Adventure Comics (Comic Book)

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The point where Adventure Comics stopped being an adventure-themed comic.

Adventure Comics was DC Comics' second Anthology Comic and ongoing title, starting in 1935 as New Comics. Its title was changed to New Adventure Comics after issue #11 (January, 1937) and to Adventure Comics after issue #32, retaining this title for the remainder of its long run.

Initially housing all kinds of pulp action characters (readers could find detective stories, historical drama... even jungle action within its pages), Adventure Comics featured its first super-hero, the Sandman (Wesley Dodds) in issue #40 (July, 1939), one year after Superman's debut. Characters like Hourman (issue #48), Starman (issue #61) and Manhunter (issue #73) soon joined Sandman, and although more pulp characters as Shining Knight (issue #66) or Genius Jones (issue #77) debuted in its pages, the magazine would be eventually and completely taken over by super-heroes.

As of issue #103 (April, 1946), DC cancelled all ongoing features and moved Superboy, Green Arrow, Aquaman and Johnny Quick from More Fun Comics to Adventure Comics. The book became a Superman magazine de facto through The '50s, working as a second Superboy book (with Aquaman and Green Arrow as semi-regular backup features) before the Legion of Super-Heroes took over the magazine from #300 to 380, being, in turn, kicked out by Supergirl.

In 1972, the Supergirl feature was moved to her own solo book, and Adventure Comics started randomly publishing stories of other super-heroes like Black Canary, Captain Marvel, Deadman, Doctor Mid-Nite, Martian Manhunter, the New Gods, the Spectre, Wonder Woman, Zatanna or the Justice Society of America. However, neither of them became a regular feature. The Superboy strip returned in issue #453 and left Adventure Comics for good five issues later (being transferred to Superman Family #191). Similarly, Aquaman, who had been a regular feature for as long as Superboy's, also left the magazine in #478. From #479 to #490, the book was taken over entirely by the revival of Dial H for Hero.

By issue #491, Adventure Comics started reprinting older (mainly Legion) comics until its cancellation in 1983, after 503 issues and almost five decades of publication.

Adventure Comics was relaunched in April, 2009 with a new numeration (although the old numbering was picked up again after issue #12), once again featuring stories of Superboy (Kon-El), the Legion and the Atom. Nonetheless, the New 52 reboot meant DC was cancelling all its ongoings, Adventure Comics included. Its second final issue was #529 (August, 2011).

Some significant features in the original anthology:

Aquaman (#103-478, off and on)
Green Arrow (103-269)
Hourman (#48-83)
Johnny Quick (#103-207)
Legion of Super-Heroes (#300-380)
The Sandman (#40-102)
Starman (Ted Knight) (#61-102)
Starman (Prince Gavyn) (#467-478)
Superboy (#103-315, 453-458)
Supergirl (#381-424)

Adventure Comics story arcs with their own pages include:

Tropes found in other issues of Adventure Comics include:

