Supergirl #3

Nov 1996 · DC · 1.95 USD; 2.75 CAD

📊 ~99,988 copies sold its debut month

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“And No Dawn to Follow the Darkness”

★ 1st appearance — Reverend Varvel

About this Issue

Supergirl (Vol. 4) #3 delivers the first appearance of Reverend Larry Varvel, a supporting character woven into the moral and spiritual fabric of Peter David's Leesburg, Virginia setting. Beyond that debut, the issue functions as the opening chapter of a two-part 'Final Night' crossover tie-in, using DC's universe-wide sun-blotting crisis as an engine for Buzz's most ambitious manipulation yet — arming Gorilla Grodd with a supernatural talisman called the Heart of Darkness to devolve the citizenry of Leesburg into feral creatures, Supergirl among them. The storyline is a sharp early illustration of David's overarching theme for the run: that Linda Danvers's newly merged self must confront her most instinctive, animalistic impulses before she can claim any genuine heroic identity. It also demonstrates how David and Frank embedded their Leesburg-based series within the wider DC event landscape while keeping its horror-tinged, theologically charged character work at the forefront.

In "And No Dawn to Follow the Darkness," Supergirl faces her most personal threat yet when Gorilla Grodd unleashes the Heart of Darkness on Leesburg, turning everyone except Sylvia Danvers into monstrous forms. As she races to stop the chaos, even she is not immune—her powers falter, and she begins to change. Written by Peter David and brought to life by Gary Frank’s dynamic art and Cam Smith’s sharp inks, this pivotal 1996 issue marks a turning point in Supergirl’s journey. The cover by Gary Frank and Cam Smith captures the moment of her transformation with haunting intensity.

writer Peter David · artist Gary Frank · inker Cam Smith · colorist Gene D'Angelo · colorist Digital Chameleon · letterer Pat Prentice · cover Gary Frank, Cam Smith

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History

DC hired Peter David in 1996 to substantially rework the existing Matrix Supergirl, who had struggled to find a readership since her post-Crisis introduction. David's solution — merging Matrix with a troubled human girl named Linda Danvers to create a hybrid 'Earth-Born Angel' — launched with issue #1 in September 1996, and issue #3 arrived just two months later as the young series was still establishing its cast and tone. Gary Frank pencilled the early arc with Cam Smith on inks, under editor Chris Duffy and executive editor Mike Carlin; the creative team used the industry-wide 'Final Night' event as an opportunity to stress-test the new Supergirl's identity within only her third issue.

Trivia · 8 facts

Cover date November 1996, with a September 1996 publication date; story titled 'And No Dawn to Follow the Darkness.'
Written by Peter David, with pencils by Gary Frank, inks by Cam Smith, colors by Gene D'Angelo and Digital Chameleon, letters by Patricia Prentice; edited by Chris Duffy under executive editor Mike Carlin.
First appearance of Reverend Larry Varvel (listed in the DC Database as 'First appearance'), who becomes part of the recurring Leesburg supporting cast tied to Linda Danvers's faith-and-doubt storylines.
Buzz gives Gorilla Grodd a supernatural artifact called the Heart of Darkness, which transforms many residents of Leesburg — including Supergirl herself — into bestial, ape-like creatures.
This is a 'Final Night' crossover tie-in: the DC-wide event involves a Sun-Eater consuming the sun and plunging Earth into darkness, a condition Buzz and Grodd exploit to unleash chaos in Leesburg.
The issue is Part 1 of a 2-part arc, concluded in issue #4 ('Belly of the Beast'), in which Supergirl remains under Gorilla Grodd's mental control before breaking free.
Supporting cast members Mattie Harcourt (a Leesburg Hospital intern and Linda's close friend) and Cutter Sharp (a local journalist) appear, though both are continuing characters whose first appearances were in issue #1.
Fred Danvers and Sylvia Danvers — Linda's parents, whose names deliberately echo the Pre-Crisis Supergirl's adopted family — also appear, reinforcing David's strategy of weaving Post-Crisis continuity with Silver Age callbacks.