Which Otto Binder Superheroine do you prefer?

[Pink Bat Max]

Appearing in 1942, Otto Binder's creation Mary Marvel first said 'Shazam' and gracefully took to the skies. Her look based on Judy Garland, she was the sweet girl next door of the Superhero set.

http://www.dcmegasite.com/images/articles/424_4_04.jpg

In 1959, 17 years later, Otto Binder created Kara Zor-El:

http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Chamber/8178/ac285.jpg

Which of the two do you prefer? Me, I'm a Mary Marvel gal, but how about you all?

[beetlebum]

I prefer Linda Danvers. Mainly, because there is anecdotal evidence that suggests Ms.Marvel was modeled after her, at least the modern incarnation. Even though I may not like her comics much, I like the way she has been portrayed in other mediums, mainly, the animated Superman series of the nineties and yes Smallville. True story, there was gonna be a Supergirl movie back in 1984, co-starring the immortally awesome Faye Dunaway. but it was nixed. Probably because it was so horrendous that not even the woman who played Thomas Crown's love interest, and Bonnie Parker could save it.

[Pink Bat Max]

I prefer Linda Danvers. Mainly, because there is anecdotal evidence that suggests Ms.Marvel was modeled after her, at least the modern incarnation. Even though I may not like her comics much, I like the way she has been portrayed in other mediums, mainly, the animated Superman series of the nineties and yes Smallville. True story, there was gonna be a Supergirl movie back in 1984, co-starring the immortally awesome Faye Dunaway. but it was nixed. Probably because it was so horrendous that not even the woman who played Thomas Crown's love interest, and Bonnie Parker could save it.

Um, it was released, though. I've seen it.

[beetlebum]

Um, it was released, though. I've seen it.

How bad was it?

[tangentman]

How bad was it?

It's campy fun! I actually liked Helen Slater as Supergirl, and Faye (and her sidekick) appropriately hammed it up. The story reeked, but those three didn't. I wouldn't mind seeing Supergirl again...

With that out of the way, I'm voting for Mary Marvel. As much as I like classic Supergirl, I think there's a sweet-natured, whimsical aspect to Mary Marvel that slightly nudges her ahead.

[Night Swordsman]

I like Supergirl.
I love Mary Marvel.

But i had to go with C. :p

Girls...sigh. My kryptonite.

And the movie was so bad,it was good. I want my very own omegahedron.

[stealthwise]

I love 'em both, but Mary Marvel, at least in the stories I read, always seemed a bit more... competent in her issues.

There's one story in particular where a villainess managed to siphon off the SHAZAM power from the lightning bolts, so Mary had to trick her into losing the power (by calling it down again and having the villainess grab that one too), and then Mary laid into her with a good ol' fashioned one-punch.

I guess it only takes a single story to form an impression of a character, either for better or worse.

[Pink Bat Max]

Oh, yes. The movie is a wonderous camp masterpiece.

[Lester C.]

I wonder what Mr. Binder would think of his creations as they exist today?

[Pink Bat Max]

I wonder what Mr. Binder would think of his creations as they exist today?

It makes me sad to imagine.
I wanna see tales of Earth-5.

[Night Swordsman]

It makes me sad to imagine.
I wanna see tales of Earth-5.

You will always be a Marvel to me. :D

[Liberty Belle Fan]

I'm a fan of both characters, but I'm going to have to go with Supergirl, especially since she has been involved with the Legion lately and I'm a diehard Legion fan. Heck I even own the Supergirl Limited Edition DVD with the extended and international versions of the film, sigh.

[tangentman]

Classic Marvel Family art stands apart from its contemporaries for sheer gorgeousness, imo, of course. I loved the playful fantasy of Mary Marvel art, such as Mary riding giant butterflies like horses! Have the DC Shazam Archives reached Mary's debut yet?

Belle: Does your collector DVD feature any scenes or goodies not featured in the mainstream release?

[a. non]

♪I am (I am) I am Supergirl, and I know what's happening
I am (I am) I am Supergirl, and I can do anything♪

[Bob Violence]

I wonder what Mr. Binder would think of his creations as they exist today?

If he were alive today, he'd be rolling in his grave!
:eek:
If what they're doing to Mary Marvel isn't enough, just trying to get a handle on Supergirl continuity would make him nuts.

[KevinTBrown]

I prefer the original Mary Marvel, not what we've had the past few decades. :)

[rick]

I loved Mary Marvel when she reappeared in the early 1970's.

