I think the logical starting point for Supergirl Week is with her first appearance in Action Comics #252. I think Superman's initial treatment of Supergirl is one of the greatest (fictional) injustices of all time. Let's have a look:
Superman is just about to smash the missile to bits until he realizes that there's a person inside:
Ok, Superman in that third panel? Amazing. He goes from being totally shocked in the previous panel to being completely calm and thoughtful. And skeptical."I'm from Krypton!"
"Nope."
Man, Supergirl is just so cute in that last panel. Seriously. And I love Superman's off-panel babbling.
Supergirl cheerfully proceeds to tell the tragic tale of her family's short-lived escape from Krypton. And when she's done, Superman is shocked to learn something else:
How quickly he pulls his hand away.So this is pretty great, right? Superman, who has been alone on this Earth for so long with no family and believing he is the last of his race learns he has a cousin! And she's here!
Yay! This will be perfect! She can live with Superman and they can bond and he'll help her adjust to life on Earth after the tragic and sudden loss of her family and equally-traumatizing solitary voyage through space!Right?
"Yeaaaahhhhh...about that...see, I have a really small apartment, and y'know...I'm pretty busy. I can't really take care of a kid right now...I've got a lot on my plate...and the place is a mess, really..."But don't worry! Superman has a "great idea" for her life on Earth! It's not like he's a douche or anything...
WHAT?! That is not a "great idea," Superman. That is actually the worst idea.SERIOUSLY?! An ORPHANAGE?! After all she's been through?! What do you credit your heroism to, Superman? I'll tell you: your loving parents who adopted you when you crashed to Earth. So why do you think this is ok?
Superman gets some clothes to make his cousin less hot. He feels much better now.Hey, you know what a good Earth girl name is? Kara.
Let's see what name she picks:
DC doesn't think much of its readers. They remind us that Linda Lee is Supergirl in the very next panel.I also want to comment on Superman's story: wouldn't the guy at the orphanage want more information about that "big disaster that wiped out her whole community"? Wouldn't something like that have made the news?
Poor, poor Supergirl. She probably thinks this is how it goes on Earth. "Sure thing, Superman. Even though I am just as powerful as you, I will live in this godforsaken orphanage and remain unseen until you need me. Just let me know! I'll be right here...wearing this wig...alone..."Her first Super Job? Cleaning her room!!!
Man that sucks.
No, Supergirl. No. You can't use your x-ray vision for spying on other kids. Also: you are disobeying Superman, actually, and I approve.
Proud of your cousin, eh? Maybe you should read some Superboy comics. He isn't the greatest friend in the world. You should talk to a guy named Mon-El.
Oh, Supergirl. Just you wait! I got two words for you: Flying Cat!
11 comments:
A teen girl living with a bachelor, even if Clark were to suddenly claim she was his cousin, might've been suspect back then. And given the time period, even mentioning that problem was a no-no.
Of course bachelor Bruce Wayne taking in a teen boy was a different matter entirely. ;)
Yeah, Superman and Batman were best friends back then, why wouldn't he ask Batman his advice before dumping her in an orphanage?
The frequency that expat Kryptonians showed up and Superman's willingness to secretly leave this one in an orphanage makes me wonder how many other relatives he's got hidden away.
Calling Batman would have been a good idea. He could have at least gotten her into a really nice orphanage.
I feel that if Superman had really wanted to adopt Kara, he could have told people that she is his cousin and her parents were killed and he is the only family she has left. That all would have been true, and a good enough reason for him to adopt her. And then Jimmy Olsen could date her and it would be cute.
May I just say that your title was SO perfect! And is it me, or does Superman look just the tiniest bit miffed that he's NOT the last one after all? He wants to be SPECIAL dammit!
"I also want to comment on Superman's story: wouldn't the guy at the orphanage want more information about that "big disaster that wiped out her whole community"? Wouldn't something like that have made the news?"
Don't you see? Superman's story had to be perfect or the world would discover Kara's secret. To make her identity complete, Superman had to annihilate a mid-western community.
Clever of Superman to hide this girl in an Orphanage, that way she's out of the picture in Metropolis and he can go on with his life.
so this is the way in that all start, well now I know the reason why Kara is in the Earth, by the way, can I ask you something, when SuperGirl face Doomsday, he kill her or just give her a tremendous beating?
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Maybe the most ridiculous comic I ever read in my whole life. I prefer the original ones.
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