Back Issue Box: Action Comics #297 (sort of) - The End Of Lesla Lar (sort of)

With her return in the current Supergirl book by Sophie Campbell, I have been doing a deep dive into Lesla Lar's first storyline, a multi-part classic with a million twists and turns. I'd advise you go back and read those reviews before this one.  But the last part ended with Lesla being discovered by Kandorian police and hauled off to jail.

But what ultimately happened to her? Well we find out in 1962's Action Comics #297, a whole 15 months after her last appearance! And when I say 'ultimately', I mean until she is brought back decades later. 

One thing I have to say about this era of Supergirl stories, which appeared as back-ups in Action Comics, is that they really told a running narrative, more akin to current comics than the time. There were subplots and multi-part stories that ran through several issues, unlike the Superman stories which were mostly 'done-in-one' adventures.

Nothing shows that more than Super DC Giant #S-24 from 1971 which sports a great Curt Swan cover (with Mike Sekowsky throwing in the bottom costume bit), a cover which Sophie Campbell homaged with Supergirl #2 . 

My review of the story comes from this reprint which covers four consecutive back-up stories which comprise one long narrative. And what a story. We get the introduction of Lena Thorul, who doesn't know she is Lex's sister Lena Luthor. We learn about Lena's ESP powers. And we get the return of Lesla and Supergirl defeating both Lex and Phantom Zone villains. Kudos to DC for recognizing this is a banger of a story and worth collecting.

Lesla appears in chapter 3. So buckle up!

'The Forbidden Weapons of Krypton' was written by Leo Dorfman with art by Jim Mooney.  As you see, there is the 'from Action #297' box from my reprint issue. 

We get this mini-splash to open the proceedings and tease the story. Supergirl stands alone against Phantom Zone villains in a battle of survival. With Superman in the past and a barrier blocking time travel, she stands alone!

But we start with more mundane proceedings.

Lena (who at this time doesn't know she is a Luthor) has entered Linda's life. Through the usual shenanigans, Dick Malverne thinks Lena is Supergirl. Even stranger, Lena admits she IS Supergirl to Dick. 

Supergirl can't understand why Lena would lie. But I love the miffed face she is sporting in that first panel. She can't quite get over it, even complaining to her step parents that night. Perhaps there is a little jealousy since Dick is involved?

But in a flashback we see why Lena lied.

Lesla has broken out of prison and is up to her old tricks. Holed up in a secret lab, she begins to hatch a plot. She uses her mind control ray to make Lena say she is Supergirl, knowing the real one is eavesdropping. 

Lesla is just delicious in her schemes.

But she feels a bit like a one-trick pony here.

Instead of switching places with Supergirl, this time she'll switch with Lena. So now Lena is in the mind-control helmet being convinced she is Lesla while Lesla goes up to Earth and takes Lena's place.

Even better, she sets off an 'anti-monitor' bomb, blocking all video transmissions out of Kandor and even plugs the cork. The Kandorians have no idea what is happening on Earth and they cannot warn the cousins.

A bit to unpack. 

The switch identities trick is such a complicated plot but I guess if Lesla doesn't want to appear to be missing from Kandor she has to do it. Also, isn't it strange that Lesla/Lena/Linda all look so much alike that they can swap in and out for each other? Crazy.

But lastly, we could have used an Anti-Monitor bomb in the Crisis. Just sayin'.

When Supergirl goes to visit Lena and confront her about the lie, she is actually visiting Lesla. 

Lesla shows off that she has super-powers (she is Kryptonian after all) but then spins a tale to explain things. She says, as Lena, she discovered she was a Luthor and drank a serum Lex was making that gave her powers. Moreover, 'Lena' wants to become a super-hero fighting evil.

I just have to say it again. Lesla looked enough like Supergirl to replace her. And she looks enough like Lena to replace her? Three exact duplicates!

And crazy artistic choice in the second panel. I suppose with that many words, to construct a panel with people might be too hard. So Mooney pulls back to show the house! Incredible.

Instead of doing some low-level scheming and living a bit as Lena hoping to slowly destroy Supergirl, Lesla kicks her plan into high gear with 'Operation Breakthrough'!

She creates a 'trans-dimensional lens' out of a simple television!!! Her tech is insane! Imagine if Lesla was a force for good! 

