This is an overall history and commentary on Kara Zor-El (Pre-COIE) 1959-1985…
Origin Story
Kara Zor-El debuted in Action Comics 252 in May 1959. After Kara’s rocket ship crashed landed on Earth, she meet her cousin Superman. She then told him her origins on Argo City. The planet Krypton exploded, which hurtled the city of Argo into space as a self-contained environment. The planetary explosion caused the ground beneath the city to turn into deadly Kryptonite. Zor-El, Kara’s father, covered the ground with sheets of lead to protect the inhabitants of Argo City. Later, however, meteorites punched holes in the lead shielding. As the Kryptonines began to die from the fatal rays of the Kryptonite, Kara’s father built a rocket ship. And Alura, Kara’s mother, made Kara a special uniform: a blue blouse with the S shield crest, a blue skirt, a red cape with the S shield, and red boots with a deep V trim around the top edges. Once these preparation were completed, Kara was rocketed away from Argo City as her home world was destroyed, her friends perished, and her parents seemingly about to die. Upon the completion of her story, Kara and Kal El discovered they are cousins. Superman then decided to send his cousin and only relative to the Midvale orphanage. Kara agreed to be a “Secret Weapon” for her cousin as she learned the ways of Earth and about her super powers. Kara adopted her own secret identity: Linda Lee. Linda had a brunette wig to hid her natural blonde hair. After settling in at the orphanage, Kara flew around the town of Midvale and then resolved to act like a “guardian angel” for its citizens.
“Secret Weapon” Years
Despite the “Secret Weapon” limitation, Kara exercised her own independence as she saved lives, helped people, traveled into the future and the past, journeyed to other worlds, and defeated evil doers. Kara was independent also in her choice of boyfriends: Dick Malverne, Jerro the Merboy, and Brainiac 5. She gained a super pet: Streaky the Super Cat. Streaky was accidentally exposed to X-Kryptonite during Kara’s experimentation to find immunity from Kryptonite radiation. Eventually, Linda Lee was adopted by Fred and Edna Danvers. The nefarious Lesla-Lar (and Kara’s first true super villain) temporarily delayed Superman from revealing Supergirl’s existence to the world. Lesla-Lar attempted to conquer the world and defeat Superman by switching places with Supergirl. Lesla-Lar resembled Kara’s appearance. Once Lesla-Lar was defeated, Supergirl first revealed her existence to her foster parents when she was forced to save them as the family car had an accident. Then Supergirl’s existence was revealed to the larger world!
Heroes and Villains
Kara was thrilled to operate in the open as a hero. Over the years, she worked with numerous people from the hero community such as the Legion of Super-Heroes, the Flash, the Atom, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Batgirl! Supergirl became friends with Batgirl. This is an excellent friendship due to their ability to work together and the ease of communication. Plus, the Bat and Super link is a great one. Supergirl also began to tangle and match wits with super villains such as Black Flame.
Comet
Kara later gained another super pet: Comet the Super Horse. Comet originally was a centaur named Biron. Biron wanted to become human so the witch Circe developed a magic potion for him. Circe accidentally gave Biron the wrong potion, which turned him into a horse. One of Circe’s magician rivals mixed up the potions. Later, Circe gave Biron another potion to make-up for the accident. The new potion gave Biron the strength of the gods, immortality, and telepathy. The rival magician struck again, and entrapped Biron on an asteroid near the Sagittarius constellation. Kara’s rocket ship years later freed Biron from his prison when the rocket fired a ray blast to break-up the asteroid. Biron then resolved to help his new friend. Biron soon fell in love with Supergirl. Biron was influenced by magic again when he gained the ability to transform into a human being whenever a comet came near him. Biron, in human form, adopted the identity of Bronco Bill, and kissed Linda.
