Today in Comics History, May 18: Happy birthday, Linda Lee Danvers! (This time for sure!)

"Born" on this day and at least two others this year, Linda Lee Danvers, aka Kara Zor-El: Supergirl!
I shall explain.


from "Supergirl's Busiest Day!" in Action Comics #270 (DC, November 1960), script by Jerry Siegel, pencils and inks by Jim Mooney




Now, we here at Comics Oughta Be Fun! "generally" accept The 1976 Super DC Calendar to be the definitive canon on Pre-Crisis birthday. It lists April 11 as Linda Danvers's birthday and the anniversary of Supergirl's arrival on Earth. And I pointed that out this past April 11, but I did not accept it as her birthday.


from Super DC Calendar 1976 (DC, 1975), letters by Ben Oda
Why? Because both Action Comics #305 and Supergirl #20 place her arrival on Earth and Lind's Earth birthday as May 18, 12:17 PM.



from "The Girl Who Hated Supergirl!" in Action Comics #305 (DC, October 19163), script by Leo Dorfman, pencils and inks by Jim Mooney and John Forte

from Supergirl (1983 series) #20 (DC, June 1984), script by Paul Kupperberg, pencils by Carmine Infantino, inks by Bob Oksner, colors by Gene D'Angelo, letters by Rod Ollerenshaw
Click picture to super-size
I therefore declare, in my Lee-appointed role of Arbitror of the Comicsverse, that the Super DC Calendar 1976 is wrong in placing Linda Danvers's birthday on April 11. An actual canon story outweighs the '76 calendar. Thus speaks Bully! (slams my little hammer down, hits myself, says ow and sucks sadly on my hoof)


from Action Comics #270
So, Supergirl, on this, the day of your civilian identity's birth and the anniversary of your arrival on Earth (hey, that rhymes)...what's the greatest thing that ever happened to you?


cover of Supergirl #20; pencils by Carmine Infantino, inks by Dick Giordano
Oh. Something off camera. Thanks, Linda.

To confuse matters further, the birthday of Kara Zor-El on Krypton is September 22. See you then, Today in Comics History-following folks!


So sum up: happy birthday to Linda; take a step back, Kara; you've got four months to wait.


from Action Comics #305
Pretty sneaky, tryin' to get three birthday gifts out of us, Supergirl!


Anyway, happy birthday, SUPER-LINDA LEE KARA DANVERS KENT-GIRL.

(And I'll see you back here on September 22!)