Supergirl (Kara Zor-El)

Kara Zor-El arrived on Earth in a Kryptonian rocket, revealed to be Superman's biological cousin who had survived the destruction of Krypton — reintroducing the Supergirl legacy to a new era of DC continuity. Her emergence immediately drew the attention of both Superman and Batman, who were left to grapple with her extraordinary origins and raw Kryptonian power.

Few DC icons carry the weight of legacy quite like Supergirl, who stepped into her own spotlight with a landmark 2005 debut crafted by Jeph Loeb and Ian Churchill — a Modern Age arrival that launched a run still going strong into the mid-2020s. Across 89 catalogued appearances and two collector-significant key issues, she's proven herself a figure of genuine staying power in the DC universe. Her adventures unfold most often in her own solo title but also deep in the pages of Detective Comics and Batman, where she keeps formidable company — sharing stories with the likes of Superman, Batman, Robin, and their alter egos Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne. Whether you're a longtime fan or just discovering her, Supergirl's Modern Age chapter is a rich, rewarding place to start.