Ultragirl #1
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeUltragirl #1 marks the debut of Suzy Sherman (Tsu-Zana), a character conceived as a deliberate, mid-1990s Marvel-universe answer to the Supergirl archetype — a teenager who discovers her powers publicly, becomes an instant media celebrity, and must navigate fame alongside an emerging cosmic destiny as a prophesied Kree liberator. The miniseries also quietly introduced an entirely new sub-race to Marvel's Kree mythology: the pink-skinned Kree, distinct from the classic blue-skinned ruling caste, seeding an intergalactic political conflict that the three-issue run deliberately left unresolved. Written by Barbara Kesel — one of comics' most outspoken advocates for dimensional female characters — the book arrived during the height of the 1990s 'bad girl' era and made a point of running against that tide, positioning Suzy as an aspirational, sunnier model of heroism while still giving her a genuine flaw: she initially pursues superheroics partly for the career exposure it offers her modeling ambitions. The issue also served as one of the first post-cancellation showcases for the New Warriors, a connection that would later tie Suzy directly into the Civil War's catalyzing Stamford tragedy and subsequently into Avengers: The Initiative.
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We Buy Collections ▸History
The series was written by Barbara Randall Kesel, a veteran editor-turned-writer whose entry into comics famously began with a ten-page letter to DC editor Dick Giordano challenging the industry's portrayal of women; Ultragirl was her primary Marvel writing credit and reflects her long-standing interest in well-rounded female protagonists. Pencils were handled by Leonard Kirk with inks by Bob Almond, and the book was edited by Mark Paniccia (with Dan Shaheen as associate editor) under editor-in-chief Bob Harras. The issue was released on November 13, 1996, during a period when Marvel was experimenting with shorter-format genre launches aimed at younger and more casual readers, placing Ultragirl alongside other limited series that tested new characters without the commitment of an ongoing title.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First appearance of Ultragirl (Suzy Sherman / Tsu-Zana), a mutant Kree warrior, in Earth-616 continuity (November 1996).
- Written by Barbara Kesel; penciled by Leonard Kirk; inked by Bob Almond; colored by Shannon Blanchard; lettered by Vickie Williams; edited by Mark Paniccia and Dan Shaheen.
- The issue's story is titled 'Powerhouse of Style' — Suzy, a Southern California teenager and aspiring model, has her powers triggered during a photo shoot when a reactivated post-Onslaught Sentinel attacks her.
- First appearance of supporting character Amber Watkins (Kree name: Ahmbra), a member of the secret pink-Kree guardian group watching over Suzy.
- The miniseries introduced the pink-skinned (White) Kree as a distinct sub-race within Marvel's Kree civilization, separate from the ruling blue-skinned Kree, with Tsu-Zana prophesied as their liberator.
- The New Warriors guest-star across the three-issue run, with issue #1 establishing the team's presence in the Los Angeles area following the West Coast Avengers' dissolution.
- Ultragirl's power set includes superhuman strength, flight, an accelerated healing factor, and a unique 'multi-spectral' or aura-reading vision that allows her to visually distinguish mutants from baseline humans.
- The character went on to appear in Civil War #5 (2006), Avengers: The Initiative (2007–2010), and briefly wore Carol Danvers' original Ms. Marvel costume after Danvers gifted it to her, predating Kamala Khan's similar act of tribute by years.
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Reprints
Reprinted in New Warriors: Nova & Night Thrasher Omnibus #[nn] (2025)
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