While the CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS (1986-1987) event was meant to bring back the core elements of Superman‘s history – making him the sole survivor of the destruction of Krypton – by killing off the original Supergirl, that didn’t stop John Byrne almost-immediately introducing a new Supergirl to the rejigged DC Universe when the new continuity kicked in. While Matrix – a non-Kryptonian from a Pocket Universe – didn’t contradict the ‘last survivor’ element of Superman’s pared-down history, and the next Supergirl (Linda Danvers) avoided contradicting that concept, that wouldn’t stop Jeph Loeb and Michael Turner from overriding that ‘rule’ and introducing the one-true Kara Zor-El to the DCU in their immensely popular ‘Superman/Batman’ series in the early 2000s.
Jamal Igle‘s run would truly define the New Earth incarnation of the Girl of Steel as of Supergirl #34, but the stories following that issue will be picked up in the next Kara Zor-El reading order.
A huge thank you to DCU Guide, Comics Back Issues and the DC Comics Database for their assistance in assembling this reading order.
See more DC Universe Character & Team Reading Orders.
Must Reads: Story arcs in bold in the Core List or marked with a ✔ in the Full Reading Order are must-read stories from this time period, along with any key related stories and often-forgotten tales that are worth a look.
Anthology Issues: When an issue contains multiple stories, the relevant story is denoted with square brackets. For example, [2/5] refers to the second story of the five stories in that issue, so you don’t need to read the other four.
Chronology: Every appearance of Kara Zor-El from this time period is included in chronological order, laying out the timeline rather than just the order the issues were released.
Spoilers: The issue/story overviews may include spoilers, so be warned!
Reading orders featuring previous incarnations of Supergirl will follow:
- SUPERGIRL, 1996-2009 – New Earth: Linda Danvers
Want to keep it simple? Here’s the core reading order without story descriptions, page-by-page breakdowns – just the stories:
- Superman/Batman (2003) #8-13
- Superman/Batman (2003) #19
- JSA Classified (2005) #2
- Green Lantern: Rebirth (2004) #4, 6
- Supergirl (2005) #1-5
- Plastic Man (2003) #20
- Superman/Batman (2003) #23-25
- JLA #118
- JLA #122-123
- Superman (1987) #223
- Wonder Woman (1987) #222
- Infinite Crisis #1-2
- Firestorm (2004) #20
- Superman (1987) #225
- Outsiders (2003) #33
- Infinite Crisis #3-4
- Firestorm (2004) #21-22
- Infinite Crisis Special: Rann-Thanagar War #1
- Infinite Crisis #5-7
- Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #16-30
- Action Comics (1938) #850
- Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #31
- Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #32-33
- Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #34-36
- World War III #2
- Superman (2006) #650
- Superman (2006) #651
- Supergirl (2005) #6-9
- Wonder Woman Annual (2007) #1
- Superman/Batman (2003) #31-32
- Supergirl (2005) #10-13
- Brave and the Bold (2007) #15
- Brave and the Bold (2007) #17-18
- Blue Beetle (2006) #13
- Brave and the Bold (2007) #2-6
- Superman/Supergirl: Maelstrom #1-5
- Countdown #49 [1/2]
- Supergirl (2005) #14-19
- Superman/Batman (2003) #46, 49-50
- Action Comics (1938) #851
- Action Comics Annual (1987) #11
- Teen Titans (2003) #47–48
- Amazons Attack (2007) #3-4
- Teen Titans (2003) #49
- Supergirl (2005) #20
- Amazons Attack (2007) #6
- Supergirl (2005) #21-22
- Shadowpact #16
- Teen Titans (2003) #50
- Blue Beetle (2006) #18
- Teen Titans (2003) #51-54
- Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Superman-Prime #1 [1/2]
- Green Lantern (2005) #25
- Superman Annual (1987) #13 [2/2]
- DC Special: Cyborg (2008) #2-5
- Titans (2008) #1
- Teen Titans (2003) #55
- Countdown #32 [1/2]
- Superman (2006) #668, 670
- Supergirl (2005) #23-24
