Supergirl is looking to be one of the biggest blockbusters this Summer after the release of its action-packed trailer, but some fans may be surprised to see her taking on a Z-Tier DC villain. Krem of the Yellow Hills will be the primary antagonist of the film, and his reveal has left some casual moviegoers scratching their heads.

For the most part, Krem is a character only known from the Woman of Tomorrow miniseries by Tom King and Bilquis Evely. However, given this film is based on that comic, he plays an important role. He’s the driving force behind Supergirl’s adventure through the universe, and though he lacks any major powers, the story wouldn’t be the same without him.

Krem Of The Yellow Hills Lacks Superpowers, But He Has Powerful Connections

Krem is a skilled swordsman and marksman that has made him an important soldier for the King of his world. In the comic, he was capable of killing a young girl named Ruthye’s father, shooting an unsuspecting Supergirl, and poisoning Krypto without breaking a sweat.

However, he lacks any superpowers himself, which is why he steals Supergirl’s ship when he realizes she can overpower him, even under a red Sun. What makes him a threat, though, is his connections with a group of space pirates called the Brigands.

When he meets them on a planet inhabited by blue and purple aliens, he forms an alliance with them after convincing one half of the planet to genocide the other. From that point on, he’s able to acquire weaponry that can send Supergirl halfway across the universe, as well as aid from an entire fleet of pirates.

The film itself looks like it will have Krem be a member of the Brigands from the start, so he will already be at his most powerful. However, even with the aid of the crew, he’s still fairly vulnerable to Supergirl should she avoid the tricks he has up his sleeves.

Krem’s Atrocities Are What Put Him In Supergirl’s Path

Krem is the one at fault in Woman of Tomorrow for putting himself in Supergirl’s sights. His decision to fire a poisoned arrow at Krypto is what makes Supergirl agree to help Ruthye hunt Krem down in her quest for revenge.

Had Krem completely avoided aiming at Supergirl, it’s entirely possible the iconic fantasy tale never would have taken place. In fact, she was preparing to leave the planet after a night of drinking to celebrate her 21st birthday. Krem was none of her concern, and she was telling Ruthye this when the first arrows began to hit her.

From then on, Krem becomes more defensive since he knows he can’t take on Supergirl himself. He needs the Brigands and mystical objects to keep her at bay. However, his efforts are purely in vain, since nothing stops Supergirl from constantly coming at him, even when she’s teleported to a planet with a green Sun, which has the same effect as Kryptonite.

Supergirl Isn’t Krem’s True Rival

Despite Woman of Tomorrow being a definitive Supergirl story, she isn’t the person Krem needed to fear. The girl that follows Supergirl across the universe, Ruthye, is his true rival.

The story is primarily told with her narration guiding the reader, establishing her as the one impacted by Krem’s actions the most. When she was young, Krem killed her father, and she’s been planning revenge against him ever since.

Now, she has Supergirl as a guide to help her find him as he flees the planet, and the flames of revenge continue to consume her along the way. Krem does eventually see just how imposing Ruthye is as the story continues.

During the climactic sequence of the comic, he’s held hostage while Supergirl deals with the Brigands. He eggs Ruthye on while tied and blindfolded until she sets him free for a final battle. The two fight on the beach until Ruthye cuts his fingers off. When she goes in for the kill, he flinches as he realizes she’s the one he should’ve worried about.

However, her hesitation shows that killing him isn’t worth it. Still, his presence and the adventure she went on to reach this moment shows just how impactful Krem’s role is in this story. The same will be true for Supergirl. Whether or not it will follow the comic verbatim, this Z-Tier DC villain is crucial to the story, making him the best choice for the hero to battle.