6 Times Supergirl Improved DC Mythology (& 4 Times It Failed)

1. Has Made Kara Just As Important As Her Cousin

Supergirl Season 5 Kara Danvers Melissa Benoist — The CW

Regardless of how big of a comic book Supergirl fan you are, there’s no getting away from the fact that she’s so often been in the shadow of her more famous cousin. After all, the Man of Steel is the greatest hero in the history of comics – meaning it’s always going to be a tough ask for any Super-sort to live up to the legacy and legend of Superman.

Arguably the greatest thing that The CW’s Supergirl has done for its titular heroine, is that the show has made Kara Zor-El feel just as big a deal as Kal-El.

While audiences saw an unsure Supergirl in the series’ first season – with Kara still a rookie who was learning on the superhero job at that point in time – the Girl of Steel soon began to step up to the plate and become as important a hero as her more illustrious cousin. To the point that, not only has Kara saved the entire world on numerous occasions, but Supergirl has even toppled Superman when the two have butted heads.

Across its five seasons, Supergirl has made its star feel just as powerful and heroic, if not more so, than the famed Big Blue Boy Scout. And for that, the series should be commended for just how much it has gotten viewers to care about Supergirl on all fronts – whether that’s as Kara Danvers or as Kara Zor-El.

Andrew Pollard

Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer and Presenter, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund and Eli Roth to Kevin Smith and the Russo Brothers, to Kevin Conroy and Frank Miller, to Bret Hart and Sting, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, and Brian Flynn, to many, many more. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is a long-standing season ticket holder and an FSA Award-winner for his time co-hosting the Fearless in Devotion podcast.

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