Warning: Spoilers for Power Girl #7!
A new Arthurian adventure puts Supergirl’s noblest sensibilities on full display. Compared to anyone else in the Superman Family, it can be argued that the Woman of Steel comes the closest to representing the epitome of everything the Man of Steel is all about. In fact, an argument can be made for her being stronger than her cousin (and the rest of her family), but it’s through her personality traits that she truly shines.
Power Girl #7 by Leah Williams, Marguerite Sauvage, and Becca Carey illustrates Supergirl’s best traits perfectly by way of an impromptu costume change. During a team-up with Power Girl, Supergirl ventures into a world in the spirit of fairy tales.
To fit the scenery, both superstar superheroes swap into outfits that fit the aesthetic of the world, as much as it fits their characters. Supergirl’s decision to dress as a knight to the character she’s displayed for years as a noble protector.
In the last issue, Supergirl and Power Girl transport themselves to an alternate universe where countless missing persons have been sent to through a mysterious evil. Now, through the guidance of Epione Pruxis (who introduces herself as “bard and storyteller extraordinaire”), the Kryptonian duo learn the lay of the land. To avoid the gaze of Madame Avice (fka Avice Stanislava) who is well familiar with both, Epione encourages them to change into disguises. While Power Girl chooses a pirate look, Supergirl goes for something more chivalrous.
Epione Pruxis mentions that these costumes fit both Power Girl and Supergirl well, suggesting that these archetypes correlate to their core characters. Traditionally, knights are notable for their nobility, chivalry, pure-hearted virtues, being fearless, and most of all, providing hope to people who need it most. Supergirl has been all of that in more for years, especially as a symbol of hope. Readers familiar with Supergirl’s adventures should not be surprised at all by her best characteristics, but the knight connection highlights just how prominent those characteristics are.
Connecting Supergirl to knighthood also highlights just how important she is in regard to the grander scheme of the DC Universe. When it comes to naming the most pure-hearted, noble heroes in DC, it may be easy for some to overlook Supergirl, especially as she’s often overshadowed by her cousin Clark. However, there’s evidence to suggest she’s both stronger and better at displaying some of Supes’ best qualities. One can even argue for her to be the ideal choice to lead DC’s Universe, but at the very least, being a knight makes Supergirl’s overlooked role in DC harder to ignore.