Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, the traumatic cosmic masterpiece you must read before Milly Alcock’s movie, or why Tom King and Bilquis Evely just redefined Kara Zor-El and left me emotionally wrecked in the best way.
Oh my lovely geeks, if you caught that Supergirl teaser trailer last month (December 11 drop, still screaming), and thought, “Wait, drunk, rowdy Kara on a vengeance quest? Who is this queen?” Honey, she didn’t just step off the screen. She leaped straight from the pages of Tom King’s 2021-2022 masterpiece, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.
Milly Alcock’s portrayal? It’s like Bilquis Evely drew her to life and handed her a bottle of space whiskey. This eight-issue limited series (nominated for the 2022 Eisner for Best Limited Series, because duh) is spiking in sales again, back issues flying off shelves, TPBs trending hot post-teaser, and for good reason. It’s the deepest, most heartbreaking dive into Kara’s psyche we’ve ever gotten, and if the movie (out June 26, 2026) captures even half this emotional couture chaos, we’re in for an all-timer.
Seriously, you guys, if there’s one Supergirl book to binge before the film, make it this. Forget perky cousin vibes, King asks the question no one’s really tackled: What if Kara remembers Krypton’s death? What if she watched everyone die as a teen, got yeeted to Earth to protect baby Kal… only to find he’s already the big blue hero? That grief? That “not needed” gut-punch? It’s baggage heavier than a red sun, and King unloads it across the cosmos in a story that’s part True Grit revenge western, part Sandman mythic tragedy.
Spoilers from here on out, sweethearts, let’s spill the ink.
Kara’s Trauma: Why This Origin Hits Different (And Harder Than Krypton’s Boom)
Unlike Kal-El, who rocketed as a baby and got all the Ma-and-Pa-Kent hugs, Kara was a teenager on Argo City when doom hit. She lived the slow, agonizing death of her world, family, friends, everything gone in ways the gods aren’t kind enough to make quick. Then Earth? Cousin has already grown, saving the universe, making her the “little” one. Purpose stolen. Confidence shattered. King’s Kara is flawed, furious, and real, a young woman drowning trauma in whatever red-sun planet will let her get properly sloshed. No goody-two-shoes here; she’s angry, grieving, and finding her way. It’s the psychological origin we deserved, and it wrecks you beautifully.
The Plot: Birthday Booze, Vengeance Quests, and One Very Poisoned Pup
We open on Kara’s 21st (or 23rd, Kryptonian math, amirite?) birthday: She’s on a red-sun world, powers off, getting gloriously drunk with Krypto (yes, the super-dog is her emotional support floof).
Enter Ruthye, a young alien girl whose dad was murdered by the brutal Krem of the Yellow Hills. She begs Kara for help, revenge quest style. Kara says no … until Krem attacks, poisoning Krypto badly. Game on.
What follows is an interstellar chase: Kara and Ruthye hopping planets (space buses included, quirky chaos!), confronting horrors, with Kara mentoring Ruthye while unpacking her own pain. There’s homage galore, Comet the Super-Horse returns for an epic ride to the universe’s edge, red kryptonite trips for dragon fights, and a green-sun planet trap that tests Kara’s endurance like nothing else (Superman lasted 45 minutes; she endures hours with just Ruthye guarding her powerless self).
It’s “talky” at first, deep convos on grief, justice, hand-washing lessons (yes, really, tender AF), but the punches land hard when they come. Space dragons! Brigands! Magical globes! And the emotional core? Kara confronting what Krypton truly cost her.
Quirky Twists That Make It Iconic: Space Buses, Superhorses, and Red K Trips
King packs these eight issues with unconventional gems: Kara hitching cosmic rides because flying ain’t always an option, Comet charging through realities, that green-sun endurance test nodding to classic traps. It’s quirky without being gimmicky, every twist serves the heart. And Krypto? Stabbed, poisoned, but unbreakable loyalty.
My heart? Shattered.
Art Deep Dive: Bilquis Evely’s Cosmic Couture That’ll Ruin You for Other Comics
Fashion girl activated, Bilquis Evely’s art is ethereal haute couture in zero gravity. Every panel feels like a runway show across galaxies: Flowing capes whipping in alien winds like silk scarves, cosmic vistas in lush, dreamy palettes (Matheus Lopes’ colors? Bruised purples bleeding into stellar golds, chef’s kiss).