- Wonder Girl (2007) #4-6
- Supergirl (2005) #25-29, 31-33
- The Brave and the Bold (2007) #12
- Supergirl (2005) #30
- Superman/Batman (2003) #52
- Superman (2006) #679
- Superman/Batman (2003) #55-56
- DCU Infinite Holiday Special (2007) #1 [3/7]
- Superman/Batman (2003) #62
- Final Crisis: Requiem #1
- Trinity (2008) #13 [2/2]
- Trinity (2008) #14 [2/2]
- Trinity (2008) #15-16
- Trinity (2008) #43 [2/2]
- Trinity (2008) #44 [2/2]
- Trinity (2008) #47 [1/2]
- Trinity (2008) #48 [1/2]
- Trinity (2008) #50 [1/2]
- Trinity (2008) #52 [1/2]
- Supergirl (2005) #34
- Action Comics (1938) #867
- Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen Special (2008) #1
- Action Comics (1938) #868-870
- Superman: New Krypton Special #1
- Superman (2006) #681
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event / Crossover |
| ✔ | Superman/Batman #8-13 (2004) Kara Zor-El arrives on Earth; Superman hands her over to Wonder Woman to train her in the use of her newfound powers on Themyscira; Darkseid kidnaps Kara and brainwashes her, turning her against Superman; Superman fakes Kara’s death to prevent Darkseid from seeking her out again. 1st appearance: Alura In-Ze, Precious, Zor-El, Kara Zor-El | |
| ✔ | Superman/Batman #19 (2005) Kara Zor-El goes out into the world as Supergirl and clashes with her first metahuman foe, Clayface. New identity: Kara Zor-El as Supergirl | |
| ✔ | JSA Classified #2 (2005) Supergirl cameo; Supergirl briefly meets Power Girl, helping her land a crashing plane before flying away. | |
| Green Lantern Rebirth #4, 6 (2005) Supergirl cameo; Supergirl is among the swarm of heroes who team up against Parallax. | GREEN LANTERN: REBIRTH | |
| ✔ | Supergirl #1-5 (2005-2006) Supergirl assists the Justice Society of America (JSA) against Solomon Grundy; she interprets Power Girl’s glitching powers as an attack and retaliates; the Calculator and Lex Luthor manipulate Supergirl; Supergirl clashes with Superboy (Kon-El) and the Teen Titans; Supergirl trains with the Outsiders and crushes on Nightwing; Kara reveals her origin; wearing his Warsuit, Lex Luthor attacks Supergirl and uses Black Kryptonite on her, drawing a Dark Supergirl from her body; Dark Supergirl battles the Justice League of America (JLA) then Supergirl herself; Wonder Woman merges them into one again with her Lasso of Truth. 1st appearance: Dark Supergirl, Black Kryptonite | |
| Plastic Man #20 (2006) Supergirl cameo; Supergirl is present at Billy Batson’s funeral. Note: It’s unclear if this story is definitely in-continuity. |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event / Crossover |
| ✔ | Superman/Batman #23-25 (2005-2006) Lex Luthor continues to obsess over Supergirl; the Bizarro that was previously created by the Joker recruits Supergirl to help him defeat the Maximums; alongside the Supergirls – Supergirl of Earth-One, Linda Danvers, Power Girl and Cir-El – and Bizarro, Supergirl frees Superman from the Source Wall and takes on Darkseid’s Dark Supergirl and Dark Superboy and the Kryptonite Man. 1st appearance: Batwoman/Helena (Earth-11), Big Bard (Earth-11), Miss Miracle (Earth-11), Superwoman/Laurel (Earth-11), Earth-11 Identity revealed: Bowman is Mister Mxyzptlk | |
| JLA #118 (2005) Zatanna heads to Themyscira to seek advice from the exiled Wonder Woman; Supergirl complains to Zatanna that there are no boys on the island. | COUNTDOWN TO INFINITE CRISIS | |
| ✔ | JLA #122-123 (2006) Supergirl assists the JLA against the army of OMACs and meets the resurrected Wonder Girl. | INFINITE CRISIS |
| ✔ | Superman #223 (2006) Supergirl tells Superman she’s about to go on a mission off-world and helps him defeat Blackrock. New identity: Lucia/’Jessica Mirabella’ as Blackrock | COUNTDOWN TO INFINITE CRISIS THE OMAC PROJECT |
| Wonder Woman #222 (2005) Supergirl and Wonder Girl meet with Wonder Woman to tell her they’re heading into space. | INFINITE CRISIS | |