Aborted Arc: Many arcs were dropped when Geoff Johns stopped writing the Legion back-up feature in the late 00's, which included Lightning Lad investigating the possibility that his older brother might've actually had a twin, the Legion of Super-Villains having their own espionage squad in the 21st Century, Dream Girl being held hostage, and the connection Kid Flash and XS had to Professor Zoom's ongoing war with the Flash Family. The story about Dream Girl was retconned, and the Lightning Lad subplot was briefly carried over into the new ongoing Legion comic where Garth had to drop his search because Saturn Girl and their kids disappeared during the destruction of Titan.
Action Pet: Krypto the Superdog, Clark Kent/Kal-El's Kryptonian pet dog and loyal partner of adventures debuted in #210 (March, 1955). Topo, Aquaman's pec octopus was introduced one year later in issue #229 (October, 1956).
All for Nothing: In issue #408, Supergirl captures a man that murdered his family to inherit their money and property. Though he was afraid of being found, so he never left the house or spent his ill-gotten fortune.
Stanley: "All that money — and it was all for nothing! NOTHING! Nothing! FORTY YEARS — And it was for nothing!"
Already Met Everyone: In #275, Superboy meets young Buce Wayne, long before he becomes Batman. In other issues, Superboy also meets Aquaman (called Aquaboy''), and Oliver Queen back when they were all teenagers.
Anthology Comic: Birthplace of the original Sandman, Hourman and Starman. Was eventually taken over by Superboy, then the Legion of Super-Heroes, then Supergirl. Unusually, in issue #425 it returned to the anthology format, and afterwards continued to last for a long time while frequently changing its main feature and backups. Taken over entirely by Dial H for Hero for issues #479-490. Finally ended up as an anthology comic again for its last thirteen issues, albeit digest-sized and consisting of mostly reprints.
Arbitrary Skepticism: In #396, Supergirl declares magic to be "superstitious nonsense", despite dealing with magical creatures on a daily basis, and magic being one of the few things that can hurt her.
Art Imitates Art:The cover of #247 (portraying the three Legion founders behind a desk with name tags judging Superboy as unworthy of their "super-hero club") and #300 (featuring Superboy surrounded by several Legionnaires) have often been homaged.
Artifact Title: Adventure Comics kept its name long, long after stopping featuring adventure comics.
Artistic License – Chemistry: A 1947 issue has Superboy help a friend win a contest to show off the most valuable specimen of whatever. The rich kid brings diamonds, which Superboy tops with several tons of pitchblende. Even though the judge proclaims the pitchblende victorious because it's an ore of extremely valuable uranium and radium, there's no acknowledgement of the corollary: It's dangerously radioactive. The contestant and judge standing next to the rock for even a few minutes had a poor chance of surviving their radiation poisoning, while cancer rates were measurably increased for everyone else in the room.
Big Brother Bully: Although Pre-Crisis Lex Luthor was an overprotective brother (Supergirl herself remarked that was one of his only decent traits), his Post-Crisis self resented his family after being Promoted to Parent towards his younger sister Lena due to his mother's death and his father's alcoholism. He never abused Lena physically, but had no qualms about abandoning her and running off with the insurance money after their father's death to found his corporate empire. In the present day, he goes out of his way to hide his connections to Smallville and remarks that he should've had Lena and her daughter Lori killed. When Superboy (Kon-El) calls him out for not doing anything about Lena's terminal illness, he cures her then reinfects her with it, declaring he will not cure her again until Superman is dead.
Bully Hunter: In #397, Nasthalthia 'Nasty' Luthor begins a campaign of bullying students, hoping to lure Supergirl out. Supergirl gives her and her bully friends a very wild, very fast aerial ride before dumping them into a fountain and warning them that if she ever hears of them terrorizing anyone again... she will get mean.
Supergirl: "Now hear this! If I ever hear of you terrorizing anyone again — you'll find out you haven't seen anything yet!"
Captured on Purpose: In #424, Supergirl lets several thugs-for-hire capture her civilian identity so they bring her before the boss of the local crime syndicate she intends to take down.
Chronoscope: In the cover of issue #275, teen Clark Kent is using a "Time Telescope" to show his friend Bruce that their adult selves will become super-heroes and fight crime together.
Combat by Champion: In #412, Supergirl is chosen by the ruler of planet Liquel II to be her champion:
Glynix: "We must hurry, Supergirl! If we're not inside the circle of combat by the time the contest is to begin, the aggressor's champion will win by default!"
Supergirl: "Contest?"
Glynix: "Yes, a contest to determine whether my mate and I continue to rule the planet, or the aggressor named Zogg gains the throne! The League of Galaxies long ago decreed that anyone who wishes to replace another ruler cannot do so by waging war... He must select a single warrior... and my mate and I must do the same..."
