Black Orchid Review: Action Comics #260 (?)

I have been reserving Wednesdays recently to look at Black Orchid's pre-Crisis history, looking through the lens of a fan theory in the 70's that Black Orchid was, indeed, Supergirl.

I have one more Black Orchid story to review from the Phantom Stranger series. But before I review that last look at the Orchid proper, I thought I might review Action Comics #260, a story cover dated January 1960, a full 13 years before Black Orchid was introduced.

Now you might ask yourself why I am reviewing this book but that should all become evident by the end. Perhaps you are a long time fan and you already know. But I promise you, I will bring this home. 

"Mighty Maid" was written by Otto Binder with art by Al Plastino. 

This reads more like a classic Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane, with Lois upset and frazzled that a superpowered female might become the love of Superman's life. We get a Lois rescue, some Lois shenanigans, and even the occasional <sob>.

But perhaps, best of all, it is a classic Silver Age story with enough insanity crammed into 12 pages than the average trade these days. 

It is all beautifully rendered by Plastino who brings a sort of angular beauty to all the people in the book. His women all resemble Joan Crawford.

Supergirl's 60th Anniversary!

According to Mike's Amazing World of Comics, March 31st, 1959 is the day that Action Comics #252 hit the newsstands.

That means this weekend is the Supergirl's 60th anniversary.

Amazing!

It is always hard for me to know what to write on days like this.

I think my love of the character has been poured out on this site over the last 11 years.


For me Supergirl is the perfect blend of character traits. She is innocent and bright and optimistic. She sees the best in everyone. She is fierce in her fight for justice and in her desire to help. She sometimes thinks with her fists first. She can fail. She is learning. She wants to be the best she can be. She is a hero.

How can you be bright and innocent and sunny and still be fierce and think with your fists.

It isn't an easy tightrope to walk and that is we have seen so many versions of Supergirl veer to extreme to one end. She could be saccharine in the Silver Age. She could be grim and dark in the 2000s.

For me, when she hits that perfect mix, she is the best hero to aspire to. Because she isn't infallible. And she always wants to be better. Who can't empathize with that sentiment.

Now the character is everywhere - television, cartoons, comics in the media, with all the associated merchandise.

So let's celebrate this anniversary. Back in 1985 I don't know if we would have much to hoot about.

As we approached this, I asked for some celebratory tweets on Twitter. Here is what I got.

Leave a comment and let me know why you love Supergirl!

I'd love to hear it!

Legion Companion And Al Plastino

 Every so often, I feel lucky.

I was in my comic store a couple of weeks ago when they were having a sale. As I was thumbing through their stock of back issues, I stumbled across this book, the Legion Companion.

It has a cover price of $24.95 but was on sale, about 70% off that. It is a TwoMorrows compendium of interviews with Legion royalty, bringing together these disparate conversations into one neat volume. From Otto Binder to Mark Waid and nearly everyone in between this book showcases creators of the Legion from multiple decades and continuities.

I have only started the book, just three interviews in and I already know that I'll be cannibalizing the Supergirl-centric bits to share here.

But seriously, this book was so cheap that I might have bought it for the Dave Cockrum cover alone!

Add to that Jim Mooney's drawing on the back, Kara holding a big place among the notaries, and the cover itself is a score.

I love TwoMorrows, subscribing to back issue and picking up Alter Ego and collections like this (for example the recent DC Implosion one). They never fail to satisfy.

I mean I can never get enough Mooney Supergirl.

But if you told me that Dave Cockrum once drew the head band Supergirl, I would have said you were lying. I appreciate that Supergirl was shown this Legion respect!

But onto the first noteworthy interview (from a Supergirl perspective), Al Plastino.

Back Issue Review: Action Comics #340

Just this week on the Supergirl show, Agent Jensen was turned into the Parasite to vex our hero Kara and the DEO.

Now most people, myself included, jump to Rudy Jones as being the Parasite. So when someone named Jensen was introduced on the show way back in the premiere, I didn't think to much of it.

