Supergirl’s Greatest Victory!

ACTION COMICS  Vol.1,  No.262,  March 1960;  Cover Art:  Curt Swan,  Stan Kaye,  Ira Schnapp;  Writer:  Robert Bernstein;  Penciler:  Wayne Boring;  Inker:  Stan Kaye

Witnessing the landing of a Kryptonite meteor,  Supergirl muses about the substance’s dangerous effects,  and is determined to develop a Kryptonite immunity through gradual exposure to more and more of the deadly substance.  Although Superman claims to have failed at this before,  Kara seems to be successful with her experiment due to her more recent arrival on Earth. 

But when Superman is trapped by a subterranean chunk of Kryptonite,  both heroes nearly die from its rays,  narrowly escaping through a combined use of their x-ray vision.  Supergirl’s earlier success turns out to be due to the unknown influence of a metal-eating alien creature that had hollowed out her Kryptonite sample.  Another story sees Superman and the staff of the Daily Planet transported from an Aztec tomb to a planet with a red sun;  there,  the Man of Steel has no powers,  but must still find a way home for everyone.

Kudos to Dr. Arnold T. Blumberg for his expert commentary above and to the talented artists and writers of DC Comics who captivated and inspired millions of readers during this magical Golden Age. 

Dr. Arnold T. Blumberg is an educator,  publisher,  author,  comic book and pop culture historian, and former museum curator.  He is the author or co-author of Zombiemania,  The Big BIG LITTLE BOOK Book,  and Howe’s Transcendental Toybox.   He was the editor of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide and also wrote for Cinescape,  The International Journal of Comic Art,  Fandom,  and IGN.com.  He holds a doctorate in Communications Design from the University of Baltimore and teaches courses in everything from comics and superhero mythology to zombies to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  You can find him on Twitter at @DoctoroftheDead