Kara Zor-El has had a varied comic book history, but Woman of Tomorrow stands out as a crucial piece in her modern portrayal. The miniseries, which debuted in 2021 to rave reviews, has become the go-to recommendation for those looking to delve into the world of Supergirl. Its success was further solidified when James Gunn revealed that the upcoming DC movie universe would draw inspiration from the book.
With the anticipation building for the Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow movie, directed by Craig Gillespie and starring Milly Alcock as Kara, the comic has become a staple in DC’s lineup. The film is not just borrowing the book’s title but also weaving in its world and characters. The cast and visuals of the movie are directly influenced by the comic, creating a seamless connection between the two mediums.
During a recent visit to London, the creative team behind Woman of Tomorrow – writer Tom King, penciller Bilquis Evely, and colorist Matheus Lopes – reflected on their journey. Despite working together remotely for years, it was their first in-person meeting. The camaraderie between them was evident, with King expressing admiration for his collaborators and their ability to bring his vision to life.
The trio’s unique collaboration process during the pandemic resulted in a successful comic series. King’s ability to envision Evely’s artwork in his mind allowed for a seamless creative process, culminating in a visually stunning final product. Their partnership has extended beyond DC, with potential future projects already in the works.
The bond between King, Evely, and Lopes is what initially drew them to Supergirl. Their shared passion for storytelling and artistic expression fueled the creation of Woman of Tomorrow. The decision to work on the comic was influenced by the opportunity to collaborate with talented individuals and bring a fresh perspective to the character of Supergirl. “I’m not sure. She shares the same values as Superman,” King explained. “But he disagreed, saying she has different values because she experienced things Superman hasn’t. She witnessed the destruction of her planet Krypton at a young age, along with other traumatic events. She carries a burden that Superman, who grew up in a more optimistic environment, doesn’t understand. It’s a unique perspective on being a hero in the sky.”
Kara isn’t the only focus in Woman of Tomorrow. Ruthye Marye Knoll, a young woman from another world seeking revenge for her father’s death, becomes a central figure in Kara’s journey. The story was inspired by an Odyssey-like plot, with Ruthye and Supergirl offering each other chances for revenge. Initially, Supergirl was meant to be the veteran, but Ruthye’s character was created to complement the story.
Evely and Lopes approached the design of Ruthye and Kara differently. Ruthye’s design was influenced by cosmic images, focusing on details that reflect her history and emotions. Kara’s design, on the other hand, aimed to show her maturity and experiences subtly through her appearance and body language.
The creators aimed to bring a new aesthetic to Woman of Tomorrow, exploring different planets and worlds to showcase diversity. Evely brought a cosmic aesthetic from The Dreaming to Supergirl, while Lopes focused on creating a psychedelic yet warm colorscape to differentiate each location in the story.
Their collaboration on Woman of Tomorrow was influenced by their previous work on The Dreaming. Lopes chose the style for the comic before fully reading it, aiming to bring color and creativity to a dark time during the pandemic. Even before Supergirl, I was determined to create a bright and vibrant world and universe,” said the artist. “I think that’s the magic of art. Tom, Bilquis, and I were all in the right headspace at the time, which resulted in the creation of Supergirl.” The artist continued, “The darker tone of Woman of Tomorrow, driven by Ruthye’s quest for vengeance, also stemmed from that same headspace. Despite the dark themes, I always try to add a sense of beauty and comfort to my work, even in a sad environment.” The artist reflected on their own struggles and burnout while working on the series, but found joy and rediscovered their style through the process.
The book’s exploration of tragedy and overcoming challenges resonated with the writer, who saw Kara as a character haunted by her creator’s personal loss. The writer aimed to portray Kara as a strong and compassionate character, shaped by her tragic origins and experiences. The team’s vision for Supergirl struck a chord with fans and even caught the attention of filmmakers James Gunn and Peter Safran, who announced plans for a Supergirl film inspired by the comic. The team was surprised and excited by the news, with the artist expressing gratitude for the opportunity to see their work adapted for the big screen.
