DC Finest: Supergirl: Body and Soul

DC Finest: Supergirl #1

by Peter David, Gary Frank (Illustrator), Terry Dodson (Illustrator)

The Girl of Steel - Reborn!
Linda Danvers was headed down a dark path. Her rebellious nature strained her relationship with her parents. She struggled to make ends meet as an artist. And her dubious boyfriend Buzz’s obsession with the occult led to her being sacrificed during a botched ritual.
But that wasn’t the end of Linda.
While investigating the cult that Buzz was involved with, Matrix, the protoplasmic entity posing as the current Supergirl, came across the near-dead Linda and saved her by fusing the two of them together into a single being. Now sharing Matrix’s memories and powers, Linda is more than just a super-fan: she is the new Girl of Steel. Watch out world. Supergirl is back.

DC Finest: Supergirl: Body & Soul marks the beginning of acclaimed writer Peter David’s (The Incredible Hulk, Aquaman) astonishing reinvention of Supergirl with artists Gary Frank and Cam Smith, featuring stories published between September 1996 and February 1998. This volume collects tales from Showcase ’96 #8, Supergirl #1-18, Supergirl Annual #1-2, and Supergirl Plus #1.

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction

568 pages, Paperback

First published October 14, 2025

About the author

Peter Allen David (aka David Peters), often abbreviated PAD, was an American writer of comic books, novels, television, films, and video games. His notable comic book work includes an award-winning 12-year run on The Incredible Hulk, as well as runs on Aquaman, Young Justice, SpyBoy, Supergirl, Fallen Angel, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2099, Captain Marvel, and X-Factor.

His Star Trek work included comic books and novels such as the New Frontier book series. His other novels included film adaptations, media tie-ins, and original works, such as the Apropos of Nothing and Knight Life series. His television work includes series such as Babylon 5, Young Justice, Ben 10: Alien Force and Nickelodeon's Space Cases, which he co-created with Bill Mumy.

David often jokingly described his occupation as "Writer of Stuff", and he was noted for his prolific writing, characterized by its mingling of real-world issues with humor and references to popular culture, as well as elements of metafiction and self-reference.

David earned multiple awards for his work, including a 1992 Eisner Award, a 1993 Wizard Fan Award, a 1996 Haxtur Award, a 2007 Julie Award, and a 2011 GLAAD Media Award.

Reviews

[Bob Fish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sadly, only half of this is filled with Frank's iconic badass Supergirl !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvmqR...

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

my true rating for this is two and a half but since goodreads doesn’t do half stars it has to be a 3

unfortunately this did not land as well as i wanted it to. i think part of it is that i just do not really connect with the themes of religion and faith as much, to me it feels like it was a very prominent theme (clearly) but it also didn’t feel like anything that was done with it was that interesting. individually i think it did have it’s moments but overall it didn’t catch my attention that much but that could be because it ends at issue 18 so maybe i need to continue reading this run to get a full scope of where it goes

[Ignacio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Muy buen comienzo de etapa que me ha gustado releer para recordar ese primer arco en el que Peter David trabaja sobre un personaje menor hasta darle entidad centrándose en el libre albedrío, el potencial para el bien y el mal que llevamos dentro, la capacidad para generar cambios a nuestro alrededor... Estas ideas, sembradas en un argumento particularmente inmisericorde para los personajes secundarios (sectas satánicas, villanos que toman el control de la mente y desatan todo el potencial para la violencia), se resiente un poco por la inclusión de un par de anuales no escritos por David que, aun contando con buenos guionistas (Chuck Dixon y Tom Peyer), se alejan demasiado del curso marcado por él; y por la salida de Gary Frank, que, aun primerizo, al menos dibuja completo el primer arco. Aquí le sucede un Leonard Kirk todavía más verde, que empieza a mostrar sus cualidades para retratar la vertiente no superheroica, una de las fortalezas de la serie.

[Ángel Javier · Rating 4 out of 5]

La mejor etapa jamás escrita de la Chica de Acero. Ni Tom King ni leches: la Supergirl definitiva es la de Peter David y Gary Frank, más tarde meritoriamente ilustrada por Leonard Kirk. Este tomo de DC Finest, como la gran mayoría de estos, resulta imprescindible, aunque probablemente tarden varios años en completar la espléndida colección de David. El volumen recupera los primeros 18 episodios de la serie, casi todos magníficos, y, lamentablemente, dos anuales más malos que la peste, pero... supuestamente estamos ante etapas integrales, con lo que no queda otra. Lo bueno es que los antedichos anuales se pueden simplemente ignorar y ya está, porque no aportan absolutamente nada a la historia principal. Otro problema que tuvo que sufrir la cole son los cruces con eventos malísimos, aunque los números de Supergirl aguantan relativamente bien sin que el lector tenga que conocer nada de toda esa basura.

En fin, honremos la memoria de Peter David releyendo en una digna edición estos excelentes cómics.

[Stephen Ede-Borrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This iteration of Supergirl is, perhaps, my least favourite and David's witing of her (and of Power Girl for that matter) often feels as though he doesn't know how to finish a story - with a relatively complex storyline rushed to an unsatisfactory and hurried ending (see both the LRon/Despero and the Silver Banshee storylines as prime examples).
Overall I think I did enjoy this but was not really impressed with Peter David's writing - there are far better Supergirl stories out there.
Worth reading but 'could do better'.

[Desire Manara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este tomo incluye los primeros dos años de la Supergirl de Peter David casi completos. Debo tener la mayoría en viejos tomos de Vid, pero no incluían annuals ni crossovers fuera de la colección.
Quizás sea la mejor manera de empezar con la serie de cero hoy en día.

[David Cobraestilo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gary Frank y Peter David. Dos bebés preciosos en lo más alto de su capacidades. Un éxito.

[Matt Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite being a consulted version of Supergirl this is the start of probably the best run of hers. Covers 1996-1998.

[Mariano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Que dolor cuando se va Gary Frank 😭.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5. Some interesting stuff here; some weird stuff, lol

[Will McClintock · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite reads in a while! Love this new take on Supergirl. Can’t wait for volume 2

[Wombo Combo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty solid, kinda weird, but fun

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Between a 3 to 3.5/5 stars.

[Niko Dasilva · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Erik J · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the character work. Love the art. Pacing was great.

What I didn't like was all the religious content. I did find it very offputting.

Overall - 4/5

[Batusi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun snapshot of Supergirl's adventures even if the stories can be somewhat uneven and bizarre.

Supergirl balances superheroics with her personal life, while contemplating her own identity as Linda/Supergirl.

Fans of Peter David's writing and Supergirl will appreciate the mid-late 90's charm despite the occasional odd story.

[Guido · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edición DC Finest con las aventuras de Supergirl-Matrix y los crossovers correspondientes.
Listado de personajes en construcción.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great exploration of faith, religion, and God in a superhero comic. This is nothing like any other supergirl book but it remains the greatest supergirl story I've ever read.