While the war against the undead rages on, Supergirl is reinventing herself as a brutal, street-level hero. A variant for DC vs. Vampires #10 shows Kara Zor-El injured but confident as she wields a sword, something the character is finding herself quite familiar with lately.
In the Elseworlds-style story, DC vs. Vampires, the classic comic book universe fans know and love has gone dark and a wave of vampirism has spread. The Vampire King Dick Grayson has launched a full-scale assault against his former friends, turning some into his followers while killing others like Batman. In his thrall, Dick has some of the DCU’s most powerful heroes like Wonder Woman and Superman. Meanwhile, the remaining heroes are trying to stay alive and figure out some way they can turn the tide and stop the undead from conquering the world.
Among the many heroes who are still fighting the good fight is Supergirl, but a new cover shows the battle is taking its toll. In a variant for DC vs. Vampires #10 by Nathan Szerdy, Kara Zor-El is shown having sustained some gruesome injuries with bloody slashes all over her legs, arms and torso. Supergirl wields a sword now that the vampires have shrouded the world in darkness, robbing her of her powers and healing abilities. The synopsis for the upcoming issue makes it sound like things might be getting worse for Supergirl and others before it gets better:
The war for Earth takes a decisive turn as the heroes prepare to strike back! Can Supergirl and her team in Australia escape to space? Will the Birds of Prey’s infiltration of Gotham City go unnoticed by the Vampire King? Can Green Arrow save the human cattle from the Blood Farm? The shocking answers await!
The miniseries Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow also featured the hero prominently using a sword, so the sight is becoming a frequent one for Kara. While fans might be used to seeing Superman’s cousin show off a similar array of powers, the idea of a sword-wielding Supergirl is quickly being burned into public consciousness. Perhaps these images may be communicating that a new age is coming for the hero, one a little more street-level where Supergirl can carve out a new identity for herself.
It’s hard for a character to share much of their heroic persona with a larger, more well-known entity. Arguably, Supergirl’s cousin Superman is the most popular hero of all time, and it’d be hard for any hero to break out of such a large shadow. But clearly Supergirl doesn’t have to share the same powers as Clark to be a hero. Multiple series are presenting her as someone just as strong and resolute in her heroism when her flight and laser eyes are taken away, even when facing terrible odds. A sword might not befit a Kara with her standard power set, but for a more grounded Supergirl, it’s a symbol that she’s still a force to be reckoned with.
Source: League of Comic Geeks
