Review: Action Comics #282

We are two issues into the new Supergirl comic run and Lesla Lar has been a big part of this opening arc. I have been reviewing the Lar's initial storyline which was in a long arc, especially for the Silver Age, leading up to Supergirl's being revealed to the world in Action Comics #285. 

Action Comics #282 brings Lar's initial story arc to a close in a rather abrupt fashion. Like every chapter in this storyline, this was one is crazy with a futuristic adventure, a villain's plot foiled by insomnia, and the inclusion of a certain 5th dimensional magic imp. But there is definitely this feeling that DC wanted Supergirl to sort of turn the corner in her stories. She has a new hair cut. She meets an old friend again. And, of course, she is introduced to the world changing everything in her life in a few months.

Writer Jerry Siegel brings some wild action to the proceedings. What I really love is how Siegel inserts a quick snippet of a story of a fascist group being overthrown by a rebel group which embraces knowledge. Given Superman's early political leanings by Siegel as well as his upbringing, seeing Supergirl bring down a fascist regime was great. (Of course, it's the Silver Age and therefore is done in 2 plus pages.) And when this issue ends, Supergirl is stronger than Superman as well!

I can continue to talk about how Jim Mooney is the perfect artist for the Supergirl of this time. A legend. But I have to say, I think he is putting in some extra energy whenever he draws Lesla Lar who is just dripping with pettiness and anger.

On to the book!

Back Issue Box: Action Comics #281

The new Supergirl #1 has hit the racks including a new Lesla Lar, a character that writer/artist Sophie Campbell hinted would be returning when the book was first announced.

Today I look at Action Comics #281 as I continue my look at the first storyline pitting Supergirl against Lesla Lar, the story leading into Supergirl finally being revealed to the world at last in Action Comics #285.

I've covered the first two parts here and here in which Lesla Lar, a brilliant but jealous scientist in Kandor basically demolishes Supergirl's life. In short order she depowers Kara, brainwashes our hero into thinking she is Lar, and then swaps places with her on Earth. Lar then teams up with Luthor with the ultimate plan to kill Superman and Lex and rule the world. And frankly, she has been doing a fantastic job of all of it, only being temporarily derailed.

This issue continues that arc and that sort of happenstance. Lar swaps places, moves ahead with her plans, and is temporarily detained by ... get ready ... Krypto! Writer Jerry Siegel and artist Jim Mooney craft a completely bonkers story with the Lar plot taking up the front half of the story, including Kara thinking she's Lesla and then playing Kara in a Kandorian made movie. (Seriously, the identity swaps and plot turns in this whole multi-issue story are just pure Silver Age insanity.) 

But it is the back-half that seems both out of synch with this story and yet completely in line with these early Action tales. Supergirl travels back in time and saves a town in early America from all sorts of natural disasters. It has nothing to do with the Lar story and feels almost like inventory pages. It also is exactly the type of  'guardian angel' story that dominated Supergirl's stories here. 

Jim Mooney flourishes here, especially in the story in the past as he gets to put Supergirl through her paces. And his panel composition is great.

So let's read this story!

Review: Action Comics #280

Last week I reviewed Action Comics #279, the first part of the Silver Age Supergirl story where she battles Lesla Lar. All this is in anticipation of the upcoming Supergirl title and Lesla being the main villain.

Today I am reviewing Action Comics #280, the second chapter of the multi-part arc. And much like last issue, this one goes at an incredible pace and is filled with standard Silver Age insanity, including throwaway science ideas, identity changes, and wild action. 

But also, like last issue, there is some growth for the Supergirl character (or at least the idea of her given that Lar is impersonating her). Writer Jerry Siegel is using this big storyline to sort of mature Supergirl into something more than the orphan secret weapon. Last issue, Siegel had Linda get adopted. She ditched the braids. This issue, Superman recognizes how much Kara has grown in her 2+ years of comic history. Add to that the insane Lar who has aspiration and perhaps delusions of grandeur. She is truly wicked. 

Jim Mooney is on art and remains the legend. His work on Lar and her facial expressions is just stellar. But Mooney gets to spread his wings a bit here too. We get a lot of crazy Kandor science. We get a three page basic retelling of the plight of Argo City and Supergirl's origins. Mooney is a master.

Settle in and buckle up for a wild ride. On to the book. 

Review: Action Comics #279

In the recent DC solicits, we learned that Lesla Lar is being reintroduced to the DCU as a Supergirl villain.  It made me realize that I have never really covered the earliest Lesla Lar stories on this sight despite my nearing 17 years of running the place. 

And Lar is a pretty big deal in Supergirl lore. In the Silver Age Action Comics, she had (for that time) a pretty long multi-issue story arc where she bedeviled Supergirl. She comes back and has a shocking 'death' later in Action Comics. And then, in one of the things I truly love about the character, she comes back to plague Supergirl over multiple issues in the early 1980's Superman Family book (some of which I have covered here)!