Despite previous experience in the DC film realm, seeing Woman of Tomorrow become part of a larger cinematic vision was a moving experience for the writer. The writer joked about trying to stay cool in front of producers while secretly wiping away tears at the scope of the project. The artist also shared their excitement at the prospect of the film, noting the dedication and talent of the film crew. The writer also mentioned a conversation with Brian Michael Bendis about the impact of his work on culture, highlighting the significance of storytelling in the comic book world. Mereka mendapatkan foto bersamanya, dan setelah itu kami berjalan di lorong, dia berhenti sekitar tujuh kali,” ujar King. “Dan aku merasa setiap kali dia berbalik padaku dia hanya seperti ‘Miles adalah hadiah. Itu hanya hadiah. Seperti berjalan mengelilingi hadiah sepanjang hari.’ Begitulah perasaan Supergirl. Itu seperti sebuah hadiah, itu luar biasa.”© Warner Bros. Dan dengan hadiah itu, ada rasa kepemilikan yang aneh dari tim Woman of Tomorrow atas visi khusus karakter ini. Mereka tidak memiliki Supergirl, tentu saja, tetapi Woman of Tomorrow adalah Supergirl mereka. “Aku merasa cara dia mempersembahkan dirinya adalah sesuatu yang kita ciptakan,” kata Evely. “Cara dia bersikap, dan, berbicara, dan terlihat, aku merasa ini dari kita. Aku suka berpikir mungkin orang lain juga mengingatnya seperti itu.” “Menyisihkan kepemilikan dan properti, dan semua hal birokratis tentang itu, ya, aku merasa seperti dia sebagian milik kita,” tambah Lopes. “Kami menciptakan komik itu dan itu milik kami. Aku memberikan warna biru yang lebih terang kepada Kara [di Woman of Tomorrow]. Pada sampul variasi saya untuk seri Supergirl baru, aku memastikan saya menggambarnya dengan warna biru yang lebih gelap – karena Woman of Tomorrow memiliki biru yang lebih terang [di pakaiannya]. Ada banyak cahaya dalam buku itu, dan cahayanya lebih bersinar.” “Kara memiliki banyak makna bagi saya. Ini adalah cerita yang selalu kukatakan: Aku selalu suka menggambar sejak saya masih sangat muda, saya selalu suka menciptakan karakter dan cerita. Tetapi saya tidak tahu melakukan komik [adalah karier yang layak], karena di Brasil memang tidak ada seperti itu. Kami tidak memiliki akses ke banyak komik,” Evely menyimpulkan. “Ketika saya remaja, saya berada di toko kertas, dan saya melihat jempol dari Supergirl di sampul – saya mengenalnya dari kartun, dari televisi. Tetapi ada sedikit teks di sampul yang mengatakan ‘Oh, digambar oleh seniman Brasil.’ Itu adalah pekerjaan nyata, dan dilakukan oleh seorang Brasil? Saya juga bisa melakukan itu?’ “Jadi ketika saya mulai bekerja pada Woman of Tomorrow, saya sudah bekerja selama 10 tahun dengan komik pada titik itu. Saya tidak pernah mencoba mengajukan untuknya, tetapi kemudian saya melihat pitch dari Tom, itu terasa sempurna. Saya bisa menggambar lebih banyak fantasi, dan lanskap bintang yang saya cintai. Seperti yang saya katakan, saya berada dalam momen yang sangat stres saat bekerja di awalnya. Dalam proses membuat halaman, saya merasa seperti mulai jatuh cinta lagi dengan komik,” lanjut Evely. “Supergirl… Saya menemukan pekerjaan masa depan saya melalui dia. Dan kemudian dia menyelamatkan saya lagi, dan membawa saya kembali ke apa yang benar-benar saya cintai. Woman of Tomorrow adalah buku yang mewakili semua itu bagi saya sekarang.” “Saya tidak mulai membaca komik sampai saya sedikit lebih tua,” tambah Lopes. “Saya belum membaca komik Supergirl sebelum bekerja dengan Tom dan Bilquis. Cerita saya dimulai dengan dia di sana, tetapi saya jatuh cinta dengan karakter yang Tom dan Bilquis ciptakan untuk buku itu – dan sekarang dia telah mengubah hidup saya! Itulah karakter DC favorit saya sepanjang masa.” Bagi King, juga, ada resonansi khusus yang belum pernah dirasakannya saat menjelajahi siapa yang ditawarkan untuk petualangan DC berikutnya. “Sekali lagi, buku ini ditulis selama pandemi. Anak-anak saya berada di rumah dengan saya 24 jam saat itu ditulis. Putri saya berusia 10, 11 tahun saat itu, dan setiap halaman – setiap cerita, setiap akhir, awal, kami akan membicarakannya hanya agar kami memiliki sesuatu untuk dibicarakan,” refleksi King. “Dan saat membuat buku, aku tidak bermaksud melakukan ini, tetapi akhirnya aku ingin… Aku mencoba membuat seseorang sekompleks dan sekeren dan sesegar dan sesayang dan setangguh putriku. Buku ini akan selalu menjadi momen antara kami berdua saat dunia agak tertinggal.” “Saat dia tumbuh dewasa, saya masih akan memiliki buku ini. Itu indah.” © Bilquis Evely dan Matheus Lopes/DC Comics Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow tersedia dalam beberapa format lengkap, di mana pun komik-komik bagus dijual. Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, film, saat ini dijadwalkan rilis pada Juni 2026. Wawancara ini telah diedit dan disingkat untuk kejelasan. Ingin berita io9 lebih banyak? Lihat kapan harapkan rilis Marvel, Star Wars, dan Star Trek terbaru, apa yang akan terjadi selanjutnya untuk DC Universe di film dan TV, dan semua yang perlu Anda ketahui tentang masa depan Doctor Who.