DC’s Biggest Superman Retcon Leaves One Massive Unanswered Question For Supergirl

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James Gunn’s Superman movie was a huge win for DC. It did well in theaters, revitalizing DC’s film universe and getting the new DCU off to a strong start. The film also took a surprising turn with Superman’s origin story. It revealed that Superman (David Corenswet) wasn’t sent to Earth to be a symbol of hope, but with a mission to conquer and impose Kryptonian rule. This shocking twist ultimately allows Superman to define his own heroic identity, and its effects could be felt throughout future stories.

The movie Superman revealed that Kal-El isn’t the only survivor from Krypton. The film ends by introducing his cousin, Supergirl, played by Milly Alcock. She arrives to pick up her dog, Krypto, whom Superman had been caring for. Given that the film suggests Kryptonians aren’t entirely good, this raises questions about Supergirl’s intentions and whether Superman’s parents truly represent the values of all Kryptonians.

Supergirl and Superman Have Very Different Upbringings

When comparing Supergirl and Superman, it’s easy to say they’re different, but the reasons are more complex than that. Just like any two people – even those from the same family – they won’t necessarily share the same beliefs. However, the differences between these two heroes are particularly significant because of their individual experiences, a distinction that comes from the comic books. Superman arrived on Earth as a very young child with no memories of Krypton, his family, or its culture. Everything he knows about his home planet is what he’s been told, making it more like studying history. Supergirl, however, was older when Krypton was destroyed. She experienced Kryptonian culture firsthand and has a much deeper understanding of it.

Just because Supergirl shares the same parents as Superman doesn’t automatically mean she’d share any potentially problematic beliefs they might have held. We don’t know how the destruction of Krypton affected the beliefs of those who survived. Supergirl wasn’t on Krypton when it exploded; her home city, Argo, broke away beforehand. This means the Kryptonians of Argo developed their own unique society and beliefs, separate from those who remained on the doomed planet. Supergirl’s upbringing within this survivor culture likely shaped her perspective on what it means to be Kryptonian, and witnessing the loss of an entire civilization would undoubtedly be a deeply impactful and humbling experience.

The House of El May Not Have All Shared the Same Values, Either

The comics hint that Jor-El and Zor-El might have disagreed on things. This is particularly evident in the Supergirl comic “Woman of Tomorrow,” which the new Supergirl movie is based on. The story reveals that Krypton didn’t explode instantly; it slowly fell apart over time. Eventually, a section called Argo broke away during the destruction. Zor-El, a brilliant scientist, created a protective bubble around Argo, saving a few thousand people. However, as they drifted through space, radiation from Krypton began to poison them, and despite their efforts, Argo was doomed. Kara watched everyone she knew, including her mother, die – essentially from radiation sickness. Finally, her father used materials from the failed shielding, based on plans his brother Jor-El had once dismissed as unimportant, to build a ship for her. He sent Kara away with a single instruction: to be a good person.

Two key points stand out here. First, Zor-El considered his brother frivolous, suggesting they didn’t always agree on things. This hints that not everyone in Kryptonian society shared the same beliefs as Superman’s parents, and raises the possibility that their decision to send their son to Earth was motivated by self-interest rather than being typical of Kryptonian culture. It’s logical to consider that the truly dominant, superior Kryptonians might have been a smaller group – if they believed in their own superiority to such a degree, you’d expect to see more evidence of evacuation efforts. Second, Zor-El’s advice to his daughter was simply to be good. If Kryptonians were truly oppressive, you’d expect him to have given her a message more similar to the one Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van left for their son. A more reasonable explanation is that Jor-El and Zor-El were simply brothers with differing beliefs – something that often happens even within families.

What Will Supergirl Actually Be Like?

The impact of Superman’s parents’ message on Supergirl is still unclear, but it will be touched upon. However, it’s likely that whatever’s happening in Superman’s life isn’t the main reason for Kara’s current struggles. We’ve already seen her acting recklessly, and while she might be upset about learning the truth about Kryptonians, it’s more probable that she’s simply a young woman dealing with a lot of past trauma. She’s experienced immense loss – losing her home, her planet, her entire civilization, and witnessing the deaths of her mother and city. After Krypton’s destruction, she spent years surviving in a constant state of crisis, and ultimately ended up alone. Kara has plenty of reasons to be struggling, and Superman’s parents’ message is probably not a major factor. Thankfully, she at least has her father’s final words encouraging her to do good.

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2025-12-03 04:40