Today I'm reviewing Action Comics #279, Lesla Lar's first appearance which kicks of that long-form arc. I do think that multi-part stories were pretty rare back then. Her arc trying to replace Supergirl on Earth runs over 4 issues! The whole story is written by Jerry Siegel and drawn by Jim Mooney. Overcoming Lar is part of some significant growth for Kara. You looking for an important event in Supergirl's life? It is in this issue! Goodbye orphanage!

As for Lar herself, her motives are pretty basic - jealousy leading to contempt. Her scientific prowess is enough to rival Luthor making her team-up with Lex in this first issue seem appropriate. Lar does a number on Kara for sure. Mooney plays it up well with his usual expressive work. 

But it that jealousy, that wanting to be Supergirl and get the accolades, that upcoming writer/artist Sophie Campbell is riffing on in the new Supergirl title. So let's see the villain in action! On to the book!

Back Issue Box: Action Comics #284

Last week I reviewed Action Comics #283, the first part of a crazy Red Kryptonite story where Kara exposes herself to 6 Red K meteors and therefore must undergo 6 transformations. 

Today I wrap up the story with Action Comics #284, which turns out to be a relatively important story for Supergirl’s history. ‘The Strange Bodies of Supergirl’ is written by Superman creator Jerry Siegel with art by classic artist Jim Mooney. We’ll get through three crazy transformations for sure. But we’ll see some continuity from Superman’s history. We’ll get a character from Supergirl’s supporting cast re-appear. And we get an announcement from Superman at the end of the story which changes the direction of this ongoing back-up moving forward.

Mooney continues to shine giving us a perfect young Supergirl as well as a touch of horror, a pinch of Sci-Fi, and a wonderful happy ending.

So if you are looking for some Silver Age insanity and some Kara history, you are in the right place.

I’ll add that the front end of the issue has a Superman story where he also is affected with Red K, turning into a toddler. What I love about that story is that he does it on purpose, exposing himself to a ‘youth restoring’ Red K from a prior Supergirl story. So there is some continuity in that showing how Supergirl’s life can impact Superman.

On to the book.

Back Issue Box: Action Comics #283

Last week I reviewed Action Comics #303, a Silver Age classic with a healthy dose of Red Kryptonite fun. I got a lot of great feedback for that review and I feel that I have been so busy with current reviews that the Silver Age stuff has been missing a bit from here. I also try to have my back issue reviews somehow relate to current storylines and with Superman dealing with a Red K injection in Joshua Williamson's Superman book, I thought I would look back again to one of the wackier Supergirl/Red K stories from 1961. (For transparency, these scans are from my Supergirl Archives Vol 2 book.)

'The Six Red K Perils of Supergirl' was the back up story in Action Comics #283. Written by Jerry Siegel with art by Jim Mooney, we get to see Supergirl dealing with a new period in her life and struggling with a major Red K exposure. 

I really feel like this period of Supergirl's stories are a major turning point for the character and worth a look at. There is a long, multi-issue story where we meet one of Supergirl's arch-enemies, Lesla Lar. She loses her powers. She regains her powers from an odd source. And then it all culminates two issues from this story in Action Comics #285 in which Superman reveals Supergirl's existence to the world. That issue is one of the most key issues in Supergirl's history. 

But we are here, now, in Action Comics #283 so settle in for Silver Age goodness. From character progression to zany Red K transformations to detailed super-brief side plots, this issue is a hearty meal. And guess what? It is only part one.

Settle in!

Black Orchid Wednesday: Bullet Review Superman #149

Welcome to Black Orchid Wednesdays where I have been exploring the fan rumor in the 70s that Black Orchid was actually Supergirl. I am nearing the end of this side mission with but 2 more pre-Crisis Black Orchid stories to cover. Alas, while I have purchased said issues, I don't have them yet. 

But I have been a bit more creative recently on this little musing. At first I was looking at ways that the Black Orchid stories could have been Supergirl. But more recently, I have been more intrigued in looking at Supergirl stories from the Silver and Bronze Age that seem to fit Black Orchid's tales.

And so I bring you one of the craziest imaginary tales of all time, Superman #149 and 'The Death of Superman'. Written by Superman creator Jerry Siegel with art by Curt Swan and Stan Kaye, this has one of the most brutal scenes in comics I have read. 

It also has one of my favorite Supergirl moments in it, at the very end.

And, fitting for this, it has a moment that feels like a Black Orchid moment. I will also reiterate that this is an Imaginary Story meaning that applying the events here to an 'in continuity' fan rumor could be considered troublesome. 

