Does Dan Didio actually read Supergirl?

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Dan Didio comments on Supergirl at the Manhatten DC Roadshow:

Supergirl, as she has been written, sometimes comes across as mature and responsible as a 40 year-old adult. She shouldn’t. She’s a teen who is still finding herself and her character should reflect that.

What books has Danny-boy been reading? When has the current Supergirl ever been written like that? Show me the issue. I want to see it. Because I think Didio is just spouting off his own personal dislike of a stereotyped version of the character that doesn’t exist anywhere but in his mind.

I am truly baffled by comments like this from DC execs. They reveal an absolute disconnect from the product they’ve been putting out. Reading the books from time to time seems like something that would be important for an editor-in-chief/co-publisher. The talk of taking Supergirl “back to her core” in the interview with Eddie Berganza and Bob Harras was so gob-smacking because there’s no “core” for the 2011 Supergirl to go back to – just a few years’ worth of character development to roll back. She’s still the character that was introduced in 2004, just not as naive and stereotypically immature. The Jeph Loeb/Joe Kelly interpretation of Supergirl was immensely unpopular and a radical departure from every previous incarnation of the character across all media. Do DC’s top male execs believe that everything from Supergirl 20 onwards was a move away from the character’s “core” because they have such a stereotyped, set in stone vision of what a teenage girl is supposed to be – always and forever?

I wouldn’t be surprised if they really are that stupid. These are men who have created a working environment in which they never have to consider, as a group, women’s experiences, opinions, or wishes. What would they know about a teenage girl? They don’t even consider women and girls worth advertising to.

(And just how long can anyone read about a character who is “still finding herself”? Talk about trying to keep characters locked “in amber” – it sounds like they want their characters to never develop or mature, just keep running through the same plots over and over like in the Silver Age.)

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24 thoughts on “Does Dan Didio actually read Supergirl?”

  1. I’m reserving my judgement until I see the book.

    I think Didio’s waaay off here:

    Supergirl isn’t an unstable, immature, bratty teen/young adult with Superpowers. She’s a great character with a lot of depth to her and a role model. Superpowers or no, she’s trying to find her place in the world and just when you think she already has- THIS happens.

    Heck, I even think “The Cosmic Adventures of Supergirl in the 8th Grade” could even be better than this-(which I STILL need to pick up over here.)

    • I think Didio being way off is standard operating mode for him. It’s amazing the things that come out of that man’s mouth.

      • It’s like his version of fandom autopilot. He says stuff about Supergirl just to make us fans buy the work and see if they’re on point. I think his reasoning is, ” if you don’t like it, well, sucks for you older fans!” *insert evil laugh*

        That’s why I ignore the guys input about Linda Danvers. She exists to me and other fans because not only was she a great character, she was BELIEVABLE and relatable!

  2. you’re not the only one baffled by those in charge at DC. comments like that just make you go “Huh?!!”. doesn’t seem like they really ‘get’ the character of Supergirl.

      • They’re scared, I think, of making her a great character that both male and female fans can appreciate and relate to.

    • Exactly!

      They need fans of the character like Jamal Igle and Sterling Gates and the authors and artists following them. Get Peter David or keep Mary Sue Deconnick back on board. The thing I’m peeved about is that the Linda Danvers Supergirl STILL doesn’t get recognized in the DCU. Reign in Hell sucked, I’m sorry, but it really did. Every book regarding the history of comics or featurette I see of Supergirl makes Linda Danvers seems so minuscule in the history of Supergirl. She had 80 plus issues for Rao’s sake! Not to mention great crossovers, one-shots, and specials.

      Quit screwing around with great characters, DC. Either you keep them as they are, or scrap the reboot of her altogether.

      Ugh.

      Btw, Mhr_Kara, haven’t seen much of your videos lately. I miss seeing your great Linda Danvers video up on YouTube!

      • you liked my supergirl tribute? thanks so much. :D
        (i had some problems with my YouTube account, and unfortunately had to delete it, eventually i’ll find another place for my vids).

        • “Liked it”? No. I LOVED it! ^_^ You did a wonderful job with it!

          …

          That stinks…

          Hey! If anything, there’s always another video-sharing site like twitvid.com or yfrog.com that you can go to. Don’t know if they’re the same with the strict guidelines that YouTube seems to have with some fanvideos. Loved your use of “Iris” by the GooGoo Dolls as the song choice for the video. Sad that they wanted you to pull the sound. Maybe you should credit the artist, title of song…etc before the video starts when you do it for the next time.

