the creative team for the book wants to have her firmly established as a fun, inspirational hero in her own successful book by the time the Supergirl movie comes around. That way they can resist any resulting pressure to bring the character or her stories in line with the movie version if it turns out to be dark and edgy. I still hold out hope that the drunken, heartless bounty hunter moments from the Supergirl Woman of Tomorrow comic will be foisted off on Lobo in the movie.
The above comment is mine. I need to remember to put my name on the line before I publish.
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