DC has been seeking the proper tone to strike the right balance between its superheroes: not too dark, not too shiny, and certainly not the same as Marvel’s formula. As the most recent trailer for ‘Supergirl’ shows, the studio has finally discovered something new by accepting a hero who is openly imperfect, emotionally disheveled, and unfiltered.
The new footage, which premiered in the 2026 Puppy Bowl, does not simply promise action and spectacle. It signals a tonal shift. This Kara Zor-El does not come to smile or to be the embodiment of perfect hope. She is here to say things the way they are, even when it makes people uncomfortable.
DC Lets Supergirl Be Complicated, Cynical And Unapologetic
The “screw-up hero” has long been a fan favorite. Characters like Hancock and Marvel’s Deadpool thrive because they break the illusion of perfection. They fail. They lash out. And they make poor decisions, and somehow feel more human due to it. DC has traditionally shunned this lane. Its heroes tend to lean mythic or morally determined. However, ‘Supergirl’ seems to be prepared to change that trend.
Related: ‘Supergirl’s New Teaser Puts Loss And Survival At The Center Of DCU
Milly Alcock’s Kara has a palpable advantage, an advantage that is not acted out. She is strong, yes, but cynical, weary, and obviously influenced by loss in a manner her cousin Superman is not. One of the sharp exchanges of the trailer highlights that difference. Kara is questioned about what Superman is like, and she answers, “He sees the good in everyone. And I see the truth.” And it instantly puts her in the proximity of anti-heroes as compared to conventional icons.
We Finally Get To See A Perfectly Flawed Female Hero
The most impressive thing about this approach is who is allowed to fill it. Women superheroes are usually put in two extremes: the ideal of good or straight-up bad. They can hardly afford to be careless, emotionally unstable, or ethically complex without being made to pay the price in the story.
Supergirl appears to be determined to change that. Alcock does not merely have a flawed Kara; she is also unashamedly dishevelled.
In case you missed it: Why ‘Supergirl’ Is The Closest DC Has Come To ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’
Her short appearance in ‘Superman’, in which she appears literally drunk at the Fortress of Solitude, already indicates a hero who cannot repress trauma but has to work with it.
Here, James Gunn’s influence is evident. It is not about shock value or low-cost irrelevance. It is about allowing a woman to be the head of a superhero movie without polishing her and making her perfect.
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