Dreamer, originally created for the CBS, then CW superhero show Supergirl, will make her debut in the main DCU continuity in Superman: Son of Kal-El #13. Played onscreen by trans activist and actor Nicole Maines, Dreamer is not DC’s first trans superhero. That distinction goes to Kate Godwin/Coagula, a member of the Doom Patrol. However, Dreamer is notably the first transgender superhero to ever appear on television.Nia Nal, or Dreamer as she’s called using her civilian identity, is the ancestor of Legion of Super-Heroes member Nura Nal aka Dream Girl. She has the dream-based powers of precognition, dream walking, astral projection, and astral projection. Her comic book appearance, per Screen Rant, will see Dreamer try to warn superman about Henry Bendix’s machinations, “but will this mysterious new ally’s premonition become a nightmare for Jonathan Kent?”

“Jon Kent and Nia Nal are two characters that have a lot in common, both as superheroes with the weight of the world on their shoulders, and as young people with impossibly big shoes to fill. Weaving their stories together for Superman: Son of Kal-El with Tom was a complete pleasure, and there is only a little pun intended when I say that Superman and Dreamer make for a brilliant new Dream-Team,” said Maines.

Dreamer’s appearance in Superman: Son of Kal-El #13 will also be written by Maines in collaboration with comic book writer Tom Taylor, with the art done by Clayton Henry. Taylor, the writer of Superman: Son of Kal-El, in addition to other DC comic series like Nightwing, DCeased, Injustice, and Dark Knight of Steel, shared a preview of the upcoming issue in a tweet welcoming Dreamer and Maines to the DC Universe.

Commenting on the tweet, Maines said, “There she is! And there I go, getting emotional!” The comic book issue is scheduled to be published on Tuesday, July 12th, for those interested in purchasing it. It also won’t be the only chance for people to see Nia Nal’s Dreamer outside the small screen.

DC Pride & Graphic Novels

Maines has had a big hand in furthering the adventures of Dreamer past her appearances on Supergirl. Before Superman: Son of Kal-El #13, Maines wrote a one-shot starring Dreamer for DC Pride 2021 anthology. Beyond that, Maines will also be teaming up with nonbinary artist Rye Hickman to publish an original graphic novel starring Dreamer.

That news came as part of DC Pride 2022, for which Maines wrote the forward. Included in the event was an image of Dreamer alongside another trans hero, Galaxy. Galaxy made their debut in the YA story Galaxy: The Prettiest Star, which Jadzia Axelrod and Jess Taylor wrote. Hickman and Taylor collaborated on the image, which was included in the anthology for readers to enjoy.

“Portraying and then writing for Dreamer empowered me in a way that I did not know was possible. Instead of revisiting my own trauma and trying to find new ways to explain to people why they should be moved to care about others, I was able to create something new.” Maines wrote in the forward for DC Pride 2022.