DC Finest: Supergirl: The Girl of Steel

DC Finest: Supergirl #1959-1962

by Otto Binder, Jerry Siegel, Jim Mooney (Artist)

Kara Zor-El soars into her very own DC Finest collection!

In "The Supergirl from Krypton," Kara lands on Earth and discovers that she possesses all the same powers as her cousin, Superman. Inspired by her famous kin, Kara adopts a secret identity and uses her powers to help those in need.

This inaugural volume contains Supergirl's appearances from 1959 to 1962 in the pages of ACTION COMICS #252-288, ADVENTURE COMICS #278, SUPERMAN #139-140 and #144, SUPERBOY #80, SUPERMAN'S GIRL FRIEND LOIS LANE #14 and #20, and SUPERMAN'S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN #40, #46, #51, and #57.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels Comics, Dc Comics, Superheroes, Graphic Novels

620 pages, Paperback

First published January 14, 2025

About the author

Otto Oscar Binder. Used these alternate names: Eando Binder (together with his brother Earl Binder -E and O Binder-), John Coleridge, Gordon A. Giles, Will Garth, Ian Francis Turek, Ione Frances Turek and Otto O. Binder.

Reviews

[Gary Sassaman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This latest entry (for me, at least, who is trying to be a good boy and not buy EVERY DC Finest volume), features the earliest adventures of Linda Lee, Supergirl, who lands on Earth via rocketship from Argo City, a part of Krypton that survived after the destruction of that planet. Supergirl is actually Kara, the cousin of Superman, and the Man of Steel—once he gets over his shock—parks the poor space orphan at Midvale Orphanage, where she becomes his “emergecny weapon,” in the event that anything happens to him, and while he trains her. The stories—mainly by Otto Binder and Jerry Siegel and just about all drawn by Jim Mooney—appeared in Action Comics and this volume includes issues 257 through 288, including the story when Superman finally introduces her to the world (issue 285). Other stories in this volume include ones from Superman, Lois Lane, and Jimmy Olsen that feature the Girl of Steel. To be honest, the Action Comics tales are insipid at best, and Mooney’s art is weak in parts (although his depictions of both the blonde Supergirl and brunette Linda Lee are charming), with a lot of stock Wayne Boring and Curt Swan Superman poses recreated by Mooney throughout. The stories also introduce Streaky, the Super-Cat, and bring together Supergirl with the Legion of Super-Heroes, Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane, and Krypto, the Super-Dog. It’s an enjoyable read, though, and another great collection in the DC Finest run. I’m looking forward to what DC reveals for the rest of the series from July through the end of the year.

[Phillip Cash · Rating 2 out of 5]

So I read the first few stories in this one, then began skipping around a bit, and eventually DNF'd at 34%.

Not the worst things I've ever read (far better than the Justice League stories from the same era), but not great either. My biggest takeaway is that Silver Age Superman was kind of a dick... you discover you have a long-lost cousin when you previously thought your whole species had gone extinct, and you shove her in an orphanage and refuse to allow her to reveal herself? What the heck, man?

The best stories that I read in this collection are the ones where Kara is able to pull off small acts of heroism at the orphanage (like Action #253). The worst ones? A toss-up between those that tease a status quo change only to pull the rug out from under the reader (Action #264 & #265), the ones that are padded out by endless flashbacks (Superman #139), and the ones with dues ex machina endings (too many to name).

[Doug Duncan · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book felt like it had some heart to it, and I was genuinely impressed with how much I enjoyed it given my experience with a lot of other series from this era. it was nice seeing the character have some growth, and I really liked that by the end they actually had some overall plot development.

[Matt Fuller · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first Supergirl comics the stories are hit and miss but I find it funny how big an asshole Superman is in this. He tells her to live in an orphanage and makes her leave the planet for revealing her identity to someone just to name some. Covers 1959-1962.

[Del · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of fun, heart-warming silver age stories.

[Russell Moffett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would give this 3 1/2 stars if that was an option.

[Ralph Carlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comics from the days when comics were for kids.

[Jedi Master Nate Lightray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started out very weak, and somewhere along the way it hit its stride. The collection is amazing. I love these DC Finest editions.