Milly Alcock's Supergirl faithfully adapts many elements from Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, but its ending takes a dramatically different path from the acclaimed DC comic. While the film captures the emotional journey between Kara Zor-El and Ruthye Marye Knoll, one major change has sparked debate among longtime comic readers. The biggest difference revolves around Krem of the Yellow Hills, whose fate in the movie is far more final than in the source material.

Before diving into why fans are divided, here is how the film changes Krem's story and how the villain differs from his comic counterpart.

In the final act of Supergirl, Kara ultimately k***s Krem to protect Ruthye from carrying the burden of revenge. The moment delivers an emotional conclusion but significantly departs from Tom King and Bilquis Evely's original comic. The change has become one of the film's most widely debated creative decisions, with many fans comparing it to the source material's more nuanced ending.

In Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, Krem is instead sentenced to 300 years in the Phantom Zone. After eventually reforming, he sincerely seeks Ruthye's forgiveness, proving that redemption is possible. Although Ruthye refuses to forgive him, she also chooses not to k*** him, reinforcing one of the comic's central themes that vengeance is not the only path to justice. The movie's ending replaces that message with a more conventional sacrifice, making it one of the adaptation's most discussed creative changes.

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The ending is not the only area where the film takes creative liberties. Krem himself is also portrayed very differently from his comic-book version.

The live-action Krem differs from his comic counterpart in both appearance and abilities. In the comics, Krem is an ordinary but ruthless former king's agent who later joins the Brigands during Kara and Ruthye's pursuit across the galaxy. He has no superhuman powers and relies on manipulation and brutality.

The movie reimagines him as the powerful leader of the Brigands, giving him the strength of "1,000 men" while also changing his look to a rugged, post-apocalyptic style. The film also alters Ruthye's backstory, expands Krem's crimes, and introduces new motivations tied to Krypto's poisoning. Together, these changes create a more physically imposing antagonist while shifting away from the morally layered version that defined the original comic.

Whether audiences prefer the movie's ending or the comic's more nuanced conclusion, Supergirl has already sparked plenty of discussion about how closely superhero adaptations should stick to their source material. For many fans, Krem's fate has emerged as one of the clearest examples of how the film puts its own spin on Woman of Tomorrow while retaining its emotional core.

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Did you prefer Supergirl's movie ending or the comic's version of Krem's fate? Let us know in the comments!