| ✔ | Infinite Crisis #1-2 (2005-2006) Firestorm #20 (2006) Starfire joins Supergirl and Wonder Girl as they head to New Cronus; Wonder Girl’s squad – the Polaris Galaxy Team – find themselves embroiled in the Rann-Thanagar War. | INFINITE CRISIS |
| Superman #225 (2006) Supergirl cameo; Supergirl and Firestorm struggle to process being in space, but are inspired by Superman to carry on. | INFINITE CRISIS | |
| ✔ | Outsiders #32 (2006) Infinite Crisis #3-4 (2006) Infinite Crisis Special: Rann-Thanagar War #1 (pp.1-5) (2006) Herald opens a portal to the centre of the universe an are impacted by the efforts of Alex Luthor of Earth-Three efforts to alter the universe. 1st appearance: Brenda del Vecchio, Paco, Jaime Reyes | INFINITE CRISIS |
| Firestorm #21-22 (2006) Supergirl cameo; Supergirl and the rest of Polaris Galaxy Team believe Firestorm is dead. | INFINITE CRISIS | |
| ✔ | Infinite Crisis Special: Rann-Thanagar War #1 (pp.6-38) (2006) The Polaris Galaxy Team are joined by the Green Lantern Corps, Adam Strange and members of LEGION and the Omega Men in combating the storms at the centre of the universe, with the additional threats of Blackfire and Superboy of Earth-Prime. | INFINITE CRISIS |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event / Crossover |
| Infinite Crisis #5-7 (2006) Supergirl cameo; the Polaris Galaxy Team head back to Earth and witness the rebirth of the multiverse. New identity: Jaime Reyes as Blue Beetle, Superboy/Kal of (Earth-Prime) as Superboy-Prime. | INFINITE CRISIS | |
| ✔ | Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #16-30 (2006-2007) A thousand and one years after the Infinite Crisis, Supergirl finds herself in the 30th Century and meets the Legion of Super-Heroes, but believes she’s dreaming. | ONE YEAR LATER |
| ✔ | Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #17-30 (2006-2007) Supergirl takes her place among the Legion of Super-Heroes, opposing Jeyra Entinn, the Dominators and the Wanderers, leading into the Dominator War! 1st appearance: Polar Boy/Brek Bannin, Wanderers (Jeyra Entinn, Inferno, Lighting Lord/Mekt Ranzz, Micro Lass, Plant Land/Ral Benem), AI Virus | |
| ✔ | Action Comics #850 (2007) Brainiac broadcasts Supergirl’s consciousness into the past, giving her a chance to reunite with Superman; Supergirl and Superman batlte Blackstarr! | |
| ✔ | Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #31 (2007) Supergirl becomes leader of the Legion of Super-Heroes and sends out three teams to locate the missing Cosmic Boy! 1st appearance: Randall Burroughs (unnamed), Evolvo Lad/Sev Tcheru, Tenzil Kem, White Witch/Mysa Nal | |
| Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #32-33 (2007) Supergirl is otherwise occupied while the Legion search for Cosmic Boy. 1st appearance: Randall Burroughs, Wildfire/Drake Burroughs | ||
| ✔ | Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #34-36 (2007-2008) World War III #2 (2007) After battling Evolvo-Lad, Supergirl finds a way to return to her own timeline; Supergirl emerges in the 21st Century, crashlanding back on Earth. | 52 |
| ✔ | Superman #650 (2006) With Clark Kent having lost his powers, he summons Supergirl to take on the new Kryptonite Man. 1st appearance: Kryptonite Man/K. Russell Abernathy | ONE YEAR LATER UP, UP AND AWAY |
| Superman #651 (2006) Supergirl cameo; Supergirl discovers the Kryptonite Man has been broken out of Stryker’s Island Penitentiary. 1st appearance: Flea Circus | ONE YEAR LATER UP, UP AND AWAY | |
| ✔ | Supergirl #6-8 (2006) The new Nightwing and Flamebird fight to free the Bottle City of Kandor from Ultraman‘s control for a whole month before coming to their senses and realising they’re Supergirl and Power Girl; Power Girl takes on the brainwashed Supergirl. New identity: Power Girl/Kara Zor-L as Nightwing, Supergirl/Kara Zor-El as Flamebird | ONE YEAR LATER |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event / Crossover |