By the way, check out that costume and now look at the last page of Supergirl #2. Bless Sophie Campbell for the deep cuts.

The plan is relatively simple. Use the lens to open up the Phantom Zone and bring out some of the worst of the worse - Zod, Kru-El, and Jax-Ur. I love that Dorfman gives us little bios about the criminals so we know their bona fides.

And even better, I like that he realizes that Mon-El would also try to get out to fight the bad guys. How crazy that Lesla was prepared with a 'lead gun' to drive him back into the Zone.

This was before the internet and Who's Who. Those history lessons, like with the villains, was essential back then and even when I was first reading.

You would think that 4 Kryptonians on Earth would be enough of a threat to the world. But they want to beef up even that threat level. They head to the bottom of the ocean to find Kru-El's cache of weapons. Could this be the same trunk seen in Adventure Comics #283? No editor's note but given Kru-El's dialog I am saying that it is the same.

And what a cache! First off, a force beam that blocks the Earth from outside forces including temporally! Superman is in the past on a mission. The Legion is in the future. Neither can come to help fight these villains.

Now that is some weapon!

Also inside is a disintegrator pistol. Will it work against a super-powered Kryptonian? There is only one way for the villainous group to find out ... fire it on one of their own members. 

Alas, Lesla loses the draw. So despite freeing these guys they kill her. 

Goodbye Lesla Lar (sort of). 

The gun shorts out so it cannot be used again. I don't know why the writer felt they needed to kill of Lesla in this way. They didn't even need to bring the gun into the story (which, of course, couldn't stick around because it could kill our heroes). 

Poor Lesla.

Left alone, Supergirl seems to be able to stymie the villains. But then Kru-El hits her with another weapon. Struck by a 'plague beam' from his belt, Supergirl radiates an aura that turns any living being into a plant!

That is some crazy cache of weapons!!

Now you think Supergirl would go to the Justice League and recruit Wonder Woman and Green Lantern. But instead she thinks the best person to team up with is Lex. He initially laughs her off but she then tells him that Lena is stuck in Kandor. With his sister in peril, Lex joins the fight! TO BE CONTINUED!

I still feel Lesla's death was too quick and so needless. Supergirl needed a rogue's gallery. Lesla was a perfect Lex-like foil. But as I said she only sort of died.

Lesla Lar comes back in another multi-part story by Jack C. Harris in Superman Family in the early 80s. As a disembodied sentience, we see her manipulate events in her quest for revenge! 

And now we have her back in the current book!

I loved this long story as much as the first Lesla one, especially since this had big stakes and Supergirl forced to use her wits to defeat everyone. The weapons cache is crazy but certainly pushed the threat level up. Perhaps one day I'll own the actual issue!

Overall grade: B+

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!

Back Issue Box: Action Comics #339

The latest Superman crossover event 'Queen Brainiac' is right around the corner. The seeds have been planted by Joshua Williamson in his Superman book. And with Jason Aaron's 3-part Bizarro arc mercifully over, the arc will be in the Action Comics book too.

With Brainiac on my mind and (of course) the theme of this site being Supergirl, I thought I'd head into the back issue box and find a Brainiac/Supergirl battle I hadn't covered yet!

Action Comics #339 sports a nifty dual cover with Supergirl getting as much of the spotlight as Superman. Our hero is there on the left, trapped in a Kryptonite cage by Brainiac! Great cover by Curt Swan and George Klein. And you may have noticed the scrawl across the cover. Yes, that is a scan of my copy of the issue, signed by the legendary Jim Shooter.

This was Shooter's first work for DC, back when he was just a teen! You will see that Shooter actually does a wonderful job on Supergirl, showing her resilience, her intelligence, her strength, and her humility. So settle in for a fun story with a true battle between Brainiac and Supergirl, a wonky Silver Age solution and fabulous ending!

On to the book!

Back Issue Box: Action Comics #301

What can I say? With a lack of new material on the shelves to review and with a surprise find of a Comet the Super-Horse kid's book, I have been looking back at some of Comet's adventures. Earlier this week I reviewed Supergirl's Girl Friend Lois Lane #92 in which a nearby comet turned Biron from horse back to human.

I realized that the story turn of Comet turning human hasn't been officially reviewed here. So why not dust off 'The Secret Identity of Super-Horse' from Action Comics #301.