Then Supergirl fan extraordinaire @kara_querl that the original Parasite, from Action Comics #340 was named Raymond Jensen. Supergirl staff writer Eric Carrasco confirmed this had been planned since the first episode.

Feeling myself like a bad fan for not remembering this on my own, especially given that I actually own the issue in my collection, I decided that a back issue review was warranted. So get ready to read about the first appearance of the Parasite!

Matrix Supergirl Origins ... From The Silver Age?

For those who didn't know, I was on vacation last week and that meant a pretty deep immersion into comics. Ahhh ... free time. And it was a very zen experience, grabbing runs on books (Morrison's New X-Men), mini-series (hello Legionnaires Three!), and individual issues based solely on memories, suggestions, and mentions in my social media timeline.

One of the issues that I decided to reread, mostly because we are getting the Action Comics Special #1, returning Luthor to his purely evil roots, was Superman #292.

I don't think I can express how important this issue was for me as a kid. I am sure it was bought at a yard sale. While I knew who Luthor was already, this was a primer on his history. Please remember that in a world where there wasn't the internet, Comixology, or a glut of trades, readers only knew hardcore comic history through flashbacks, reprints, and editor's note boxes. This issue taught me who Luthor was and why he hated Superman.

So, you might be asking, why is this post titled 'Matrix Supergirl Origins'? Well ... read on.

John Byrne Action Comics #252 Homage

My comic book store recently put out a glut of $1 books that required some degree of patience as I flipped through the jumbled collection. One of the things that I came across were nice crisp copies of all three parts of 'The Supergirl Saga', the formal introduction of the Matrix Supergirl to the post-Crisis DCU. The copies in my collection were somewhat dog-eared from the multiple readings. So I splurged the $3 to buy a more pristine set, putting the older original ones in the 'readable' pile, a longbox I have of beloved issues, out of bags and boards, and available for reading in almost any environment.

I haven't reviewed this story properly on the site, something which feels like an oversight that I should rectify at some point.

But until that day, I thought I would share one panel from Superman #21 which is a nice homage to Supergirl's first appearance.

In the issue, Superman feels he is being followed and so does some fancy flying to end up face to face with ... Supergirl?

Surprised, he says 'Great Guns! A flying woman in a variation of my costume! Is it ... some kind of illusion ..?'

Those words sound awful familiar

Looking back to the classic cover of Action Comics #252, we hear Superman say something very very similar. 'Great guns! A girl flying! It - uh - must be an illusion!'

Changing the 'girl' to 'woman' makes sense given the time and the character of Matrix.

But there can be know doubt that those words were chosen very carefully by Byrne. How often does Superman say 'great guns'? These sort of Easter Eggs are appreciated by this old time fan.

Writer/artist John Byrne always had a healthy respect for the source material and often would do nods to the past like this one. I have talked about how this Bizarro story was very similar to Bizarro's first appearance in the Superboy book. And over on Too Dangerous for a Girl, I talked about Byrne's reimagining of Lori Lemaris in the new universe. So this little nod to Supergirl was recognized and appreciated.

So should I review this story in the usual in depth Anj fashion?

DC Special Series #19: Secret Origins of the Super-Heroes

Never underestimate the power of nostalgia!

As a kid, I absolutely loved DC Digests. They were cheap, had a ton of pages, and were an important part of my childhood. I totally remember having these with me on the beach in summers. The digests also exposed me to a ton of DC characters I didn't know about. It was in digests that I read early JSA adventures, met the Silent Knight and Viking Prince, read the original Fatal Five arc where Ferro Lad died. It was here I also read the excellent Dr. Fate story by Pasko and Simonson.

And I learned the secret origins of heroes.

I had this DC Blue Ribbon Digest, Secret Origins of Super-Heroes. But officially, it is DC Special Series #19. And I remember having this and reading this as a kid. To be honest, this has to be the first place that I read the actual Supergirl origin story from Action Comics #252, reprinted here.

