Thursday, December 31, 2009

Wizard 220 - Supergirl's 50th Anniversary


I know that Wizard Magazine is not that comic book media giant it once was. Still, I think the name carries some clout and I think the topics it covers does influence the business.

So I was glad to see Supergirl covered in December's issue. But in some ways I was also sad.


The topic of the article is how Supergirl's 50th anniversary was basically overlooked by DC and pretty much everybody in 2009. Titled "Missing Candles", the two-page piece briefly reviews the storied history of Supergirl and comments on the title's recent revitalization.

But writer Andy Serwin wonders why there was no celebration, no anniversary tags on issues, no specials.

And to be honest, that hit pretty close to home. While Supergirl's anniversary has been mentioned on this blog over the course of the year, I never actually did a 50th anniversary post. And now 2009 has come and gone.


In fact, an Internet search for celebrations had only one major hit. And that hit was the Pima County Library celebration that was the brainchild of a blog friend Gene and was covered here. At the very least, congratulations Gene for doing the right thing. You can look at the Library's celebration here: http://comicboxcommentary.blogspot.com/2009/08/supergirl-first-fifty-years-library.html

I think it is sort of a shame that DC didn't promote this anniversary more. I think it's a big shame that I didn't promote it either.



The magazine also does a Marketwatch piece on some of the bigger issues in Supergirl's history. I suppose one day I will be lucky enough to own a copy of Action Comics #252. All I need is an extra $2600.

Maybe in May I will do a big 51st anniversary post to try to make up for this year's absence.

18 comments:

Saranga said...

I woulnd't feel too bad about not covering it. This blog is after all a continual celebration of all things Supergirl.
DC should feel bad, they should have put something on. Was there nothing on the source at all?

Anonymous said...

Hey guys--

In 2010, DC Comics is launching a massive 75th anniversary celebration honoring ALL of their characters and the company's rich history.

Trust me when I say that DC Comics was very aware of Supergirl's 50th anniversary, just as they were aware of Superman's 70th anniversary in 2008 and Batman's 70th anniversary in 2009. They've just chosen to celebrate everyone's milestones in one giant commemorative event, rather than single out any one character above the rest.

And from what little I've heard about the "DC Comics - 75 Years" event, 2010's going to be a great year for DC Comics and DC Comics fans. :)

On a related note, Anj, I think this blog is a wonderful celebration of Supergirl year round, and I continually applaud your efforts.

Thanks, and everyone please have a safe and happy New Year,
Sterling

Jason said...

I just think it is so cool that the Supergirl creative team knows about, reads, and actually comments on this blog. You guys rock! You've been doing a great job on Supergirl. Anj, you've been doing a great job covering everything that is Supergirl on this blog. Happy New Year, all!

Gene said...

Thank you again Anj for the kind words. The Supergirl display is for all her fans who have stuck by her through thick and thin these past five decades. Visiting your blog has become a daily habit for me, and I will continue to do so next year.

Hey Sterling, see you in Phoenix next May!

Unknown said...

I knew about the comics and the animated tv ad, but not about this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb9cWANJIWA&feature=related

Ayhe said...

I grew up adoring Supergirl and I didn´t kknow she was already 50!
Time certainly passes very fast :D

Don´t feel sad for not commemorating her aniversary this year, I agree with everyone that you always do your very best paying homage to the Girl of Steel with your blog.

I may not comment very often, but I absolutely love your blog, the way you review new and old issues <3

And it makes me glad that people like mr Igle and Gates like your blog too. You are the best, darling!

:D

TalOs said...

Anj, your constant hard work for the love of our heroine (which I also truly appreciate bro) more then makes up for any Supergirl 50th celebration article last year dude! ;)

Nikki said...

you hardly go a year when Batman doesn't have something big going on so its easy to ignore his milestones. With a character like Supergirl who is iconic yet doesn't get the iconic treatment most of the time highlights the lack. If you remember it was asked at the very start of the year on newsarama's 20 questions to dan didio where he confirmed nothing was happening. Its a shame we didn't get a special cover or showcase volume 3 at least. I have a 50th anniversary post saved as a draft on my blog that I just haven't had time to finish. Oh well, I hope the 50th issue this year will serve as the anniversary issue. Its not that far out.

