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Book: “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow” by Tom King & Bilquis Evely (Ill.)
Publishing Info: DC, July 2022
Where Did I Get This Book: I own it
Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound
Book Description: It’s Supergirl like you’ve never seen her before, in a character-defining sci-fi/fantasy masterpiece from Mister Miracle writer Tom King and Wonder Woman artist Bilquis Evely!
Kara Zor-El has seen some epic adventures over the years, but she now finds her life without meaning or purpose. Here she is, a young woman who saw her planet destroyed and was sent to Earth to protect a baby cousin who ended up not needing her. What was it all for? Wherever she goes, people only see her through the lens of Superman’s fame.
Just when Supergirl thinks she’s had enough, everything changes. An alien girl seeks her out for a vicious mission. Her world has been destroyed, and the bad guys responsible are still out there. She wants revenge, and if Supergirl doesn’t help her, she’ll do it herself, whatever the cost. Now a Kryptonian, a dog, and an angry, heartbroken child head out into space on a journey that will shake them to their very core.
Review: With the new “Supergirl” movie coming out this week I thought it would be fun to read and review the story that inspired the upcoming film/the DCU’s iteration of Supergirl. After all, when she showed up at the end of “Superman” drunk, disheveled, and a hot mess, I was like ‘okay, WHAT is going on with this version of Kara and WHY do I love it so much?’. And it’s probably pretty clear to most people who have seen my reviews/the characters that I really love that I probably love this version of Kara because she is such a mess. I LOVE a messy character with a traumatic backstory and unhealthy coping mechanisms. So that is why I decided to take on Tom King’s “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow”, because the concept of a Kara Zor-El so ravaged with trauma and PTSD she is a walking disaster is so uniquely human, and I had to dive in before seeing it on the big screen.
While this is certainly a Supergirl tale, and while King absolutely nails this take on Kara, this story feels like it goes above and beyond and creates a story that is not only about Supergirl unpacking her trauma, but also about the way that trauma drives us for better or for worse. But the center of the tale is a girl named Ruthye Marye Knoll, a girl living on a distant planet who is seeking out vengeance for her father’s murder at the hands of the violent Krem of the Yellow Hills. While on her search she meets Kara, who is going from planet to planet, dimension to dimension, trying to cope with her own inner demons, and the two of them team up to hunt Krem across the universe. It’s such an interesting take on Supergirl because it doesn’ really center her, but I also feel like King really understands the inherent tragedy of Kara and brings it to a poignant hero’s journey while trying to help a girl who is driven by despair and rage. As they hop across plants and dimensions and universes they learn a lot from each other, and start to find commonalities and the beginnings of healing and growth. It is such a charming and lovely coming of age tale for Ruthye, while also being such an emotional tale for Kara, who feels like her purpose is gone and who feels incredibly alone. I loved the friendship that Ruthye and Kara build as they go on their journey, and how much King draws from both of them to create a narrative that needs them both to work.
I also just enjoyed the world jumping in this story, whether it’s in bars and dives that would feel right at home on Earth, or on a planet with strife between warring factions, or on a planet with a green sun that renders Kara basically down and out due to the pain and puts Ruthye in a fighting position she has ached for but hasn’t really understood. King has so many interesting worlds to explore as the two women chase Krem, and it almost feels like a series of vignettes sometimes because of the attention and diligence that each story within the story gets.
And finally the artwork. Bilquis Evely is an artist that I was unfamiliar with when I picked this up, but I really liked the art design of this series. It just sets a tone that is frenetic and busy, but always feels grounded somehow.
I now feel ready to go see “Supergirl” when it hits theaters, because “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow” is a thrilling and somewhat emotional story that gives Kara a unique path. Definitely a must read for any Supergirl fan!
Rating 8: A unique and vibrant take on Supergirl and the weight of being super.
Reader’s Advisory:
“Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow” is included on the Goodreads list “Ladies of DC”.
The Library Ladies 