I have a number of reprints of Action Comics #252 but I had to buy this from the bargain box when I saw this in my local comic store. And mostly, because it is so heavy with memories that I felt like a Kid Anj again. Plus it does have a bunch of great stories in it!

It also sports a great cover by Ross Andru and Dick Giordano. Great little Supergirl in her seventies costume in the background.

They also really pack a lot of comic into a very tiny little space.

Here we get the classic Otto Binder/Al Plastino origin story but in this cute little package. I mean, I can easily scan two full pages!

I love this story.

This digest also introduced me to one of the oddball characters that I love from the DCU: the Manhawks!

From The Brave and the Bold #43, we have a Gardner Fox/Joe Kubert story which isn't the origin of Hawkman, but the origin of the Hawk police force on Thanagar. Why do they wear Hawk regalia? Because of this battle with the Manhawks.

Seriously, look at the last panel of Hawkman battling a Manhawk. That is fantastic!

And we even get new material! A new retelling of Wonder Woman's origin is done by writer Cary Burkett and legend Jose Delbo. It is great to see a more classic origin again, the masked Diana fighting in a tournament, and earning her passage to America. Incredible.

But listen to this murderers' row of great stories and creators.

Robin, from Batman #213, by  E. Nelson Bridwell and Ross Andru.
The Legion's Ranzz family, from Superboy #172, by E. Nelson Bridwell and George Tuska.
Aquaman, from Adventure Comics #260, by Robert Bernstein and Ramona Fradon.
The Elongated Man, from Flash #12, by John Broome and Carmine Infantino.
And one of the many Superman/Batman World's Finest team origin, from World's Finest #94 by Ed Hamilton and Dick Sprang.

I always look for these digests. There is a Supergirl solo digest which I don't have!!

DC Comics Silver Age Classics Action Comics #252

DC Silver Age Classics was a series put out by the company 25 years ago reprinting key issues from DC's history. It was an interesting 10 issues that DC chose, including the Showcase 4 (first silver age Flash), Showcase #22 (first silver age Green Lantern), Brave and Bold #28 (first JLA), and others.

One of the ten was Action Comics #252!

The book is a complete reprint of the issue including the Superman solo story introducing Metallo, a Congorilla story, and the first appearance of Supergirl, the eight page story at the end of the issue. So interesting that Supergirl's origin and the set-up for her back up series was done so quickly. These days her origin took 6 issues!

The story is reprinted in many many places so no need to cover it again.

But the issue did include a small column called 'Classic Comments', a brief write-up about the importance of the issues.

I don't know if this column by Kim 'Howard' Johnson is great but I thought I would share.

For one, even in 1992, I don't know if Supergirl would be the second female super-hero that people would name. As much as I think Supergirl is up there in the pantheon, I don't know if the general public knew about Supergirl then. Would she be the quick second choice? Maybe ...

And Howard's statement that maybe part of Supergirl's appeal is her being a cute young girl was probably true back in 1959.

Howard does a good job of quickly recapping not only this Supergirl's origin but the 'dry run' of Supergirl from back in Superman #123.

Her career and adventures are truncated to one paragraph, jumping from Midvale orphan to death in the Crisis 3 sentences.

Still, this issue might be the closest I get to actually holding Action Comics #252 in my hand. So I am glad to have it in my collection.

Supergirl Bits Of News

Just a couple of news stories which tangentially touch upon Supergirl which I thought were worth briefly reviewing.

I was very happy to see that DC Entertainment bought the pages of Al Plastino's 'Superman's Mission for President Kennedy' and donated them to the JFK museum. Here is the official press release:
http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2013/12/16/al-plastino-art-acquired-and-to-be-donated-by-dc-entertainment-to-john-f-kennedy

I talked about Plastino last month and how saddened he was to discover the pages were in the hand of a private collector. I am glad his wish of having them housed in the museum has happened.