Written by Leo Dorfman with art by Jim Mooney, the story adds a new wrinkle to Comet's story. We know he wished to turn human because he was in love with Circe. He was turned into a horse by the vengeful Maldor and then banished. Kara's rocket freed him from his prison and he began a super-heroic career with her.

Now this issue begins two subplots which have made their relationship a little bit cringey. One, he gains the ability to turn human when a comet is near Earth. And second, it is clear he has developed strong feelings for Supergirl. For these things to happen, you need the same rapid fire plot twists that the Silver Age is known for. 

But a lot of Comet/Biron/Bill's love of Kara seems off from a 21st century view. He doesn't reveal either aspect to her.  As a human, he looks much older than our Maid of Might. And the hint of bestial love of some sort, even fantastical, is a bit odd. 

But here we are! Let's learn how Comet gains the ability to become a man at last! (Of note, scans are from the reprint of the story in Adventure Comics #390.)

Back Issue Box: Action Comics #293

It's a slow week for actual Super-comics so I thought I would double down on the Comet stories by reviewing Action Comics #293. Hard to believe that this site is this old and I haven't looked at this closely. But with my reviewing the Comet! kid's book and commenting on how it stuck to the Silver Age narrative, I figured why not look at the actual story. 

I'm always happy to see the Supergirl story get cover treatment. Here we see a wonderful Curt Swan and George Klein image of Supergirl riding Comet. With the super-horse unaffected by Kryptonite beams, even Superman has to note that Comet might indeed be the mightiest super-creature of them all! Kara looks almost manic! As a bonus, we'll see this exact scene coming up in the story!

I'll also point out that this is the second part of a two-parter. To set things up, Linda Danvers is spending some vacation time at the Supergirl Dude Ranch. There she meets Comet who she believes is just a horse. But during her stay she has some odd dreams which seem to hint that Comet could be something more.

And so we end up here with Comet's complete origin. And I think it's a hoot!

On to the book!

Back Issue Box: Action Comics #308

Tom King recently rearranging of Supergirl's timeline in Supergirl Woman of Tomorrow mini-series to be a sort of mash-up of her Silver Age original beginnings and some of the more modern turns that have taken place since Kara was re-introduced in the DCU.

With that in mind I have been reading over the back issues to find other points in comic history where her earliest adventures or memories are delineated further.

On that mission, I re-read Action Comics #308 which includes the tiniest little nugget of information about Kara's journey from Argo City to Earth, something which is an interesting factoid which I believe has never been mentioned again. 

"The Super-Tot from Nowhere" was written by Leo Dorfman with art by Jim Mooney and is a typical bonkers Silver Age story with more plot turns in this back-up feature than many multi-issue arcs have in current continuity.

Supergirl is flying over a 'jungle country' when she is astounded to see a young girl falling from the sky. Our hero swoops in and catches the toddler before tragedy strikes. Scanning the skies, Supergirl sees that several planes have passed over the land recently. She assumes this girl, named Candy, fell out of one of them.

But this certainly is a 'thrown into the story' moment. The first panel of the actual tale is Supergirl seeing the girl falling to her death.

I did love how back in this era, the first panel was usually a teaser for the story. I like the exasperation in Kara's words as she realizes being a parent to a super-baby is tough work.

Back Issue Box: Action Comics #326

These are interesting times here at the blog as I approach my 14th year posting. Supergirl is starring in a critically acclaimed mini-series which I find distasteful. The television show is off the air. And outside of reviewing current books (which don't star Supergirl), I have been trying to find some sort of enthusiasm or avenue for new posts. In the last few years, things like Black Orchid or Mark Shaw have been good side projects to keep my energy up.

One of the things I have been mulling around is the 'new' timeline Tom King has pushed forward in Supergirl Woman of Tomorrow. He has sort of mashed together all the minor variations of her origin but amping up all the possible psychological trauma she could have witnessed. For King, she is alive when Krypton explodes and therefore has to deal with all the terrible things which happen to Argo City.

Of course, in the original timeline, Kara is not alive when Krypton explodes. She is born on Argo City and lives there peacefully until she is rocketed away in her mid-teens. It made me wonder just how much of Kara's life on Argo we saw in the Silver Age. Certainly looking back at this blog, I have covered several stories filling in some of her youth.

