Nicole Maines, former Supergirl star and emerging comic book writer, shares her journey of securing Nia Nal/Dreamer’s permanent place in the DC Universe.
The newly-released Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton #1 confirms that Nia Nal/Dreamer, a groundbreaking character, will have a lasting presence in the DC Universe. Writer Nicole Maines, who first introduced the character in The CW’s Supergirl, expresses her excitement and pride in securing Nia’s place in the DC Universe.
Nicole Maines, writer and former star of Supergirl, and co-writer Leah Williams sat down for an exclusive interview with CBR ahead of the release of Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton #1. Maines expressed her excitement about writing Dreamer into the larger DCU and putting her on such a big stage, saying, “It’s so exciting for me. It gives me a lot of hope because there was a time when I was afraid for the success of this character.”
Maines further expressed her excitement and hope for Dreamer’s success by saying, “Having the support of DC and the freedom to write her teaming up with big names like Batman, Dr. Fate, Superman and Supergirl, and establishing relationships with them, is a huge affirmation for me as a trans writer, a trans fan of comic books, and simply a fan of Dreamer as a character.”
Maines describes Dreamer as powerful and exciting. She shares her love for Dreamer’s approach to being a superhero, as she knows she is one and is excited about it. Maines further explains how Dreamer’s relationship with her powers and other heroes changes as the situation becomes more high-stakes. This makes her crucial to the lineup and the universe. As a fan, Maines feels good knowing Dreamer is here to stay, as she even knows secrets from inside Batman’s head.
Dreamer’s Journey From the Screen to the Page
Maines, an actor and transgender activist brought the character of Dreamer to life in 2018 on The CW’s Supergirl. As the first ancestor of the existing Legion of Superheroes member Nura Nal/Dream Girl, Dreamer made history as the first transgender superhero on television. Maines portrayed Dreamer as a regular cast member in the latter half of Supergirl’s run, appearing in Seasons 4 through 6 until the show’s conclusion in 2021.
Maines, who is an actor and transgender activist, first brought the character of Dreamer to life in 2018 on The CW’s Supergirl, where she served as a main cast member from Season 4 to Season 6’s conclusion in 2021. In 2021, Maines also wrote a story for the DC Pride anthology, “Date Night,” featuring Dreamer, but it remained within the Arrowverse continuity. The following year, Maines co-wrote Superman: Son of Kal-El #13, marking Dreamer’s proper debut in mainstream DC continuity. The latest adventure of Dreamer, Lazarus Planet, is Maines’ latest work in comics. Moreover, Maines will reprise her role as Nia Nal/Dreamer in the upcoming ninth and final season of The Flash on The CW.
