Another character with Multiple Personality Creation Disorder, but at least she has generally been able to keep her name!
Born in 1959, as part of Action Comics attempt to keep Superman alive by widenning its appeal to a possible new (female?) audience.
Because of his former existence as "The last survivor of Krypton", Superman's existing mythos had to be altered to accommodate the arrival of Supergirl. One of those elements was the explanation for Superman's powers. In previous Superman stories, it was explained that the difference in gravity between Earth and Krypton fostered the "abilities beyond those of ordinary men". Another problem would be the explanation for a super-powered young woman to arrive on Earth years after the destruction of Krypton. And third (and most important to DC's editors at the time), this new character should not upset the romantic relationship between Superman and Lois Lane, a key element of most Superman tales.
To resolve the powers dilemma, it was explained that Earth's yellow sun gave Superman and Supergirl their powers, since Krypton had revolved around a red sun. As for the age difference, it was explained that Supergirl was born on a chunk of Krypton which remained intact after its explosion. A bubble of air kept its few inhabitants alive, and a sheet roll of lead protected them temporarily from Kryptonite, which the soil itself had transformed into. Later, this rather improbable premise was expanded upon to include a whole city encased under a domed shield, with plenty of air, food & water to live on for years. The city would then be named Argo, and on this rock several years later, a daughter would be born to scientist Zor-El and his wife Allura, and they would name her Kara.
To prevent possible fan demands for she and Superman getting off with each other and thereby spoiling the Lane/Clarke theme that predominated at that time, Kara was passed off as a cousin. Though this does not work if thought about.
On earth she took the name of Linda Lee and spent her time at Midvale Orphanage. Having promised to her cousin she would keep her powers secret most of her adventures were carried out in secret, unbeknown by all. Though learning the secret of time travel (from Superman) did permit some really entertaining stories involving cavemen and historical figures. It was not until 1965 that her Supergirl identity was permitted to be known and she found her own Supervillain in Lesla-Lar, a criminal scientist from Kandor.
Perhaps, sadly she was killed off in 1966 in Crisis on Infinite Earths and to all purposes written out of Superman memory and he returned to being the only survivor from Krypton.
That is until 1968 and a three part story Supergirl Saga. An alternate Earth was left without a resident superhero and a benevolent Lex Luthor, having lost his wife, Lana, fighting the invading baddies, created an artificial, shapeshifting "Supergirl" based on his wife's form (her molecular matrix to be specific) and with her memories. She inturn was badly injured and rescued by Superman, having lost the final battle and handed to his parents to recover.
From there she periodically appeared as 'The Matrix' until her third rebirth in 1996 as Linda Danvers. Taking up with the bad Lex Luthor, until she found him out.
Linda viewed Supergirl as her role model and frequently found herself sculpting the superheroine's form in her artistic endeavours. But an evil demon named Buzz had played upon Linda's loss of faith in those around her by drawning her into his cult in preparation for using her as a human sacrifce to the otherworldly creature known as Lord Chakat. Supergirl managed to reach Linda before the sacrifice took place, but not in time to save her life. With Supergirl filled with grief over her failure and Linda feeling overwhelmed at how her life was ending before she could set right what had gone wrong, the two reached out to each other, and at the moment of death, Supergirl merged her protoplasmic form with that of Linda's, and the two became one. The spirit of Kara had been reborn.
To discuss the film version of Supergirl go HERE
Born in 1959, as part of Action Comics attempt to keep Superman alive by widenning its appeal to a possible new (female?) audience.
Because of his former existence as "The last survivor of Krypton", Superman's existing mythos had to be altered to accommodate the arrival of Supergirl. One of those elements was the explanation for Superman's powers. In previous Superman stories, it was explained that the difference in gravity between Earth and Krypton fostered the "abilities beyond those of ordinary men". Another problem would be the explanation for a super-powered young woman to arrive on Earth years after the destruction of Krypton. And third (and most important to DC's editors at the time), this new character should not upset the romantic relationship between Superman and Lois Lane, a key element of most Superman tales.
To resolve the powers dilemma, it was explained that Earth's yellow sun gave Superman and Supergirl their powers, since Krypton had revolved around a red sun. As for the age difference, it was explained that Supergirl was born on a chunk of Krypton which remained intact after its explosion. A bubble of air kept its few inhabitants alive, and a sheet roll of lead protected them temporarily from Kryptonite, which the soil itself had transformed into. Later, this rather improbable premise was expanded upon to include a whole city encased under a domed shield, with plenty of air, food & water to live on for years. The city would then be named Argo, and on this rock several years later, a daughter would be born to scientist Zor-El and his wife Allura, and they would name her Kara.
To prevent possible fan demands for she and Superman getting off with each other and thereby spoiling the Lane/Clarke theme that predominated at that time, Kara was passed off as a cousin. Though this does not work if thought about.
On earth she took the name of Linda Lee and spent her time at Midvale Orphanage. Having promised to her cousin she would keep her powers secret most of her adventures were carried out in secret, unbeknown by all. Though learning the secret of time travel (from Superman) did permit some really entertaining stories involving cavemen and historical figures. It was not until 1965 that her Supergirl identity was permitted to be known and she found her own Supervillain in Lesla-Lar, a criminal scientist from Kandor.
Perhaps, sadly she was killed off in 1966 in Crisis on Infinite Earths and to all purposes written out of Superman memory and he returned to being the only survivor from Krypton.
That is until 1968 and a three part story Supergirl Saga. An alternate Earth was left without a resident superhero and a benevolent Lex Luthor, having lost his wife, Lana, fighting the invading baddies, created an artificial, shapeshifting "Supergirl" based on his wife's form (her molecular matrix to be specific) and with her memories. She inturn was badly injured and rescued by Superman, having lost the final battle and handed to his parents to recover.
From there she periodically appeared as 'The Matrix' until her third rebirth in 1996 as Linda Danvers. Taking up with the bad Lex Luthor, until she found him out.
Linda viewed Supergirl as her role model and frequently found herself sculpting the superheroine's form in her artistic endeavours. But an evil demon named Buzz had played upon Linda's loss of faith in those around her by drawning her into his cult in preparation for using her as a human sacrifce to the otherworldly creature known as Lord Chakat. Supergirl managed to reach Linda before the sacrifice took place, but not in time to save her life. With Supergirl filled with grief over her failure and Linda feeling overwhelmed at how her life was ending before she could set right what had gone wrong, the two reached out to each other, and at the moment of death, Supergirl merged her protoplasmic form with that of Linda's, and the two became one. The spirit of Kara had been reborn.
To discuss the film version of Supergirl go HERE
