Supergirl

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Supergirl is a superhero from DC Comics. There were many attempts to make a Supergirl prior to her official debut. Lois Lane was given superpowers in some stories and Jimmy Olsen conjured a Super-girl using a magic totem that would eventually be wished away. Merely a year later Kara Zor-El appeared. Since her death in 1985 other characters have taken over the mantle including Linda Danvers, Matrix and Cir-El. In 2004 a revamped version of Kara Zor-El returned to the DC Universe.

Introduction

After the success of Super-Girl the year previously it was decided that a similar character would become a recurring member of Superman's cast. DC hired Otto Binder and Al Plastino to write and draw her first appearance. Binder had success previously introducing the female counterpart to Captain Marvel, Mary Marvel. Kara Zor-El was created as Superman's cousin in Action Comics #252. The now classic cover has her emerging from her rocket proclaiming 'Look again Superman! Its me --Supergirl! And I have all your powers!". We learn that Kara comes from Argo City, a piece of Krypton that survived its destruction and was hurtled into space. Upon the compromise of the security her father had constructed to protect the citizens from the kryptonite ground Kara was sent to Earth like her cousin before her. Due to social standards at the time, batchelor Clark Kent could not take his young cousin in so she is sent to Midvale orphanage to live as Linda Lee. It is here she had many adventures which ranged from battling supervillains to helping her friends find families.

Early Adventures

In her early adventures Kara had to maintain her dual identity which meant shunning any possible adopted parents in case they discovered her secret. She has an array of bizarre boyfriends at this time such as Jerro the Merboy (which mirrors Superman's love interest Lori Lemaris the Mermaid), Dick Malverne (fellow orphan who is intent on discovering Linda's secret), Comet the Superhorse (a sometimes centaur) and Brainiac 5 of the Legion of Super-heroes. It is the last relationship that was off and on from her induction to the Legion in 1961 to her death in 1985. Supergirl also had an array of pets including Streaky the Supercat who had gained superpowers from one of Supergirl's experiments on kryponite gone wrong and Comet the Superhorse, the sometimes man, sometimes centaur, sometimes superpowered horse. She also enjoyed spending time with Superman's pet dog Krypto.