CBS" "Supergirl" is rare female superhero, embracing her powers

Melissa Benoist and Mehcad Brooks, stars of CBS" "Supergirl" (Monday, 8:30 p.m. ET/PT), give USA TODAY"s Bill Keveney a peek at what"s in store for the first season. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY

Melissa Benoist plays the title character in CBS" "Supergirl."(Photo: Matthias Clamer, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.)

BURBANK, Calif. Watch out, villains! Superman has a crime-fighting cousin: Supergirl.

The younger hero, a Krypton native who resisted her super powers growing up, embraces them as a 24-year-oldwho protects her earthly home, National City,froman intergalactic criminal onslaught in CBS Supergirl (Monday, 8:30 p.m. ET/PT).

Its all brand new. Shes just happy to use her powers at all, says Melissa Benoist, who plays TVs newest superhero and her alter ego, Kara Danvers, a mild-mannered assistant for a great, metropolitan multimedia empire.

I like to think of this season as a crash course in how to be a superhero, she says. Its about someone learning and understanding who they are and how to harness their strength and use it to be the best possible person they can be.

And to fight nasty villains,save National Cityand try out some very cool powers.

Every time Im flying, Im having a blast, Benoist says on set, clad in her Colleen Atwood-designed outfit, complete with knee-high boots, short skirt and leather cape, all in red, contrasted by a texturedblue jersey sporting theiconic red S.

Kara Danvers (Melissa Benoist), aka Supergirl, right, talks to CatCo colleague James Olsen (Mehcad Brooks) in CBS" "Supergirl."(Photo: Michael Yarish, CBS)

The fun of entering the DC Comics canon cant be underestimated, says Chyler Leigh (Greys Anatomy), who plays Alex Danvers, Kara/Supergirls adoptive sister and a top scientist and operative at a secret agency.

Everybodys inner nerd loves the comics and that whole life, says Leigh, decked out in an all-black agency ensemble complete with a utility belt that might make Batman envious.

Executive producer Greg Berlanti, who"s had success overseeing CW"s DC Comics-inspired Arrow and The Flash, sees a connection between Benoist and Christopher Reeve, who played Superman in Richard Donners 1978 film.

Melissas very optimistic and hopeful, qualities you see in Kara, he says. She exhibits what I think (Reeve) did in terms of that affability and familiarity. When shes Supergirl, its that same innocence that he had as Superman, but still that inherent goodness. Its just so cool to be part of something that honors that tradition."

Chyler Leigh, left, Melissa Benoist and David Harewood star in CBS" "Supergirl."(Photo: Sonja Flemming, CBS)

Supergirls optimism is closer to The Flash than the darker Arrow, Berlanti says.

The mythology is epic. You can go off-planet and (have) flashbacks to Krypton, he says. And the workplace comedy component is different, too. The fact that were able to do a little bit of that screwball comedy (Superman was)able to do so successfully makes it a little different.

In a field long dominated by men, Supergirl provides a superhero role model for girls and young women, but she symbolizes values anyone could admire, Benoist says. That could help on CBS, which offers an opportunity to attract a broader audiencethan the smaller CW, but also greater expectations.

Supergirl is a positive thinker,Benoistsays. Shes all about hope and being good and kindness and doing the right thing, helping others. Its not always all about her.

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Source: http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2015/10/23/cbs-supergirl-rare-female-superhero-embracing-her-powers/74412628/