Spotlight on Comics: Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow
As many of you know, I love to talk about movies, but of course, that’s not my only interest. So today, I’d like to talk about another storytelling medium I love, one that I think deserves more recognition: comic books!
One of my most anticipated movies of the year is DC Studios’ “Supergirl”, set to be released this summer. What makes this particular one so exciting for me is that it is based on a specific comic story that I read back when the film was initially announced. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow”.
Written by Tom King and illustrated by Bilquis Evely, with colors by Matt Lopes, this outer space odyssey offers a bold new perspective on the man of steel’s cousin, giving her a dramatic depth never before seen, while also serving as a great introduction to her for newcomers. Here, we see the story told from the perspective of Ruthye Marye Knoll, an alien farm girl whose father is killed by a low life criminal known as Krem of the Yellow Hills. When she sets out to avenge her father’s death, she meets, and ends up hiring, Supergirl to help her track Krem down. What follows is a journey through a beautiful and dangerous cosmos as the two come to grips with their respective tragedies.
Right away, the thing that really sucks you into this book is the artwork. Evely’s illustrations are absolutely beautiful, with an amazing attention to detail in the different alien planets our characters travel to. The Sweeping landscapes both gritty and colorful, along with the amazing line work, a mix of elegant brushstrokes and sharp edges, grabs your attention and doesn’t let go. This also applies to how Evely draws the characters as well. Just the way she draws a person’s hair alone is so interesting.
Of course, it’s the storyline and character arcs that really elevates this book, a big part of it due to Tom King’s writing. In most iterations, Kara is portrayed as Superman’s cheerful cousin. but here, King really dives deep into her history and personality, making her feel more three-dimensional as a result. Unlike Superman, who was sent to Earth as an infant and doesn’t remember Krypton or its destruction, Supergirl was old enough to witness that cataclysmic disaster firsthand. We see how messed up and jaded this left her, as her entire world, her culture, friends, and family, perished before her eyes.
And yet, despite all of that, she chooses to push forward, persevere, and channel that pain into something positive. It’s when Ruthye, who has just experienced the loss of her father, meets and spends time with Supergirl that she realizes this. As they travel together, we see these two learn to help and rely on each other, confronting this question of what one chooses to do when confronted with grief and hardship.
To sum up, “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow” is a must read. I seriously cannot recommend it enough. Whether you’re a longtime comic book fan, or if you’ve never read a superhero comic before, this is a great one to jump into. This perfectly showcases everything that makes this medium a great form of storytelling. With its fantastical science fiction setting, eye catching artwork, and layered writing, this is a modern classic that you’ll want to experience again and again.
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