But when I was a little kid I was reading those great Supergirl 80pg Giants. from the 60's.

It's a hard call, but I've got to vote for Kara Zor-El

[LtMarvel]

Easy vote for me: I go with Mary.

If Fawcett would have never settled the lawsuit with DC and shut down their superheroes, would there even be a Supergirl?

[Major Comma]

Mary Marvel.
Hands down.

[Matthew E]

I'm placing a write-in vote for d) Saturn Girl.

[buttler]

What, no love for Marvel's Miss America? Binder created her in 1943.

[Mercurialblonde]

Supergirl. Mostly because of the movie, which had a big impact on me as a little girl. But I do love the Marvel family that's for sure.

[Pink Bat Max]

What, no love for Marvel's Miss America? Binder created her in 1943.

Oooh, good point. I do love her.

[Rik Levins]

It's campy fun! I actually liked Helen Slater as Supergirl...

Helen (Supergirl) Slater is now appearing as Clark's Kryptonian mom, Lara, in Smallville. Last week and again this Thursday.

[Magneto_X]

I wonder what Mr. Binder would think of his creations as they exist today?

IIRC once DC bought Shazam! they got him to write the title for a while. He tried to keep it unchanged but the company wanted to make it a Superman clone and be serious.

Binder got pissed and quit not long after that.

I think I read about this in Alter Ego.




For thread I'll go with Mary Marvel. Always seen her as more relatable and cooler then any Supergirl --- even Linda Danvers/Matrix and Timm-verse versions (which I'm a fan of). DC really should give her an ongoing, IMO. I'd be more interested in that then the current Supergirl title.

[Pink Bat Max]

hmmm... Mary, Kara, Imra, and.... um. Miss America (What, I can't remember her name of the top of my head!).....

Can anyone think of more Otto Binder heroines? Pretty much all of the early Legionairre women, yeah? One things sure...... I for one am grateful for his legacy!!!!

Edit: He also created Krypto, and had a hand with the bad guys.... Brainiac, BLACK ADAM and MR. MIND!!!!!!!![/B] Oh, lord, he's awesomer with every new fact I learn about him.

[LtMarvel]

IIRC once DC bought Shazam! they got him to write the title for a while. He tried to keep it unchanged but the company wanted to make it a Superman clone and be serious.

Binder got pissed and quit not long after that.

I think I read about this in Alter Ego.




For thread I'll go with Mary Marvel. Always seen her as more relatable and cooler then any Supergirl --- even Linda Danvers/Matrix and Timm-verse versions (which I'm a fan of). DC really should give her an ongoing, IMO. I'd be more interested in that then the current Supergirl title.
That was CC Beck.

I'd have to check to seen when Mr. Binder passed on.

[Matthew E]

hmmm... Mary, Kara, Imra, and.... um. Miss America (What, I can't remember her name of the top of my head!).....

Can anyone think of more Otto Binder heroines? Pretty much all of the early Legionairre women, yeah? One things sure...... I for one am grateful for his legacy!!!!

Edit: He also created Krypto, and had a hand with the bad guys.... Brainiac, BLACK ADAM and MR. MIND!!!!!!!![/B] Oh, lord, he's awesomer with every new fact I learn about him.

The only Legionnaires Binder created, as far as I can tell, were the three founders (with Al Plastino) and Star Boy (with George Papp). It would be nice to find a fifth great Binder superheroine, though.

[Matthew E]

Double post, sorry.

There was a fifth Binder superheroine! Merry, Girl of 1000 Gimmicks!

Also, if you need more, Lucy Lane.

[Rattlehead]

To be honest, my only real experience with the Marvel family is through Jerry Ordway's excellent Power of Shazam series from the 90's. I love that series, and Mary Marvel is a big part of why. So I voted for Mary Marvel. I don't really know anything about pre-Crisis Supergirl, the Matrix thing gives me a headache just thinking about it, and the new Supergirl is an unlikeable mess. I've also seen that Supergirl movie, and that thing was just plain bad, like Superman 4 bad.

I'm hoping that the new Shazam movie features not only Billy, but Mary and Freddy as well. They already had a stroke of casting genius in making The Rock Black Adam, he's gonna be awesome in that role.

[Pink Bat Max]

Double post, sorry.

There was a fifth Binder superheroine! Merry, Girl of 1000 Gimmicks!

Also, if you need more, Lucy Lane.

OhmiGAWD, MERRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!
And Lucy Lane too?

Otto Binder is now, officially, the shiznit.