5 Ways That Supergirl is Different from Superman in DC Comics

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The next movie in the DC Universe is Supergirl, coming out this year. This version of the character is quite different from her cousin, Superman. She first appeared in the DCU at the end of 2025’s Superman film, dramatically arriving at the Fortress of Solitude – she literally crashed through the ceiling! – to reclaim her dog, Krypto, who she’d left with him. Some viewers were surprised by her portrayal as someone who enjoys having fun, but that’s not entirely accurate, nor was that the intention of the scene. While Supergirl does drink more than Superman, it’s because she lives a very different life than Kal-El.

Before Supergirl gets her own movie in late 2026, DC fans should know five key things about her – and how she stands apart from Superman.

5) Supergirl Wasn’t Raised With Clark Kent’s Morals

Superman is dedicated to saving everyone he can, even those who oppose him. Supergirl, however, doesn’t share this approach. The key difference lies in their upbringing: Superman was raised on Earth by Jonathan and Martha Kent, and his heroic nature is a direct result of their values. Supergirl, on the other hand, grew up in Argho City, a Kryptonian city that wasn’t destroyed when Krypton exploded, and therefore had a very different formative experience.

Growing up in Argo City with other Kryptonians wasn’t peaceful. The city faced internal conflicts, and ultimately, a dispute over its location led to the destruction of the protective shield surrounding it. Supergirl witnessed the loss of her family and friends, arriving on Earth as a teenager filled with grief and anger. Unlike Clark Kent, she didn’t have a loving family to support her.

4) Supergirl Has A Few Powers Superman Doesn’t

Supergirl and Superman share nearly identical powers. When exposed to Earth’s yellow sun, they gain the typical abilities of Kryptonians: incredible strength, the ability to withstand damage, and limitless stamina. This solar energy also gives them powers like heat vision, super hearing, X-ray vision, flight, and super breath, among others.

A running joke about Superman is that whenever the writers needed him to do something new, they’d just give him another power, but these abilities often only appeared once and weren’t part of his regular skillset. Supergirl, though, actually has some powers that Superman doesn’t. She can project energy, covering herself in a glowing light that’s even strong enough to break free from Wonder Woman’s Lasso of Truth. In the New 52 comics, she also gained the ability to create a massive burst of solar energy, essentially turning herself into a human torch.

3) Supergirl Often Prefers to Be Off Earth

Though Superman was born on Krypton, he truly considers Earth his home. Supergirl, however, has always felt like an outsider. Unlike her cousin, she often leaves Earth, and when New Krypton became accessible, she chose to live there with her people instead of remaining on Earth, which she never fully embraced as home.

The movie’s storyline is heavily inspired by the Superman: Woman of Tomorrow comic. A key part of her character is that she can’t get drunk on Earth, which leads her to travel to a planet with a red sun to cope with her sadness. This sadness stems from her difficult past and the destruction of her home, Argo City. In the film, she embarks on a journey through space, assisting a young girl in her quest for revenge.

2) Supergirl Doesn’t Hold Back Like Superman

Unlike Superman, Supergirl wasn’t raised with the same strong sense of morals or patience. In the movie trailer, she explains that while Superman always tries to find the good in others, she’s more realistic and sees people as they truly are. This difference explains why Superman usually restrains himself in fights, while Supergirl is quicker to take down her opponents.

Supergirl isn’t afraid to use force against her superpowered opponents, and she’ll fiercely defend even those she battles. This willingness to fight seems like it will be a key part of the upcoming movie, as she appears to enjoy and excel in confrontations, unlike her cousin who generally tries to avoid them.

1) Supergirl Grew Up Watching Her Planet Die Around Her

As we’ve discussed, Supergirl witnessed the destruction of her home planet and the loss of her family before coming to Earth to be with her cousin. When Krypton was about to be destroyed, Kal-El’s parents sent him to Earth in a rocket to save him. But the leaders of Kara’s city prioritized saving their home, constructing a massive shield around it that protected them from the explosion.

When Krypton was destroyed, the city of Argo City survived by floating through space in a protective bubble. Life continued, but dwindling supplies forced the government to impose harsh rules. As the city neared a yellow sun, its inhabitants began developing superpowers, which leaders feared and tried to stop by steering the city away. Unfortunately, a breach caused the ground to become radioactive. Seeing the danger, Kara’s parents sent her to Earth just before a disaster wiped out everyone else in Argo City.

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2026-01-09 18:19