| Supergirl: Many Happy Returns | |
| December 2002 — May 2003 | |
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| Writers | Peter David |
| Artists | Ed Benes |
| Comic Book Story Arcs | |
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Supergirl: Many Happy Returns is a storyline told in the pages of the Supergirl comic book. It features the temporary return of the original Supergirl to the Post-Crisis universe and her team-up with the Post-Crisis Earth Angel Supergirl.
Supergirl #75
- Date: December 2002
- Written by Peter David
- Pencils: Ed Benes
- Inks: Alex Lei
- Colors: Brad Anderson
- Cover by Rob Haynes
Linda Danvers (New Earth) goes back to Leesburg after getting her full power back, and finds that her parents are expecting a baby... and a new villain called Rebel has set up shop in her hometown.
After engaging and defeating several goons hired by Rebel, Linda is peacefully catching up with her parents when she sees a space rocket about to crash-land on Leesburg. Using her newly-recovered telekinesis and flight power, Linda manages to divert the falling spacecraft, which lands on a nearby woodland. When she flies down to check the rocket out, a girl wearing a Superman-like costume emerges out of it: Kara Zor-El, as well known as the Pre-Crisis Supergirl.
As Linda is trying to figure out who that girl is and where she came from, Rebel chooses that time to appear, riding a flying spaceship with which he hopes to destroy Supergirl. However, his weapons are not a match for an Earth-One Kryptonian. Kara easily and single-handedly destroys his ship and drives him off. Unfortunately she accidentally hurts Linda, who furiously accuses her from being Buzz or another enemy looking to mess with her head. Kara gets upset and then angry and flies away fo find her cousin.
Supergirl #76
- Date: January 2003
- Written by Peter David
- Pencils: Ed Benes
- Inks: Alex Lei
- Colors: Digital Chameleon
- Cover by Rob Haynes
After some hesitation, Linda decides to follow her. Linda and Kara meet Superboy, but before both teens can be properly introduced, Kara's super-hearing senses trouble is brewing in Metropolis and takes off right away. Linda and Kon follow her, and the trio manages stop a Dinosaur-rampage caused by Mister Mxyzptlk. During the battle Kara meets Kal-El. Unfortunately Superman doesn't know she is his cousin, believing her to be an obsessed fangirl instead, and turns her down before Kara can explain.
Being rejected by her last living relative is too much for Kara and she has a breakdown. Linda and Kon take her to S.T.A.R. Labs where Dr. Faulkner corroborates her Kryptonian origins. Since Kara has nowhere to stay now, Linda convinces her parents to allow her stay in their house for a while.
Supergirl #77
- Date: February 2003
- Written by Peter David
- Pencils: Ed Benes
- Inks: Alex Lei
- Colors: Digital Chameleon
- Cover by Rob Haynes
Linda enrols Kara in her school as a way to help her adapt to Earth, while teaching her how to be a hero. Meanwhile, Rebel is packing his belongings, determined to skip town, when he is approached by a weird humanoid called Fatalist who claims to be able to give him power enough to defeat both Supergirls. Fatalist turns Rebel into a kind of cyborg, and the villain strikes Stanhope College.
Supergirl #78
- Date: March 2003
- Written by Peter David
- Pencils: Ed Benes
- Inks: Alex Lei
- Colors: Digital Chameleon
- Cover by Ed Benes
Kara and Linda defeat Rebel and drive him off again. As they are chasing his fugitive self, The Spectre and Fatalist appear and start arguing in front of both girls. The Spectre reveals that Kara doesn't belong in that world. Fatalist was the responsible for her rocket changing course and arriving on that dimension. And unless she goes back to her own world, the whole Multiverse will be destroyed. However, The Spectre warns that if she returns, she will eventually get killed in action.
Kara -who is still a fifteen-year-old girl rather than the veteran, powerful and fearless adult hero that she will become- gets frightened when learning about her fate. Upon seeing her friend scared and crying, Lina makes a decision: she tricks Kara into leaving the place, and rides her rocket back to Earth-One, intending to replace her friend and get killed in her place. Kara flies back when she realizes what Linda is planning, but she is too late to stop her.
Supergirl #79
- Date: April 2003
- Written by Peter David
- Pencils: Ed Benes
- Inks: Alex Lei
- Colors: Digital Chameleon
- Cover by Ed Benes
Linda travels back in time and through the dimensional barrier to arrive on Earth-One and meet that universe's Superman. She pretends to be Kara Zor-El for years until Kal-El reveals he knew she was not his cousin all along and he has fallen for her. After a while, Linda and Kal get married and have a daughter, Ariella Kent. Five years later the Crisis on Infinite Earths breaks out, and the Spectre appears before Linda. Linda tells him she is ready. She loves that universe and her family and is not afraid to die for them.
However, The Spectre explains she cannot replace Kara. She was allowed to make the attempt because her wish was noble, but she isn't powerful enough to hurt the Anti-Monitor. To make things worse, a villain called Xenon who hates those who bear the Supergirl name has kidnapped Kara and is about to kill her. Unless Linda goes back to her universe, saves Kara and sends her back to Earth-One, literally everything will die along with Kara.
Supergirl #80
- Date: May 2003
- Written by Peter David
- Pencils: Ed Benes
- Inks: Alex Lei
- Colors: Digital Chameleon
- Cover by John Romita Sr.
Linda becomes completely heart-broken. She travels back to her universe after making The Spectre promise Ariella would be spared and arrives just in time to save Kara's life. Linda fights Xenon, killing him in the process, knocks Kara out and reluctantly shoves her in her Kryptonian rocket. After Kara's spaceship exits atmosphere, Fatalist shows up to gloat, and Linda pounces on him, demanding to be told why he began that twisted game of emotional torture. Fatalist admits that curiosity was his only motivation before teleporting away, leaving Linda alone.
That night Linda sees visions of Kara meeting Superman and Ariella flying happily across the galaxy. They lessen her pain a bit, but not enough. She feels she has let down everyone she loves and failed as a hero. She quits her hero identity and takes off for parts unknown after sending Superman a letter explaining her decision.