Supergirl Comes In To Her Own In 2009

The zine NEWSarama's article by Chris Arrant "9 Comic Book Characters to Watch in 2009" was cited on MSNBC's website and it looks like Superman's cousin Supergirl is one of the ones on the rise for this year visibility-wise. She appears under her own title "Supergirl" (publisher:DC Comics) and has for several years. She is finally coming in to her own as one of the popular forces in the comic book industry. Here is the blurb on her from the original article: "Although she is the female counterpart to DC's signature superhero, she's never quite lived up to her birthright until now. Her ongoing series has finally (finally!) gotten its footing with writer Sterling Gates, and Supergirl is emerging as a key part of the larger DC Universe not as Superman's proverbial “kid sister” but as her own person. Far from a Superman in women's clothing, Supergirl has begun to emerge and reach her full potential — and her fans couldn't be happier".Who are the other nine? Dr.Strange, Wolverine, Nick Fury, Batman, Green Lantern, Green Goblin (Norman Osborn), Scarlet Witch, Power Girl, and honorable mentions Static, The Flash, Spider Woman, and Scott Pilgrim. Comic books are making a comeback!

Superman Meets Obama In Metropolis, Illinois

President-Elect Barack Obama finally meets Superman...and has his picture taken with him in the town square of Metropolis, Illinois...the hometown of Supes' alter ego Clark Kent. Apparently he was seen getting some advice from the "Man Of Steel" on how to go about standing for "Truth, Justice and The American Way". "The Last Son Of Krypton" has been offering advice and giving aid to several Presidents of the United States beginning with FDR (Franklin Delano Roosevelt). Supes even had President Kennedy fill in for him as Clark Kent as recorded in Action Comics#309 (Feb.1964)

In fact, no American president has appeared with the Superman Family as often as John F. Kennedy. The Supergirl story, from Action #285, also features Jacqueline Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. Kennedy made a few cameos during his presidency, including the one at the top of this page. For laughs, try to imagine this dialogue taking place between Superman and any subsequent U.S. president. Finally, with the approval of the White House, JFK was to appear in a major role in Superman. DC shelved the story after the assassination; at Johnson's request, they ran it as a tribute, in #170, and donated the artwork to the Kennedy Museum.Finally, in the early 1980s the teenaged Clark Kent, whose adventures were now placed in the early 1960s, met Kennedy.
To date, Kennedy is the only real-life president depicted as knowing Superman's secret identity #168. For more info on Kennedy and Supes check out the link to "Dial B For Blog-The World's Greatest Comic Blogazine"

and more info is available on Superman in general via "Supermanica". Other notable comic book appearances by U.S. Presidents are discussed in a NEWSarama article which is linked here.

Superman Flying In Iraq & Batman Is There Too!

There are Superheroes piloting the Louisiana-based 1-244 Assault Helicopter Battalion in Iraq (Blackhawk models)...A-Company is named after Superman, B-Company is Batman and D-Company is known as Ironman. Specialist Cordell Mallory, 24, is a gunner in the "Superman". The battalion A-Company’s headquarters has the famous Superman shield displayed on the walls at the Balad military base, along with a picture of Clark Kent getting into action via donning the Superman costume. Next to Superman is a painting of Batman, representing B-Company of the helicopter battalion. Reservist pilot Major Randel Gillette, 43, another crew member, has been anointed an honorary "Superman".

The 'Superman' Crew, left to right, Major Randel Gillette, 43, Specialist Mallory,
Chief Warrant Officer Gary Richardson, 34, and Warrant Officer One Gee.

Warrant Officer One Kelly Gee, 25, poses with the real Superman;

(Source: from a TheTimes Online article by Deborah Haynes and James Hider,

Superman, The World's First And Best Superhero

The timeless story of Superman, the world's first superhero, was introduced in June of 1938...in the Action Comics book #1: it essentially is a story about the assimilation of the immigrant into American society, here so aptly illustrated by Alex Ross. Superman is an alien from another planet, sent to Earth by his parents due to the imminent destruction of the planet Krypton where they live. In the original comic book story he is left to grow up in an orphanage and takes on the identity of Clark Kent. In later versions, he is found by a childless farming couple by the name of Kent and is raised as their own with mid-western American values and ambition. When he comes of age Clark moves to the big city, takes on the guise of a mild-mannered newspaper reporter and beomes a superhero using his super powers fighting for truth, justice and the American Way (the "American Way" phrase was added during the Cold War era TV show due to the anti-communist stance of the time). The Cleveland, Ohio teen-aged creators of this character, Jerome Seigel and Jerry Shuster, had their story published in Action Comics #1 in June of 1938. These boys were the sons of first-generation immigrants to this country and through this character basically explored the idea of the challenges addressed in trying to assimilate into the American culture. The superhero aspect is derived from the fact that the father of one of these boys was held up at gun-point in his dry-cleaning shop, and although not shot, died of a heart attack during the crime. This inspired his son while writing the story to create a character that was essentially invulnerable and so was born the "Man Of Steel". Over the years many different versions of Superman have been offered, but basically the story is one of striving to fit in with society.