Long time super-editor Wil Moss, who edited Supergirl during the Sterling Gates era and beyond has left DC to head to Marvel. Here is a link to Bleeding Cool:
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/12/16/and-finally-wil-moss-makes-it-official-with-his-twitter-header/

Much of the last couple of years has been fans grousing over DC comics suffering from editorial control, not allowing creators to achieve their stories and last minute plot rewrites happening. I am sad to see Moss, who helmed some great books, moving away from DC.

Over on Twitter, Sterling Gates applauded Moss and I echo it.

I miss those times on Supergirl.

Finally, Bleeding Cool announced some of the upcoming creators on the Adventures of Superman book. Here is the link: http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/12/17/ron-marz-fabian-nicieza-b-clay-moore-jock-jump-in-on-adventures-of-superman/

Now there are some names I am happy to see there. Ron Marz. Fabian Nicieza, Jock. Love those creators.

But Max Landis!

DC shouldn't let him within a sniff of their characters. Now I ranted about Landis before when reviewing his story in Action Comics Annual #1. Maybe I ranted too much on rereading. I didn't hide my thoughts about Landis at all. But the bottom line is someone who has made a name for himself by insulting Superman shouldn't be allowed to write him.

Maybe I'll skip that issue.

R.I.P. Al Plastino

I awoke this morning to hear the sad news that legendary comic artist Al Plastino has passed away. The news was broken on Mark Evanier's blog here: http://www.newsfromme.com/2013/11/25/al-plastino-r-p/

As most know, Plastino was the artist on the first Supergirl story in Action Comics #252. I had always hoped to meet him and actually went to a couple of conventions he was scheduled to be at only to discover that he was unable to attend. He recently made the news for trying to discover why artwork of his that DC was supposed to have donated to the John F. Kennedy Museum ended up in the hands of a private collector. 

Plastino's career was prolific, spanning decades and including landmark issues like Action #252 and Adventure Comics #247, the first Legion appearance. He was best known for pitching in on Superman stories, doing a huge number of Action back-up stories while Wayne Boring or Curt Swan did the opener. But for me, he'll always be 'the first Supergirl artist'.

While Jim Mooney took over the Supergirl back-up in Action with the next issue, Plastino's work on the first issue set the table and that story set up so much of that Kara's early plots. This issue has been reprinted many times in many formats and really showcases Plastino's art.

Here is the classic image of her springing from her crashed rocket, announcing she has arrived.

 And here Superman puzzles how she can have survived Krypton and be younger than him. No wonky delayed rocket arrival in this universe. She was born and raised on Argo City.

I love that second panel with her smiling to the audience.

And then we hear Superman say she must live as an orphan to train secretly.

I love this second panel too with Kara gracefully landing after her flight.

And then this classic sequence when she flies over Midvale vowing to be a 'guardian angel', a panel which supposedly inspired Peter David to write his Earth Angel Matrix arc.

We also see the beginning of the recurring theme early on in Supergirl stories of her wondering if she would do a good job, earn Superman's respect, and become a hero. The look of subtle worry on the third panel is sublime.

I have had two lifelong comic loves in my life: Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes. Plastino drew the introduction for both of them! I really wanted to meet him and thank him for being such a key person in my comic joy.

Rest in peace Mr. Plastino. You were one of the giants.

Amazing Heroes #17 (1982)

I am hoping that people don't mind my looks back at Supergirl history from time to time. As I said recently, time off at the holidays meant time to read. And that meant time to thumb through the long boxes and read some stuff in my collection that I haven't revisited in a while.

Amazing Heroes was a comic magazine that came out in the early 1980's. This was the pre-internet days so if you wanted to read interviews with the creators, or read about older issues, or even find out what was coming out, there weren't many resources.

I discovered Amazing Heroes in the latter half of the decade when I was driving myself to the comic store and discovering that there were certain creators who I was going to follow. When those creators were interviewed or spotlighted in the magazine I would buy the issue. And when characters I liked were highlighted I would get those issues. And with the advent of a comic book store, I could look at back issues and buy them. And that was how I ended up getting Amazing Heroes #17 which looked at the history of Supergirl. In fact, it ends up being a 2 part review, the second half appearing in AH #18.

