Rob welcomes back Dr. Anj to discuss his picks for a perfect Supergirl treasury edition!
Check out images from this comic by clicking here!
This podcast is a proud member of the FIRE AND WATER PODCAST NETWORK:
- Visit the Fire & Water WEBSITE: http://fireandwaterpodcast.com
- Follow Fire & Water on BLUE SKY – https://bsky.app/profile/fwpodcasts.bsky.social
- Like our Fire & Water FACEBOOK page – https://www.facebook.com/FWPodcastNetwork
- Support The Fire & Water Podcast Network on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fwpodcasts
- Use our HASHTAG online: #FWPodcasts
- E-MAIL – fwpodcasts@gmail.com
Thanks for listening!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
I love these Just Imagine… episodes, yes indeed, Supergirl deserved a limited collectors’ edition, so thanks Rob and Anj for giving us one.
Starting with the cover, both versions are wonderful, Rob, I love the Action Comics #500-style surprint (that issue went just a bit too far in also being an infinity cover). And that S-shield blurb with a cutie Krypto is terrific. So that’s two sales for starters!
And no arguments from me on Anj’s choice of stories, I’m especially pleased to have the first issue of Daring New Adventures of Supergirl in there, my favourite Supergirl series ever (I was recently on Anthony Desiato’s Digging For Kryptonite show chatting about the run, and Anj was on talking the Peter David/Gary Frank/Leonard Kirk run shortly afterwards, give us a listen!). Anj’s explanations as to why each story made the cut are surely inarguable.
What an editorial, Anj! Well put.
I’m off now to do the wordsearch… on a photo on the iPad, I’m not wrecking my imaginary comic with an imaginary pen!).
Never mind “The Summer of Supergirl”… it’s definitely “The Summer of Dr Anj”, and I am here for it!
A terrific discussion between the two of you – I wasn’t aware of the distaste for the Matrix version of Supergirl, as she was the character when I started reading comics regularly the early 1990s. My impression was that she was under the manipulative thrall of Lex Luthor; I always felt a bit sorry for her.
I share Anj’s frustration with a seeming difficulty to write characters who are – at their core – good hearted, hopeful and generous. Mary Marvel seems to me to be another character on a very similar path. What does it say about comic companies and creators that they feel the need to corrupt these “good girls”? Is there any evidence that the “bad girl” versions sell more books? (I assume not, as these twisted interpretations never really stick around.
I really love the Matrix Supergirl because she grows as a character = insane, slave of Brainiac, dupe of Lex at the beginning but pure hero, driven to better herself by the end. And the PAD series, with the Angel stuff, is pure gold!
It was Didio who hated the Matrix Supergirl.
Excellent, another new Treasury Cast! And what a great topic, and great guest.
I can’t say too much about Anj’s story choices – I defer to his expertise, and I definitely agree about the Action Comics story that was also reprinted in the Supergirl digest. It’s definitely the Silver Age Supergirl story that I like the most. Other than that, I’d also add the Deadman story from the DC Christmas Special in which the mysterious ‘Kara’ makes an appearance – I know it’s not quite a Supergirl story, and Supergirl has since been restored to her full glory, but I think that one still packs a punch. And it’s always good to have a Brennert story in any given collection.
As for Rob’s proposed cover designs, I prefer the Hughes variant. However, if I’m being honest, I think the Buckler/Giordano cover from the first issue of the early 1980s series would be the best choice for a treasury book.
p.s. can’t believe there’s a Kryptonian werewolf and his name isn’t Lyc An.
I’m reminded of an old World of Darkness character who went by Lou. Lou Pine.
Don’t forget Werewolf Anthony Lupus from “Moon of the Wolf” in Batman 255. His name was changed to Anthony Romulus when the issue was adapted into an episode of the animated series.
Two words: Jack Russell.
This was the perfect way to discuss and sneakily lobby DC for a Supergirl Treasury. Well done.
Since Batgirl is my comic book crush, I certainly defer to Dr. Anj’s superior knowledge of Supergirl. I did wonder if he considered any Bob Oksner Supergirl art for the hypothetical cover. He is my favorite Supergirl artist.
Dr. Anj is surely enjoying his “One Shining Moment” this summer. He is everywhere! I have read some of the Kupperberg stories and the Peter David/Gary Frank ones as well and enjoyed them, but I will also defer to Anj’s expertise in choosing the stories. I do agree wholeheartedly with Gary Frank as the cover artist. He is my favorite regularly working artist today.
Great episode, Rob! I could listen to Anj talk about Supergirl all day. Although I like Gary Frank a lot, I would have to go with the Adam Hughes cover.