| ✔ | Supergirl #9 (2006) Wonder Girl reunites with Supergirl; Kara makes a deal with Batman as a way to financially support herself and goes on a date with the new Captain Boomerang. 1st appearance: Sourcedoc | |
| Wonder Woman Annual #1 (2007) Wonder Woman is attacked by almost her entire rogues gallery; Supergirl is among the heroes who come to her aid. | ONE YEAR LATER WHO IS WONDER WOMAN? | |
| Superman/Batman #31-32 (2007) An alien madness virus has affected the heroes who weren’t born on Earth, including Supergirl and Superman; Lex Luthor works with Batman to steal a cure from the Fortress of Solitude. | ||
| ✔ | Supergirl #10-13 (2006-2007) Supergirl briefly tries to build a new life for herself as ‘Claire Conners’ by enrolling at Guggenheim High School; Supergirl assists the new Wonder Girl (Cassandra Sandsmark) against Monsieur Mallah; adopts a cat called Streaky; a metahuman pirate called Jaq targets Supergirl; Power Boy introduces himself to Supergirl; Supergirl and the new Terra join forces to stop an Empathosaur; the League of Assassins come gunning for Supergirl. 1st appearance: Dark Angel (in shadow, unnamed), Streaky, Terra/Atlee New identity: Supergirl/Kara Zor-El as Claire Conners | |
| Brave and the Bold #15 (2008) Supergirl cameo; Nightwing sends a number of heroes – including Supergirl – after Trigon. | ||
| ✔ | Brave and the Bold #17-18 (2008) Supergirl and Raven are surprised to find San Francisco under threat from Supergirl’s father, Zor-El! | |
| Blue Beetle #13 (2007) Supergirl cameo; the Reach observe some of Earth’s heroes. | ||
| ✔ | Brave and the Bold #2-6 (2007) The Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) and Supergirl head to Ventura in search of the Book of Souls to utilise against the Luck Lords; Supergirl rescues Lobo from a firing squad on Ventura so he can guide her to Rann; Supergirl, Batman, Green Lantern and Adam Strange take on the Luck Lords directly. 1st appearance: Mondath | |
| ✔ | Superman/Supergirl: Maelstrom #1-5 (2009) Superman asks Supergirl to protect Metropolis while he’s off-planet and soon finds herself up against Darkseid’s newest warrior Maelstrom; Superman and Supergirl are propelled through a Boom Tube to a planet circling a red sun, which costs them their Kryptonian powers; the two heroes fight to return to Earth and face off against Maelstrom. 1st appearance: Maelstrom | |
| Countdown #49 [1/2] (2007) Supergirl cameo; a group of rogue Monitors observe a number of heroes – including Supergirl – who they consider to be aberrations and should not exist in the prime reality. | COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event / Crossover |
| ✔ | Supergirl #14-16 (2007) Power Boy continues to pursue Supergirl; after clashing with Batgirl (Cassandra Cain) and the League of Assassins, Supergirl’s efforts to save Captain Boomerang‘s life reveals Power Boy’s obsession with her; Kara’s recent Kryptonite exposure generates false memories. | |
| ✔ | Supergirl #17-19 (2007) Dark Angel – and agent of the Monitors – is revealed to be investigating Supergirl’s existence, despite her death during the original Crisis and pits her against another Supergirl; ‘Superman’ assists Supergirl when Phantom Zone ghosts possess citizens of planet Earth; Kara is approached by Pariah (Kell Mossa) who tries to convince her to kill Superman! 1st appearance: Dark Angel (full) | COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS |
| Superman/Batman #46, 49-50 (2008) Supergirl cameo; Superman’s search for Kryptonite continues to change him for the worse, unaware it’s all part of a game between Bat-Mite and Mister Mxyzptlk; Supergirl checks in on Superman when he recovers from exposure to ‘magic’ Kryptonite; Supergirl is among the heroes helping Batman and Superman rebuild Smallville. 1st appearance: Li’l Leaguers (alternate universe – Li’l Batman, Li’l Flash, Li’l Green Lantern, Li’l Red Arrow, Li’l Red Tornado, Li’l Supergirl, , Li’l Zatanna), Silver Kryptonite | ||
