Back Issue Box: Adventure Comics #404

One of the things that I have truly appreciated about the current Supergirl title is how writer/artist Sophie Campbell has really done a deep deep dive into Supergirl's history, incorporating elements of all of Supergirl's lore and iterations into the book. 

Recently, the March 2026 DC solicits came out promoting a 'Reign of the Superboys' arc running through all the super-titles. In a related article talking about the titles, this nugget was dropped.

That same week, Supergirl #11 drops Kara into Kandor, strips her powers, and gives her a cybernetic upgrade as she leads a revolution alongside Conner Kent and a legion of Boy Thunder clones.

A powerless Supergirl in Kandor getting a cybernetic upgrade?

It sounds like Campbell is revisiting a storyline from the early 70's where Supergirl's powers would blip on and off. To compensate, she went to Kandor and had was given an exoskeleton to boost her abilities when she was suddenly powerless. 

Now to be honest, I am not a fan of storylines where characters' powers can suddenly disappear. The story always seems stretched and forced. And that is true for this classic one. But how great to see it updated. So why not revisit Adventure Comics #404, with that Kandorian exoskeleton revealed.

The brief story? A mob leader named Starfire (no ... not that Starfire or the other Starfire) comes to town to take over. To do that, she needs to get Supergirl off the board. So she has a lothario slip Supergirl a pill designed to depower her permanently. But it only works some of the time. Check out the awesome cover! Starfire beating up our here while a group of odd clowns watches on! Inticing!

To put in context, this book came out in May 1971, in the middle of the Kryptonite Nevermore arc in Superman, an arc seriously depowering the Man of Steel. Perhaps DC couldn't have Supergirl be the strongest character in the universe? 

On to the book!

Mike Sekowsky really was running the Supergirl show at this time being writer, artist, AND editor. So whatever you think of this run can be put on him. I'm not the biggest fan of this part of Supergirl's history but this was clearly a big shift for the character. She wasn't having silly adventures with nostalgic Kurt Schaffenberger art. She was more mature. The stakes were higher. She was independent and mod. This was a time when Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman were all getting 70's updates. So why not Kara.

Sekowsky's dynamic art leans into the change. And even this opening page, a recap of all that has happened so far. We learn about Starfire and her boytoy Derek who is able to slip Supergirl the depowering pill made by Dr. Kangle. Pretty interesting page.

And the title, a hyphenated 'Super-Girl ?' tells us what is going on. Is she super?

We quickly learn that the pill only occasionally depowers Supergirl. Her powers can flip on and off at random. I don't know how the pill works or how this unknown scientist perfected it ... but here we are.

The top panel is wonderful, showing how much despair Kara is feeling. Injured head in hand, leaning on a tree to steady herself, walking home in the moonlight. This is about as dark as we have seen in Supergirl stories. Really great art.

But then her powers click back on and she is able to fly home. The lower panel definitely is one of the problems I have in stories where powers randomly disappear. If that happened here, Supergirl will plummet to her death. It won't happen even though within the story, it could. 

With her powers still on, Supergirl heads to Kandor for a thorough examination. Despite the advanced tech, they can't figure out how the pill worked or how to counteract it. But for now Supergirl's powers are unreliable. They can appear and disappear without pattern or warning.

All they can do is give her an exoskeleton to allow her to have some modicum of strength and flight when the powers click off. It sort of looks like and predates Ditko's M-Vest in Shade the Changing Man.

But this is a key point. No vision powers. No invulnerability. Just strength and flight. 

Remember, Superman is being depowered in his book. Wonder Woman has no powers and is in her mod white pantsuit. So a Supergirl who is limited would fit into the zeitgeist. At least for now ...

Back on Earth, we learn a lot about Starfire. She is the leader of a large criminal organization, a female-only mob.  And she is ruthless.

She isn't going to have any loose ends. So she kills Derek, the Romeo deliverer of her depowering pill. 

This is pretty hardcore especially in the 70s. We learn a lot about Starfire with this one interaction. 

And then she sets forth with her plans.

She will unleash her female mob into the crowds of an upcoming carnival happening in the city of Carvale. In their carnival attire (remember those clowns on the cover) they can pillage, pickpocket, and pilfer anything they want. Money will bring power.

And if Supergirl gets in their way, they can eliminate her.

With Carnival going on, Supergirl can actually walk around in her costume. And at least at the beginning, her powers are on!

Love that the Women's Lib movement meant that there could be 'girl bank robbers'! So silly!

And then we see how these stories will progress. Supergirl's powers click off but she activates her exo-skeleton. With that power she can beat up the clowns. But she isn't invulnerable. She gets gun-butted and knocked out.

Now you think the gang would kill Supergirl while she is weak. But instead, they decide to drag her to their headquarters.

I run hot and cold on Sekowsky's art but I like it here. Wild and energized.

Back at the headquarters, Starfire decides to just show her dominance. She is judo-trained and just beats the snot out of Supergirl to the delight of her gang.

Check out the matching outfits on the gang!

Here's the problem.

Supergirl's powers switch back on. And then we get this great panel of her putting the smackdown on Starfire. In the chaos of the gang trying to stop Supergirl, Starfire and her scientist crony Dr. Kangle escape. 

But this again shows the power of the 'deus ex machina' on and off powers. Before Starfire can kill Supergirl, her powers return. While flying, her powers don't turn off. It is too easy a crutch.

Will Supergirl figure out a cure? Will she stop Starfire? Time would tell. 

Will Sophie Campbell recreate this story? Or homage it? Time will tell.

I have to say, rereading this issue I liked the art more than I have in the past. The story seems a bit wonky to me. A scientist creating a depowering pill that works sometimes? The convenient on/off switching of the powers when the story requires it? This was certainly a crazy time for Supergirl and DC in general!

Overall grade: B-