World Famous Comics: Showcase Presents: Supergirl Vol. 2
Showcase Presents: Supergirl Vol. 2
By: Various Publisher: DC Comics Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: DC Comics Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 512 Publication Date: December 16, 2008 Reading Level: Young Adult Release Date: December 16, 2008
Fun reading for kids, but not much in there for adults This book is a great value for the money with hundreds of pages of Supergirl stories from the 60s for under $20. But the problem is many of them are not very good.
Like her cousin, this version of Supergirl is gifted with a vast array of god-like powers not only able to fly, not only strong, but able to travel through time, manufacture anything she needs at super speed and has an endless array of advanced gadgets to do whatever her powers cannot.
But she spends her adventures worrying about things like finding Superman a wife, cheering up orphans and helping her parents around the house. The stories are very much products of their time and Supergirl is a stereotypical dutiful, pre-feminist girl. Some of the results are bizarre. In one story she finds herself cursed with the new power of 'fatal vision' that kills anyone she looks at. Trying to make the best of this she sets off to exterminate an alien race who were causing trouble.
Like Superman her origin is rooted in tragedy, her city survived the destruction of Krypton only to be destroyed when she was a teenager. But the writers apparently felt it was too much for a girl to lose her parents so she soon finds her parents miraculously survived which leads to an unrealistic war for her affections between her adoptive Earth parents and her super powered Kryptonian parents. The idea that maybe she could love two sets of parents isn't even considered.
Then there's the time she started dating her horse...
So young children will probably enjoy the stories, adults may like them in small doses but all in all there only limited entertainment to be had here.
But at least you get a lot for your money.
Finally--SuperGirl gets some recognition! This collection is Black and White, but is so much fun. It is upbeat and serious at the same time. SuperGirl in this volume is FINALLY revealed to the world (and it is NOT a dream) and has to prove herself to the rest of the world.
It is a fun, old-fashioned collection of stories revolving around SuperGirl as she deals with various foes such as Superman's enemy, Lex Luthor, etc.
The only problem I have is that the stories can be a little one-note: SuperGirl usually has to figure out a mystery, etc, and there is no big dramatic arc to be found. These stories are just stand-alone upbeat stories that are not too serious (some of them are a bit cheesy), nonviolent, and are for those casual fans who like such things (like me).
All in all, I really enjoyed these classic stories.
Showcase Presents: Supergil Vol. 2 Well it is more of the same as SHOWCASE PRESENTS: SUPERGIRL VOL. 1. But that is the beauty of comics from the Silver Age! You don't need the first volume to understand or enjoy the stories. All stories are self contained.
Showcase Presents: Supergirl Vol. 2 Really enjoyed this book, especially since DC's current writers are essentially re-doing these stories with modern twists/ updates.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