And then, as luck would have it, my LCS had the hardcover Supergirl Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 2, a hole in my collection. (Even better, it was 50% off.) There are a lot of stories in there I haven't read and I am just starting to scratch the surface of this new material. One of the stories I did read was the Supergirl back-up in Action Comics #326.

Written by Otto Binder with art by Jim Mooney, 'The Secret of Supergirl's Suitor' is an insane story with so many plot twists that it would take up a 12 issue maxi-series these days. Instead, curveball after curveball is thrown in the last several pages, making it a dizzying read.

It plays up one of the more interesting tropes of Silver Age Supergirl, her miserable love life where every man she falls for hard has some backstory which makes it impossible. Poor Dick Malverne and Jerro ... they can never seal the deal.

It also plays up another common theme of this time, Supergirl trying desperately to get Superman's approval and respect and coming up short. I love this opening panel of her looking sheepish as she bails out her new criminal boyfriend Al Mintor, all while Superman derides her.

All this plus a look back at Argo!

On to the book!

Back Issue Box: Action Comics #309

I have been thinking about Action Comics #309 a lot recently and it finally occurred to me that I should formally cover it on the site.

First, I'll say that I first read this issue in the phone book style Showcase Supergirl trades from years ago. Only recently did I read it in color thanks to the DC Infinite app. I have never seen it in the wild but more on that later. 

I began thinking about covering it here when I guest starred with Mart Gray over on the Fire and Water Podcast network to discuss Gene Colan's work on the Phantom Zone mini-series. Here is a link to that discussion:http://fireandwaterpodcast.com/podcast/fw-presents-showcase-gene-colan-phantom-zone/

Kudos to Ryan for keeping me and Mart on task. One thing I didn't go into at length in that review was the character of Jer-Em. He is seen throughout the story and has a unique history with Supergirl, one here in this issue. I figured I should fill that in.

Second, the Supergirl show has brought back Zor-El, saying he has stayed alive in the Phantom Zone. That resonates with this story.

But more importantly, I was listening to Tom King talk about his upcoming Supergirl run on the most excellent Word Balloon podcast, hosted by John Siuntres. Here is that link:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kings-speech-tom-king-q-and-a/id207700416?i=1000513255019

In that interview, King calls Kara a survivor. He sort of squishes the newer origins (Kara born years before Kal and grew up on Krypton and witnessed its destruction) with some Silver Age aspects of her origin (living on the floating Argo City, the ground becoming Kryptonite, the meteor shower that exposes the lead covered K-soil which ultimately kills everyone). He describes that as three distinct threat about excessive loss, basically three traumatic experiences,  that Kara has had to deal with.

Of course Tom King would focus on the trauma. Hopefully, for once, he has the character come out of it with a healthier outlook. Supergirl should be optimistic and helpful.

But it made me think of this story as a potential 4th trauma Kara lived through. And I wonder if King has read this story.

 On to the book.

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: Action Comics #345

One thing that I try to do with my back issue reviews is find some older Supergirl story which resonates with the current storylines.

Currently, Supergirl is in outer space. Event Leviathan has a quasi-villain attempting to take over the world with a new world order. And the real world is a quagmire of divided states of outrageous politics.

With all those things in mind, I thought I would review Action Comics #345, a pure Silver Age story in that within a tight 12 pages we have an enormous story.  We learn of a new Earth, learn its politics, sees Linda Danvers elected President, Supergirl put on trial, a fascist uprising, Supergirl saving a solar system, and then ultimate political redemption!

Whew!

Welcome to the Silver Age indeed!

And perhaps nothing hammers that home more than the cover, which highlights the Superman story, in which his secret identity is revealed on the real world prank show Candid Camera, hosted by Allen Funt.

Amazing.

"The Exile of Steel" was written by Jim Shooter with art by Jim Mooney. 

And the story itself starts out with a bang. Supergirl, standing before a rather young looking judge, is found guilty and exiled.

We learn in the text that this is another Earth. So it seems in the Silver Age, the threat of exile loomed over Supergirl on any Earth.

On to the details.

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!