Lena, Kara, and Luthor
Lena Thorul was one of Linda’s best friends. Lena possessed ESP abilities. She wanted to join the F.B.I, but the government rejected her application because her file had no information about her background and past. Kara traveled back in time to help Lena by learning about her past for the government. Kara discovered the shocking truth: Lena was Lex Luthor’s younger sister. And Lena gained her ESP power from a space brain that Lex was experimenting on in his lab. Eventually, Lena found out the truth about her family and developed amnesia. Luthor then exposed Lena to some special flowers that wiped out her knowledge of their family connection. Later, Luthor came to his sister’s aid again when Lesla-Lar tried to take over the world. Lesla-Lar transported Lena to the bottled city of Kandor and switched places with her. Lesla-Lar bore resemblance to Lena. It is Amazing how two people resemble Kara! Lesla-Lar was disintegrated by some Phantom Zone criminals during a test to see if some forbidden Kryptonine weapons still worked. Luthor agreed to help Supergirl if she helped release his sister from Kandor. The Phantom Zone criminals were defeated by Supergirl, Superman, and Luthor, and Lena was returned to Earth. The link between Lena, Kara, and Luthor is indeed a fun one! Imagine- your Supergirl and your best friend’s brother is always menacing you and your cousin! Additionally, it is fascinating how Luthor’s link to his sister inspires the one shred of humanity and goodness in him.
Meet the Parents!
Zor-El and Alura did not die during the disaster that befell Argo City. Zor-El had been working on a way to save Argo City. He thought he had failed when the solution began to work. Zor-El and Alura were transferred to the Survival Zone. It was a zone similar to the Phantom Zone. Kara with some help from her dad Fred Danvers eventually freed her Kryptonine parents. After living on Earth for a time, Zor-El and Alura decided to live in the bottled city of Kandor. Indeed, Zor-El and Alura viewed Kara’s destiny to be on Earth.
On to College
Linda Lee Danvers graduated from Midvale High School, and earned a scholarship to Stanhope College!
Adventure Comics
Kara Zor-El then starred in Adventure Comics. Adventure Comics 381 June 1969 was her first issue in the magazine, which was 10 years after her debut in Action Comics! And her last issue was Adventure Comics 424 October 1972. Over this period, numerous issues contained two Supergirl stories. The major plot points from Kara’s run in Adventure Comics are:
Linda met Nasty Luthor at Stanhope College. Nasty was Lex Luthor’s niece. The opposite of Lena in terms of her influence on Luthor! The two would engage in a lengthy cat-and-mouse game as Nasty attempted to expose Kara’s Linda identity to the world. Nasty suspected Linda was Supergirl, but Kara always found a way to outwit her pesky nemesis.
Lena’s husband Jeff died, and we learn the couple had a son: Val.
The vile Starfire and her criminal allies wanted to take over the world. They developed a pill that would rob heroes of their super powers. Supergirl was selected by Starfire as the first hero to try the pill on. Starfire and her group were successful in tricking Supergirl into taking the pill. But the pill did not work entirely on Supergirl. The result was Supergirl having on-and-off powers. Her powers would vanish at the worst time, and then re-appear in the nick of time for victory. A solution to this was created by Zor-El: an exo-cybernetic suit that could provide Kara with nearly the same strength she possessed when she was super. The annoying aspect about this plot point is the fact that just like Kryptonite that it is predictable. Also, Kara Zor-El is a SUPER girl! This is the reason I read her stories: to see her cool powers in fantastic settings. The Linda aspect of Kara is where I want to read about her non-super life.
Kara lost touch with her super pets over time.
Linda Lee Danvers graduated from Stanhope College. Her first post-graduation job was as a newswoman at a TV station in San Francisco. Later, Linda quit her job after Nasty caused the death of one of Linda’s news contacts.
This was an era of numerous uniform changes! Kara’s original uniform was destroyed by magical forces in battle with Zond. Afterwards, Kara wore different uniforms designed by the fans. My two personal favorites from this time period are:
A uniform with: an all blue body suit with the S shield family crest, a red cape with the S shield, a yellow belt with an S shield buckle, red boots with a yellow trim around the top edge, and red gloves with a yellow trim around the opening top.
