The difference between supergirl and superman powers

By Sofia that
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Supergirl is expected to return greatly to film world, with its first feature film since the 1980s version starring Helen Slater. Audiences teased with appearance at the end of 2025’s Superman and the new Supergirl arrives in theaters in 2026.

Wondering what to expect? Will she be a Superman girl alone? Maybe not. These are the differences between Superman and Supergirl powers.

How Supergirl started

It all started in 1938 when Superman was created by authors Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel. Superman made his first ever appearance Action Comics #1. Supergirl arrived much later, created by author Otto Binder and artist Al Plastino for Action Comics #252 Back in 1959.

Supergirl was written as a Biological Superman cousin

Originally, Supergirl, whose real name is Kara Zor-El, is written as a Biological Superman cousin. Later when comic writers wanted to establish Superman as the last son of Krypton, her roots were slightly mixed, with a wide variety of characters using Supergirl alias.

Supergirl roots have changed a lot

Superman has always been written as an orphan who escaped from the death of the planet Krypton as a baby, only to be raised by human beings here on the planet Earth. Supergirl roots are much less simple and have been repeatedly changed over her life in fiction. In her most basic form though, she was a teenager when Krypton exploded and came to the ground as someone rose not as a human or American, but as Kryptonic.

Supergirl history on screen

While Superman has been Game off and on in the movies for decades, Supergirl faded from memory after that one awkward movie back in 1984. The character found new life in 2004 with a reintroduction in central Dc comics Story lines. More recently, Supergirl had at home on television, where the CW gave the Supergirl TV Series numerous seasons.

Supergirl and Superman’s close relationship

But in terms of Superman (Aka Clark Kent) and Supergirl (Aka Kara Zor-El), what you probably marvel is: what’s the difference? Besides their gender, that is.

Both Kryptonic characters have been intertwined since the introduction of Supergirl. And yet, while their similar names and backgrounds might lead you to believe them exactly the same, they actually have some major differences in their super-power capabilities.

Supergirl’s basic powers

Superman and Supergirl have the same basic power sets. Both characters can fly, invisible, have great strength, higher speed, higher hearing, higher vision, heat vision, and extremely strong cold breath. But where Superman was brought up on the ground and grown in his powers, Kara did not. Supergirl newer to this whole superhero thing and does not have the experience clark has in using its powers. That leaves her struggling to defeat villains that her Superman cousin could easily have been pulled down.

So supergirl’s Strength Compares to Superman

Superman and Supergirl (at least in their current incarnations … others have been Krypton. Like all Kryptonians, they draw their strength from the yellow sun of the earth. Superman has spent much more time on Earth than Supergirl, so it has absorbed more energy from our sun. That means Superman is much stronger than his female mate.

Supergirl has powers but Superman is not

Eventually, after spending time on the ground, Kara Zor-El highlighted new powers never developed by Clark Kent. The supergirl mythos explain these as a result of the natural difference between male and female Kryptonic bodies. Basically, Supergirl processes energy from our yellow sun differently than Superman does. These other powers are in different forms, but in particular, Supergirl is known to highlight protective crystals at times of stress as a form of protection.

Supergirl’s Power Circle

A recent comic book Supergirl’s story lines have gained a power cycle from the A red lantern. This ring gives her powers similar to the powers of Green lanternsOnly where the green lantern circle is powered by the power of a will, the Supergirl Red Circle is completely powered by rabies.

Permanent connection

Given their roots, Supergirl and Superman will always be connected, but over the years, DC writers have taken them on different routes. Whether it’s on TV, in movies, or in print, all will fly to their separate fate and a separate success.