Complexity Addiction: In #400, Supergirl is at Black Flame's mercy: trapped in a locked room, unconscious and sprinkled with Green Kryptonite. Black Flame orders her hired guns to hurry up and bring Supergirl to a Death Trap before the Kryptonite kills her because she doesn't "want her go that easily". Supergirl survives Black Flame's elaborate death trap but she is immobilized and rendered unconscious. So Black Flame kills her? Nope. She sets another death trap up and waits for Supergirl to come around.
Costume Copycat: In #392, Stanhope College dedicates one day to honor Supergirl for all she has done for the place, and want all students to war Supergirl's costumes. Ironically, Linda Danvers is the only one who cannot wear one because someone is trying to find out her secret identity.
Crucified Hero Shot: In issue #410, Linda Danvers is captured by a tribe of birdmen and bound to a cross.
Darker and Edgier: Supergirl's stories drop the childlike innocence and wonder of her Action Comics run and become darker in include mature themes. This may be seen in issue #424, whereint Kara wears sexy clothes in order to get a scoop.
Death Trap: In #400, Supergirl is at the mercy of revenge-hungry villain Black Flame: trapped in a locked room, unconscious and sprinkled with Green Kryptonite. However Black Flame doesn't "want her go that easily", so she orders her hired guns to hurry up and bring Supergirl to an elaborate death trap involving a giant bowling lane and oversized bowling pins. Supergirl survives but she is immobilized, rendered unconscious and brought to another death trap (this time consisting of a giant crossbow) from which she also breaks free.
Delaying the Rescue: In issue #377, the Legionnaires become heroes for hire as part of a convoluted scheme to capture a band of crooks. One scene has Superboy to refuse to rescue a child stuck up a building until he is paid, and then he takes his time to count the money before catching the falling kid.
Demoted to Extra:
- The Legion was the cause of this for Superboy. They originally appeared as supporting characters in a 1958 Superboy story, then starting in 1962 they appeared as the backup feature in Adventure Comics where Superboy had been the star since 1946. Within a year they had taken over the comic, reducing Superboy to the back up in what had been his title, and not long after solo Superboy stories stopped appearing altogether (though he continued to appear as a member of the Legion).
- The Legion of Super-Heroes was Adventure Comics' main feature from issue #300 to #381, whereupon they were kicked out of the magazine, replaced by Supergirl and relegated to reprints. Supergirl herself had her feature removed in issue #424, and after some cameo appearances, stopped appearing altogether.
Deus Exit Machina:
- In many 1960s stories, the Legion had several one-off encounters with some guest character (often a stranger applying for Legion membership) who harbored a secret, and who often turned out to be (in disguise) someone whom the Legion already knew. In each of these stories, Saturn Girl was conveniently called away on some separate emergency and wasn't able to participate in the main adventure. Saturn Girl is a telepath: if she had been available to read the stranger's mind, the story would've ended on the first page.
- Since there were very few problems that couldn't believably be solved by Superboy, Supergirl and Mon-El punching it in the face, they were usually written off on some mission of vague but vital importance to keep things manageable.
Didn't Think This Through: In issue #298, the Kent Family returns to Smallville after being on vacation and are shocked to see most of the townspeople have become morbidly obese, including Clark's friends Lana Lang and Pete Ross. It's at school the following day the science teacher discovers the cause of the obesity epidemic was due to irradiated milk, which Clark is in the process of drinking. Being Superboy, Clark's immune to radiation so the milk won't affect him which is sure to expose his secret identity. To keep up appearances, he exposes himself to a certain type of red kryptonite (which is known to cause random changes to Kryptonians) and quickly grows fat. It's only after the change occurs he realizes if everyone sees Superboy has gained weight too, he'll be just as likely exposed the same as if he'd remained thin. He then spends the rest of the story hiding his altered physique while performing feats as Superboy until a cure for the obesity epidemic is found.
Does Not Know His Own Strength: In #392 "Supergirl's Lost Uniform", Supergirl while in her Linda Danvers identity lifted what she thought was a fake 500-lb weight and twirled it like a baton. The fake was the one next to it. Oops.
Dude, She's Like in a Coma: In #410, Mike Merrick, a guy who Linda Danvers was taking a fancy to, rescues Linda from drowning in the sea and kisses her before she regains consciousness.
