Comic Book Character of the Week : Supergirl
Although Kara Zor-El was the first character to use the name "Supergirl," DC Comics tested three different female versions of Superman prior to her debut.
 |
| Supergirl's first appearance in Action Comics. |
The first story to feature a female counterpart to Superman was "
Lois Lane –
Superwoman," which was published in
Action Comics #60 (May 1943). In the story, a hospitalized Lois Lane dreams she has gained superpowers thanks to a blood transfusion from the Man of Steel. She begins her own career as "Superwoman", complete with a version of Superman's costume.
[2]
In the
Superboy #78 story entitled "Claire Kent, Alias Super-Sister", Superboy saves the life of an alien woman named Shar-La, who turns Superboy into a girl, in retaliation for his disparaging thoughts about women drivers which she picked up telepathically. In Smallville, Clark claims to be Claire Kent, an out-of-town relative who is staying with the Kents. When in costume, he appears as Superboy's sister, Super-Sister, and claims the two have exchanged places. Once Superboy has learned his lesson about feeling more respect for women, Shar-La reveals the episode to be a dream which she projected into Superboy's mind.
[3] This incident could be a reflection of the gender discrimination present against women at the time and the resentment by women of the period.
In
Superman #123 (August 1958),
Jimmy Olsen uses a magic totem to wish a "Super-Girl" into existence as a companion and aid to Superman; however, the two frequently get in each other's way until she is fatally injured protecting Superman from a Kryptonite meteor. At her insistence, Jimmy wishes the dying girl out of existence. DC used this story to gauge public response to the concept of a completely new super-powered female counterpart to Superman.
[4]
Otto Binder wrote, and Al Plastino illustrated, her debut story in
Action Comics #252 (May 1959), in which the definite Kara Zor-El is sent to
Earth by her parents
Zor-El and
Alura to be raised by her cousin Kal-El, known as Superman.
[5]
Reaction at the DC Comics offices to Supergirl's first appearance was tremendous, with thousands of positive letters-of-comment pouring in.
Following this debut appearance, Supergirl adopted the secret identity of an orphan "Linda Lee", made Midvale Orphanage her base of operations, and like her cousin, as a teenager joined the
Legion of Super-Heroes.
[6] Linda was adopted by Fred and Edna Danvers in 1961, becoming "Linda Lee Danvers".
[7] Supergirl acted for three years as Superman's "secret weapon," until she was at last introduced by her super-powered cousin to an unsuspecting world in
Action Comics #285 in 1962.
[8] Supergirl shared
Action Comics with Superman until transferring to the lead in
Adventure Comics at the end of the 1960s. During this period, "Linda" moved to Stanhope College, and then to San Francisco.
In 1972, she was finally moved to her own eponymous magazine, but the move, which involved a change in creative staff, was not successful and the magazine was canceled. Supergirl, along with
Lois Lane and
Jimmy Olsen, whose magazines were canceled at about the same time, was moved to
Superman Family, of which she soon became the lead, before her magazine was relaunched some years later. - Wiki
