Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the 8th Grade/Tropes


 * Adaptation Expansion: While series does adapt the six comic book isdues that formed original series, they serve more as Wham Episodes during its first season, while the rest of the episodes features original stories. Also, the series continued after adapting all six comics.
 * Adaptation Name Change:
 * Supergirñ's civilian name in the series is the more traditional Kara Danvers instead Linda Lee as in the comics.
 * Due to this, Superior Girl's name is changed to Karen Danvers instead of Belinda Lee.
 * Adaptational Nice Guy: While still having a bit of an ego, Lena Luthor is far nicer in this version than, well, every other version, to the point of engaging on a Heel-Fave Turn on her own rather than Luthor removing her hate as was in the comics.
 * Adaptation Relationship Overhaul: Terry McGuinnis / Batman and Jaime Reyes / Blue Beetle appear as members of the Legion of Superheroes, which he never was in any other media.
 * And the Fandom Rejoiced!: Batman fans went wild when it was announced that not only woukd the Dark Knight himself would appear in season 2 voiced by Kevin Conroy, but that Duke Thomas' Robin, Cassandra Cain's Batgirl, and Terry McGuinnis' Batman voiced again by Will Friedle would be showing up too.
 * Arbitrary Skepticism: Alexandra doubts zombies exist even througth she lives with an alien in a world of suoerheroes and supervillains. Unlike most cases, however, she does provide a sound argument for her skepticism: While the existence of superheroes and supervillains does open the possibility of zombies being real, it dosen't actually prove they exist.
 * Ascended Extra: Kara's mother appears more promeniently than in the comics.
 * Brain Food: Averted. Solomon Grundy dosen't want to eat brains, and even points out the absurdity of zombies wanting to eat brains (as he notes, a dead corose has no functional disgestion system).
 * Casting Gag:
 * Nichelle Tom, who voiced Supergirl in the DC Animated Universe, voices Supergirl's mother here.
 * Steve Blum previously voiced the Joker-esque Green Goblin in The Spectacular Spider-Man. Here, he gets to voice the actual Crown Prince of Crime,
 * Composite Character:
 * While this version of Supergirl has the same personality as the source material's, her human name and adoptive family were adapted from more modern interpretations.
 * This version of Lex Luthor is generally more in line with his traditional potrayals, but his motivations are closer to his DC Extended Universe incarnation. And much like the DCEU version, he is the one to create Doomsday.
 * Darker and Edgier: While still generally lighthearted, the series is more emotional than the comics, particularly in the Kara/Lena storyline.
 * Fantastic Racism: Both Lex and Kena are convinced that super-powered beings are evil sociopaths. Lena overcomes this, througth.
 * Knight of Cerebus: The series' tone becomes darker whenver Lex Luthor shows up.
 * My God What Have I Done: Lena is hit hard with this when she realizes that Supergirl, whom she almost killed, truly is a good person.
 * Mythology Gag:
 * In episode 4, Alex shows Kara a rock concert, which she likes. In DC Superhero Girls (2019), Supergirl is a rock music fan.
 * Superior Girl's name is similar to a quip Hal Jordan made to Bumblebee in the aforementioned show.
 * Supergirl prevents a train from crashing by putting herself as a rail, much like Christopher Reeves' Superman did in his first movie.
 * Solomon Grundy claims that, in life, he operated at Jump City, home of tye Teen Titans, before moving to Metropolis.
 * While turning the school into Bizarros, Superior Girl muses whether to turn Superman into one, a clear nod to tge original Bizarro.
 * During the season one finale, Supergirl flies to the sun to regenerate, an iconic Suoerman pose.
 * At the end of season one, Lex suspects Kara did something to erase Lena's gatred of her. In the original comic book, he did that to save her.
 * Also, in The Stinger for the season one finale, as Lex begins his plans to create Doomsday, he says the line "If man won't kill the God, the Devil will" from Batman v. Superman: Dawn lf Justice.