| Action Comics #851 (2007) Action Comics Annual #11 (2008) Supergirl cameo; Supergirl is among the heroes taken prisoner by the Kryptonian criminal General Zod. | LAST SON | |
| ✔ | Teen Titans #47 (p.22) (2007) Teen Titans #48 (2007) Amazons Attack #3-4 (2007) Teen Titans #49 (2007) Supergirl #20 (2007) Wonder Girl and Supergirl join the fight when the Amazon invade the US, but not on the expected side, leading to a clash with the Teen Titans; after leading an attack on Air Force One, the two young heroes turn against the Amazons and ally with Superman; Supergirl tries to make up for attacking Air Force One by tackling battlions of Amazons and a gigantic rampaging Cyclops. 1st appearance: Karna | AMAZONS ATTACK! COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS |
| ✔ | Amazons Attack #6 (2007) Supergirl cameo; Supergirl witnesses the climactic battle against Queen Hipollyta; Athena’s true identity is revealed. Identity revealed: ‘Athena’ is Granny Goodness | AMAZONS ATTACK! COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS |
| ✔ | Supergirl #21-22 (2007) Supergirl deals with the fallout of her attack on Air Force One and is ‘reunited’ with Karate Kid and Triplicate Girl; Elias Orr sends Equus to kill Supergirl. | COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS |
| Shadowpact #16 (2007) Supergirl is among the heroes brought into Shadowpact‘s fight against Doctor Gotham. | ||
| ✔ | Teen Titans #50 (pp.1-23) (2007) Blue Beetle #18 (pp.4-9) (2007) Teen Titans #50 (pp.24-25) / Blue Beetle #18 (pp.10-11) (2007) Blue Beetle #18 (pp.12-13) (2007) Teen Titans #50 (p.26) (2007) Blue Beetle #18 (p.13) (2007) Teen Titans #50 (pp.26-29) / Blue Beetle #18 (pp.12-17) (2007) Blue Beetle #18 (pp.18-21) (2007) Teen Titans #50 (p.30) / Blue Beetle #18 (pp.21-22) (2007) Blue Beetle #18 (p.22) (2007) Teen Titans #50 (pp.31-38) (2007) Teen Titans #51-54 (2007-2008) Before the Titans can deal with the death of Kid Flash (Bart Allen), they’re pitted against the Titans of Tomorrow and an invasion by Starro; a future incarnation of Batman sends a Titans Army to try to stop the Teen Titans from changing the timeline; Supergirl battles a clone of Kon-El. 1st appearance: Tiny Titans, Titans Army | COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS THE TITANS OF TOMORROW… TODAY! |
| Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Superman-Prime #1 [1/2] (pp.1-31) (2007) Green Lantern #25 (pp.1-21) (2008) Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Superman-Prime #1 [1/2] (p.32) (2007) Green Lantern #25 (pp.22-50) (2008) Power Girl and Supergirl weaponise Cyborg Superman against Superboy-Prime; Supergirl joins the fight between the Green Lantern Corps and Sinestro Corps in Central City. 1st appearance: Blue Lantern Corps (Saint Walker/Bro’Dee Walker, unnamed), Indigo Lantern Corps (Munk, unnamed), Kraken, Orange Lantern Corps (Agent Orange/Larfleeze, unnamed), Red Lantern Corps (Abyssma, Antipathy, Atrocitus, unnamed), Scarred Guardian/Scar, Nok, Odym, Ryut, Black Lantern Battery, Blue Lantern Ring, Indigo Lantern Ring, Indigo Tribe Staff, Orange Lantern Power Battery, Orange Lantern Ring, Red Lantern Power Battery | THE SINESTRO CORPS WAR |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event / Crossover |
| ✔ | Superman Annual #13 [2/2] (2008) Supergirl, Superman, Lois Lane, Krypto and Jonathan & Martha Kent have a picnic on an alien world. | |
| DC Special: Cyborg #2-5 (2008) Supergirl and her fellow Teen Titans hunt down Cyborg when he appears to go rogue. 1st appearance: Cyborg Revenge Squad (Gizmo) | ||
| Titans #1 (2008) The Teen Titans are attacked by Trigon‘s elemental demons. | THE FICKLE HAND | |
| ✔ | Teen Titans #55 (2008) Supergirl quits the Teen Titans over issues with Wonder Girl. 1st appearance: Dreadbolt/Terrence Bolatinsky | |
