When the planet Krypton exploded, it was a significant event in both the lives of Superman and Supergirl. The two characters had lost their entire culture and their history, but despite them going through a similar trauma, they didn’t go through the same trauma. Only recently has Superman finally admitted that he vastly underestimated the trauma that Supergirl experienced as a teenager whose entire world was ripped away by disaster.
Superman finally realizes just how much he underestimated Kara’s trauma in Superman: Lost #7 by Christopher Priest, Carlo Pagulayan, Jason Paz, Lee Weeks, Jeromy Cox, Elizabeth Breitweiser, and Willie Schubert. Superman has been lost in space for decades and hasn’t been able to find his way back to Earth. With no other choice, Superman ultimately settles down on a planet and starts a new life.
Unfortunately, this new planet – which Clark calls ‘Kansas’ – isn’t stable, and begins to collapse, just like Krypton did. Witnessing this event, and the loss of his new home, has given Clark a whole new view of Kara’s trauma and strength – something he expresses in the issue’s flash-forward to his life when he finally returns to Earth.
Superman Finally Understands Supergirl’s Perspective
One of the major things that has defined Superman’s character is being the “last son of Krypton.” Superman was originally meant to truly be the last Kryptonian without any real tangible connection to his past. His entire culture and people were only a faint idea to him, not even a memory. While it’s certainly traumatic to lose such a major part of oneself, Clark always managed to deal with it due to the fact he was disconnected from any real experience of Krypton.
However, because Supergirl was a teenager at the time, she remembers her family, friends and culture, and even saw much of the planet’s destruction. Clark admits he failed to appreciate this, and acknowledges that he’s never given Supergirl credit for being a world-class hero while also processing such enormous loss.
Superman Is Struggling with the Trauma of Losing a World
After having lived on the planet Kansas and seeing it be destroyed, losing friends and family that he was unable to save, Superman finally understands what Supergirl went through. Clark is currently trying to deal with the trauma he’s experienced, and struggling to resume his former life of heroism. Going through the same process of recovery that Supergirl has needed is changing Clark’s perspective, and he feels foolish to have considered himself her mentor when he had so much to learn himself.
If he’s able to get through his immediate malaise, his bond with Kara will only grow stronger, as for the first time Superman actually understands the burden Supergirl has shouldered while still dedicating her life to others.
Superman: Lost #7 is on sale from DC Comics on October 10th!
