tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669531469217423923.post4512368385135187222..comments2024-03-29T10:05:57.545-04:00Comments on Supergirl Comic Box Commentary: Back Issue Box: Superman #123 - Anjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10023193805914075078noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669531469217423923.post-67797990932467413692020-08-27T09:37:00.747-04:002020-08-27T09:37:00.747-04:00I do my best to monitor the comments and delete al...I do my best to monitor the comments and delete all the malware and spam I can when I can.<br /><br />That post was deleted this morning when I reviewed the site.<br /><br />I would advise everyone to not click links in comments on this site.<br />Anjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10023193805914075078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669531469217423923.post-23100930976673723572020-08-27T09:25:50.538-04:002020-08-27T09:25:50.538-04:00Thanks for all the comments!
Glad I covered it an...Thanks for all the comments!<br /><br />Glad I covered it and love the information dropped here.<br /><br />I did cover the ad in my post on Action 251, including the 1000s of requests!<br /><br />And interesting to hear about the other supers which came and went.Anjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10023193805914075078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669531469217423923.post-10730591228143451472020-08-27T04:13:43.502-04:002020-08-27T04:13:43.502-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Ratraco Solutionshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14436869892074334334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669531469217423923.post-75602148162596716792020-08-27T00:09:03.015-04:002020-08-27T00:09:03.015-04:00It seems unlikely, but maybe there were no letters...It seems unlikely, but maybe there were no letters commenting on Superman #123. You would think Weisinger would have printed some had he received them, especially if they were positive. But this was the early days of letter columns (it looks like the first Metropolis Mailbag was in #124) and it could be that the idea of critiquing specific stories hadn't caught on yet.<br /><br />I've also heard that Weisinger would sometimes make up letters when he wanted to plug an upcoming story or a new character.<br /><br />Otto Binder is credited as the writer of this story in several places, including DC Database, but I remember somewhere seeing Bill Finger listed as the writer.<br /><br />The full page ad in Action Comics #251 mentions thousands of reader requests for a Supergirl. That could be something of an exaggeration. Maybe in addition to requests by mail, they were counting the kids in Weisinger's neighborhood that gave him ideas from time to time.<br /><br />"Super-Girl is actually a Super-Nusiance."<br /><br />Yeah, this story didn't do much to promote the idea that a Supergirl (whether hyphenated or not) would be much of a help to Superman.<br /><br />Not too unusual that Lucy of Borgonia appeared just that one time. That was fairly typical back then. Remember Mighty Boy in Superboy #85? I don't think Lucy was intended to be anything more than a one-shot character.<br /><br />I've wondered occasionally about the timing of Supergirl's debut. The idea for a Supergirl had been kicking around at least since 1944, when DC/National published that ashcan issue. But why did it take 15 years to introduce an ongoing Supergirl into the mix?<br /><br />Could Mary Marvel have been the reason? With the lawsuit over Superman and Captain Marvel going on (DC claiming that Captain Marvel was a copy of Superman), did DC hold off introducing a Supergirl out of concern that Fawcett could counter-claim that Supergirl was a copy of Mary? Once Mary Marvel was no longer being published, did DC then feel free then to bring in a Supergirl?<br /><br />Then again, Supergirl WAS part of Weisinger's "every six months a new idea" policy that started in the late 1950s. Weisinger was story editor of the Superman TV show, and spent much time in Hollywood with Whitney Ellsworth. When the TV show ended, Weisinger was able to devote more time to the comics and that's when the new ideas started appearing.<br /><br />There was a Mego-like action figure of the red haired, orange and green costumed Super-Girl that came out a year or so ago.Professor Feetlebaumnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669531469217423923.post-72811258527099497702020-08-26T14:28:09.443-04:002020-08-26T14:28:09.443-04:00I believe that the ad from the issue before they i...I believe that the ad from the issue before they introduced Kara said that they got 'thousands' of requests for a Supergirl. I feel like you posted the ad at some point recently but I can't seem to find it.<br /><br />Whatever the case, it's interesting to see the differences between this one and the official Supergirl. She's somewhat more muscular than what we ended up with but that probably goes with her being designed as an equal instead of a protégé.Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669531469217423923.post-24284488250130212992020-08-26T12:24:52.896-04:002020-08-26T12:24:52.896-04:00Yeah Silver Age Superman had serious issues with w...Yeah Silver Age Superman had serious issues with women, if it wasn't a relationship he could either dominate and or paternalize, he ended the relationship, which is what he did here. Lois Lane, he could dominate, but a woman his equal (at least in terms of power) repels him even as she sacrifices her life for him. Kalel is particularly cruelly sexist in this one, and that is saying a lot for 1958...I sometimes wish someone would write an Else worlds where Totem Supergirl left him for dead...:)<br />When Kara Zor El's turn came, Weisinger took pains to make sure Supergirl could never factor romantically in Superman's Life (since he'd only reject her as a threat to his masculinity) by making her a close younger relation. That in term meant he could endlessly patronize Supergirl and subject her to the usual parental tyranny imposed on girls at the time.