          Either way, from one Linda Danvers fan to another you did a great job-and I don’t see-actually I barely see- any videos with Linda Danvers and the cast in them.

  3. I think I’m just going to quit Mainstream DC comics now. Part of me feels like this is a mercy killing! This series has been saddled with bad ideas from the start. From the Buffy/phantom zone wraiths story line to the ridiculous Amazon Attacks(the worst writing Bill Willingham has ever done!). I have bought every single issue beginning with issue #0, always glad to see the problems overcome when the writing was good and trusting things would get better when it wasn’t. But I didn’t want a total reboot! Now I feel like I wasted time, care and money as the big managers throw “the baby out with the bathwater” with this massive re-do! What’s even worse, they are apparently ending the book this series should have been-Power Girl -as well! You showed the fans and the characters no respect DC! So it’s goodbye!
    P.S. I’m not going to say ‘Make Mine Marvel’ because their main universe sucks even worse than yours! Although they had the sense to make a separate line of books(Ultimate) where they could redo and mess around with their standard characters without screwing up everything! I’m surprised you didn’t try that DC! We all know you have the same corporate masters! Or is it really a coincidence that Batman and Captain America both got ‘killed’ and sent back in time at the same time?!

    • “But I didn’t want a total reboot! Now I feel like I wasted time, care and money as the big managers throw “the baby out with the bathwater” with this massive re-do!”

      This is exactly how I feel.

  4. First I need to say, I just found this blog and I am beyond loving it.

    Now to my comment. I honestly don’t understand when people see Supergirl as too mature for her age. It confuses me. Not all teenagers are angst. I’ve never seen her as the weaker, younger version of Superman. She’s not. She’s a girl looking to be happy, which often involves protecting her family and making sure the crazies stay locked up where they belong.

    For all the trauma, she’s well adjusted. It happens. That’s kind of why we love her. I personally love when its hinted that she’d be more powerful than Superman if ever she grew up….

    My favorite incarnation of the character was her reintroduction by Michael Turner and Jeph Loeb in Superman/Batman. For me, that’s SUPERGIRL.

    I am fairly new to comics in general, about only 2 years of in-depth backtracking but what it seems like I need to accept is that there will always be a power struggle in mainstream superhero comics. Some writers will understand the heart and soul of characters, that they need to be more than plot points, and give them the depth and respect they deserve. Eventually someone will come along, take over.. and screw all that up. It’s a cycle. Just have to live with it.

    PS. This also reminds me of Supergirl’s Many Happy Returns. I found it completely ridiculous and a dishonor to the character. To me Supergirl will ALWAYS be Superman’s cousin..(alternate realities and my love for Powergirl beside) but not just a reflection of Superman’s “perfection”. She has depth that it seems too many people miss. I wish more writers would just understand she is not just a PLOT POINT. Sigh… okay, full rant adverted.

  5. “On Green Arrow;

    Talking about his costume tweak, Jim Lee said that more people are familiar with the Smallville version of Green Arrow, so they decided to incorporate some of the elements from that costume.”

    LOL this is the one thing I can totally say is a positive move. I know Ollie in the DCU has fans but even my wife likes the Smallville Green Arrow.

    As for poor Kara, really seems like it is just change for change sake like the rest of the books.

    • Pretty sure that Smallville fans could adapt just fine to the comics’ costume. That certainly isn’t what’s going to make them suddenly start reading!

      Of all the characters whose costumes could stand to be made more recognizable from their media counterparts, Green Arrow is the least in need of adjusting!

      Yet they made Harley Quinn completely unrecognizable to *anyone*!

  6. Given Didio’s comments about Supergirl, I’m surprised that never approved a sequel to Cosmic Adventures in the 8th Grade. I guess he’s more focused on giving us what we don’t want (this reboot), instead of giving us what we have repeatedly asked for (Cosmic Adventures in the 9th Grade, Linda Danvers getting out of limbo, etc.)

    • A continuation of Walker’s Supergirl series is more likely at this point (for stupid political reasons that are also behind DC refusing to reprint Young Justice despite years of requests at cons). Definitely send DC an email at their letters page (or better yet, send a physical letter) if you want to see that continue!