I am surprised that 14 years into this blog that I had not covered this story yet. But here we are. This will be a bullet review with brief coverage because this story deserves to be read in full. I'll hit the high points I promise.

And a word of warning, my copy of this is from 'The Greatest Superman Story Ever Told' trade paperback, which has a very tight binding making scans less than perfect. Apologies up front!

On to the tale.

Back Issue Box: Action Comics #267

I've been in a but of a Legion mood these days and figured maybe now was the time to review Supergirl's first interaction with the team. For clarity, I don't own this individual issue but have this story reprinted in multiple places. It is on the dream list.

Action Comics #267 sports a great cover of a spurned Hercules lashing out at a poster of Superman. But the real draw is the Supergirl story when a Legion of Super-Heroes comes to the past to recruit her. 

This is early in Supergirl's career. She is Superman's secret weapon. She is almost paralyzed with fear about breaking Superman's edict that she remain in hiding. But you can see just how much she wants to help and be a hero. These early stories show us this foundation of Supergirl, the need to help people.

It is also interesting that this is the first appearance of three Legionnaires. When you add that to the first appearances of many Legionnaires in the Supergirl story in Action Comics #276, you come to realize just how important Supergirl is to Legion history.

And, as with other elements of Supergirl's early history, some of the details here are changed in future reprints to help form a better continuity. So just like Argo City went from having a 'bubble of atmosphere' to a protective dome, so did a crucial detail here get changed.

On to the story!

Back Issue Box Review: Action Comics #286

Lex Luthor is coming to the CW Supergirl show, ready to be a nemesis to our hero. With no new episode this week, it meant I had an open Wednesday slot that I usually devote to the show. With that in mind, I thought the time was right to dig through the back issues to find a comic story where Supergirl and Lex had a throwdown.

I have to say I love when the two square off. Almost always Lex dismisses Kara as a pale copy of her super-cousin. So it makes it that much sweeter when Supergirl defeats him. I especially love Silver Age stories when the two interact. Back then, Supergirl was a true neophyte, a teenage girl, and subject to the standard gender norms of the time. So seeing her defeat Superman's arch-villain in those stodgy days is even more delectable.

And so I give you Action Comics #286 and the Supergirl story 'The Death of Luthor'. One thing in particular about this story that makes it stand out is that it comes on the heels of Action Comics #285, the issue where Supergirl is finally revealed to the world.'The Death of Luthor' picks up on all the beats of that story. People are still in wonder about her existence. Luthor thinks it's a hoax. Superman is still off-world, on the mission that prompted Supergirl's heroics in AC #285. And Supergirl herself is still getting the hang of being able to act out in the open. I love the history of this story as much as I love seeing Lex get a comeuppance!

On to the story!

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.

Digest Cast: Supergirl

You all have read my thoughts about Supergirl over the years here.

Have you ever wanted to HEAR my thoughts on Supergirl?

Over on the Fire and Water Network of podcasts, I was invited onto the DigestCast to discuss The Best of DC Blue Ribbon Digests #17 - The Many Lives Of Supergirl.

Here is the link for DigestCast so go and listen!

We review this great digest from 1981 showing the different periods of Supergirl's life.
There is orphan and secret weapon Supergirl in The Great Supergirl Mirage from Action Comics #256 (by Otto Binder and Jim Mooney).
There is revealed super-hero in The World's Greatest Heroine from Action Comics #285 (by Jerry Siegel and Jim Mooney).
There is college student Linda in Supergirl Goes to College from Action Comics #318 (by Leo Dorfman and Jim Mooney).
There is reporter Linda in Crypt of Frozen Graves from Adventure Comics #424 (by Steve Skeates, Tony DeZuniga, and Bob Oknser).
There is drama student Linda in Trail of the Madman from Supergirl #1 volume 1 (by Cary Bates and Art Saaf).
And finally there is Guidance Counselor Linda in Princess of the Golden Sun  from Superman Family #165 (by Elliot S Maggin and Art Saaf).

Whew ... a lot of great stories, many covered on this blog.

Not only do I help with the reviews, I talk about Supergirl's history and my love of the character.

But there is more.

Review: Action Comics #291

The news came out recently that everyone's favorite 5th dimensional imp, Mr. Mxyzptlk, is coming to the Supergirl show!

While the show does seem to be leaning on Superman's rogues gallery for the villains of the episodes, I don't have too much to complain about here. Mr. Mxyzptlk has a relatively deep history with Supergirl, especially in the Silver Age. He was responsible for giving Kara her powers back (and a temporary immunity to Kryptonite!) early in her Action Comics run. But Supergirl hadn't been revealed at that point; Mxy thought she was just a 'normal girl'. He bothered her in the Adventure Comics run. And he was the big bad in Supergirl:Cosmic Adventures in the Eighth Grade.