With some time on my hands, I thought I would reread this article from 1982, a time when Supergirl had just graduated to the solo title Daring New Adventures of Supergirl. She was still in hot pants and 4 years away from being killed in the Crisis. What was the feel for the character in those days?

Of note, I have to comment on this (I think) painted cover of Supergirl by Kevin Nowlan. I am a big fan of Nowlan and his comic art and I would not have pegged this as work from him. His style certainly has evolved. At first I thought she was holding a cigarette but it is chalk with which she has written 'and heroines'. And check out the frizzy locks! Still, I like the cover.

The article is titled Supergirl In Action: A Heroine History and written by Dwight R. Decker.

I can't comment on who Decker was or his credentials. But it is clear he is a Supergirl fan even if I don't necessarily agree with what he says all the time.

The first part of this two-part series is the better article (I assume I'll review the second part at some point) as it takes a look back at the earliest days of the character, including the 'trial run' Super-Girl that was featured in Superman #123. That hyphenated Super-Girl, wished into existence by Jimmy Olsen, was probably used as a gauge to see if there was in interest in another member of the Super-family. That story ran 9 months before Kara graced the cover of Action Comics #252.

Here are a few other tidbits from the article that I thought were worth sharing.

Otto Binder, who penned the earliest Supergirl stories had also created Mary Marvel for Fawcett long before Supergirl came into existence.

I will admit I haven't read too many of the early Mary Marvel stories so I don't know if the tone mirrors the earliest adventures of Supergirl. When he says it was 'reliving the past', it makes me wonder if he revisited his Mary's stories, retreading some plots.

Of all the things in the article, this piece was the most fascinating to me.

DC applied for a trademark of the name 'Super-Girl' all the way back in 1944, a full 15 years before she became a consistent character in the DC universe. I wonder if other people pitched a use of the name before the version in Superman #123.

One thing I don't agree with is Decker's somewhat relentless disparaging of Jim Mooney's art. Here he says he has a limited repertoire, swiped other people's work, and made things silly or dull.

Elsewhere he bemoans Mooney as being a copycat. He even says that Kara was never 'pretty' when drawn by Mooney.

I simply don't agree. I love Mooney's work.

Decker does do a good job of pointing out the subtle changes that wormed their way into the Supergirl origin during reprints and revisits. Initially it was a 'street of homes' that was blown off of Krypton intact. That changed to Argo City. It was initially a bubble of air for atmosphere; that became a dome. At first it was straight up Green K that killed the citizens. But since Green K is later found not to effect non-super-powered Kryptonians, it is changed to anti-Kryptonite. So things kind of get refined over the years. He reviews Zor-El and Allura's roles too.

The remainder of the article looks mostly at Mort Weisinger and his editorial style and a thorough review of Action Comics #252.

So there are some nice 'behind the scenes' pieces of Supergirl's history make this a decent article. And, as I always say, Supergirl publicity is almost always welcomed by me. Amazing Heroes was one of the few comics scene magazines out at the time and certainly one of the biggest. It's great Supergirl made the cover and had this in-depth coverage.

The articles in the book include some funny cartoons and other drawings from (what I assume) are artists on the Amazing Heroes' staff.

This one was funny enough to reprint here, a sort of amusing look at the 'secret weapon' phase of Kara's career.

In terms of a Supergirl collection, I think text pieces like this on the character are rare so it is worth hunting down for readers interested in more than the comic history of the character. I don't know how many of these things survived and they might be in the bargain bin so well worth a couple of bucks. I would put it of low importance but of moderate interest.

NYCC 2012

October is universally a busy month for me with a number of annual family obligations and an 'always in October' work conference that takes me away.