| Countdown #32 [1/2] (2007) Supergirl attends a male strip club with other female heroes; Supergirl and Wonder Girl try to nab some alcohol, but are blocked by Wonder Woman! 1st appearance: Earth-3 (full) | COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS | |
| ✔ | Superman #668, 670 (2007-2008) Amalak targets Earth in search of the last remaining Kryptonians; Supergirl fends off the minions of Amalak; Power Girl and Krypton join Supergirl in rescuing Superman from the Fortress of Solitude; Kara has a vision of the future. 1st appearance: Amalak, Karsta Wor-Ul | THE THIRD KRYPTONIAN |
| ✔ | Supergirl #23-24 (2008) Supergirl is tricked by a mystery villain, leading to a team-up with the Green Lantern Corp. | |
| Wonder Girl #4-6 (2008) Supergirl assists Wonder Girl against the Female Furies of Apokolips and the God Killer who has another, hidden identity! | ||
| ✔ | Supergirl #25-29 (2008) Supergirl #31-33 (2008) Superman helps Supergirl with her returning memories of Krypton, leading to a clash with Reactron; Supergirl tries to achieve the impossible task of saving a boy from brain cancer which sends her on a mission through time. 1st appearance: Alphonse Luzano | |
| ✔ | The Brave and the Bold #12 (2008) Supergirl and Power Girl swoop in to help Superman and the Challengers of the Unknown against Magistus. |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event / Crossover |
| ✔ | Supergirl #30 (2008) The truth about Supergirl’s backstory starts to come to the fore; Supergirl looks into her own origins, returning to the place in space where Krypton used to be to come to terms with the loss of her father. | |
| Superman/Batman #52 (2008) Supergirl is present for the rematch between the Li’l Leaguers and the li’l villains. | ||
| ✔ | Superman #679 (2008) Supergirl’s role as an ‘honorary Amazon’ makes her a target for Atlas under General Sam Lane‘s anti-extraterrestrial Project 7734. | |
| Superman/Batman #55-56 (2009) Supergirl allies with the Justice League against a super-powered Batman! | ||
| ✔ | DCU Infinite Holiday Special #1 [3/7] (2007) Superman asks Supergirl to help him answer some of the letters that are written to him every year. | |
| Superman/Batman #62 (2009) The inmates of Arkham Asylum stage a breakout and it’s up to Robin (Tim Drake) and Supergirl to get things under control! | ||
| Final Crisis: Requiem #1 (2008) Supergirl is among the heroes who gather to celebrate the life of the Martian Manhunter who died at the hands of the Secret Society of Super-Villains. | FINAL CRISIS | |
| Trinity #13 [2/2] (2008) Trinity #14 [2/2] (2008) Trinity #15-16 (2008) Trinity #43 [2/2] (2009) Trinity #44 [2/2] (2009) Supergirl is among the heroes called in by Oracle to stop the Dreambound from stealing Maxwell Lord‘s corpse from the cemetery and tackles Sun-Chained-in-Ink in space; she’s the called in to help fight ‘Despero’; Lois Lane calls on Supergirl to snal Superman out of his new Kellel identity, but Kara doesn’t approve of Clark’s now-godlike status; New identity: Kanjar Ro as Despero | ||
| Trinity #43 [2/2] (2009) Trinity #44 [2/2] (2009) Trinity #47 [1/2] (2009) Trinity #48 [1/2] (2009) Trinity #50 [1/2] (2009) Trinity #52 [1/2] (2009) Supergirl cameos; Supergirl leads the charge against Despero’s armada; she’s also among the heroes who join the fight against the Crime Syndicate of Amerika of the Antimatter Universe. | ||
| ✔ | Supergirl #34 (2008) Kara Zor-El struggles to live up to Superman’s legend; Supergirl battles Silver Banshee and decides to have another go at creating a civilian identity as Linda Lang. New identity: Supergirl/Kara Zor-El as Linda Lang | |
| ✔ | Action Comics #867 (2008) Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen Special #1 (2008) Action Comics #868-870 (2008) Supergirl reveals the terrifying story of the true Brainiac to Superman when the intergalactic villain makes his way to Earth; Supergirl’s origin is clarified; Kandor is restored. | BRAINIAC |
