817 – Lesla-Lar’s Evil Plot Thickens

Linda meets Casual Clark in Action Comics #280, July 1961
Linda meets Casual Clark in Action Comics #280, July 1961

Speaking of Machiavellianism, the long-running Supergirl story arc continues, as a de-powered Linda Lee, having recently been adopted by the Danvers, goes on a school field trip to visit Metropolis’ Daily Planet. There, she meets up with her cousin Clark Kent – I really like the way they depict Clark here, very casual without a sports jacket. He sadly tells her he has had no luck restoring Supergirl’s powers.

Lesla-Lar continues to refine her evil scheme from the bottled city of Kandor. She swaps herself with Linda Lee again, continuing to keep Linda hypnotized into believing she is a Kandorian. Our heroine watches some Kandorian news reels about Krypton, Jor-El, Zor-El, and how Supergirl came to be, while Lesla-Lar meets up again with Lex Luthor and explains how she will teach him to invent a kryptonite ray to kill Superman.

Luthor and Lesla-Lar plan for a kryptonite ray in Action #280, July 1961
Luthor and Lesla-Lar plan for a kryptonite ray in Action Comics #280, July 1961

Next, Lesla-Lar convinces Superman that Supergirl’s powers have returned. Superman is confused but delighted and plans to finally reveal the existence of Supergirl to the rest of the world.

Super embrace in Action Comics #280, July 1961
Super embrace in Action Comics #280, July 1961