The cover for the final issue of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is a contender for best of the year. The issue is set to come out on February 15th and will be the eighth of the series. The cover was illustrated by Bilquis Evely and colored by Matheus Lopes, both of whom showed off the cover on Twitter on November 19th.
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow has so far been a critical and commercial success for DC Comics. The story from Tom King, Bilquis Evely, and Matheus Lopes follows Supergirl as she travels across the galaxy with a companion named Ruthye, who seeks to hire Supergirl for a revenge mission against her father’s murderer. Supergirl agrees to hunt the murderer, a man named Krem, after he wounds Supergirl’s dog Krypto with a poisonous arrow.
In addition to creating covers for the entire series, Evely and Lopes have been working on the interior pages, as well. Perhaps best known for her work on The Dreaming, Bilquis Evely’s artwork is a perfect match for the story’s whimsical adventure through the galaxy. Evely’s work depicting a supernatural world in The Dreaming prepared her well to depict the strange planets and alien peoples Supergirl visits throughout the series. But the book’s often fun, airy nature shouldn’t be confused with softness. King’s specialty is to break down characters through rough, arduous trials, and he does just that. Supergirl and Ruthye face hard-hitting topics such as loss and grief while chasing the brutal criminal.
These strong pathos are on full display in Evely and Lopes’s cover. Ruthy is nowhere to be seen. Her sword is, though. The weapon has played a prominent role in the series. It was used to kill Ruthy’s father and she has offered it to Supergirl in exchange for killing Krem. Who or what foe Supergirl faces in the final issue is unknown, though she is certainly battle-worn on the cover. The superheroine's costume is torn and covered in blood as she sits on an alien beach, staring contemplatively out to sea.
Though readers won’t know what struggles King has in store for Supergirl until the issue comes out if the cover is any indication, the Girl of Steel is going to be put through the wringer. There has certainly been stiff competition throughout the year, but Bilquis’s detail combined with Lopes’s warm colors elevate this late entry into cover of the year status. Comic fans should not be surprised to see Supergirl's last cover on any best covers of the year list.