| ✔ | Superman: New Krypton Special #1 (2008) Supergirl is reunited with her parents while Superman tries to figure out what to do about all the full-size Kryptonians on Earth. | NEW KRYPTON SIGHTINGS |
| ✔ | Superman #681 (2008) Superman and Supergirl come up with a solution for the Kryptonians; the President lets Supergirl know he owes her a new plane! 1st appearance: Thara Ak-Var | NEW KRYPTON |
Supergirl‘s saga will continue in the following reading orders:
- SUPERGIRL, 2009-2011 – Kara Zor-El: Daughter of New Krypton
- SUPERGIRL, 2011-2015 – Prime Earth: The New 52
- SUPERGIRL, 2016-2020 – Prime Earth: Rebirth
- SUPERGIRL, 2021-2024 – Earth 0: Infinite Frontier
The timeline of Earth-2‘s Kara Zor-L – aka Power Girl – from this same time period will be added here:
- POWER GIRL, 2002-2006 – Return to the Justice Society
- POWER GIRL, 2007-2011 – A New Beginning
Notable versions of Supergirl from throughout the DC Multiverse within this time period:
| Title, Issue & Synopsis | Events / Crossovers |
| Superman: The 10¢ Adventure #1 (2003) Superman #190-193, 195 (2003) Action Comics #807-808 (2003) Superman #197-198 (2003) Superman/Batman #5 (2004) Superman #199-200 (2004) Action Comics #813 (2004) Superman/Batman #24-25 (2006) FUTURESMITHS – SUPERGIRL/CIR-EL: Hailing from a future timeline, Cir-El meets her father Superman and is inspired to become the new Supergirl; however, Cir-El’s true origins are revealed by Brainiac 12 and she must decide the fate of her own reality in an effort to prevent her dark future coming to pass; Cir-El returns and meets modern-day Supergirl, Kara Zor-El. | FUTURESMITHS PUBLIC ENEMIES |
| Adventures with the DC Super Heroes: Energy and Safety (2004) Justice League Adventures #27 (2004) Justice League Unlimited #7, 10, 13 (2005) Justice League Unlimited #16, 20, 22 (2006) Justice League Unlimited #30-32, 34, 36 (2007) Justice League Unlimited #41 (2008) DCAU – SUPERGIRL/KARA-IN-ZE: The adventures of Kara-In-Ze as Supergirl continue as a member of the Justice League, opposing Darkseid and Amanda Waller, celebrates Christmas with the League and teams up with Mary Marvel against Mister Atom! |
| Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| Supergirl #3-5 (2005-2006) Superman/Batman #25 (2006) NEW EARTH – DARK SUPERGIRL: Lex Luthor uses Black Kryptonite to draw a Dark Supergirl from the true Supergirl‘s physical form; despite being merged back into Supergirl’s body by Wonder Woman, Darkseid brings Dark Supergirl forth once again, allying her with Dark Superboy and the Kryptonite Man. |
| DC: The New Frontier #6 (2004) EARTH-21 – SUPERGIRL/KARA ZOR-L: Years after the formation of the Justice League, Supergirl arrives on Earth and helps form the Teen Titans. |
| Superman & Batman: Generations III #2-7 (2003) EARTH-3839 – SUPERGIRL/LOIS WAYNE: Lois Wayne and her sister, Lara, both take on the mantle of Supergirl after their father Knight-Wing (Clark Wayne) and his wife Amanda Mason believe they’re ready to go public; Lois is killed by a Kryptonite cloud created by Lex Luthor. |
| Superman & Batman: Generations III #2-12 (2003-2004) EARTH-3839 – SUPERGIRL/LARA WAYNE: Lana Wayne and her sister, Lois, both take on the mantle of Supergirl after their father Knight-Wing (Clark Wayne) and his wife Amanda Mason believe they’re ready to go public; Lois lives for centuries until she’s killed reting to dismantle a weapon from Apokolips. |
| Collected Edition Title | Collects… |
| Absolute Infinite Crisis Infinite Crisis | Infinite Crisis #1-7 |
| Supergirl vol.1: The Girl of Steel | Supergirl #1-10, 12 Superman/Batman #19 |
| Supergirl vol.2: Breaking the Chain | DCU Infinite Holiday Special #1 [part] Supergirl #11, 13-22 |
| Supergirl vol.3: Ghosts of Krypton | Supergirl #23-33 |
| Supergirl vol.4: Daughter of New Krypton | Supergirl #34-43 |