But I thought it would be appropriate to review his first true battle with Supergirl, Action Comics #291!

The cover comment for the Supergirl story is that she meets her Kryptonian parents and that is true. But it is in the context of the story 'The Bride of Mr. Mxyzptlk!'. Written by Jerry Siegel with art by Jim Mooney, the story is a wild romp stuffed into 12 pages. I am always amazed at just how much the old creators could put into a back-up feature! This would be a 6 parter these days.

And it opens up with this fantastic splash page. There is Mxyzptlk, looking dapper in his day tuxedo (while maintaining the purple derby and gloves), waiting outside the Justice of the Peace. And there is Kara, in a veil, being brought to the celebration by her Kryptonian parents. Say, aren't they dead? Despite Kara's protests, they are forcing her to marry the 5th dimensional trickster.

Whew ... there is a lot to digest in this one picture! But does the story hold up to this opening hook?

Back Issue Bin: Action Comics #334, Streaky

Last week in Superman #1, we saw the Kents' ... ahem, Smiths' pet cat Goldie get incinerated by Jon's uncontrolled heat vision. It was a brutal, shocking scene which I felt was unnecessary to Jon's story. But there it was.

It was with that event in mind that I decided to look to a more pleasant story about a cat.

What better place to look than Streaky, the super-cat! Supergirl's pet cat was a mischievous scamp who was seen in her earliest stories in Action Comics. He was later seen as a normal cat in Daring New Adventures, the pre-Flashpoint Supergirl, in Cosmic Adventures, Tiny Titans, and even in in cartoon form in Krypto. Streaky is an important part of Kara's history.

Surprisingly, despite doing this blog for eight plus years, I have never reviewed his origin story. I unfortunately don't own Action Comics #261, Streaky's first appearance. But I do own the story in a variety of reprints. The scans you see here are from Action Comics #334, a giant issue of Supergirl stories.

So if you don't like to see a cat's charred corpse and would rather read about a cat flying around with a cape, read on!

DC Essential: New 52 Supergirl #1

It was announced yesterday that a Supergirl Essential issue will be released the week before the premiere of the show. Boasting a price of just one dollar, the issue is a reprint of the New 52 Supergirl #1. Here is a link:
http://www.newsarama.com/26008-dc-rushes-supergirl-essential-onto-shelves-ahead-of-tv-debut.html

CBS's Supergirl series debuts October 26, and DC Comics is rushing to get a Supergirl comic book on stands to take advantage of the extra attention and potential for increased popularity.

The publisher has rush-solicited DC Essentials: Supergirl #1, a reprint of the "New 52" Supergirl #1 from 2011, for publication on October 21. Priced at just $1.00, retailers have until September 28 to place orders.

I am thrilled that the character is getting such promotion and publicity right now. And while I think the New 52 Supergirl had its ups and downs, there is no doubt this is a dynamic first issue with beautiful art by Mahmud Asrar.

But there certainly is a lot to nit pick about this decision.

One, this is a rushed announcement and solicit, almost as if DC didn't recognize the show premiere as an opportunity. And you might think that an ongoing book, a show prequel issue, a digital series ... that anything might be the right promotion.

Also, the tone of the initial New 52 run ... the alien Kara, with no friends, who remains distant to Superman and doesn't want to be a hero ... is about as far away from what we have seen of the show. There is a disconnect tonally here.

But rather than write another 1000 words, wailing and gnashing my teeth, complaining at DC's blighted efforts with the character, I will instead give a short list of other comics that I think could also be considered 'Essential Supergirl' and might fit in a bit more with the efforts of linking the comic to the show. In chronological order and with links if I have reviewed the issue here:

Action Comics #285 (Jerry Siegel/Jim Mooney) - This is a pretty big issue in Supergirl lore where Superman finally reveals her existence to the world. No longer will she be the secret weapon. She had done her job, training to use her powers, and doing her own secret heroics. Now was the time for her to be recognized as the second Kryptonian hero of the world. You see how earnest she is in her desire to help. And we see her save the world on her own. If you want an essential from the Silver Age, this is it.

Superman #376/Daring New Adventures #1 (Paul Kupperberg/Carmine Infantino) - An extra-sized issue as it includes to Daring preview from Superman. The preview story is Supergirl talking to her cousin, discussing her desire to go back to school, to be her own person, to become the hero she should be. The first issue shows her work/social life as well as nice action against Psi. This is 'girl power' at its finest. This is a young hero ready to step into the light and help people. And she is a young woman dealing with life and love as well. This feels like the show.

