ACTION COMICS #262 (1960)
by Otto Binder and Jim Mooney
Cover by Curt Swan
It might not look like it, but this is one of the most important Superman stories.
We begin with Supergirl in her orphanage.
THAT’S NOT HOW X-RAY VISION WORKS!!!
Supergirl then writes down her origin story in her diary. That’s where we get an additional detail that wasn’t in the original.
Yes, this THE FIRST TIME EVER that we are told about Superman getting powers from a yellow sun! From 1938 until 1960, his powers officially came from Earth’s lower gravity!
And it’s all to flesh out Supergirl’s origin story! How cool is that!?
That gives Supergirl an idea on how to gain immunity from Kryptonite.
Superman isn’t convinced, but Supergirl is like, “maybe that’s because you suck”.
Superman dismisses the idea as too dangerous. He’s more interested in showing off his zoo.
Supergirl unwillingly makes one of the “metal-eaters” escape. This will be important later.
Later she finds a Kryptonite meteor, and that’s when she tries her theory about gaining immunity.
No wonder Brainiac 5 will fall in love with her! This is well thought.
And this works spectacularly!
Not for Superman, though.
No worries, Supergirl can save him!
Or not.
There’s only one way out: turning gold into lead!
Wait, what?
THAT’S NOT HOW X-RAY VISION WORKS!!!
As for the Kryptonite immunity… turns out it was all thanks to the metal-eater.
BY EATING THROUGH HALF THE PLANET.
I’m sure this guy is from Matter-Eater Lad’s planet.
Historical significance: 10/10
Superman’s relationship with yellow sunlight has HUGE ramifications. It’s really unbelievable that it took 22 YEARS before this was established!!!
Silver Age-ness: 4/10
Mostly for how super-powers work, but Supergirl’s scientific methods are really fare more plausible than this era’s typical bonkers ideas.
Does it stand the test of time? 8/10
The metal-eaters eating through half the planet to somehow track down a piece of Kryptonite and the weird use of X-Ray Vision are really the sticking points. Everything else is very easily suitable for today!
wow, how old is supergirl in that story from LL 55? i mean, those robot kids are made to look, what… 2… 3 years old? so lois thinks superman has been doing supergirl since she was… how old??
She’s 15 when she lands on Earth. It’s not clear how much time has passed since then, but no matter how you put it… yeah, that’s messed up.
Interesting that Superman says they will only have powers under a yellow sun. So under white, blue, and orange suns, they would have no superpowers according to this. That didn’t last, luckily.