<br />Agree with the above poster about the depressing litany of killed off and retconned Supergirls within and without continuity, its Kara's unique super power that she still somehow shines thru despite at times outright editorial hatred.<br /><br />JFAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669531469217423923.post-13525147786775510732020-08-26T11:44:10.628-04:002020-08-26T11:44:10.628-04:00I love delving into this era, even if some aspects...I love delving into this era, even if some aspects have become pretty dated.<br /><br />Technically, though, it wasn't the first appearance of a "Supergirl". Leaving aside 40's and 50's stories where Lois and Lana gained powers and called themselves "Supergirl/Superwoman/Power Girl", the first DC character called Supergirl was Lucy of Borgonia in "Superboy #5" (1949).<br /><br />If I am not mistaken, this story was later retconned out. It was not an imaginary story or an elseworlds, but a story which canonically never happened.<br /><br />It is disturbing how all Supergirls have eventually been forgotten and/or retconned out of existence:<br /><br />- Lucy of Borgonia: Never mentioned again.<br />- Super-Girl: Retconned out of existence.<br />- Earth-One Kara Zor-El: Retconned of existence by the Crisis.<br />- Matrix/Linda Danvers: Put in a bus to comic-book limbo, never mentioned again after the end of their book (unless you count you-know-what crappy mini-series) and retconned out of existence by Flashpoint.<br />- Pre-Zero Hour Andromeda: Killed off and retconned out of existence.<br />- Post Zero Hour Andromeda: Forgotten.<br />- Kara of Odiline: Forgotten as soon as that crossover ended, and retconned out of existence by Flashpoint.<br />- Cir-El: Retconned herself out of existence at the end of "Futuresmiths".<br />- New-Earth Kara: Retconned out of existence by Flashpoint.<br /><br />It is a very disturbing pattern.<br /><br />"Super-Girl is actually a Super-Nuisance."<br /><br />It reminds me of Superboy coming upon Krypto and complaining -to his poor pet dog's face- that he wasn't super-fun but a super-trouble. Apparently, no one explained to Superboy that a pet is a serious responsibility and not a source of entertainment. In spite of his reputation as a paragon, Pre-Crisis Superman was someone hard to love.<br /><br />Thank for reviewing this issue, Anj.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669531469217423923.post-86264383901054937662020-08-26T11:19:49.216-04:002020-08-26T11:19:49.216-04:00Hello from a french fan of supergirl,
Thanks Anj ...Hello from a french fan of supergirl,<br /><br />Thanks Anj for you review, i didn't understand who the redhead girl with orange et green suit was. Thanks to you, i have my answer.<br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669531469217423923.post-88195007117864751312020-08-26T10:41:40.699-04:002020-08-26T10:41:40.699-04:00Ha, I see what you did there, and, great point!Ha, I see what you did there, and, great point!Martin Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09574149543260175962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669531469217423923.post-64889521236526006542020-08-26T10:15:58.270-04:002020-08-26T10:15:58.270-04:00There’s a feeling of deja vu seeing this Super-Gir...There’s a feeling of deja vu seeing this Super-Girl sacrifice her life to save Superman and in spite of that being quickly forgotten. It’s enough to make someone cry, sis.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669531469217423923.post-18024503277805761692020-08-26T09:59:49.061-04:002020-08-26T09:59:49.061-04:00Time bubble fuel~like it!😄👍
Very interesting rev...Time bubble fuel~like it!😄👍<br />Very interesting review,<br />I'd certainly love to have that issue in my collection.<br />I'm a big fan of 1956~1963<br />Supes & DC in general from that era.<br />Very imaginative, creative & fun time in comicbooks.<br />As you said,anj,a drought atm for new Maid of Might stuff. But still,loving your back issue reviews & your other posts. <br />Looking forward to your review of LEGION of SUPER HEROES no.8<br />Yet to get it but really loving the new series especially the last 2 issues.<br />Take care bud🤓Daxam1978https://www.blogger.com/profile/09910174011705226034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669531469217423923.post-33873073940739893552020-08-26T08:25:52.435-04:002020-08-26T08:25:52.435-04:00Thanks for looking at this, and I love your insigh...Thanks for looking at this, and I love your insights. As for the lettercols, I had a cheeky dig around online and read all those after the issue; most letters were general queries about Superman ageing and secret identities and the like, but as we get closer to Kara’s debut in Action Comics, a couple of letters appear requesting a Supergirl, bringing responses to keep watching... it’s weird they didn’t use letters specifically commenting on Superman #123 to get their plugs in. <br /><br />Funnily, there’s a letter from one Scott Snyder - this was 1959, 17 years before the writer we know was born. Or so he says! Anyone smell Time Bubble fuel?Martin Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09574149543260175962noreply@blogger.com