Supergirl #2
Scheduled to arrive in stores: June 11, 2025
Cover date: August 2025
“Misadventures in Midvale” – Part Two
Writer: Sophie Campbell
Artist: Sophie Campbell
Cover: Sophie Campbell
Variant Covers: Stanley “Artgerm” Lau, Homare, Sawoee, David Talaski, Mirka Andolfo
Reviewed by: Tony Parker
Lesla-Lar, the Kandorian girl saved by Kara in issue #1, is the daughter of famous scientists of the city, but despite her impressive skills, she just falls short of the standards of your average Kryptonian. Supergirl didn’t save her because she’s special, she saved her because she was just any old person in trouble.
Tired of Kandor, Lesla flees to Midvale to stand out among the average people there. The yellow sun gives her powers too, changing her body to a more conventionally attractive and muscular physique. Seeing her chance, she uses her gadgets to make herself look like Linda Danvers, brainwashes all those who knew her, and wins them over with cheap heroics and a framing of the real Supergirl.
Back in the present, the two argue, and to ensure she keeps her new home and wins over the people, Lesla unleashes Titano the Super Ape. Kara does all she can to help, despite the suspicion from the townsfolk, but Lesla isn’t pleased, as no one watched her fight Titano. Using a device to shut him down (one she could have used at any time), Lesla and Kara stare each other down, only for the Kryptonite infused simian to wake up anew.
In a flash, Kara and Krypto stop the ape and expose Lesla, though they still seem to think Kara is the fake. The town is fine with two Supergirls, but Lesla doesn’t care for that, nor for Kara remembering her. This was her moment and Kara stole it. Infuriated, she storms off to come up with a new plan.
After hearing her friends argue about the two Supergirls and chat about the fourth of July party (hating every second of it), Kara decides it’s time to figure out what Lesla did to her suit, and so, she asks for help from Lena Luthor, Lex’s daughter. Despite Lex and Clark being enemies again, Lena doesn’t mind Kara at all, and helps her out, while reuniting her with Streaky the Super-Cat. The two begin to figure out Lesla’s machinations, while Kara gets a new costume.
Meanwhile, back in town, Lesla begins crafting a black Kryptonite powered device to turn Kara chaotic, anti-social and stupid. She still feels so alone, her only friend being her super-rabbit, Kandy.
Kara finally chooses her new costume after many rejections (one from the original 1972 run), while Lesla also picks a new costume, one that looks a lot more sinister…
To Be Continued…
Story – 5: I REALLY enjoyed this issue, despite the fact that the mystery was abandoned in favor of something far more compelling: Envy. When it comes to villains, I find envy to be often the most interesting trait. The idea of someone becoming so obsessed with the hero that they’ll do anything to be them or destroy them fascinates me, and Lesla-Lar has quite the understandable motive for it. To be the boring superhuman among superhumans, then to fail to stand out among mere mortals thanks to the one you so wish to be? That’s just gold.
I also really appreciate the slow nature of the story. Not much has really happened, yet we’re learning a lot about our characters and narrative.
I do think that more attention could be placed on Midvale itself, and I do find Kara’s last pick of costume not nearly as iconic as others do (she has far better looks), but overall I found this a really interesting issue, one that took an intriguing story and turned it into a really engaging one. Lesla is an excellent tragic antagonist, and I want to see how she changes Kara for the better.
Also more Lena Luthor is always welcome, add her to the DCU, Gunn!Art – 5: SAs wonderful as it was last issue, better in fact. The colors grab you and you feel like you’re sinking into this eternal golden afternoon world.Cover Art – 5: o silver age it hurts (in a good way)Variant Cover Art – 5: May Stanely keep drawing Supergirl forever?Variant Cover Art – 5: Like an anime poster in the best way.
Variant Cover Art – 3: Quite cute!Variant Cover Art – 5: Like a Norman Rockwell painting.
Variant Cover Art – 4: Okay, so why does this book get the best variant covers?
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I am happy that not only do we have a Supergirl that isn’t an angst-filled, mopey, angry teenager, she isn’t being set up to fight Superman.
This is the Supergirl many of us remember and have been fans of, me included. And all these Easter Eggs in the callouts of the past Super canon, including the variant cover where Supergirl walks out of a phone booth…quite the bit of whimsey there. And the butterflies add that cuteness we link Kara to.
There is a lot of care and love being put into this comic series, something that was lacking in the last two seasons of the Supergirl TV show I must say. That said I appreciate any callouts to that show like Lena Luthor