It's a mod, mod, mod, mod super world!
Supergirl debuted in DC Comics in Action Comics #252, cover dated May of 1959. Her creation is credited to Otto Binder and Al Plastino. To avoid any potential requests by readers that this female from Krypton be romantically linked to Superman, it was established that Supergirl was Superman's cousin, Kara Zor-El.
Action Comics #252, cover art by Curt Swan and Al Plastino
When Supergirl first arrived on Earth she was wearing a costume designed by her mother, Alura, who had seen Superman through her "super space telescope"! Kara's costume was very similar to Superman's. In fact, from the waist up they were virtually identical. Kara, however, wore a blue skirt and had bare legs. The boots were red, and again, modeled after Superman's.
This costume would serve Supergirl for 11 years. Then, Kara decided it was time she stopped wearing the suit her mommy made for her, and started experimenting with her own fashion sense! From 1970 through 1974, she would trot out more than her fair share of new possible costumes. This tour will take us through the good, the bad, the groovy, and the truly questionable options Supergirl decided to give a try!
The first stop on this tour is Adventure Comics #397. The cover depicts Supergirl (in her original silver-age costume), musing over possible new costumes.
Supergirl's first new costume was courtesy of Diana Prince. At this time in DC Comics history, Diana had lost her superpowers and was no longer operating as Wonder Woman. Instead, she was functioning as a sort of independent spy utilizing martial arts, while simultaneously running a fashion boutique! It is through Diana's boutique that Kara gets her first new costume. This thigh-high boots and hip-level belt costume would be one that Kara utilized many times. In fact, it would be her primary costume through Adventure Comics #406. It would also appear as late as issue #414 as this title's character-icon on the upper left corner of each issue.
Adventure Comics #397, cover art by Mike Sekowsky, Dick Giordano, and Gaspar Saladino
Supergirl's first new costume was courtesy of Diana Prince. At this time in DC Comics history, Diana had lost her superpowers and was no longer operating as Wonder Woman. Instead, she was functioning as a sort of independent spy utilizing martial arts, while simultaneously running a fashion boutique! It is through Diana's boutique that Kara gets her first new costume. This thigh-high boots and hip-level belt costume would be one that Kara utilized many times. In fact, it would be her primary costume through Adventure Comics #406. It would also appear as late as issue #414 as this title's character-icon on the upper left corner of each issue.
While taking her new "working uniform" out for public crime fighting, Kara also decided to wear a spiffy "super evening gown" for a date in Adventure Comics #402 (February 1971)! You know, as one does when trying to avoid unnecessary attention!
Adventure Comics #415 would have Kara try out yet another new costume. This one features a large belt, side pockets, and buccaneer boots. It also includes one other feature that I personally think was a pretty nifty concept! Her cape was blue on the backside, but red on the inside. This costume would have just this single outing before being retired.
Though Supergirl her own eponymous title and seemed to have selected a consistent costume, readers were still submitting their own thoughts on costume designs. These submissions were included in Supergirl #1.
In 1974, DC canceled two titles: Supergirl and Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane. Simultaneously, Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen was renamed Superman Family beginning with issue #164. This "new" title was giant-sized, allowing for multiple stories in each issue, featuring the three characters who had lost their own series, along with other members of Superman's supporting cast.
When this change took place, Supergirl would then be shown wearing boots instead of elfin-style footies. This costume alteration began in Superman Family #165. Another alteration that occurred as well was the change from fringed bloomers to more form-fitting shorts, sans the fringe!
Though the "mod 1970s" costume journey would be over, this would not be the last time Supergirl would seek to update her hero-ing attire! But we'll save the discussion of the other costumes in her future for another tour!
Super DC Giant #S-24 was a special large-sized comic book featuring many repeat tales from Supergirl's past. It was published with a cover date of June 1971. One of the special cover-promoted features was a three-page presentation of additional reader submissions for more updated costumes for Supergirl.
For the readers who submitted these designs, it must have been exciting to see them in print! Sadly, for the record, none of them would ever be worn by Kara in any upcoming adventure. These submissions were akin to a supreme paper-doll presentation of possible costumes that would never be used!