A uniform with: a blouse with a deep V cut and the family S shield crest, red hot pants, a red cape with the S shield, and red slippers. Her yellow belt had several clocks set for Kryptonine time and Earth time. Plus, her belt had a communicator on it.
Supergirl
Later, Kara Zor-El appeared in her first self-titled series: Supergirl. It ran for 10 issues from 1972-1974. Linda attended Vandyre University, which was located ten miles from San Francisco. Linda studied acting at the school. Nasty did not follow Linda to the college. Additionally, Kara re-gained her full super powers! Her super powers no longer disappeared and then reappeared during an adventure.
Superman Family
Supergirl then moved to the Superman Family title: issues 164 (May 1974) to 222 (September 1982). Kara Zor-El then moved to Florida to be a student councilor at the New Athens Experimental School. A major plot point was: the re-emergence of Lesla-Lar! Lesla-Lar caused an aircraft pilot under her mental influence to help her break free of where she was trapped, and she then materialized as a matter cloud. She influenced a variety of villains to trouble Supergirl: the Visitors (three Superman villains), Shyla, and a Superboy robot. Supergirl and Lesla-Lar later confronted each other for a final battle with the Danvers in attendance. Lesla-Lar used her mental powers to change Fred and Edna Danvers into Zor-El and Alura. Lesla-Lar attacked Supergirl’s mind, and pushed Kara’s mind out of her body. Lesla-Lar then claimed Supergirl’s body, and tried to convince Zor-El and Alura she was Kara. She believed was in fact the “real” Kara, and wanted to live with her parents. Zor-El and Alura soon realized something was wrong with Kara. Lesla-Lar was distressed by this, and then Kara’s mind fought itself back into her own body. Lesla-Lar’s mental energy was then displaced, and the Danvers assumed their original appearances. Kara Zor-El also spent quality time with the Danvers, and with Zor-El and Alura when they lived on Earth for a while. Supergirl at this time replaced her red slippers with red boots that had V cut trimming along the top. Dean Betsy Lyman was supportive of Linda in her job. While Dean Benjamin Pierce was a major jerk who undermined Linda’s work. Eventually Linda told off Pierce and left New Athens.
Peter Barton took note of Linda’s acting skills as she quit her job. He recommended Linda try out for a soap opera: Secret Hearts. Linda then landed the role Margo Hatton, and moved to New York City. A major plot point: Lena Thorul moved to New York City, and settled in the city and found a job with the help of her friend Linda. Lena eventually had a brain aneurism, and during the emergency surgery her head was shaved bald. Lena then awakened with thoughts of Lex Luthor, and then when she looked in a mirror she saw the family resemblance. Lena became angry with Supergirl over withholding this information from her. One of Luthor’s fellow criminals then orchestrated a revenge plot against Lex through his sister Lena. The criminal attempted to drive Lena insane, but failed. Then Lena and Lex began their first attempts to build a relationship. Supergirl then hoped in the future that she and Lena could be friends again. Afterwards, Supergirl then determined that her being an actress was interfering with her job as a hero. She then resolved to return to college. She then informed Superman of her decision. She also explained to him she had plenty of money saved from the show for any future expenses. A tornado helped Kara with her pick of Chicago as her new hometown.
The Daring New Adventures of Supergirl/ Supergirl 1982-1984
Linda Danvers studied psychology at Lake Shore University in the city of Chicago. The major plot points are:
Linda gained many new friends such as Joan.
Linda was employed as a secretary by Dr. Barry Metzner, who was also her psychology advisor. Metzner eventually turned into the villain Future Man. Supergirl was able to convince the Future Man during a battle that he was not a killer, and then Metzner reverted back to human form. Metzner was then turned over to the authorities.
Ida Berkowitz was Linda’s landlord. Berkowitz was also the mother of the evil Blackstarr. Blackstarr was a villain who controlled all the cosmic forces in the universe, and could match Kara’s powers.