Review: Action Comics #258 - Supergirl meets Krypto, Sent Into Space

Marc Andreyko has sent Supergirl into space with Krypto to investigate Rogol Zaar. Here at the site, I am continuing my unofficial and somewhat random look at adventures with Supergirl in space. And what better issue to look at than Action Comics #258, Supergirl's first adventure in space and the story where she first met Krypto! I strive to have these back issue reviews have some bearing on current arcs. So this seemed perfect.

This story also plays into the Silver Age theme of Supergirl being extremely worried of letting Superman down and kowtowing to his various demands and rules. It also shows Superman to be a rather nasty individual, putting Kara through the wringer for reasons that don't warrant such harsh treatment. Supergirl was truly cringing in his shadow back then.  Remember, we are only 6 issues into her very existence.

Once again the creative team here is the legendary team of writer Otto Binder and artist Jim Mooney. And it pushes the Supergirl narrative forward a fair bit, not only with this ongoing theme of needing to prove to Kal that he can trust her but also by introducing her to more of the Superman universe.

I wish I owned the issue itself. Scans come from the Supergirl Archives, volume 1.

Onto the story!

Back Issue Review: Action Comics #337

We have started the Marc Andreyko era on Supergirl, a time in which Kara heads off into space to investigate the claims of Rogol Zaar. Heading off into deep space, Supergirl is bound to run into systems without a yellow sun. She is certain to make new friends. And she will most likely make new enemies.

With that in mind, I will be trying to look into the back issue box to find adventures of Supergirl in sppaaaccceee!

Action Comics #337 has one of the best gogo checked Silver Age covers ever with Superman being both a top-hatted millionaire and bare-footed hobo. How can you not want to buy this issue?

But the real reason I am reviewing this is "The Green Sun Supergirl!" story in the back. After all, we already have seen in the current title that Kara has donned a new uniform designed to absorb yellow sun energy and provide it to her. Because outside of a yellow sun, she is without powers.

Will she survive on a green sun world? Make friends? Make enemies? Solve problems? Become a worshiped figure?

It's the Silver Age. You should be able to guess.

On to the story.

Supergirl Sightings

So I am recovering from back to back convention weekends - Boston Fan Expo and the terrific Terrificon - so today will be a bit of a fluff piece. Bear with me.

One of things that I like is when I accidentally stumble across Supergirl sightings in comics where I wasn't expecting one. And I am even more thrilled when they are found in books I get out of the 'dollar box' almost randomly, things that just grab my eye and have a little SG-bonus. And there is no better place to rummage through the bargain bins than conventions. So these beauties where just obtained within the last week!

I will admit that one of these books I had heard (and therefore should have known) that there was a Supergirl appearance. But just kick back and check out some Supergirl sighting, all for the completionists out there!

 First thing first. Any time I see a Secret Files and Origins issue in the dollar box, I buy it. These can be great stories. But they often have Who's Who style pages and they do give me a sort of 'pulse check' for the comics at the time.

Many podcasts I listen to band together to do a crossover lovingly title JLMay. This year they did the Silver Age storyline which ran through a number of titles in the year 2000. It was big enough that we got a Silver Age Secret Files and Origins.

The art in this book was predominantly done by true Silver Age artists so this is a true time capsule.

So how did Supergirl show up here?

Back Issue Review: Action Comics #262

Over on the Supergirl television show,  Supergirl has had a sometimes overly emotional response to the very existence of Kryptonite on Earth. She wants it destroyed, controlled, and out of the hands of people like Lena Luthor. She describes the pain it inflicts quite eloquently as the skin being ripped from her bones and nails coursing through her veins.

With that complete fear of Kryptonite and any exposure in mind, I thought I would review Action Comics #262, an early story of Supergirl's in which she intentionally exposes herself to Kryptonite, all in hopes of finding a cure for K-poisoning.

It is a pretty classic Supergirl story for the time with a little bit of Midvale orphanage, a recap of her origin, some concern about Superman's thoughts about her, and some wild Silver Age coincidences. This could be a primer for this era in her life. You get a sense of the formula writer Otto Binder followed. And you see a lot of the classic art tropes that legendary Supergirl artist Jim Mooney brought to the table.

I'll also point out this cover by Curt Swan with a cool coloring error, showing how slick this costume looks with a red skirt as opposed to the blue skirt she wore at the time.

So settle in for a fun story.