Supergirl #5 (Peter David/Gary Frank) - Matrix had just linked with Linda Danvers, a mortal girl with dark inclinations. And this amalgam was still trying to figure out what it was. Was she alive? Did she have a soul? Was she good? She met an odd sort of reflection in the suddenly sentient Chemo. There are hard philopsphical questions asked. This was a young woman trying to define herself as a hero. And it is a stand alone issue in an otherwise long   form book. Matrix might not be Kara. But writer Peter David injected pure Supergirl-ness into this book.

Supergirl #34 (Sterling Gates/Jamal Igle) - This was the beginning of the Sterling Gates/Jamal Igle run, and it also was a shift in direction for the character. After nearly 3 years of anger, bitterness, high school massacres, vanishing skirts, and panty shots, Gates and Igle rehabilitated the character. She needed to redefine who she was. She might not be perfect. But she wanted to do good, be a hero, and strive to be better. She was growing, maturing. And part of that was adopting the Linda Lang identity. If there is one run (or one issue) that the show seems to have imprinted on, it is this one. I mean Linda in the show looks just like Linda Lang.

Superman/Batman #62 (Mike Johnson and Michael Green/Rafael Albuquerque) - Something of a left field pick but it has a Bat-family member which might lead more people to read it. Green and Johnson wrote the New 52 Kara but this one is much more classic in approach as the retell an early adventure she had with Robin. And in this story you see the gamut of Supergirl's emotions, all displayed as she strives to bring good to the world and save people. It is a brilliant microcosm of the character and how she thinks and what she tries to do. And it is beautifully rendered.

Supergirl #33 (TonyBedard/ Emanuela Lupacchino and Jeff Johnson) - It might seem odd to pick the last issue of a multititle arc (Red Daughter) as the Essential. But the issue again highlights the parts of Supergirl's character that I love. The fierce need to fight for justice. That love of Earth, her home. And she finally rids herself of all the negativeness of the earlier issues, set up perfectly in the form of a Red Lantern ring.

So those would be my essentials. Those would have been my choices for DC. And, of those, I would have picked the Gates/Igle Supergirl #34 would far and away have been my choice to market the character in conjunction with the show.

Supergirl Digest

One of the things that I love about social media and even this blog is that I have met great people over time, people I may never meet in person but who I count as friends.

One of the first was Mart Gray, from across the pond, steward of the Too Dangerous For A Girl comic review site, Supergirl fan, and overall great guy! I have talked comics with Mart for a long time and think he is a wellspring of comic knowledge. If you are looking for great comic reviews for a multitude of books, you should head there!

Mart sent me a gift recently, something missing from my collection. The Best of DC Comics, Vol 3, No. 17, better known as the Supergirl digest! I have been looking for this book for a long time so this is truly a wonderful present.

The digest sports a nifty George Perez cover, Linda Danvers in the background switching to Supergirl, flying towards the reader. She looks outright graceful there.

The supra-title is 'The Many Lives of Supergirl' and it shows how varied Supergirl's life was back then.

 The back cover is just as wonderful with a playful and casual Supergirl leaning on the panels showcasing the stories on the inside. And what I love about it is that it concentrates on the Linda side of Supergirl's life. There is action in all these stories. Instead we see the different points in Linda's life they occur. From orphan to revealed super-hero to college student to reporter to acting student to guidance counselor, Linda was trying to find her place. This is a Linda cover!

I have reviewed the last 4 stories in this digest here over the years. Perhaps most surprising is that I haven't covered the second story, Action Comics #285, in which Supergirl's existence is revealed. How have I not covered that issue here??

The back cover does a nice job writing about how Supergirl's life meandered over the years at this point.

It was 1981 so she was starring in Superman Family. This was two years away from another turn in her life, as grad student in Chicago.

It is a shame there were no footnotes or issue references in this blurb. This was well before the internet. I might have liked to know what issue she discovers her family, etc.

Since I haven't covered Action Comics #285 in depth, I had to include this panel.

This might have to become a t-shirt.

An absolutely huge thank you to Mart for sending this my way! I owe you one, my friend!

Lucy Lane On Supergirl Show - Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #57

There has been a slew of news, interviews, merchandise, and videos about the upcoming Supergirl television show. It is sometimes hard for me to figure out what to post and not post about the show because there is so much news so fast. I will be trying to figure out a mix of posts relating show news to comics and others that just discuss the upcoming series.

One news item that grabbed my attention was the reveal that Lucy Lane will be on the show! Here is a link: http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/supergirl-adds-character-from-iconic-metropolis-family I can't help but love that because there is so much Lucy/Supergirl stuff in the comics!

Now immediately the internet started to wonder if that meant that Lucy would become Superwoman on the show as a villain. But I doubt we'll see that ... at least in season 1. Now matter how great 'Lucy as Superwoman' was in Supergirl, Lucy has a much longer history as being Jimmy's significant other (or at least someone he wanted to date and love but who often spurned him). Given that the show is going to play up Kara's crush on Jimmy I have to think that Lucy will be an ex-girlfriend of some sort, someone  to punch up the romantic part of the show.

