As DC Studios started redefining its movie universe under James Gunn, one thing became immediately apparent: continuity was going to be loose, at times to a discomforting degree. There are a few moments that were as good as the silent but impactful retcon that ‘Peacemaker’ season 2 made, which removed the Justice League cameo in the first-season finale and replaced it with an entirely new lineup.
Back then, the audience mostly knew why the shift occurred; the DCU had to have a fresh start in the Snyderverse. Still, one detail felt odd. One of the new members of the Justice Gang was ‘Supergirl’, a character who, according to the hints, did not appear to be interested in saving the Earth at all. However, that confusion is quickly disappearing now that the first trailer of ‘Supergirl’ has been released.
Why ‘Supergirl’s Justice Gang Cameo Wasn’t A Mistake After All
What seemed to be an odd or untimely addition now seems deliberate and even intelligent. The ‘Supergirl’ trailer does not merely present Kara Zor-El’s personality, but it silently recontextualizes her role in the DCU, and the retcon of Peacemaker seems much more intentional than many thought it to be. The season 2 premiere of ‘Peacemaker’ was a recap that rewrote history in a subtle way. The Justice League that first emerged at the season 1 finale (Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and The Flash) is no longer there.
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Instead, there is the Justice Gang, a group based on the new foundation of the DCU: Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, Mister Terrific, and later Superman, played by David Corenswet. Then there is the surprise: Kara Zor-El. The introduction of Supergirl next to Superman was instantly controversial. Her short appearance at the end of Superman created a very clear image of her way of life. Kara arrives late, drunk, and unapologetically messy, only to come and get Krypto. Superman goes as far as to say that his cousin would rather spend her time on alien planets around red suns, where she can at least experience something that is somewhat normal.
That description was invigorating and not heroic on purpose. When ‘Peacemaker’ season 2 put her in a lineup adjacent to Justice League, it was off. Kara did not appear to be a person who would respond to the call when Earth was in need of salvation. She appeared to be emotionally detached from the planet, burdened by her own trauma and seeking an escape instead of accountability, if anything. To the audience, this transition was hasty. Why would we have Supergirl in a team that was supposed to be a replacement for the Justice League when she hardly appeared to be a hero at all? The answer was not obvious at the time. Now, it is.
‘Supergirl’s Trailer Reveals She’s Already A Hero, Just Not The One People Celebrate
The initial trailer of ‘Supergirl’ does not alter the personality of Kara radically, and that is the point. She’s still messy. Still restless. She is still fleeing her pain by vanishing into red-sun worlds where she can drink, party, and feel normal. However, the trailer provides a necessary missing layer. At the very start, there is a detail that people might’ve missed. That detail redefines everything. It’s a newspaper headline that Kara has, in fact, saved lives on Earth. The case is minor, saving cats, but the connotation is enormous.
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Kara is not lacking her superhero spirit. She is merely working on the fringes, shadowed by a cousin who is what people expect her to be like. That is agonizingly deliberate. The front page is dominated by Superman, the icon of hope and perfection. ‘Supergirl’ is in the lesser column, recognized but neglected. It is a visual metaphor directly out of the comics, in which Kara frequently has a problem with comparison, identity, and the unattainable norm that Kal-El has established.
In that light, it is much more understandable why she is a part of the Justice Gang. Kara is not a random party girl who was forced to join a superhero lineup; she is already a known hero. However, she has not yet fully or publicly accepted the role. She shows up when needed, even if she doesn’t stay long. She helps, even if she doesn’t want the spotlight. This is why her appearance in the retconned scene succeeds. The Justice Gang is too late to save Peacemaker, and Kara’s involvement feels consistent with someone who can be there, but isn’t always.