Duel to the Death: In #412, Supergirl is forced to enter one when she's chosen by the ruler of planet Liquel II to be her champion. She doesn't want to kill anybody but Liquel II will be taken over by a tyrant if she loses. Kara manages to win the gladiatorial combat, but instead of finishing her opponent off, she manages to convince the audience to not choose rulers via combats to the death.
Egomaniac Hunter: In #358, Otto Orion, a.k.a. the Hunter, captured The Legion and subjected them to a Hunting the Most Dangerous Game scenario. His son Adam later adopted his father's alias and M.O. and attempted to avenge his father, eventually becoming a member of The Legion of Supervillains.
Even Evil Has Loved Ones: In #388, Lex Luthor tells his little sister Lena's son Val Colby that he is not his uncle so that his nephew does not get involved with him. Supergirl wonders his protectiveness towards his family is one Luthor's rare decent traits.
Supergirl: "But it was a white lie! Luthor doesn't want Val to live with the stigma of having a master criminal for an uncle! This was his one decent act in a lifetime of crime!"
Everyone Went to School Together: In #275, Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne went to school together in Smallville, although Bruce has to leave Smallville shortly after asking Clark hypnotically remove the knowledge of Superboy's secret identity from his mind, feeling that he was too young to be trusted with that secret. The fact that Bruce was being accompanied by his parents was later retconned in World's Finest (1941) #271, showing it was Bruce's guardians.
The Fat Episode: Issue #298 involved the Kent Family returning from vacation to discover most of Smallville's become morbidly obese. The cause of the obesity epidemic is revealed to be irradiated milk just as Clark Kent's seen drinking the stuff. Since Clark's immune to radiation as Superboy, he deliberately exposes himself to red kryptonite to make himself fat. It's only after the transformation kicks in that Clark realizes he now has to hide that Superboy is fat too, performing heroics while using a variety of weird disguises to hide his obesity until a cure's found.
Flash Forward: The "Adult Legion" storyline (issues #354-355) even depicted the deaths of members who hadn't joined yet.
For Halloween, I Am Going as Myself: In #392◊, It's Supergirl Day at Stanhope Women's College, so everybody's supposed to wear a Supergirl dress. Unfortunately, Kara flew through something radioactive and now her dress is being decontaminated. As Linda, she gets a replica dress at school but has to wear it for some actual super-deed that leaves it badly ripped. She simply tells everyone she took it off because it was a bad fit and didn't look right.
Forgotten First Meeting: Issue #275 has Superboy to meet young Bruce Wayne. However, Bruce asks him to erase the knowledge of his secret identity from his mind, and shortly after moves out of Smallville.
Friendship Moment: In Adventure Comics (Volume 2) issue #3, Tim drake admits to just-resurrected Conner Kent that he was so desperate to bring him back he tried to clone him. He's in the middle of confessing that he and Conner's girlfriend Cassandra had a brief fling while Conner was dead, when Superboy cuts him off to say Cassie already told him, he blames neither of them, and everything will be fine.
Girls Behind Bars: The second story of issue #394, "Heartbreak Prison", features Supergirl and half dozen of females put behind bars in the titular alien escape-proof pen.
Gladiator Games: In #412, Supergirl gets forced to take part in the gladiator games of an alien world to ensure that a tyrant don't become the planet's ruler.
Haunted House: In #408, Supergirl investigates an old, dilapidated mansion which is haunted by the ghost of a little girl whose parents were murdered and buried in the cellar wall by the current owner— her father's uncle, who coveted their inheritance. After the Girl of Steel finds the bodies and turns the criminal over to the cops, the ghost is finally able to rest in peace.
Historical Domain Crossover: In #314, a villain called Alaktor recruits history's three greatest villains (Nero, John Dillinger and Adolf Hitler) to take on the Legion.
I Am X, Son of Y:In #420, Supergirl visits another planet. When she meets one of the local inhabitants, the man says: "Welcome, traveler! I am Togran, son of Vorko!"
"I Know You're in There Somewhere" Fight: In #314, Superboy has been given the personality of Adolf Hitler by the Psycho Changer, Alaktor. Mon-El superhero tries to talk him out of it.
Mon-El: "Superboy, you can't be Hitler in personality! You've got to remember who you are...fight this off..."
ILLKILLYOU: In #420, Supergirl sees an alien world's protector getting killed and his lands being ravaged by an invading army. Already angry and upset, Kara is hit by an emotion-altering mental attack and utterly loses it:
Supergirl: All right, you madmen! You want war? You want death...? Then I'll give it back to you! I'll kill you myself— I'll KILL YOU ALL! Kill!! KILL!!
Insignia Rip-Off Ritual:
- Used in a 60's story (and cover) when Bouncing Boy defeats the rest of the Legion with his super bouncing. For added humor value, note that the male Legionnaires leave holes in their costume. Saturn Girl's emblem just seems to pop off. (In the story itself, all the emblems pop off without clothing damage.)