As a result, the New York Comicon is sort of like Shangrila for me. I just don't think I am ever going to get there. Each year I keep wondering if I can go even for a day. But it just never materializes. There are always always an inordinate number of creators I'd like to meet. Add to that the panels and announcements and it sounds like a fantastic time.

The Con starts up tomorrow. While I can't get there, I hope you can get there and seek out these Supergirl events and some of her creators who will be in attendance.

Here are some events:

DC COMICS – THE NEW 52: Superman

Date: Thursday, October 11
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Location: 1A10
Speakers: Bob Wayne , Grant Morrison , Mahmud Asrar , Matt Idelson , Rags Morales , Scott Lobdell
Description:
Since the launch of the New 52, Superman has been flying higher than ever! Join Group Editor Matt Idelson and SUPER talent Mahmud Asrar (Supergirl), Scott Lodbell (Superman), Rags Morales (Action Comics), Grant Morrison (Action Comics) to take fans new and old up, up and away with a sneak peek at what’s in store for Superman.

I have been told that Mike Johnson will be in attendance and on the panel (even if he isn't listed on the NYCC website).

So the very fact that Morrison is going to be there makes this a can't miss part of the convention. I do find it odd that this panel is happening so early in the con. It is almost as if it isn't important enough to be part of the main days of the NYCC.

Still, I would have lots of questions to ask these guys. And I can't wait to hear wait Matt Idelson has to say this time. The last big con panel I read about he said Superman was a loner who didn't know who he was himself to feel comfortable with taking on mentors.

Also, Johnson and Asrar will be signing at the DC booth on Thursday 5-6 and Friday 10-11. Stop by and let them know what you think of the book!

Mahmud Asrar will have his own table at Booth Y8. I think Asrar's art has been fantastic on the Supergirl book and also hope to get a commission from him as well some day. It would be great to talk to him about the current book and his perspective on the character.

Incredibly, Al Plastino, the artist of Supergirl's first appearance in Action Comics #252, is going to be at the con on Saturday. For those looking, he'll be at the HERO Initiative booth (#1575-77) on Saturday only! I have some of those Action 252 reprints - the Silver Age Classic one and the Millenium edition one - that I would love to get signed. But just to meet the guy!

And other more recent creators will be there as well.

Josh Middleton, cover artist for the early part of the Sterling Gates/Jamal Igle run on the book will be at Booth O10.

Jamal Igle will be at Booth C1. I am hoping to run into Igle soon at one of the more local shows coming up. Jamal is working on his creator owned project Molly Danger and I can't wait to talk to him about it. It sounds like the perfect book for me to get the supergirls at home.

Supergirl cover artist Amy Reeder will be at Booth B1. I loved Reeder's take on Supergirl. She is also working on a creator owned one shot called Halloween Eve.

Bernard Chang, who drew some of Bizarro Girl and all of James Peaty's 'Good Looking Corpse' arc will be at Booth C8. I really love Chang's art and thought he drew a great Supergirl. I keep hoping I will run into him somewhere to get a commission. Chang was just recently named the ongoing artist on Demon Knights. I can't wait to see his take on that team, especially Sir Ystin.

Lastly, Amanda Conner will be at Booth M1. I loved Conner's sweet Supergirl in Wednesday Comics. I dreamed once of getting a commission from her but it sounds like she doesn't do them at cons anymore. Still, her art is so slick that it would be great to chat with her again.

If anyone who visits here goes to the con, please post anything and everything you have seen!

Back Issue Box: Superman #144

With War of the Supermen over, Superman and Supergirl could be considered new orphans again. Their home world has once again been destroyed and they are left without family and friends.

With the 'new orphan' idea rolling around in my head, I thought I would dig deep into the recesses of the back issue box and review Superman #144's 'The Super Orphans from Space', dated April 1961.

Written by Superman creator Jerry Siegel and drawn by original Supergirl artist Al Plastino, 'Super Orphans' is one of three tales in the issue, but the only one I will review.


The book opens with a half splash teasing the story. Space police are arresting Superman for accidentally destroying Earth. I love how Superman states he won't resist the authorities and will do whatever they ask of him.