The action explodes, dragon fights with dynamic, sweeping lines, but the quiet moments? Standouts. That hand-washing scene? Tender, intimate, faces so expressive that you feel the vulnerability.
Issue #6’s Krypton flashbacks? Evely captures dying breaths of a planet in Kara’s eyes, pain rendered like shattered crystal couture. It’s why this book’s visuals are legendary; Evely doesn’t just illustrate, she designs worlds you’ll want framed.
Standout Moments: Issue #6’s Krypton Gut-Punch and That Devastating Line
Issue #6, sweeties, the one. Full Krypton flashback: Kara’s last days, the horror unfolding slow and cruel. That line from the teaser (“Krypton did not die in one day. The Gods are not that kind”)? Hits harder here than any Superman tale in 80 years. Reflected in Kara’s pain, Ruthye’s loss, it’s devastating. I teared up in my coffee, no lie.
Comic vs. Teaser Trailer: What’s Staying Faithful, What’s Getting a Cosmic Glow-Up?
Okay, my amazing comic crew, let’s spill the tea on how this Dec 11 teaser (still giving me chills!) lines up with the comic, because Milly Alcock’s Kara is serving exact drunk-on-a-red-sun-world energy, cape flowing like distressed couture in a galactic storm. Faithful beats? That rowdy, hungover vibe? Spot-on, comic Kara’s drowning trauma in space booze because Earth’s yellow sun won’t let her forget.
The vengeance quest with Ruthye (Eve Ridley looking fierce)? Core plot intact, complete with personal stakes that hit like a meteor. And that devastating Krypton line? Pulled straight from Issue #6’s gut-punch flashback, trust me, it’ll wreck you harder on screen.
But here’s the fun twists: Jason Momoa crashing as Lobo? Honey, he’s not in the comic (Tom King’s original pitch flirted with him, but Ruthye stole the show), this is pure DCU spice, adding bounty-hunter chaos to the True Grit western vibes.
Krem looks more monstrous (Matthias Schoenaerts serving alien menace), and we’re getting Zor-El/Alura parental flashbacks that flesh out Kara’s pain even more. The trailer’s grittier, Guardians-of-the-Galaxy-meets-Logan energy? Amplifies the comic’s darker tone without losing its heart. Kara’s still our flawed, hopeful queen, clawing justice from grief.
Bottom line: The movie’s expanding the universe (literally), but the emotional couture? Straight from King’s script and Evely’s panels. If the full trailer keeps this faithful-yet-fresh, we’re getting the Supergirl adaptation we deserve.
Speaking of that epic DCU setup, did you catch Milly Alcock’s chaotic cameo in the big Superman 2025 movie? It’s the perfect teaser for this story, showing exactly why Kara’s such a ‘total mess’ compared to her sunny cousin. Check out our full breakdown of James Gunn’s bright, hopeful reset in Superman 2025 Review: James Gunn’s Big Blue Reset Flies High to see how the family ties are already flying high!
Content Guide: How Dark and “Talky” Are We Talking?
Mature vibes without full grimdark: Genocide mentions, poisoning, vengeance violence (handled thoughtfully), heavy trauma/grief. It’s talky, narration-heavy Ruthye framing, but the dialogue sings, and action balances it. Not a punch-fest start, but earns every emotional haymaker.
Why It’s the Perfect Movie Tie-In (And Current Hype Trends)
Post-teaser, this book’s blowing up: Sales surging, Reddit threads screaming “read it now,” trends calling it the definitive modern Supergirl. If the film nails this depth (with added Lobo flair?), it’ll redefine her beyond “cousin.” Not the newbie starter (too trauma-heavy), but unmatched for developing Kara Zor-El.
10/10, My Trauma Queen Forever
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is essential, gorgeous, heartbreaking, iconic. Grab the TPB or Deluxe Edition before stocks vanish (they’re flying post-teaser!).
Where to Get Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow Right Now
- Physical/Digital: Amazon, Comixology, local shops (reprints incoming?)
- Full collection: Woman of Tomorrow TPB or Deluxe (with extras!)
- Or directly at DC Universe Infinite
Krypton couldn’t break her, and neither will this galaxy. Now excuse me while I re-read Issue #6 and cry into my cape.
Stay traumatic, stay triumphant, and may your quests always have a super-dog sidekick. Kat ✨
