Supergirl is far more than just Superman's long-lost cousin. Sure, in full transparency, when Supergirl made her first appearance at DC Comics, that's essentially what she was.
Those days are long gone, as the modern Supergirl is wiser, more mature, and stands on her own two feet as a competent solo star. While Supergirl has respectfully distanced herself as more than just a Superman counterpart, they share many similar characteristics. For example, as much as Superman can be argued as DC's most inspirational hero, Supergirl's best lines and moments prove she is every bit as inspiring as the Man of Steel.
11 “There’s no cure for that. It’s called being human”
Supergirl (1996) #63 by Peter David, Leonard Kirk, Robin Riggs, Gene D'Angelo, Digital Chameleon, and Bill Oakley.
As much as Kara Zor-El cannot be overlooked for her achievements as Supergirl, readers also can't forget the Silver Age human who adopted the mantle when Kara died. In her time as Supergirl, Linda Danvers proved to exhibit the same kind of empathy it takes to be Supergirl. Case in point, Supergirl teams up wth the Cassandra Cain version of Batgirl during the "Joker: Last Laugh" arc. She encounters her recurring foe, Buzz, who, after suffering injuries in a last-ditch effort to atone for his sins, asks if there's a cure for heartache.
Instead of chastising her rival for his failings and misgivings, she sympathizes and hugs him. Forgiveness and empathy are essential components for Superman and Supergirl. On the path of being fair and righteous, sometimes they need to forgive their most heinous villains and, as Supergirl does for Buzz, inspire them to want to change their ways.
10 “For a world that needs us, they sure can be jerks about it.”
Supergirl (2005) #34 by Sterling Gates, Jamal Igle, Keith Champagne, Nei Ruffino, and Rob Leigh
Superman has dealt with his fair share of criticisms in the press, but he's trained himself to accept whatever critics have to say about him, especially as someone who works for the press as part of The Daily Planet's staff. Kara deals with this for the first time when Cat Grant runs a front-page story for the Daily Planet titled, "Why the World Doesn't Need Supergirl." In this case, it's Superman who offers sobering, inspiring advice, but it's Supergirl's response that's commendable.
The world is tough when dealing with critics, antagonists, opposition, challenges, and most of all, jerks. But the world is even tougher when everyone decides to answer jerky behavior with jerky behavior. The world needs people willing to still be heroic and kind in a world full of jerks, even when the jerkiness is directed toward them. That's Supergirl's ittance in her response. There are jerks in this world, but she still needs to be a hero to them.
9 “We are here to inspire each other.”
Supergirl (2016) #6 by Steve Orlando, Brian Ching, Michael Atiyeh, Steve Wands,
Kara is forced to fight an army of Cyborg Supermen led by her father, Zor-El, and in confronting the leader, she's told she's naive to think that she was sent to Earth to help or inspire its people. She's quick to correct him in defiance. As citizens on the ground are helping each other get to safety and nursing their injuries, Kara tells her father that they all inspire each other.
There's always been an emphasis on how the S symbol stands for hope and whoever wears it must be a beacon of hope. That's still true in a lot of ways, but when that hope inspires others, it's the others who pay it forward. Supergirl has inspired the people of National City, and in turn, they inspire and help each other. Supergirl sees and hears the result of her inspiration firsthand during her battle with Zor-El, which ironically inspires her to push forward when her fate looks hopeless.
8 “We rose above our differences. Saved our city, and ourselves. Not just me. No one person. But all of us … together.”
Supergirl (2016) #7 by Steve Orlando, Matias Bergara, Michael Atiyeh, and Steve Wands
Following the Cyborg Superman invasion of National City, orchestrated by Zor-El, Kara needs to address the city as a voice of hope and reason. Not only is it her job to memorialize those fallen in the massacre, but inspire the survivors in a time of hopelessness. At the Oceanside Memorial Park, Kara delivers a short, simple, but effective message to the people that even inspires Superman himself.
The nature of a hero is not just decided in the heat of battle, but it's in the aftermath when they are needed most. Any one superhero can save a city from being totaled, but someone needs to be there post-battle to pick up the pieces and offer a next step resolution for the survivors who need it. Supergirl is that resolve in a moment that proves how she can be DC's real symbol of hope.
7 “I may be an earth person now … but that’s still no reason to forget … my roots!”
Supergirl (1982) #17 by Paul Kupperberg, Carmine Infantino, Bob Oksner, Tom Ziuko, and Todd Klein
This issue would mark the official beginning of a new costume addition for Supergirl, one modeled after what was supposed to be the character's costume for her movie starring Helen Slater as the title character. DC wanted to use to offer some synergy between the comics and the movie, but the headband never made it past early test screenings. Still, what was contextualized as the traditional Kryptonian headband was incorporated into Linda Danvers' superhero attire.