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Having looked at many reader submissions, DC decided to ignore them all! When they discarded the thigh-high boot costume Kara had been wearing for almost a year... they gave her this hot mess! Many longtime Supergirl fans refer to this one as the "super onesie"! This outfit would first appear in Adventure Comics #407 (June 1971... the same month all the reader submissions were published in a different title!). Unfortunately, This striped-legged costume will be worn again in the following issue (#408)!
One has to ponder whether this (and other future costumes) were still being supplied through Diana Prince's boutique. If they were, then one must further ponder how that boutique stayed in business!!
Adventure Comics #407 and #408, cover art by Mike Sekowsky and Dick Giordano
In Adventure Comics #409, the striped-legged onesie is in the rearview mirror and Kara is about to take another new costume out for a spin! This new selection for a costume is truly amazing as it appears to defy gravity and all known physics! One can surmise that because she spends a bit of time underwater in this issue, this new costume was perhaps intended to be a possible swimsuit. The story credits reader Margret Berg with the design of this somewhat provocative new costume design. This issue would be the only time Supergirl wore this costume in her adventures.
Adventure Comics #409, cover art by Dick Giordano and Gaspar Saladino
Adventure Comics #410 (Sept. 1971) gives us the first look at what will eventually morph into Supergirl's second long-term costume. On the letters page, this costume's design is credited to John Sposato of New Jersey. Ironically, the iconic picture of Supergirl shown below was used repeatedly in marketing projects of the day... even though the Grecian-laced sandals would never appear again beyond this single issue. Though this costume would be worn by Kara in the following issue (#411), the sandals would be replaced with elfin-like footies.
Adventure Comics #410, cover art by Bob Oksner
The puffy-sleeved/fringed-bloomers outfit is given further prominence when the character-icon of Supergirl (located in the upper left corner of each cover of Adventure Comics) also begins to be shown in the same costume. But that didn't mean that Kara's days of trying out different outfits were over! Whether that was a good or bad thing remains questionable!
In Adventure Comics #412 and #413 (late 1971), Supergirl wears a full-body costume. With an S-emblem on both her belt and her chest. The double-S makes this one quite visually clunky.
Adventure Comics #412 and #413, cover art by Bob Oksner
Adventure Comics #415 would have Kara try out yet another new costume. This one features a large belt, side pockets, and buccaneer boots. It also includes one other feature that I personally think was a pretty nifty concept! Her cape was blue on the backside, but red on the inside. This costume would have just this single outing before being retired.
Adventure Comics #415, cover art by Bob Oksner
Beginning in Adventure Comics #416, Supergirl would settle in wih the puffy sleeves/fringed-bloomers costume. This would be the only costume she would wear through her remaining time as the headliner of Adventure Comics. The last issue of her run in that title would be issue #424 (October 1972). This same costume would stay with her throughout the 10 issues of her first short-lived series which ran from November 1972 through October 1974.
Adventure Comics #416, cover art by Bob Oksner
Supergirl (volume 1) #10, cover art by Bob Oksner
Though Supergirl her own eponymous title and seemed to have selected a consistent costume, readers were still submitting their own thoughts on costume designs. These submissions were included in Supergirl #1.
In 1974, DC canceled two titles: Supergirl and Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane. Simultaneously, Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen was renamed Superman Family beginning with issue #164. This "new" title was giant-sized, allowing for multiple stories in each issue, featuring the three characters who had lost their own series, along with other members of Superman's supporting cast.
When this change took place, Supergirl would then be shown wearing boots instead of elfin-style footies. This costume alteration began in Superman Family #165. Another alteration that occurred as well was the change from fringed bloomers to more form-fitting shorts, sans the fringe!
Shortly after Superman Family began publication, a few more reader submissions for Supergirl costumes were printed. Alas, none were ever actually used.
The form-fitting shorts Supergirl arrived with when she transitioned into the pages of Superman Family would only last a few months. By Superman Family #171, Kara's costume bottoms would be slightly altered to hotpants. With this, her journey to find a new costume would be complete. She would wear this costume for the next 8 years.
Though the "mod 1970s" costume journey would be over, this would not be the last time Supergirl would seek to update her hero-ing attire! But we'll save the discussion of the other costumes in her future for another tour!
Supergirl and all related characters, names, and elements and the distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks of DC Comics, Inc.
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