Adventure Comics # 412, November, 1971

One can seemingly detect some movement here to create an identity for ADVENTURE other than simply a "girl's comic." The Supergirl story features the fascinating art combination of Art Saaf inked by Bob Oksner. It also features a very different new costume.

Adventure Comics # 411, October, 1971

Hot pants Supergirl gets another outing in an old-fashioned story that surprisingly seems to discount every single appearance of an alien in a Superman family comic and treats this visitor as though he were the very first one. Again, the story starts a page before the splash, which is on page two.

We find out here that Supergirl's new artist, Bob Oksner, the Lorne Greene lookalike on the bottom row, has just been named the industry's Best Humor Artist. So, of course, DC now has him drawing straight superhero comics.

A nicely drawn Infantino reprint but it seems oddly out of place .

                                          The other Monster Scenes ad.

Adventure Comics # 410, September, 1971

Here we have the debut of Bob Oksner's super-cute Supergirl in her hotpants outfit. Joe Orlando--another odd choice really--takes over as editor.

Yet another female-centric Legion reprint, this one needing a number of annotations such as the one at the bottom of the page since so many changes have been made in the years since it first appeared.

Typical DC giant Gorilla. Can't believe they didn't use this image for the cover.

Adventure Comics # 409, August, 1971

It's the summer of 1971 and one thing immediately caught my eye about this issue of ADVENTURE. The classic logo is back! Once that got my attention, I noticed the higher price. Then I noticed that the Legion were back, too! Reprints, yes, but still. So...this was the first issue of the new SUPERGIRL series that I had bought in  awhile and after this I decided to stick with it a while. 

The first story finishes Mike Sekowsky's two-parter begun last issue and also finishes out his term as editor. Apparently they just couldn't rein him in. 

Below is the controversial ad (mainly because of "The Victim") for Aurora's snap-together MONSTER SCENES models. The ad marks the first appearance of R-rated Vampirella (from Warren magazines) in G-rated comic books!

This issue's second supergirl tale is by Bridwell and veteran romance penciler Art Saaf. We get the biggest departure in costumes yet. 

Carmine's explanation as to the new, higher prices at DC.

Several letters appearing lately from future comics writer (and DC Answer man) Bob Rozakis, who, yesterday in 2012, wished me a Happy Birthday! Thanks, Bob!

"...all you women libs," Gracie??

Adventure Comics # 408, July, 1971

 This issue we're back to two stories--and two different costumes for our heroine. Other than that, not much really appropriate for Supergirl.

A lovely splash! Again, three pages into the book.

After a lifetime of being the conservative company, DC was all about experimentation at this time. Much of it didn't work...including the gothic romance title seen below.

Linda is wearing red bikini in panel one but it seems to be black below that and, on the following page, definitely is all black. Below that yet another explanation of her here and gone super-powers and the debut of her latest uniform.

Another experiment that didn't work. Kirby's attempt at reinventing crime comic books.

Adventure Comics # 407, June, 1971

To recap, Supergirl is now working for a TV news program in San Francisco in her Linda Danvers identity. Also working there is her old "frenemy," Nasthalthia Luthor, niece or cousin or something to Superman's Big Bad. She is convinced linda is Supergirl. Only Linda isn't the Supergirl she once was as her powers have been lessened by Starfire and come and go. To help with that, she has an exo-skeleton that enhances them when needed.She also, as of this issue, has a closet full of new costumes.

Adventure Comics # 406, May, 1971

Yet another new direction begins here with a new, if far too quickly established, setting. Nicely designed cover but unfortunately the Sekowsky/Giordano artwork seems....well...odd...and just doesn't work.

This was the same period when Murphy Anderson and Al Plastino were regularly utilized for pasteovers of Superman family characters in Jack Kirby's titles in order to keep them on-model. Little known fact: It wasn't just Kirby. Apparently DC management wasn't thrilled with Big Mike's Clark either as these panels clearly show a redrawn Murphy Anderson version.

The story was inked, as it usually was in this period, by Jack Abel...who seems to have felt the need to inform us of this on Page 14 for some reason.