- In #316, Ultra Boy's emblem was burned off when the Legion believed he was a fugitive who had joined under false pretenses. (Oddly, that didn't leave a hole in his costume.)
Intentional Weight Gain: In #298, Clark's seen drinking the irradiated milk which caused the obesity epidemic in Smallville just as it's revealed as the epidemic's source. Since he's invulnerable to radiation, he uses Red Kryptonite to make himself fat so no one gets suspicious. Then he realizes people will get suspicious anyway if they see Superboy's become fat.
Intrepid Reporter: Supergirl began worked as a junior photographer and reporter for San Francisco news station KSF-TV in issue #406 until she quit in #424.
It Has Only Just Begun: In #397, Supergirl gives 'Nasty' Luthor and her bullying squad a lesson, after which she warns that she will get tougher the next time she catches them hurting someone. 'Nasty' mutters Supergirl can count on there being a next time.
Jerkass Ball: In #267, the Legion founding trio learn about Superboy apparently going on a rampage, destroying an aircraft-carrier as well as several military and civilian facilities. Rather than asking him about it -or probing his mind subtly-, the trio assume that Superboy has become an outlaw and try to ruin his reputation before capturing him.
Judge, Jury, and Executioner: In the second story of #394, "Heartbreak Prison", Supergirl is captured by an alien tyrant called Tyrox, who acts in the role of plaintiff, prosecutor, jury and then judge, one after the other, to sentence her to life prison. Kara lampshaded Tyrox has made sure he'll never lose a case.
Jumping on a Grenade: In #424, Linda Danvers is having a date with an ex-crook she's trying to get information out of, when a gangster suddenly tosses a grenade in the restaurant to silence his former partner. Linda instantly jumps on the grenade and takes the explosion. Good thing she is invulnerable.
Bartender 1: She... She jumped on the grenade! She's not breathing!
Bartender 2: ...S-Saved us by taking the explosion herself!
Literal Split Personality: Dial H for Hero's 1980s version ended with the revelation that the Wizard and the Master were actually Robby Reed, protagonist of the original 1960s series that appeared in the pages of House of Mystery, split into good and evil halves. The squabble between the two led to the original H-Dial disappearing, which led to the Wizard creating a new pair of dials and trusting Chris King and Vicki Grant to use them while the Master created villains to try and take the dials fom Chris and Vicki.
Literary Allusion Title: "And Death Shall Have No Dominion" story of issue #420 is named after a poem by Dylan Thomas.
Mistaken Identity: In #350, Superboy and Supergirl were forced to leave the Legion because a "green kryptonite cloud" was about to envelop the Earth for a few years. So they nominated a couple of replacements to take their places, named "Miss Terious" and "Sir Prize". The two wore suits that completely concealed the people inside, and it's heavily implied (and the other Legionnaires clearly believe) they're Superboy and Supergirl wearing lead armor to protect themselves from the kryptonite. They weren't. They were Dream Girl and Star Boy, two former Legionnaires who were expelled from or left the Legion due to technical violations of the Legion Code; after their actual identities are revealed, the Legion turns out to be willing to forgive and forget, modify the Code, and accept them back again. They even explain how the two (who have considerably different powers from Superboy and Supergirl) managed to accomplish things like flying and knocking out a dinosaur with one punch.
Modeling Poses: In #424, Linda Danvers does a Head-and-Hip pose in front of a mirror as she tries on a dress which she intends to use to seduce information out of an ex-gangster.
More Hero than Thou: In #346, Superboy has to fly into a Sun Eater and detonate a bomb to destroy it. He was about to do it when he was sucker-punched by Ferro Lad, who made the Heroic Sacrifice in Superboy's place.
Mugging the Monster: In issue #397, Nasthalthia Luthor and her cronies try to bully Linda Danvers, unaware of her secret identity. Cue Supergirl giving them a very wild -and fast- ride before throwing them into a fountain.
My Suit Is Also Super: Supergirl had to wear during several issues a suit made from normal cloth which got torn or burned the whole time.
New Transfer Student: In #397, Nasthalthia 'Nasty' Luthor is transferred to Stanhope College, where Linda Danvers alias "Supergirl" takes classes, as part of a plan of her uncle Lex Luthor to lure Supergirl out and kill her. Although their plan failed, 'Nasty' was a pain in the neck of Supergirl for the rest of that run.
Old, Dark House: In #408, Supergirl investigates an old, ramshackle mansion owned by a lunatic old man who will threaten with a shotgun whoever knocks on the entrance gate, and haunted by the ghost of a little girl whose parents were murdered and buried in the cellar by the old man.
Our Dragons Are Different: In issue #418, Supergirl runs into an Eastern green dragon summoned by the Villain of the Month.
Our Werewolves Are Different: In #387, Supergirl is accidentally turned into a wolf-girl◊, while a wolf-girl Supergirl from a lupine alternate universe is turned into a human.