 * In a season 2 episode, Batman first appears first appears doing his iconic pose from the opening of Batman: The Animated Series. Shortly after, he introduces himself to Supergirl by saying simply "I'm Batman".
 * The series' incarmation if the Bat-Family is the same one as the preschool show Batwheels.
 * Much like the Superman: The Animated Series crossover episode "World's Finest", Batman travels to Metropolid due to the Joker and LexLuthor making a deal.
 * Before entering Lex's house, the Joker disguises himself by wearing skin-toned make up, much like Jack Nicholson's version of the character did in Batman (1989).
 * Nightmare Fuel:
 * Solomon Grundy's appearance is... not easy to look at. And this version draws more from the smarter versions...
 * The effect of Lex's beliefs had on his sister are simply horrifying. She is so convinced that metahumans and aliens are evil that the moment she finds out Kara, her best and only friend, is Supergirl, she vows to kill her. And, hadn't Mr. Mxyzptl intervened in time, she woukd have.
 * Even worse, the girl was obviously torned between killimg her and befriending her. Just imagine the pain she would have from killing her best friend.
 * Mr. Mxyzptl himself is a really nasty piece of work.
 * For starters, he planted the idea of running away from home, from her family, just so he could use her is disgusting in and of itself. And then Paranoia Fuel hits when you remember he lirterally planted the idea on her head. God knows what else he could force anyone into doing without them even realizing it... or has.
 * Then there's him suggesting he may have destroyed Krypton to manipulate Supergirl. Even worse is that we never know if its true. If it is, then he killed billions for the sake of power. If it isn't, then he's using the deaths of billions to mess with somebody's mind.
 * If that wasn't enough, he can disguise himself for momths undetected under your nose. Another nice dosis of Paranoia Fuel.
 * How easily Mr. Mxyzptl convinces Karen to become a suoervillain. It both showcases his manipulative skills and how rotten Karen truly is. And this leads to...
 * The Bizarros. In this version, the entire student body brainwashed by Superior Girl with blue Kryptonite. That's right, for the sake of her ego, Superior Girl turned countless students into zombies.
 * Superior Girl's fate in the season one finale: Being frozen in crystal, while still awake and able to think.
 * The Stinger at the end of season 1 eill make Superman fans gasp collectively, as it shows Lex's plans to create Doomsday.
 * Role Reprise:
 * Tim Daly reprises his role from Superman: The Animated Series as the Man of Steel.
 * Kevin Michael Richardson reprises his role as Lex Luthor from Batman: The Brave and the Bold.
 * Kevin Conroy returns to voice Batman in season 2.
 * Spiritual Sucessor: To Batman: The Brave and the Bold, both being lighthearted DC animated series that know when to get serious.
 * Tearjerker:
 * Kara truly misses her home abd regrets running away, to the point if bursting into tears when she finally gets to talk with her mom again.
 * To see Kara and Lena's strong and sweet relationship crumble the second Lena finds out she's Supergirl is hesrtbreaking. They were everything the other had, and now, thanks to Kena's Fabtastic Racism, they lost the other.
 * Even worse with Lena secretly being torn by this. On the one hand, she loathes her due being Kryptonian. On the other... she clearly appreciated her friendship with Kara.
 * And when she sees how Kara's life in Argo was. She realized she was about to kill an innocent and good person out of misguided hated, and it breaks her. At this point, you just wsnt to give her a hug.
 * Lex and Lena had a strong relationship. So, to see Lena hate him due to what his warped phisolophy made her do, even if justified, still hurts.
 * Unexpected Character: The fact that the Legion of Superheroes appear in season 2 is not shocking. But that one of their members is Terry McGuinnis sure as hell is!
 * The Woobie: Kara starts off a just a child who rsn away because of a stupid decision she deeply regrets, and things only gets wirse when she is bullied at school snd one of the only friends she has harbors a Fantastic Racism towards aliens that leads her to almost killing Kara. And then she lears her decision to run away wasn't even hers, but the product of a manipulations of a being that wants to use her powers for himself. Damn...