SUPERMAN FAMILY 177 (1976)
written by Cary Bates & Elliot S! Maggin
pencils by Curt Shaffenberger
Cary Bates is typically a trainwreck on the Superman titles; will Maggin be able to help him, or will he just make things worse?
Well we begin with a flashback showing the birth of Supergirl’s star-mate, so… trainwreck it is, I guess.
We then cut to Supergirl visiting her parents on Kandor, admitting it’s been a long time since the last time we met them.
She’s not off to a very dignified start.
This is because her parents have forgotten she exists!
And that’s not it: all records about her have been completely erased from Kandor.
Supposedly this is the very first time Supergirl refers to her full name as “Kara Zor-El”: up to this point the women of Krypton were referenced only by name (such as Superman’s mother Lara).
For whatever reason the idea that the women of Krypton don’t get a proper surname, but instead us the father’s full name as a last name, stuck through the ages.
Interesting to see Supergirl angst about not having someone to talk to… it would be obvious to have her talk to Superman, but the idea is never brought up.
See Supergirl, this is what happens when you don’t hang around the Legion enough!
So far so good: the story isn’t exactly groundbreaking, but it has potential.
And then the star-mate shows up to beat up Supergirl!
Still a better couple than Jimmy Olsen and Lucy Lane.
Remember the first scene of the story? Well, it turns out the star-mate showed up on Argo City, after the destruction of Krypton but before Supergirl left for Earth.
Her father refuses to allow this weirdo to marry his teenage daughter he’s never met; that’s a perfectly reasonable reaction, but sprinkled with a little space racism.
Supergirl has no idea what an “Hakawee” is, but they’re a race of aliens who seem to have astrology as their religion. (????)
Eventually she does remember about the Hakawee, and deduces her parents are the reason why all of Kandor forgot about her.
Better not to think too hard why her father has the means to brainwash the entire city AND mess with their records!
As ridiculous as the star-mate is, he’s actually a considerable threat: not only he’s absorbed part of Supergirl’s power, but he’s able to transfer it to brainwashed minions AND he’s created an impenetrable barrier around the city.
How is the city not blown to smithereens the moment these two fight!?!?
Supergirl really sucks this issue.
Both literally and figuratively!
Supergirl agrees to marry this doofus on two conditions: leave the people of Earth alone, and wait just one hour.
See what I meant? She already looks at him the same way Lucy looked at Jimmy!
Once they do reach his system, though, the star-mate has a change of heart.
That’s because Supergirl spent that extra hour to BUILD PLANETS TO SCREW WITH HIS HOROSCOPE!!!
Not only that was AWESOMELY Silver Age, but any story that ends screwing up astrology has already won me over.
Historical significance: 5/10
Blink and you’ll miss it, but it codifies how Kryptonian names work!
Silver Age-ness: 10/10
Building planets (plural!!!) within the hour.
Does it stand the test of time? 4/10
Shaffenberger is the only saving grace of this otherwise utterly forgettable comic.