Planet Looters: In issues #408-409, Supergirl has to drive out an army of alien Mermen who intend to steal the Earth's whole water supply to save their own homeworld.
Play-Along Prisoner: In #424, Linda allows herself to be held prisoner by a mob gang so she can track down their boss. As soon as she gets what she wants, she breaks free, beats the whole mob up and jails them.
Prequel: The Superboy stories worked as a prequel to the then-current Superman books.
Publicly Discussing the Secret: Subverted in an Adventure Comics issue when Supergirl visits Clark Kent's workplace and openly calls him Superman. Although there was nobody nearby, her cousin is not amused and chides Kara for her carelessness.
Rage Against the Author: In Adventure Comics (Volume 2) #4-5, Superboy-Prime's moved on from hating characters to hating the people at DC Comics. When he's convinced that he's about to die, he tries to take revenge by crashing through Dan Didio's window and trying to kill everyone in the building while lecturing them on the fact that the things they write about really happen and are screwing with his life.
Reed Richards Is Useless: In Adventure Comics (Volume 2) #10 (2010), Superboy (Conner Kent) learns of Lex's sister, Lena, who is infected with a disease that rendered her almost a vegetable. Conner, who is hoping that the other half of his DNA has some good in him, challenges Luthor to heal her. Luthor proceeds to do that, getting Conner to gather up various items to make a cure for the illness. He injects her with the cure and she's up and active for the first time in years. Just as she's celebrating, Luthor immediately reinfects her. To Conner's horror, Luthor gloats that he can do so many wonderful things, but while Superman is still alive, humanity will never get any of that. This finally forces Conner to accept that Luthor will never be good.
Refuge in Audacity: Issue #320 has Superboy outraged that Kryptonian delinquent Dev-Em is being offered membership. He relates how Dev-Em had escaped Krypton's destruction, then, just for fun, posed as Superboy to commit various acts of destruction that turned the people of Smallville against him. Knowing that the claim of this being some superpowered imposter would be too much, Superboy and his police chief ally put out the "simpler" explanation that Superboy had been influenced by Red Kryptonite to excuse "his" behavior.
Relatively Flimsy Excuse: In #278, Kara goes back in time and she meets Pa and Ma Kent. As she remains in Smallville, she pretends to be Linda Kent, niece of Jonathan and Martha.
The Remnant: In issue #255 "The War That Never Ended!", Green Arrow and Speedy are stranded on a Pacific island that is still inhabited by Japanese soldiers who do not know that WWII is over.
Retail Therapy: At the beginning of #397, Linda Danvers is feeling gloomy and depressed, so she goes shopping to cheer herself up. After trying some new clothes she feels better right away.
Linda: "Poo! This is for the birds! I've gotta get over this feeling! And when a girl feels this way—some new clothes are in order!"
Revealing Cover Up: In #397, Nasthalthia 'Nasty' Luthor sets in motion a bullying campaign to cover up her uncle Lex's latest plan to kill Supergirl as luring the Girl of Steel out. Her bullying spree indeed drew Kara's attention... so she spied on Nasty and found out about Lex Luthor's whole sceme.
Revision: Supergirl's real name is Kara Zor-El, survivor of Argo City, and the only child of Zor-El and Alura In-Ze. Much of this detail, however, was added over time: in "The Supergirl From Krypton (1959)", Kara’s home city had no name, nor did her mother, and Kara had no surname. Adventure Comics #365 gave her a surname for first time, nine years after her first appearance.
Right in Front of Me: In #392, two girls wonder about Supergirl's secret identity as Linda Danvers -a. k. a., the aforementioned hero- walks with them.
Ruthless Modern Pirates: In the story for issue #409, "Fight with Fire Drake", a pirate band called the "Fire Drakes" assault yachts belonging to the rich. Their name comes from their dragon-looking diving suits and their flame-throwing gear.
Salt Solution: In #396, a so-called magician tries to frighten the Girl of Steel by claiming that spilling salt causes bad luck and the only way to prevent it is to throw some of the salt over his left shoulder. Kara doesn't believe one single word.
"Scooby-Doo" Hoax: Zigzgged in issues #395 and #396. Supergirl spends the night at a haunted house to find out why everyone who stays overnight is driven insane. It turns out that the supposedly missing mansion's owner, an eccentric inventor, had built a TV set that could "tune in" to the Phantom Zone, allowing the inmates to use their telepathic ability to cause terrifying hallucinations. In the next issue, the inventor himself claims to have supernatural powers and to have jinxed Supergirl; the jinx was only trickery, but the inventor also claims to possess true power gained from studying under Cagliostro, Merlin, the Comte de St-Germain and others, and performs feats of metamorphosis difficult to explain with trickery alone.