Anj said...

Trust me when I say that DC Comics was very aware of Supergirl's 50th anniversary, just as they were aware of Superman's 70th anniversary in 2008 and Batman's 70th anniversary in 2009. They've just chosen to celebrate everyone's milestones in one giant commemorative event, rather than single out any one character above the rest.

Thanks, and everyone please have a safe and happy New Year,
Sterling


Thanks so much for the info and the post!

I am glad DC will recognize Supergirl in some way and look forward to the big 75th anniversary.

Thanks for stopping by!

Anj said...

Sterling said:
On a related note, Anj, I think this blog is a wonderful celebration of Supergirl year round, and I continually applaud your efforts.

Jason said:
I just think it is so cool that the Supergirl creative team knows about, reads, and actually comments on this blog. You guys rock! You've been doing a great job on Supergirl. Anj, you've been doing a great job covering everything that is Supergirl on this blog. Happy New Year, all!

Gene said:
The Supergirl display is for all her fans who have stuck by her through thick and thin these past five decades. Visiting your blog has become a daily habit for me, and I will continue to do so next year.

Ayhe said:
I agree with everyone that you always do your very best paying homage to the Girl of Steel with your blog.
I may not comment very often, but I absolutely love your blog, the way you review new and old issues


Thanks everyone for your very kind words and compliments! To get them was not the intent of the post.

I am glad people enjoy coming here and posting. And it makes me happy to know that there are other people who are as big Supergirl fans as I am.

Hopefully in 2010 the blog will keep rolling along!

Saranga said...

that's great news from Sterling!

Anonymous said...

As far as I'm concerned, this blog is the cornerstone of the on-line Supergirl fan community, forget about the Supergirl board DC.com...I mean fugeddabout it.
:D
Here is to a prosperous 2010 for this site and the Maid of Might.

:D

John Feer

TalOs said...

This blog is just that frickin cool it blows The Superman Homepage straight out of the water in comparison come it's coverage of all things Supergirl compared to that trollish and miserable excuse of a Superman Family site!

Anonymous said...

No argument about the Supermanhomepage.com, it is a great place until the words Kara Zor El are inscribed then it is Katie-Bar-the-Door.
They have a condescending fanpro attitude towards Supergirl, I think the boys over their are all "Byrne retcon fundamentalists" at heart.
:D
John Feer

Unknown said...

I can say amen to everything Sterling wrote, and tell you, too, that the story I did with Helen Slater for Supergirl #50 is paying tribute to "50 years and 50 issues."

Also, the Smallville season 7 DVD set has a history of Supergirl feature celebrating 50 years as well. (I wrote that one, too...)

I love the character, and I love the site! Keep it up!

Anj said...

I can say amen to everything Sterling wrote, and tell you, too, that the story I did with Helen Slater for Supergirl #50 is paying tribute to "50 years and 50 issues."

Also, the Smallville season 7 DVD set has a history of Supergirl feature celebrating 50 years as well. (I wrote that one, too...)

I love the character, and I love the site! Keep it up!


Wow! Thanks for the post and for stopping by.

We are all anxiously looking forward to your story with Helen Slater! Glad to hear it is an anniversary story!

Thanks again!

Gene said...

Mauricio wrote:

"I knew about the comics and the animated tv ad, but not about this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb9cWANJIWA&feature=related"

Excellent find Mauricio! I had no idea that ad existed either.

Anonymous said...

"No argument about the Supermanhomepage.com, it is a great place until the words Kara Zor El are inscribed then it is Katie-Bar-the-Door.
They have a condescending fanpro attitude towards Supergirl, I think the boys over their are all "Byrne retcon fundamentalists" at heart."

I can confirm this. It's been eight years since you wrote this, and you still find SH members who can't wait to tell you over and again -in case you missed it- they HATE Kara because she "takes away from Superman" and Matrix was way better for no reason other than she wasn't Kryptonian.

I stopped visited that site regularly because I was tired of their rubbish.