The truth is that there has always been some ground swell of support that Jimmy and Kara should get together. Assuming that they are close enough in age for it not to be icky, creators every so often hint at it. And in the Silver Age it seemed to have something of a 2 year life cycle where every couple of years someone would write a story where the two interact. And Lucy always plays a role in these stories, sometimes as the past love regretting her dismissive attitude, sometimes as the girlfriend fighting for her man.

But the Jimmy/Kara potential romance is brought to one logical conclusion in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #57. Writer Jerry Siegel and artists Curt Swan and George Klein have the two tie the not in the imaginary tale 'Jimmy Olsen Marries Supergirl'. The text states that thousands of people have written asking for a story where the two marry which means this faction of Olsen/Danvers shippers has been present since 1961!

The opening panel sets the stage nicely with Jimmy marrying Linda. Sparking in her white gown, Linda looks stunning. And there, in the background is Lucy, looking on at the one who got away.  I love that Superman is the best man, a nice showing of his relationship with Jimmy. And, at least up front, we learn that some Red K is in the mix.

The story opens with Jimmy heading to Midvale orphanage to show off some of his Superman mementos. Serendipitously, Linda, already adopted by the Danvers, is there to also visit and help out.

One of Jimmy's Superman trophies is a chunk of Red Kryptonite. And when exposed to the Red K, Linda loses all memories of being Supergirl and all of her powers as well. Right now she is completely human. There is some immediate chemistry between the two and so Jimmy asks Linda if she'd like to accompany him to Metropolis on a date.

There is something just absolutely beautiful about that first panel of Linda. I love it.

Of course, at the amusement park's dance hall, Jimmy spies Lucy dancing with a 'handsome pilot'. He also looks to be old enough to be her grandfather! But he doesn't care because Linda, 'a living doll', is in his arm.

Again, the history of Lucy never really appreciating or being invested in her relationship with Jimmy plays into the story.

These were 'one and done' stories and brief. Things need to happen fast. So after a wonderful evening and a kiss in the tunnel of love, Jimmy pops the question. And Linda accepts!

Talk about whirlwind romances! But, I suppose, when you know you know.

There doesn't appear to be a long courtship, tedious preparations, or any time delay. One page later they are married.

Superman is present and before the ceremony asks Linda about her Supergirl career but she doesn't understand what he is talking about. He quickly deduces that she was exposed to Red K. But rather than put an end to this or tell her the truth about herself or anything, he let's the wedding happen!

And the Danvers? No where to be seen. Don't you think they might ask her things too?

Ahh ... but there is Lucy in the front pew. She is feeling pretty sorry about letting Jimmy slip away.

Now back then the '48hour' rule for Red Kryptonite wasn't around. So sometime goes by before Linda suddenly remembers everything about her life and regains her powers.

She is 100% happy being married to Jimmy. But what can she do?

Unfortunately, she doesn't seem to think too highly of Jimmy's capability of dealing with her secret. Jimmy has been Elastic Lad. He has been Flamebird. He is friends with Superman. I think he might handle being married to a Supergirl.

But unfortunately she decides to keep her secret hidden from Jimmy, even if she secretly uses them now and then, like here when she makes it seem like Jimmy is able to shout instructions to a plane.

I have to say, Siegel might have an axe to grind with Lucy. He has Jimmy run into her one more time. Again, she seems forlorn and he seems to gloat just a bit too much about having found Linda.

Now some of the thinking in this story is a little wonky. But Linda's idea here is the nuttiest.

She decides to reveal her existence to Supergirl to him. Then, as Supergirl, she will make him fall in love with her. Then when he is in love with both Linda and Supergirl, she'll reveal she is one and the same.

But what a terrible trick to put on Jimmy. The best way to show that he loves her is to tempt him with infidelity??

Jimmy needs to get rescued from an amusement park ride gone wrong and Supergirl is there to save the day.

She quickly recaps her history (told in a neat 1-page retelling) and tells him that she is still Superman's secret weapon. He can't tell anyone about her.  Then she really slathers the compliments and flirty quips. Even he can tell that she loves him. But he keeps it all bottled up.

Linda can't help but admire that Jimmy can keep that big a secret, not even leaking it to his wife.

The super-temptations become bigger and more difficult to shake off for Jimmy. Supergirl takes him to an alien planet for lunch. They have adventures. He would 'marry her in a second' but he already has a wife.

And it isn't as if he has fallen out of love with Linda. He still loves her.

As for Linda, well ... as Linda ... Linda keeps mum.

This is just too weird.