Secret Chaser: Nasthalthia "Nasty" Luthor, Lex Luthor's evil niece, attends Stanhope University as a student, hoping to lure Supergirl out into the open so her uncle can kill her. Several issues later she is convinced that Linda is Supergirl and follows her to San Francisco, where both begin work as junior reporters for K-SFTV as she tries to out Linda/Kara.
Sideboob: In issues #408-409, Supergirl wore a backless "costume"◊ which laid her breasts' side bare.
Space Pirates: In #415: "The Space Pirates", Supergirl runs into the Space Marauders, a pirate band from planet Somar who plunder entire planets with the intent of putting together an army to overthrow their world's corrupt government.
Spotting the Thread: In #395, Roz-Em (a Kryptonian criminal who had plastic surgery to make him look like Jor-El) pretends to be Jor-El's ghost to drive Supergirl out of her mind. He gives himself away when he gloats about knowing her secret identity. Since her uncle can't know that because he died long before she was born, Supergirl deduces the "ghost's" real identity.
Stop, or I Shoot Myself!: In issue #418, Supergirl has to stop a terrorist gang. When she corners the youngest of them, the kid points a gun at his temple and threatens to kill himself if she goes a step closer. Fortunately, Supergirl manages to take the weapon away.
Child: "Stop! Take one step closer—a—and I shall k-kill m-myself!"''
Stern Teacher: Issue #240 "The Super-Teacher from Krypton", a robot designed by Jor-El to teach Superboy how to use his powers responsibly...or will force Superboy to give them up if he fails his tests.
Stripped to the Bone: A short arc has The Spectre going around punishing criminals with Transformation Trauma, including turning one guy into a skeleton.
Superdickery: Through the Silver Age, the magazine featured plenty covers showing a hero behaving as a jerkass and/or villain, and the story revealing that it isn't what it looks like. Some examples: Superboy gleefully destroying Smallville with a giant top in issue #243 (he was only drilling a new well for a farmer), Dream Girl turning several Legionnaires into kids in issue #317 (she was stopping them from going in a mission where they would be killed off), Supergirl leading an army of thieves and attacking Superman in #381 (she was infiltrating a criminal gang)...
Superstition Episode:
- Triplicate Girl became Duo Damsel when one of her three selves was killed by Computo the Conqueror. While this was a nightmarish trauma for her that took her years to recover from (and too afraid to fight Computo again), she was never surprised; she had used her power three times that day, something that is considered bad luck on her planet.
- In #396, Supergirl bumps into a so-called black wizard who shows her his "bad-luck room, containing traditional objects which cause misfortune": a mirror, a ladder, a black cat, salt... Supergirl believes it to be superstitious nonsense so she spills salt, breaks a mirror, walks under a ladder... to prove her point. She then walks off and starts having one case of bad luck after another, but she soon realizes that it is a hoax devised by the alleged magician.
Sweet Polly Oliver: In issue #384 "The Heroine Haters", Supergirl meets Volar, the female hero of planet Torma, who dresses up as a male because her planet's misogynist society wouldn't accept to be protected by a woman.
Take This Job and Shove It: In issue #424 "Crypt Of The Frozen Graves", sick of putting up with a bullying coworker who is being favored by their boss, and feeling her job as a camerawoman is undermining her morals, Linda hands in her resignation letter and storms out of the premises right away.
Linda Danvers: "Meanwhile, I've got something for you— a little notice stating that I quit as of right now! If you want me to stay the traditional two weeks— forget it! I'm leaving now!"
Geoffrey Anderson: "Hunh? But— Now, wait a minute! You can't just—"
Linda Danvers: "Oh, yes, I can! I'm sick of the whole rotten news business! My articles and the actions of your favorite camera operator cost a man his life! That's enough for me! I've got better things to do with my life than stay in a business that exploits people."
Taken for Granite: The cover◊ of issue #389 has Supergirl turning people to stone with a touch. In truth, this was a ruse she used to expose a criminal who was trying to seduce her per Brainiac's instructions.
A Taste of the Lash: In #424: Crypt of the Frozen Graves, a mob boss tries to torture information out of Linda Danvers, unaware that she's just pretending to be in pain while she's being whipped.
Teamwork Seduction: In issue #12 (2010), when Phantom Girl takes an opportunity to steal a kiss from Superboy, Triplicate Girl cuts in using two of her duplicate selves to steal Superboy away and get kisses for themselves.
Teens Love Shopping: In #397, college student Linda is feeling depressed, and decides she clearly needs go shopping to lift her spirits.
Telepathy: In #397, Supergirl mind-reads a comatose girl. No explanation was given as to when Supergirl developed telepathy and she never used that power again, so it can be chalked up to the writer not doing his research.