| Supergirl: Power (vol.1) | Supergirl #1-5 Superman/Batman #19 |
| Supergirl: Candor (vol.2) | JLA #122 [part] JLA #123 JSA Classified #2 Supergirl #6-9 Superman #223 Superman/Batman #27 |
| Supergirl: Identity (vol.3) | DCU Infinite Holiday Special #1 [part] Supergirl #1-19 |
| Supergirl: Beyond Good and Evil (vol.4) | Action Comics #23-27 Supergirl #23-27 |
| Supergirl: Way of the World (vol.5) | Supergirl #28-33 |
| Supergirl: Who is Superwoman? (vol.6) | Supergirl #34, 37-42 |
| Legion of Super-Heroes by Mark Waid and Barry Kitson Omnibus | Brave & Bold #1–6 Legion of Super Heroes #1–15 Supergirl and The Legion of Super-Heroes #16–36 Teen Titans/Legion Special #1 |
| Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes: Strange Visitor From Another Century (vol.1) | Legion of Super-Heroes #14-15 Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #16-19 |
| Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes: Adult Education (vol.2) | Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #20-25 |
| Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes: The Dominator War (vol.3) | Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #26-30 |
| Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes: The Quest for Cosmic Boy (vol.4) | Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #31-36 |
| Superman/Batman: Supergirl (vol.2) | Superman/Batman #8-13 |
| Superman/Batman: Vengeance (vol.4) | Superman/Batman #20-25 |
| Superman: The Third Kryptonian | Action Comics #847 Superman #668-670 Superman Annual #13 |
| Teen Titans: Titans of Tomorrow (vol.8) | Teen Titans #50-54 |
| Collected Edition Title | Includes… |
| Wonder Woman: Amazons Attack! | Wonder Woman: Amazons Attack! #3-4, 6 |
| Blue Beetle: Jamie Reyes vol.2 | Blue Beetle #13, 18 |
| Brave and the Bold: The Lords of Luck (vol.1) | Brave and the Bold #2-6 |
| Brave and the Bold: The Bok of Destiny (vol.2) | Brave and the Bold #12 |
| Brave and the Bold: Without Sin (vol.4) | Brave and the Bold #17-18 |
| Countdown to Final Crisis vol.1 | Countdown #49 |
| Infinite Crisis Companion | Infinite Crisis Special: Rann-Thanagar War #1 |
| Infinite Crisis Omnibus | Infinite Crisis #1-7 Infinite Crisis Special: Rann-Thanagar War #1 |
| JLA vol.9 JLA: World Without a Justice League | JLA #122-123 |
| Power Girl: Power Trip | JSA Classified #2 |
| Power Girl: New Beginnings and Old Friends Omnibus | JSA Classified #2 Supergirl #12 |
| Legion of Super-Heroes by Mark Waid and Barry Kitson Omnibus | Brave and the Bold #1-6 Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #16-36 |
| Outsiders: Crisis Intervention | Outsiders #33 |
| Superman: The Coming of Atlas | Superman #679 |
| Superman: Camelot Falls vol.2: The Weight of the World Superman: Camelot Falls – The Deluxe Edition | Superman Annual #13 |
| Superman by Kurt Busiek vol.1 | Superman #650-651 |
| Superman by Kurt Busiek vol.2 | Action Comics #850 Superman #668, 670 Superman Annual #13 |
| Absolute Superman by Geoff Johns & Gaqry Frank Superman: Brainiac | Action Comics #867-870 |
| Superman: New Krypton Saga Omnibus vol.1 | Action Comics #867-870 Superman #681 Superman: New Krypton Special #1 Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen Special #1 |
| Superman: New Krypton vol.1 | Superman #681 Superman: New Krypton Special #1 Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen Special #1 |
| Absolute Superman/Batman vol.1 Superman/Batman vol.1 | Superman/Batman #8-13 |
| Absolute Superman/Batman vol.2 Superman/Batman vol.2 | Superman/Batman #19, 23-25 |
| Superman/Batman Omnibus vol.1 | Superman/Batman #8-13, 19, 23-25 |
| Superman/Supergirl: Maelstrom | Superman/Supergirl: Maelstrom #1-5 |
| Teen Titans: Titans East (vol.7) | Teen Titans #47 |
| Teen Titans: On the Clock (vol.9) | Teen Titans #55 |
| World War III | World War III #2 |
Reading Order © Omniverse Comics Guide 2026
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