My Thoughts on Supergirl Issue 20

[Girl of Steel Fan]

Dear Mr. Bedard,

Hi! My name is John, and I'm a huge fan of the Supergirl character and your take on her. I'm currently 26 years old, and I became a fan after seeing the Supergirl movie when I was 8 years old. To me the character stands for courage, kindness, never giving up, and dedication to justice and saving the day. Sadly, the Supergirl title has been pretty dissapointing. I feel the stories have been very confusing and jumbled. I was about to leave the title until I read your issue. Thank You Mr. Bedard! Now that is the Supergirl I grew up with, and admire! Finally, Kara is starting to grow out of that phase we all go through as teenagers when we are moody and dark. Kara is not perfect, but she means well. It is human to make mistakes, and I love how Supergirl does not give up and keeps on trying to make things right. Kara is still growing into her role as a superhero and as a person. And she is smart, kind, full of youthful spirit, and very determined and heroic in a fight. I love it when Kara says "What's the use of having all this strength and everything if I can't use it to fix things?" In short she is a character you can be proud to tell your friends and family about. And Renato Guedes' art is so amazing and beautiful! Kara actually looks like a real teenager with a personality! :) Thank You again Mr. Bedard for your SUPER work! I can't wait to read issue 21. The comic book shop I buy my books from did not receive Supergirl last week, but it will be there this week.

Best wishes,
John

[Tony Bedard]

Thanks, John. I totally appreciate the kind words and the fact that you and I are pretty much on the same page with regards to Kara.

Tony B

[Johnny_Luck]

To me the character stands for courage, kindness, never giving up, and dedication to justice and saving the day.

To me this stands for superman not supergirl and why hes been boring and annoying for years and why the writing of the character tends to be on the really bland side of things.

Supergirl can still Do the right thing, have courage and never give up, just don't make her family reliant or afraid of said family when making mistakes. Let her find her own friends like Cassie/Booker and let her find her own reasons for helping humans.

In return let her be self reliant a little, that makes for a better character. Running to superman/the kents or crying because being afraid of superman shows me you have no backbone and no courage/decency, because if you cannot stand up/take care of yourself what makes me think you'll be able to save my world for me.

Don't make her super flirty and happy go lucky, give her back a bit of her edge or at least let her have an edge moment when it would fit her current history even if you want to get rid of the darkness and crazyness that put her out there, and makes for interesting situations/ makes her different.

IMHO Supergirl should be different and more than just Superman in a skirt, but it seems to me thats what you and Tony want for her.

Its cool, its just I read supergirl for a reason and I dislike and don't read superman for the reasons that Tony has slowly moved Kara towards having.

[Girl of Steel Fan]

The whole idea of Superman is an icon in our culture and the world. The "S" shield, the music from the movies, the classic phone booth scene, ect... The whole Super idea is embodied by Superman as a male character, and in Supergirl as a female character. But to me they are totally different. I do agree with you for the most part about Superman. But the kind of Supergirl I love is NOT Superman in a skirt!:confused: What sets Kara apart from Superman is that she is a teenager, and that she has more of a sense of adventure. When I was introduced to the character I thought (and still do) it was so cool to see a teenager who could fly, bend steel, ect..., and wanted to use those powers responsibily and do good. Superman is an adult and by-the-books kind of guy. Totally different characters I think. Additionally, I don't think of Kara as Mr. Bedard is writing her and others have in the past as "super flirty and happy go lucky". I don't think there is anything wrong with Kara being a bright, kindhearted, and optimistic person. But at the same time she knows and understands when a situation is serious or bad. When I think of "happy go lucky" it means to me a one demensional, flat, one note character. Kara is not that way.

In the future I would like to see Kara's universe expand with new, non-superhero friends, a homebase, learn more about Earth, and have some villains that are hers. Superman and the parts of his universe can be apart of Kara's, but she should be independent of it too. Let Kara come into her own in a world that is truly hers.

With regards to your comments about family ... I think Kara should be able to have family that she can go to DISCUSS her problems and issues to gain perspective and learn from others. I don't think that is weak at all- it is human. Kara should not be defined by Superman and the Kents, but I'm okay with her going to them for advice for now. It is not like the Kents chewed her out for her mistake. They listened to Kara, and tried to help her. But as time goes by maybe Clark and the Kents will go to Kara for advice in return.

Finally, Kara is not always running/ crying to Superman or the Kents. Supergirl fought and won against all those Amazons and the giant Cyclops. If that is not evidence of a backbone and courage then I don't know what is. Is is not like Kara to run away, and she will fight the good fight. It would be pretty boring and disrespectful towards the character if the writers always had someone else bale her out. But when she makes a mistake she should be able to go to them. If the Kents or Superman are ever unfairly critical about something that Kara does she should defend herself.

Thanks for your thoughts.

I have no problem with your vision of Supergirl. I just have my own viewpoint and preferences, and I'm glad to see it reflected finally in the comics.




To me this stands for superman not supergirl and why hes been boring and annoying for years and why the writing of the character tends to be on the really bland side of things.

Supergirl can still Do the right thing, have courage and never give up, just don't make her family reliant or afraid of said family when making mistakes. Let her find her own friends like Cassie/Booker and let her find her own reasons for helping humans.

In return let her be self reliant a little, that makes for a better character. Running to superman/the kents or crying because being afraid of superman shows me you have no backbone and no courage/decency, because if you cannot stand up/take care of yourself what makes me think you'll be able to save my world for me.

Don't make her super flirty and happy go lucky, give her back a bit of her edge or at least let her have an edge moment when it would fit her current history even if you want to get rid of the darkness and crazyness that put her out there, and makes for interesting situations/ makes her different.

IMHO Supergirl should be different and more than just Superman in a skirt, but it seems to me thats what you and Tony want for her.

Its cool, its just I read supergirl for a reason and I dislike and don't read superman for the reasons that Tony has slowly moved Kara towards having.

[Girl of Steel Fan]

And thank you Tony! Also, great job on Supergirl issue 21! I can't wait to see issue 22 and the conclusion!


Thanks, John. I totally appreciate the kind words and the fact that you and I are pretty much on the same page with regards to Kara.

Tony B