Supergirl, Maiden of Might, Girl of Steel. These are all monikers and nicknames that fans have readily accepted for Kara Zor-El. And there is no denying that they are exceptionally badass and also echo Superman’s own iconic monikers, which gives them even more weight. However, Kara has just accepted a new codename to replace Supergirl, and not a single fan is going to like it.
The preview for Sophie Campbell’s upcomingSupergirl#3 has dropped, with fans able to find the four-page preview below. This issue appears to pick up where the last one left off, with Kara teaming up with Lena Luthor after discovering that the Kryptonian Lesla-Lar from the bottled city of Kandor has stolen her identity as Supergirl.
In issue #2, the people of Midvale began referring to Kara as“Phonygirl,”believing her to be the impostor. While readers initially took this as an insult,Kara has now fully and willingly adopted the moniker, something that will undoubtedly surprise many.
Why Has Kara Zor-El Willingly Accepted“Phonygirl”as Her New Moniker?
Main Cover by Sophie Campbell forSupergirl#2 (2025)
Despite being labeled an impostor in the previous issue,Supergirl#3 sees Kara continuing to help the people of Midvale to the best of her ability. Her efforts lead the citizens to recognize that she means no harm, and they begin to see her as a hero again. However, in every interaction,they still refer to her as Phonygirl rather than Supergirl.
Through Kara’s internal monologue, her thoughts and feelings about being called Phonygirl are also revealed. She notes, “Well I guess my old costume isn’t working. I’m still Phonygirl for the time being…. I’ll have to get used to it until I can straighten this whole mess out.”Kara is clearly not thrilled about the moniker change, but she has accepted it as her current reality.
To clarify, when Kara refers to her “old costume,”she is referring to her recent suit change-up, which is a result ofLesla destroying her main Supergirl outfitin the previous issue. Lesla attempted to brand Kara as a“phony”by destroying her suit, forcingKara to use one of her old costumeswhile she worked on repairing her main one. So the moniker change isn’t the only shift Kara has undergone.
The suit that Kara is currently wearing as Phonygirl is her blouse-and-shorts combo from 1974. While the outfit is somewhat chic and cute,there is no denying that its casual appearance makes it look like a knockoff Supergirl suit, the kind any random person could throw together in their basement. In a strange way, her throwback look actually suits the new Phonygirl identity.
Who Is Lesla-Lar & Why Did She Steal Supergirl’s Identity?
Comic Pages Come from Sophie Campbell’sSupergirl#2 (2025)
Some fansmay now be wondering who Lesla-Laris and why Kara is allowing her to steal her name while accepting the title of Phonygirl.While Lesla was reintroduced inSupergirl#1, she’s not a new character.She has a long history inSupergirlcomics, though many readers have either forgotten her or never heard of her before.
Lesla-Lar first appeared inAction Comics#279 (1961) by Henry Boltinoff and Jerry Siegel. She was originally known as a double and enemy of Supergirl, as well as one of the many Kryptonians living in the bottled city of Kandor. In Campbell’s version, she is reintroduced inSupergirl#1 asa former fan of Kara who becomes bitter and jealous over time.
Campbell also depicts Lesla as a lonely figure in Kandor who dabbles in eccentric inventions. Tired of being a nobody, she escapes Kandor, gains Kryptonian powers, and steals Kara’s identity, parents, and name.Her goal is to become the person she once idolized, but now envies.In short, Lesla wanted to be adored like Supergirl, so she decided to become her.
Why Is Supergirl Letting Lesla-Lar Steal Her Identity?
Cover B Stanley ‘Artgerm’ Lau Variant forSupergirl#2 (2025)
Even though Kara has uncovered Lesla-Lar’s true identity, Lesla is still a major threat. She not only has Kryptonian powers, but also dangerous inventions that Kara knows little about. These unknown variables make her too risky to confront directly without more information. Additionally,Kara’s adoptive parents are essentially being held hostage.
Lesla has not only stolen Supergirl’s identity, but also quite literally taken her family. Using one of her devices, she has brainwashed Kara’s parents into believing that she is their real daughter. With her parents under the control of a mentally unstable villain,Kara has no choice but to be more methodical in her plan to reclaim her name and her life.
Fortunately, Supergirl now has her own super-genius ally following her recent reunion with Lena Luthor. Previous issues established that Lena will be working alongside Kara, with the duo combining their strengths to confront Lesla-Lar and help Kara reclaim her identity. With Lena’s intellect and Kara’s power, there’s little doubt that together they can defeat Lesla and restore theSupergirlname where it truly belongs.
