DC Studios brings Supergirl to cinemas this week, expanding the new on-screen universe spearheaded by James Gunn and Peter Safran. Following closely behind the surprisingly strong Superman, this cosmic entry leaves Earth behind to follow Kara Zor-El on a space-faring rescue mission to save her dog, Krypto.
Rather than a standard superhero origin, the plot kicks off with Kara on a purposeful pub crawl. She has deliberately travelled to a planet where the local sun weakens her just so she can get drunk and let the drama kick off. It is a bold character choice that immediately establishes the tone for a space adventure filled with bounty hunters and dangerous raiders.
Credit to Milly Alcock. For fans of roleplaying games who enjoy a chaotic protagonist, Kara Zor-El is a delight. She is as far from a quiet, tradwife wallflower as you could expect. Drunk, grumpy, and highly opinionated, she is actively trying to figure out her place in the galaxy, and she is certainly not waiting around to be told what to do. It is a refreshing take on the character who anchors the film’s personality.
The worldbuilding is where Supergirl truly shines. The film leans heavily into the DC cosmology, introducing an array of aliens that are more numerous and diverse than those in recent Star Wars or Star Trek offerings. Gamemasters looking for sci-fi inspiration will appreciate how environmental mechanics are woven directly into the plot; you learn quickly how different coloured suns affect Kryptonians without being bogged down by confusing exposition.
Unfortunately, the pacing struggles to maintain altitude. The plot is driven primarily by a plucky assistant character who drags Kara into the central quest to chase down the raiders who poisoned her pup. Because Kara is being pulled along, the plot can feel a bit draggy, lacking the slick rails that carried Superman. The inclusion of Jason Momoa as Lobo is fun and fits the setting, but he feels entirely modular; a character dropped in simply to build hype for future projects rather than serving this specific movie.
James Gunn’s influence is heavily felt in the epic, sweeping fight scenes, which are genuinely impressive. However, the quieter emotional beats do not always land as intended, and the planetary vistas are sometimes lacking. A dusty, boring desert planet does not quite match the iconic sci-fi scenery one expects from a grand space opera. Additionally, there is some finessing of Krypton’s lore and what happened after Kal-El left. The changes make logical sense, but purists might consider the original lore verboten and push back against the updates.
Ultimately, Supergirl is not an A-grade triumph, but it is far from a failure. It earns a solid B grade. While the plot drags and the environments can be dull, Kara’s fiery personality and the rich cosmic worldbuilding offer plenty to enjoy, leaving audiences eager to see what comes next in this universe.
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