One of the most frustrating “will-they or won’t-they” romances in the DC Universe has always been Supergirl and Brainiac 5, a pair forever hovering on the brink of something more. In recent DC stories, that potential has largely faded into the background… until now. Fans have just received a surprisingly wholesome update.
Legion of Super-Heroes portrayed the two with a rivals-to-lovers energy….
For over 64 years, DC has teased a romance between Supergirl and Brainiac 5. This ship remains one of DC’s most inventive dynamics, given that Kara is Superman’s cousin and Brainiac 5 descends from Superman’s mortal enemy.
The idea of a Super-Family hero and a Brainiac heir choosing love over legacy subverts the classic Superman vs. Brainiac rivalry in a compelling way. Unfortunately, DC has never fully committed to the pairing in the way fans want to see. However, a recent release suggests the publisher may finally be open to exploring it further.
Supergirl and Brainiac’s Romance Gets Long-Awaited Return in DC’s Holiday Special
Comic Panel Comes from Ash Padilla’s Holiday Woes in DC’s I Saw Ma Hunkel Kissing Santa Claus #1 (2025) – Art by Anthony Marques
Last week, DC released its holiday special, DC’s I Saw Ma Hunkel Kissing Santa Claus #1. This anthology features various stories from various creators, with Ash Padilla and Anthony Marques’s Holiday Woes being a Supergirl-centric tale that finds her spirits low until a surprise evening with a handsome stranger lifts them.
The two share a romantically-coded evening before parting ways. Yet, in the final panels, unbeknownst to Kara, the stranger removes his disguise and reveals himself as Brainiac 5. When his friend Imra asks if he kissed Supergirl, he tells her no, explaining that he and Kara weren’t ready for that, but that when they are, they’ll find each other again.
This short story once again revives the ‘will-they or won’t-they’ dynamic between Brainiac 5 and Supergirl. Its open-ended, hopeful conclusion suggests more may come for Kara and Brainiac 5, making it clear DC hasn’t forgotten this romance. As a result, fans now see a genuine chance the relationship could finally be explored in future comics.
A Brief History of Supergirl and Brainiac’s Relationship (& Why It’s So Frustrating)
Cover B Ryan Sook Variant for DC’s I Saw Ma Hunkel Kissing Santa Claus #1 (2025)
Supergirl and Brainiac 5 first met in Action Comics #276 (1961), in the backup story “Supergirl’s Three Super Girl-Friends,” where both Kara and Brainiac 5 try out for the Legion of Super-Heroes. In this tale, Brainiac saves Kara and asks her to stay with him. However, since Brainiac 5 exists in the 30th century and Supergirl in the 20th, she ultimately declines and returns to her time.
Since their initial meeting, DC has revisited the romantic tension between them time and time again. Still, they have never reached the long-lasting couple status or commitment fans hoped for. Yet thanks to projects like Legion of Super-Heroes(2023), interest in the pair has skyrocketed, showing how strongly modern audiences connect with their dynamic.
Legion of Super-Heroes portrayed the two with a rivals-to-lovers energy that made their dynamic even more compelling for contemporary readers. These small glimpses of what a full Brainiac 5 and Supergirl romance could offer DC’s narrative make it all the more frustrating that the company still hasn’t fully committed to exploring the pairing in the comics.
DC’s I Saw Ma Hunkel Kissing Santa Claus #1 is available now from DC Comics!
- Created By
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John Byrne, Peter David, Wally Wood, Otto Binder, Gary Frank, Al Plastino
- Alias
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Kara Zor-El
