Review: Adventure Comics #410

'Help, hope, and compassion for all' is the mantra that Supergirl has espoused in recent years, an indelible addition to her mythos thanks to Sterling Gates in his Adventures of Supergirl comic from a few years ago.

But Gates didn't just make that up. Those sentiments have been evident in Supergirl comics since her beginning.

Perhaps one of the sillier stories to prove that is from 1971'a Adventure Comics #410 in which Kara befriends an alien visitor to our world, becoming basically a foster parent herself. No throwing this young girl with powers into an orphanage. Supergirl is going to show compassion and help this moppet. I was reminded of this story recently by friend Mart Gray.

So settle in for a rapid fire story of the early Bronze Age!

And let's see Kara at her best ... maybe ...

Also, this book is semi-important from a Supergirl history viewpoint. But you'll see why later.

On to the book.

"The Ruler Without a Planet" was written by John Albano with art by Bob Oksner and Vince Colletta. Oksner always drew a beautiful Kara and this story is no exception. So be prepared for a lot of sumptuous art, even if Colletta's sparse inking might dampen the glory. And, as per the usual back then, Albano shoves a lot of plot into 9 pages. Sometimes I read these stories and wonder where the issue breaks would be to pad this to make the trade.

Perhaps even crazier is that the story opens with Supergirl about to face off against a giant gorilla, a scene that has little to do with the actual plot.

But here we are with Supergirl having to stop Tunga from rampaging out of the Cauwell and Larson Circus. He's a big one!

Supergirl shows her feelings on animal rights wondering if it is okay for wild animals to be caged and on display for humans entertainment.

But she also knows if she doesn't subdue Tunga with her fists that the police will end the conflict lethally with guns.

So one double fist to the jaw later, the ape is unconscious and in a net.

In two pages and 5 panels the fight with a giant gorilla is over.

But there is collateral damage from the fight. The circus wardrobe building was damaged and now on fire. When Supergirl tries to extinguish the fire with super-breath she finds she can't! Her powers have left her.

Luckily, a little girl in a summer jumper and carrying a huge lollipop is there to do just that.

First off, you have to love Oksner's designs for this little girl; nothing screams 'cute little kid' like a giant sucker.

Second, the art is here is great. I love the little touch of Supergirl's cape being blown to the side byu this girl's windstorm.

Lastly, remember, this is a time when Supergirl was still (unfortunately) occasionally dealing with Starfire's (not that Starfire or even that Starfire) drug which temporarily and randomly turned off Kara's powers. I hate plots like this as the powers only turn off when needed in the story. Good thing they didn't turn off when Kara was 200 ft in the air last page or she'd be dead.

We then get a quick origin story from 'Judy'.

She comes from another world. She was playing in her stepfather's rocket ship when she accidentally pressed some buttons and it took off, crash landing on Earth. The ship then exploded into tiny particles, so no evidence.

At least Supergirl wonders if the girl is telling the truth. But look at the big beaming smile on Kara's face!

And hey, if that story is true, where did that lollipop come from?

But Judy shows she has other powers like flight and super-strength.

Now it would be very easy for Supergirl to put Judy in an orphanage as a (ahem) secret emergency weapon until she learned how to use her powers. But instead Kara shows compassion to this girl far from home and takes her in.

And over the next few days, the two become a crime-fighting duo! It's like Batman and Robin! Or maybe what Superman and Supergirl could have been way back in Action comics.

Supergirlk becomes quite fond of Judy. And look at how cute it is to see this little girl beating up criminals!

Ahhh ... but this is a Supergirl story. You knew there had to be a twist.

It turns out that Judy's real name is Equila. And she has been sent to Earth by her evil dictator stepfather to kill all the super-heroes so he can come in and take over.

He has dialogue straight out of the fascist handbook. 'Kindness is a weakness that destroys!"

After all, he used force to rule his world until a stronger army came and kicked him out, destroying their planet in the process.

He tells her to pick up the 'green ray' weapon he sent with her to kill Kara. She walks into the room where there is a rather sultry sleeping Kara lounging on the bed.

But Supergirl's compassion has won over Judy. She can't kill her new friend and stepmother/big sister.

Without a second delay, the evil step-father removes Judy's super-powers with the press of a button. He then sends a force beam down to Earth to kill the little girl! Talk about wickedness!

But there is a wakened Kara to save the day. She steps in front of the beam, blocking it with her invulnerable body. Good thing her powers didn't conk out there!

How sad Judy must feel though! And look, again, at how cute Oksner makes the little tyke.

Using her super-vision, Kara sees the stepfather's space ship in nearby airspace. She goes to investigate and bring him to justice. But as she approaches, she sees the air force has also picked up the bogey and has entered into a dog fight.

Now you think help, hope, and compassion for all would mean that Kara would stop the military action and that she would bring the evil alien dictator in alive for justice. But ...... nope. Instead she flies off to let our armed services mete out their own version.  Okay. Maybe this isn't Supergirl's finest moment.

It is even weirder when she returns back to Judy in time to watch the step-father's ship go down in a blaze. It's a falling star ... sort of. Look at how motherly and loving Supergirl looks in that second to last panel. Awwwww ....

Okay, this is a silly, sweet, and swift story. And who knows, maybe DC had some long term plans for Judy to become a sort of sidekick to the older Supergirl. But it never materialized. The sheer reach of the story accompanied by the beautiful art elevates it. As does a whiff of nostalgia for simpler times given the last couple of years of current Supergirl stories.

Overall grade: B

But I'm not done!

I said this issue of Adventure Comics was of some importance to a Supergirl collection.

In this issue's letter column we see that the 'puffy sleeve, hot pants, ballerina slipper' costume which became the basis of *THE* Supergirl costume of the 70's was first seen here. The submission by New Jersey's John Sposato made it's debut in the letter column.

This costume then went on to be on many pieces of merchandise and does so to this day.

So I would say medium/low importance. But if you see the issue on the cheap and you're a Supergirl fanatic, I'd grab it!

Cheers to Martin for the suggestion!