Excellent choices of stories, Anj! I too LOVE the cover of Action 285 where Supergirl is getting a ticker tape parade. I have my copy hung up on my wall. I also bought the New Adventures of Supergirl run, and while I did enjoy the stories, the late Infantino art was not my favorite, even though the Oksner inks helped. I enjoyed the Matrix stories, for the most part, but it never felt like Supergirl. I was so glad Anj put me on to the current series, because the Jim Mooney, finger to the chin, innocent Supergirl is just so charming that I smile when reading those, and the new series just has that feeling with a modern flair.
Rob – these imaginary Treasury episodes are so much fun! I am off to do the word search!
PS thanks for the shout out about making the Kubert DC Special Facsimile happen. I am just now realizing that as part of the network, with great power there must also come great responsibility!
Hey, what funny timing this comes along!
I was just listening to the Super Friends podcast episode where Rob and Dr. Anj discuss the theory that Black Orchid was Supergirl in disguise. I hadn’t heard that theory before, but it got me to thinking. Mostly about alternate identities for Black Orchid. I thought how maybe she was an errant Kandorian who fandom had forgotten. Or maybe a stray Supergirl duplicate or clone that was in disguise. Or maybe even a Supergirl robot? I mean, Clark has had robot duplicates since he was in Smallville, so why not Supergirl?
All this speculation reminded me of another storyline where fandom was led to believe that a masked hero was Supergirl in disguise: the infamous Sensor Girl storyline from the post-Crisis Legion of Superheroes. The parallel really surprised me, and then half-kiddingly I wondered if it could’ve been Princess Projectra in that Black Orchid costume. And it hit me! Yes, it could’ve been Projectra! And why would it have been Projectra? Because her love, Karate Kid, was having adventures in the 20th Century and she missed him and wanted to be closer to him! It makes perfect retroactive sense! To me anyway…
Just wanted to share. Not sure if anyone has come up with this theory yet.
The theory regarding Black Orchid began with Power Girl. I discovered it while blogging about the Doom Patrol’s appearance in the revived SHOWCASE title in 1977. They would get their own, post-Crisis title ten years later. During that title’s run they briefly teamed with Power Girl (their series and PG’s mini were both written by Paul Kupperberg) and, because Kara was missing from post-Crisis history, some of the stories included flashbacks in which PG was retroactively inserted in Kara’s place in earlier adventures from SUPERMAN FAMILY and DARING NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERGIRL.
After reviewing the Doom Patrol arc in SHOWCASE #94(08-09/77) – #96(12/77-01/78), I looked for fan reactions from the contemporary letters’ pages. The LP’s I read in SHOWCASE were written by editor Paul Levitz. The following is an excerpt from the blog, posted August 7th, 2012:
“…..Tellingly, the next issue, which begins a three-issue Power Girl story arc [SHOWCASE #’s 97 (02/78)- 99 (04/78)] has a letters’ page that leads with a letter written in anticipation of the Power Girl feature. (The writer, Allan Palmer of Quebec, was tipped off about their plans by a fanzine article). … Palmer suggests that PG’s recent out-of-the-blue debut in ALL STAR COMICS could be explained by saying that she had been on Earth-1 fighting crime as Black Orchid, another flying bullet-proof female character whose identity and origin had not yet been revealed. Levitz describes this as “a very plausible suggestion”.) A second letter from Bill Dickinson (of MN) is all about the DP but there is no response to it. In fact, none of the editorial ‘voice’ on the page mentions the DP at all.”
Great show guys, and I would buy this in a heartbeat (I think I would go with the Hughes cover however, because not really Kara). I like that Anj’s hypothetical treasury works as a bit of a comapnion piece to that Supergirl digest you all discussed many years ago. I read Supergirl in Superman Family, but I wasn’t a rabid fan of her, so I was kind of surprised when my mom brought that digest home from work for me. But I really got into it! The evolution of the character was fascinating, even for a 7 year old. This treasury has much of the same appeal.
I’m glad Dr. Anj is looking forward to the new movie, despite the source material. I have never read Woman of Tomorrow, but King’s revisionist takes to fit the stories he wants to tell don’t sit well with me in general. I do think the take works better in the vacuum of a film universe that is new with no previous continuity to mow over.
Again, great show!
Oh, and I never thought of it before your brief discussion of Crisis #7, but Doctor Light really is to Supergirl fans what Hot Rod is to Transformers fans! Rob won’t get it, but some of you listeners will (like Derek)!
Really enjoyed this Treasury That Never Was show and would love to hear more of these. I’d also like to hear of any series not DC or Marvel you’d like to get a treasury. IDW did a Rocketeer one that looks lovely.