To make matters worse, Jimmy somehow falls down a hole into a subterranean kingdom where he fulfills a prophecy of a surface dweller who will save their culture. Immediately their raven-haired princess asks him to be her king.

Supergirl is quick to label her a 'hussy' for trying to steal her husband and whisks him away.

After the rescue, Jimmy actually takes a stand and ends it with Supergirl. We see him thinking about how he is only breaking up with her because he is already married. But he tells Supergirl that he doesn't love her, thinking that is less painful than saying that he would marry her if not already betrothed.

But remember, Linda wanted Jimmy to fall in love with her. When he says he doesn't love Supergirl she is crestfallen.

Like I said, this story moves quickly with lots of twists. Insanity.

So I was pretty impressed with Jimmy for finally ending it with Supergirl.

But I was really impressed with his honesty when he tells Linda about Supergirl and how he felt around her. He kicks himself, calling himself a skunk for feeling that way. But with that reveal, Linda knows he can deal with her dual identity. She reveals she's Supergirl.

He still faints!!! Supergirl is glad her long convoluted, somewhat manipulative games gradually revealed the news because otherwise that faint might have been a shock!

The story ends with the couple in a hug, presumably to live happily ever after. That's right! This is the rare imaginary tale that has a happy ending! Interestingly, Siegel brings up Lucy one more time. She is still out there.

I love this story. I don't always ship Jimmy and Kara but they sure do make a swell couple here. And while the plot twists are almost absurd, it is a Silver Age imaginary tale! Of course it is going to be absurd.

 While this is forgotten story in Supergirl's history, I find any interaction with the bigger Superman supporting cast important. I would rank this as medium importance to a Supergirl collection, riffing the possible Jimmy/Kara romance and also being a Silver Age Imaginary tale. My copy is a completely tattered book, the cover barely holding on, and it cost me $10. So just be ready to pay.

Overall grade: A

Looking for more Jimmy/Lucy/Linda action? Go back to this review of  Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #75 and see Linda try to save Jimmy's life by getting him fired from the Planet. Part of that plan is getting Lucy angry at him. More Silver Age Red Kryptonite zaniness are in this story too!

Happy Anniversary Action Comics #1, 75 Years Strong

It is hard to believe but 75 years ago today Action Comics #1 hit the newsstands, introducing Superman to the world.

What has happened after that is legend. A caped figure hoisting a car was something new in the market. Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster's strange visitor from another world swept the planet.  Superman became the father of a whole genre of comics, becoming a worldwide recognized character, the epitome of heroism, fighting for Truth, Justice, and The American Way. We met Clark Kent and Lois Lane, intrepid reporters. And we saw incredible strength and nigh-invulnerability for the first time! Suddenly 'super-hero' was a word.

I am sure that other sites are going to do much more comprehensive reviews of the impact of Action Comics #1 and Superman. So I figured I would instead do a quick homage post about Action Comics #1 and Supergirl.

Back during the 'Death of Superman' era, with Superman presumably interred, Matrix Supergirl took it upon herself to fill his void, becoming the 'All-New Metropolis Marvel'. What better way to show how she was being introduced into this role than by doing this homage cover to the original, the iconic pose of Supergirl now hoisting and smashing the car dominating the central part of the cover. But I have to applaud artist Jackson 'Butch' Guice including the men fleeing the scene, including the one in the lower left hand corner. His exasperated look on Shuster's cover has always stuck out in my mind so it is funny to see that reproduced as well.

I think Matrix grew immensely in this arc.

And many of you know I loved Peter David's Fallen Angel comic, both the DC and IDW version. I think David sort of 'nudge nudge wink-wink' continued Linda Danvers story from Supergirl in Fallen Angel.

Once the book moved to IDW, David removed the 'Is she Linda' argument completely, writing the Angel's true origin story as a literal angel called Liandra who was banished to Earth. But David also decided to maybe slip in one more chapter to Linda's story. A young woman with powers named Linda was the 'first Fallen Angel' of the city of Bete Noire. In a quick 2-parter, she returns and teams up with Liandra for an adventure.

To keep the 'Danvers-ness' aspect of the story high, artist Kristian Donaldson adorned the issues with homage covers including this version of Action Comics #1, here Linda smashing the car while Lee oversees in the background. (The second part has an homage cover to Crisis on Infinite Earths #7).

Happy Birthday Superman, Clark Kent, and Lois Lane!

Review: Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #75

After a deluge of publicity for the Superman titles in the days surrounding NYCC, news about those books has dried up a bit. And as this is a 5 Wednesday month, my usual reviews have been spread out a bit.

As a result, I have been going to the back issue box a bit more than usual. That means a lot of Silver Age wackiness has been reviewed here. And the train isn't slowing down. There is a Halloween review on track for tomorrow.