In the time since, Kara has been framed as someone who constantly wants to keep the culture of her dead planet alive, often finding opportunities to down Kryptonian history and lore to the next generation of Kryptonians. This is a prime example of Supergirl showing eagerness to not only represent her culture, but maintain its memory in the present.
6 “…I will hurt you. I’ll hurt you worse than you’ve ever been hurt in your whole life … Part of me is hoping you will attack. And part of me is praying - for your sake, and my own peace of mind - that you don’t. It’s up to you.”
Supergirl (1996) #79 by Peter David, Ed Benes, Alex Lei, Digital Chameleon, and Comicraft
Some issues prior, the 15-year-old Pre-Crisis Kara from Earth-One miraculously appears in front of the Linda Danvers version of Supergirl, all while both are targeted by Linda's archrival, Rebel. Kara crash-lands into the wrong universe. The Spectre warns that the multiverse is in danger if things aren't put back into balance. Knowing Kara's Crisis on Infinite Earths fate, Linda attempts to travel to Earth-One in Kara's place to spare her from death. Kara rushes to stop Linda, only to be stopped by Rebel.
It's rare to see an angry Supergirl, which is scary enough, but a Supergirl fully aware of how dangerous she can be is scarier. Supergirl knows there is a time and a place for nurturing, but there is also a time and place to let fury fly. Supergirl picks her battles, but when her allies' lives are put in danger, she's ready to retaliate, albeit with a warning because she knows her full strength.
5 “I promise you … I will not be bound again!”
Supergirl (2005) #2 by Jeph Loeb, Ian Churchill, Norm Rapmund, Richard Starkings, David Moran, and Beth Sotelo
Still young (yet deceptively older than Superman) and new to being a superhero, Kara flies to the Kent Farm hoping to receive some advice and understanding about her place in the world from Superboy, only to be met with vitriol from Conner Kent. He traps her in her cape, which as someone who spent years trapped inside of a rocket ship heading to Earth, triggers Supergirl to great effect.
The experience of being confined to a single space for several years is one that's often understated, but informs Supergirl's experience. She overcomes it, and works hard to avoid being bound by anything again in a literal or metaphorical sense. She doesn't want to fight her fellow Superman-Family member until her freedom from such shackles are at stake, prompting her defiant response.
4 “And we will never stop flying. Fly with us, humanity. If you choose.”
Supergirl: Wings by J.M. DeMatteis, Jamie Tolagson, Ken Lopez, Sherilyn Van Valkenburgh, and Digital Chameleon
Wings is an underrated DC Elseworlds comic that offers a version of Supergirl who, essentially, is an amalgamation of the respective lore behind Kara Zor-El and Linda Danvers. It follows an Amenlee angel named Matrix, who attempts to help Linda Danvers from afar, as much as she resits. When Linda opens her heart for Matrix and Matrix realizes she was the one who needed saving, the two merge into one being.
The final page is an inspiring one as its just as much about humanity as it is about angelhood, urging readers to never stop flying and keep flapping their proverbial wings. When read between the lines, this monologue is all about perseverance and the endurance of the human spirit. All it takes is willpower and making the conscious decision to fly forward that humans manage to soar to their true potential.
3 "You want me to grovel? Then you truly have forgotten who I am."
DC vs Vampires: World War V #6 by Matthew Rosenberg, Otto Schmidt, Pierluigi Casolino, Joey Esposito, and Pasquale Qualano
In a world overrun by vampires, Supergirl is a member of Green Arrow's human resistance, putting her in direct conflict with the Queen of the Vampires, Barbara Gordon. This leads to an unexpected Batgirl vs. Supergirl fight. Kara first tries to reason with Barb, reminding her of their past friendship, which Batgirl mistakes for groveling, and Supergirl doesn't take kindly to the notion.
Supergirl was introduced into the DC Universe as a young, shy, naive, and plucky teenager. As an adult, Kara is none of these things, certainly not naive. Even in her most plucky of adventures, she was never one to submit easily to anyone, and this is no different. She will offer reason until it becomes clear that reason and empathy have no place on the battlefield.
2 “I don't kill worlds ... I protect them!"
Supergirl (2011) #23 by Michael Alan Nelson, Diogenes Neves, Chad Hardin, Marc Deering, Wayne Faucher, Guy Major, and Rob Leigh
Supergirl visits the planet I'noxia, where nano-particles can take shape into the form of the inhabitant's thoughts. For Kara, her memories start to manifest and attack her, as orchestrated by an amnesiac Cyborg Superman trying to recover his memories. These memories accuse her of being a worldkiller and a destroyer, only for her to angrily assure them that is, in fact, a world protector.
This is an instance where Kara - or anyone - could easily be clouded by the accusations made against them in someone else's perception of her. Perspectives on anything can vary from person to person, but in this setting, Supergirl is fully confident of the good she's done. She's truly proven herself in her eyes and others that she is just as effective of a protector as her cousin is.