The Council was an evil organization that caused much trouble for Supergirl in the form of The Gang, Matrix Prime, Reactron, and a group of Supergirl clones. Kara’s clones merged into a single entity, and attempted to take over the real Kara’s life. The real Kara stopped the attempt, and when she confronted the clone entity she realized the clone meant no harm to her. Kara told her clone the entity could not have her life, and then arranged a life elsewhere for the entity.
Linda had a new boyfriend: Phil Decker. But Linda broke off the relationship because Decker was keeping a secret from her. Of course, Linda kept a super secret of her own!
Supergirl adopted another cat, and named him Streaky!
Edna Danvers created a new uniform for her daughter to replace the hot pants uniform, which was damaged during a battle with Kara’s clones. Initially the uniform consisted of: a blue blouse with the S shield family crest, red shoulder pads, a red skirt, a yellow belt with a stylized V shaped dip, a red cape with the S shield, and red boots with yellow trim at the top. Later, Kara’s blonde hair became much curlier, and she added a red head band to her uniform. The head band represented her Kryptonine citizenship. Also, Kara abandoned her Linda brunette wig in favor of a treated comb that could change her hair back-and-forth between blonde and brunette color. Kara had been having issues with her Linda wig, and feared the wig could fly off her head any time. So, she developed the comb as a solution.
Dick Malverne then re-entered Linda’s life, and greeted her with a kiss.
The Boyfriends
Kara very much so was a romantic at heart. Over the years, she fell in love with numerous boys who turned out to be villains. Besides Jerro, Dick Malverne, and Brainiac 5, Linda fell in love with several men in the course of her jobs or in college. Brainiac 5 through it all, however, was eventually Kara’s choice to be her boyfriend.
Logos
The Supergirl title logo changed over the years:
Crisis On Infinite Earths 1985
Supergirl and all the heroes battled a major villain during the crisis: The Anti-Monitor. Kara was outraged by the Anti-Monitor’s contempt for life and his harming her cousin as she knocked the villain around. She greatly damaged the Anti-Monitor and his destructive machines during a major offensive against the villain. She then turned her back for a moment to tell Doctor Light to help move Superman to safety, and then the Anti-Monitor killed her with a powerful blast of energy. Kara sacrificed her life to save her cousin and the universe. Prior to her death, Kara also taught Batgirl what being a hero was all about. Batgirl gave the eulogy at Kara’s public funeral:
“Kara is a hero without equal. She was often my confidant, and always my friend. Kara was a hero who, yes, cared about herself, but always seemed to care more for others. It is easy to dismiss the something special that made her a hero because she had powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men… … But a hero is not measured by what her power may be… … But by the courage she shows in living, and the warmth she holds in her heart. Let her courage give us courage, let her love give us love, and let her hope give us hope. Kara is hero. She will not be forgotten.”
Thank You
Finally, a special Thank You to the writers and artists who told us the adventures of Supergirl over 26 years. You and your work will never be forgotten!
Otto Binder (writer)
Al Plastino (artist)
Jim Mooney (artist)
Leo Dorfman (writer)
Curt Swan (artist)
Jerry Siegel (writer)
Kurt Schaffenberger (artist)
Win Mortimer (artist)
Cary Bates (writer)
Mike Sekowsky (writer and artist)
John Albano (writer)
Art Saaf (artist)
Bob Oskner (artist)
Steve Skeates (writer)
Len Wein (writer)
Jose Delbo (artist)
Tony DeZuniga (artist)
Elliot S Maggin (writer)
Jack C. Harris (writer)
Mike Vosburg (artist)
Martin Pasko (writer)
Paul Kupperberg (writer)
Paul Levitz (writer)
Carmine Infantino (artist)
Eduardo Barretto (artist)
Plus, the many other writers, artists, inkers, colorists, letterers, and cover artists not already listed!
