Supergirl. Vol. 1: The Girl of Steel

This collection attempts to answer the question, "Who is Kara Zor-El?" as well as expand upon her purpose within the world in which she has come to live. Though she wears the same emblem as her cousin Superman and seems to possess just as much power, Kara is far from being a well-mannered girl scout. In the first story arc, Loeb (Hulk) offers a dark origin for the protagonist, painting her as the entitled heir to the Kryptonian race. Once she arrives on Earth, however, she is redeemed and comes to represent hope and second chances. Greg Rucka (Lazarus) and Joe Kelly's (Deadpool) section portray Kara as a guilt-ridden teenager who feels alone, confused, selfish, and misunderstood. They explore the importance of the symbol she wears as well as society's expectations of her. Most important, they depict her as someone who makes her own decisions. Supergirl differs from similar power-enhanced teen characters such as G. Willow Wilson's Ms. Marvel or Paul Levitz's Doctor Fate in that Kara's life prior to the annihilation of Krypton is one she must reconcile with in the present, while simultaneously learning the nature and responsibilities of her supernatural abilities.