I'll sing Plastino's praises later but I think his art shines here. You really get a sense of movement in Supergirl and Superman. Sometimes artists draw great figures but there is no sense of motion, they seem frozen in amber. Here you get the sense of how the cousins are moving as they fly.

The cousins are spending an afternoon in the Fortress relaxing and on the look out for any emergencies. As they contemplate ways to try to enlarge Kandor, an alarm warns them that an airplane is approaching the Fortress.

Since they wish to keep the location and existence of the Fortress a secret, they need to make the plane leave the area. Superman comes up with an idea. Grabbing the red capes off Supergirl, Krypto, and himself, he quickly makes 'danger flags'. These flags warn the airplane crew that there is no safe place to land in the area and so they fly off. Quick thinking Superman!

After retrieving the capes, Superman returns to the Fortress. There he tells Supergirl how he came upon a mysterious device when he was exploring a space sargasso of wrecked ships.

Not knowing exactly what it is, Superman begins tinkering with it.

Unfortunately, the device turns out to be some sort of Doomsday device. It explodes and destroys Earth. Again, Plastino's art shines here. Superman flinching from the explosion feels right. Krypto's head is hung in sorrow. And Supergirl looks as though she is being thrown by the force of the explosion.

That was some machine!

In the most curious part of the story, the remnants of Earth become Earthite (like Krypton became Kryptonite). Moreover, they take on the same green glow and actually can harm the cousins much like Kryptonite can. They need to fly away from Earth's site.

Now why Earthite should have an effect on Kryptonians, I can't explain.

Even if accidental, Superman has to answer for destroying Earth and killing all its citizens. He is brought to trial by an intergalactic court and found guilty of mass murder. Feeling extreme remorse for his actions, Superman accepts his fate.

He is not subjected to a death penalty though. Instead he is de-powered by a ray the police have.

When Supergirl and Krypto try to help Superman, they are also shot with the de-powering ray and are forced to share his sentence ... being exiled to a wild and violent planet.

Seriously ... why Supergirl and Krypto are lumped into Superman's crime I have no idea. That doesn't sound like justice. And I don't think trying to help their cousin is such a heinous crime either. Nevertheless, Kara now is powerless and put on the planet with Kal.

While Superman is out fishing for dinner, Supergirl and Krypto are attacked by a lightning monster. When Supergirl refuses to abandon Krypto when he gets his paw stuck in some rocks, she meets her end.

What the heck! Poor Supergirl! She gets treated as an accomplice to Superman's crime and then gets fried!

Fortunately, just as that happens, Superman, Supergirl, and Krypto awaken from a fugue state in the Fortress. Earth is unharmed. So what happened?

Luckily, the citizens of Kandor were watching everything from the bottle city. (By the way, I love the emergency warning machine's categories. If the Daily Planet deserves its own button, I wouldn't want to work there.)

Turns out the whole thing was a red Kryptonite induced mass hallucination!


When Superman went to retrieve the capes, it was just as a red Kryptonite dust cloud swept over the area. And since the capes are red, the dust was camoflaged. Now why Superman didn't see red dust on the white snow ... I have no idea. Since red Kryptonite effects Kryptonians all the same, they all had the same hallucination.

Based on this encounter, Superman decides to examine the mysterious device off-world.

I was lucky enough to find a truly beat up copy of this issue at a comic store for $8. I am glad I didn't pay more. As I was scanning, the pages literally began to crumble. Still, it is pretty nifty to own an issue with that creative team, especially Plastino!

As for the story itself, it is standard Silver Age silliness. I don't know if I necessarily like the treatment Supergirl got in the story even if it was only a hallucination. To be honest, I don't know if it is worth hunting down for a collection. Purchasing one in any decent sort of condition would cost a pretty penny. This story was reprinted in Supergirl Showcase Vol. 1.

Overall grade: B (mostly based on the star power of the creative team)