DC Comics’ Future State initiative comes on the heels of the recently concluded Dark Nights: Death Metal crossover event. Future State jumps ahead to one of several possible outcomes in the aftermath of the emergency. Naturally, this glimpse into the future creates as many questions as it answers. Future State: Kara Zor-El, Superwoman #1 finds Superman’s cousin in self-exile on Earth’s moon in the year 2050. Kara has embraced a life of non-violence while caring for refugees on the lunar surface. But an unexplained headstone and ambiguous apology have Reddit users wondering: Did Superwoman just kill Krypto the Superdog?
Preview pages of Future State: Kara Zor-El, Superwoman #1 caused a stir amongst comic book readers on the popular social discussion website, Reddit. A user calling themselves ZeroNautics posted the final page of the aforementioned comic in which Kara Zor-El unleashes her heat vision on an unseen opponent. As she attacks, Kara declares, “I’m sorry, Krypto. But not sorry enough.” Shocked Reddit users responded with questions like, “She’s not... lasering Krypto is she?!” and “Did she just kill Krypto?” Superwoman’s furious onslaught, coupled with another preview image of a mysterious headstone, have avid readers fearing the worst.
The subsequent release of Future State: Kara Zor-El, Superwoman #1 has cleared up a number of misconceptions. In the comic, Supergirl reveals that she had long struggled with feelings of inadequacy while working alongside Superman and Superboy. After having a falling out with Jonathan Kent, Kara embraced pacifism and left Earth, establishing a refugee camp on the moon. Now, years later, a refugee named Lynari has come to the lunar surface seeking shelter. Lynari is a confused teenager who only recently inherited her superpowers. These powers are derived from a crystal called the Starfall Jewel. When evil elements arrive to kill Lynari and take the jewel, Superwoman is forced to defend her young friend.
Supergirl was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino for Action Comics #252 in 1959. Twenty-six years later, the character suffered one of the most tragic deaths in comic book history in the pages of Crisis on Infinite Earths #7. The Supergirl mantle would be held by several other individuals until Kara Zor-El’s return to continuity in 2011. Sometime between the conclusion of Death Metal and the beginning of Future State, Kara abandons the Supergirl moniker in favor of Superwoman. Future State: Kara Zor-El, Superwoman #1 is written by Marguerite Bennett, with art by Marguerite Sauvage.
DC Comics’ Future State: Kara Zor-El, Superwoman #1 doesn’t solve the mystery of Krypto’s death. While the heat vision attack at the end of the book was aimed at Lynari’s would-be killer, the question of Krypto’s tombstone remains unanswered. If Krypto accompanied Kara to the moon how did he die? Was it one of Superman’s rogue gallery? The refugees? Some as-of-yet unidentified malevolent force? Presumably, Kryptonian dogs live shorter lives than their bipedal owners. Krypto may have just passed of old age. Or was Kara forced to put Krypto down as some have theorized? While the latter seems unlikely, anything is possible in DC’s Future State.
Source: Reddit