Temporary Bulk Change: In one story set during Clark Kent's teenage years, his family returns home from vacation to discover most of Smallville's young adults have suddenly grown obese. Clark suddenly comes down with the same affliction and it turns out it was due to the local milk supply being affected by an experimental energy ray created by a local scientist. The story was redone several years later in Adventure Comics #298, only now most of Smallville's adults become obese as well (except for Ma and Pa Kent). And this time, the milk wouldn't have initially changed Clark. Unfortunately for him, he's seen drinking it just as the cause of the obesity epidemic is revealed and uses Red Kryptonite to make himself fat to keep up appearances lest anyone suspects him of having Superboy's invulnerability. He only realizes too late he now has to hide his new fatness as Superboy.
Thou Shalt Not Kill: Played with. In #342 "The Legionnaire Who Killed!", the Legion must decide whether to expel Star Boy for killing. Superman, Supergirl, Mon-El and Ultra Boy voted to not expel him. The reason? Because it's easy for him, Superman, to have a code against killing when there aren't a lot of things that can hurt him, but other people may have different circumstances than him and he has no right to hold them to his code.
Throwing the Fight: In issue #399, Supergirl investigates the case of a football player who has been beaten and threatened by a group of gamblers to throw several games. Fearing for his and his girlfriend's safety, he agrees to the "deal".
Together in Death: In issue #423 an alien conqueror is left to die by his crewmen as his ship sinks. However his brother goes back to die with him.
Supergirl: "It was one of the eeriest scenes I've ever witnessed. The two of them just sitting there together— entombed in the darkness of that wrecked craft..."
Touch of Death: In issue #398, Supergirl is made to believe she gained a power that means she kills everything she touches. In reality, an alien was trying to trick her into leaving Earth; but she quickly figured out his ruse.
Touch Telepathy: In #397, Supergirl mind-reads several persons by touching their heads.
Unexpectedly Dark Episode: Aquaman's Golden and Silver Age stories were breezy fun, with the exception of issue #192 where Aquaman creates a reserve for rare fish and is horrified when crooks start murdering them for their own gain. It has a happy ending as the fifth fish only pretended to be killed, but four fishes were killed for real, and we see Aquaman's increasing sorrow and anger at the situation.
Villainous Demotivator: In issue #423, alien conqueror Gur executes his C. O. for one small error and tells his crewmen to "take heed".
Gur: "A task I shall never hesitate to perform upon a crewman... who is negligent in his duties! So take heed, all of you witless, blundering fools..."
We Can Rule Together: In issue #415, Supergirl is abducted by a wannabe space dictator who wants to destroy Earth, conquer the universe and make her his mate. She turns him down, wrecks his warship and turns him over to the authorities. As he is being put away, the man cries out that the universe could have been theirs.
Wolverine Publicity: The reason that Superboy, the Legion and Supergirl successively took over the magazine during from 1946 to 1972 is those decades were the height of Superman and his spin-off characters' popularity.
Yank the Dog's Chain: Double Subversion. At the end of Adventure Comics (Volume 2) #5, Superboy-Prime admits that he hates what he has become and just wants a happy ending. Laurie Lemmon enters the basement and comforts him, telling him that they (DC Comics writers) are sorry for what they did to him and are going to leave him alone. As they embrace, a Black Lantern ring is shown on Laurie's hand that detects the hope within Prime's heart, implying she is really a Black Lantern and is manipulating him into feeling hope before she kills him. However, when Superboy-Prime is accidentally transported back to New Earth, a flashback shows him reconnecting with Laurie Lemmon and his parents, implying she is the real Laurie Lemmon and they are happy together. Sadly for Prime, he is separated from his loved ones again. He blames the Teen Titans and battles them. When he loses, they imprison him within the Source Wall.
You No Take Candle: The 2007 relaunch gave team financier R.J. Brande a thick German accent, despite the fact that it was presented as a direct continuation of the 1980s version of the team, where he had no problem speaking unaccented Interlac. This was later lampshaded by Brainiac 5 as one of Brande's personality quirks in an issue of Adventure Comics.
Zeerust:In issue #389 (1970), Brainiac, one of the greatest geniuses in the galaxy, stores information in cartridges.

Comic Book / Adventure Comics

Some significant features in the original anthology:

Adventure Comics story arcs with their own pages include:

Tropes found in other issues of Adventure Comics include:

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Comic Book / Adventure Comics

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Some significant features in the original anthology:

Adventure Comics story arcs with their own pages include:

Tropes found in other issues of Adventure Comics include:

Previous

Index

Next