I recently looked at Supergirl quitting the news business as a reflection of Clark quitting the Daily Planet. Now I thought I would review sort of the opposite situation, the time Supergirl joined the Daily Planet.

"When Supergirl Replaced Jimmy Olsen!" was written by Superman creator Jerry Siegel and drawn by Curt Swan. That is some serious comic history joining up to write this story. As was typical of the Jimmy Olsen book, the Supergirl/Jimmy Olsen story is only one of three in the book.

I have to say the story isn't reflected on the cover which hints at a sort of romance story. I think the Linda/Jimmy romance was always only hinted at in a vague way.

As happened more often in the Silver Age than you might expect, red Kryptonite plays a big part in the story.

In the far future, Supergirl is helping Superman equip the Fortress of Solitude with a future alarm system. Unfortunately, she comes out of the time stream right next to a massive chunk of Red K.

Realizing that Red K might make anything happen, Supergirl decides to return back to the present.

So two important things required for this story to progress has happened in the earliest panels. One, Supergirl is affected by Red K. And Superman is not in the picture. He can't help in the present.

Now who knows what zaniness might happen!

As she zips to the present, Supergirl peeks through the time stream and sees that in 2 days from her 'present' Jimmy Olsen dies in a Daily Planet helicopter crash.

Despite learning time after time that history cannot be changed, Supergirl decides she needs to warn Jimmy. If he never gets in that helicopter, he won't die.

However, when she walks up to Jimmy and warns him, she realizes she has lost her powers. The Red K has taken them away. And Jimmy thinks that this person warning him about his death isn't Supergirl but a 'crazy girl' in a suit. He ignores her warning.

And then, to make things even goofier, the Red K has a different wrinkle. She has no powers when in her Supergirl costume. But she does have her powers when dressed as Linda.

So now she has to be extra careful with her powers so as not to reveal her secret identity.

Now that is too fantastic! Classic Silver Age!

One thing I love about the Silver Age is that the characters simply roll with the craziness and often devise even crazier schemes to remedy the problem.

If Jimmy dies in a Daily Planet helicopter crash then the best way to save him is to get him fired as Planet employee.

Really? That's the best plan?

Maybe you can take him out of the city in 2 days? Or move at superspeed to catch the helicopter? Maybe pull the fire alarm in the Planet before the crash?

And so the conniving and devious Linda Danvers gets to work.

She gets hired by the Planet. And then she gets to work sabotaging Jimmy.

Linda throws herself into Jimmy's arms because she is 'afraid' of a toy mouse and then kisses him for 'protecting' her. Lucy thinks he is two-timing her and so dumps him. And this broken hearted Jimmy begins writing drivel, whining about his lost love.

Check out the evil smirk on Linda's face. But this lousy writing doesn't get Jimmy fired.

Figuring that Jimmy earned too much respect at the Planet to get easily fired, Linda decides to go a different route. If Jimmy can fly on his own, why would he ever get into a helicopter.

So she plants a "real flying carpet" at Jimmy's feet. And with a little Linda assist, the carpet does follow his commands and flies him around.

So flying under a carpet in her Linda guise somehow doesn't endanger her secret identity? And I think this might be a more bizarre plan than getting Jimmy fired.

Unfortunately, Jimmy brags about the carpet to Perry White and White, being a solid newsman, wants proof. Perry wants Linda there as well so she can see how real news is made.

Since Linda can't carry the carpet, it won't fly.

In a strange twist, it actually helps Linda achieve her goal. Perry is irate that Jimmy would lie to him and fires him on the spot.

If Jimmy isn't a Planet employee, he can't get into the copter. He is safe.

And yet, while listening to the radio, Linda hears that Jimmy has died in a helicopter crash.

When she goes to investigate, both she and a very much alive Jimmy discover that a lookalike thief tried to rob the Planet and frame Jimmy. When he couldn't get the flying carpet to work, he got into a broken helicopter and crashed it.

So Linda's vision did indeed come true. She just didn't understand the details. This was an imposter.

Perry happens by and re-hires Jimmy on the spot even giving him a ten dollar raise!!!

With Jimmy safe and the effects of the Red K worn off, Linda quits the Planet and heads home.

And Jimmy, he basks in the adoration of Lucy Lane.

So I guess Linda has quit the Planet too!

I don't have much to say here. It is a great example of what the Silver Age was all about and you either love it or hate it. I love the Swan art here, clean and crisp. Supergirl appearances in the Jimmy Olsen book are pretty rare, numbering (I think) three. I think Supergirl interacting with the greater Superman supporting cast is always a good thing. So while I would say this is of low importance to a Supergirl collection, I am thrilled to have it in my collection. For some reasons, I don't see these issues too often, so if you see it and are interested you should buy it. Because who know if you will see it again.

Overall grade: B+