IN THE BEGINNING: My 13 Favorite Things About the First Six Issues of FANTASTIC FOUR
Paul Kupperberg does FANTASTIC FOUR WEEK!
The TOP 13 FLEISCHER SUPERMAN Cartoons
The late, great Max Fleischer was born 142 years ago!
SUPERGIRL WEEK! — Supergirl, starring Milly Alcock, is out this week, so we’ve gathered up the 13th Dimension crew to bring you our first-ever SUPERGIRL WEEK! Click here for more high-flying features! — By CHRIS FRANKLIN The Maid of Might is returning to the big screen in the second cinematic chapter of the new DCU film series. But I’m sure you were already aware of that… after all, it is SUPERGIRL WEEK here at 13th Dimension for a reason! While Kara Zor-El may never quite escape the shadow of her far more famous cousin, that doesn’t mean she isn’t known to the greater world outside the comic racks. DC has licensed the Girl of Steel for just about every item imaginable over the years, and it looks like that number will double with the marketing push for the new film. But for now, let’s take a look at the Last Daughter of Argo City’s history through the lens of her various appearances on retail shelves over nearly 60 years. Many of these items come from the collection of my lovely wife Cindy (my own personal Super Gal), so thanks to her for sharing not only them, but her knowledge in crafting this article. — Super Queens (aka Comic Heroines, Ideal, 1967). Supergirl was one of four female heroes chosen for Ideal’s sister line to their Captain Action series, the Super Queens, sometimes also called Comic Heroines. Along with Wonder Woman, Mera and the newly created Batgirl, you could argue these heroines made it into action figure form BEFORE their male counterparts! After all, Captain Action’s gimmick was that he was a separate hero who could become the top crimefighters at DC, Marvel, etc. with a costume accessory set (sold separately). The Super Queens WERE the characters and even included images of their secret identities on the beautiful box art by DC legend Murphy Anderson. The set didn’t really include Linda Lee Danvers’ specific clothes however, just a generic halter dress. But Supergirl was one of the nicest and most comic accurate of the line, with the proper blonde hair color, blue dress, and “S” shield logo (the same used on both the Superman and Superboy sets for Captain Action and his sidekick Action Boy). She even came with the same Krypto figure as Superman, presaging the current DCU films making Krypto HER dog and not her cousin’s....
SUPERGIRL WEEK! — Supergirl, starring Milly Alcock, is out this week, so we’ve gathered up the 13th Dimension crew to bring you our first-ever SUPERGIRL WEEK! Click here for more high-flying features! — By JIM BEARD As comic-book fans, we tend to get collectively all high-and-mighty when it comes to change. Why can’t things just stay the same — like costumes, for instance? Well, when it comes to the Supergirl’s situation, after sixty-seven years, a Maid of Might just wants to have fuh-un and a costume change might be just the ticket. Look at it this way: Not being quite as iconic a character as her admittedly more well-known and practically deified cousin, Supergirl can get away with it—and so she has, many times over. In fact, she’s had enough sartorial switch-ups that we’re able to offer a run-down of 13 favorite costumes from among her own choices over the decades. Pull up a chunk of kryptonite and settle in, Streaky. Things may get a little weird here and there—we’re looking at you, 1970s—but you’ve got a Supergirl on your shoulder as we look through the closet of one of the greatest heroines of all time. (Plus, check out our pal Bill Morrison, whose MORRISON MONDAYS column this week features Supergirl paper dolls. Perfect timing!) — 13. Pirate Boots (Adventure Comics #415, 1972). Part of Kara’s early ’70s push to try out several new costumes suggested by readers, this kooky ensemble only lasted for a single issue, but it has super-spunk and sass, and that’s all it needed to land on this list. — 12. Super-Swimsuit (Adventure Comics #409, 1971). It’s been called weird, it’s been called structurally and gravitationally impossible; just make sure you call it for dinner, because this one’s a hip flip on the super-switch and I’m diggin’ it. — 11. A Suit to Pant For (Adventure Comics #412, 1971). Funny how it took Kara (or her readers) 12 years after her debut to realize what she needed was a pair of pants. Oh, well; it took even longer for Melissa Benoist’s dressers to figure it out, too. — 10. Coming in First (Superman #123, 1958). She was the first, a “Super-Girl” to test the waters with readers, and she set off the chain reaction that not only led to Kara Zor-El, but also set the stage for a look that...
Paul Kupperberg does FANTASTIC FOUR WEEK!
The late, great Max Fleischer was born 142 years ago!
