The Fortress at 50: "This Special Wing"

Celebrating 50 YEARS of Superman's
Fortress of Solitude

Of all the unique features of the Fortress of Solitude we've seen so far, there's one section that Superman considered "special" above all the rest.  Instead of revealing it right away, let's take a look around the room to see what might make it so special:

Green shag carpeting?

A snazzy space-age table lamp?

A tasteful green sofa with pink throw pillows?

Posters of clean-cut teenage boys?

By this point, you're probably getting a little concerned about Superman and his "special wing"...but rest assured, this trendy early 60's room didn't belong to Superman, but to his teenage cousin Supergirl! 

Leading a low profile as "Superman's secret weapon" for her first few years on Earth, cousin Kal-El finally revealed Supergirl to the world in Action Comics #285 (1962).  Following a day of overwhelming public adulation, Superman surprised Kara Zor-El with her own special wing of the Fortress of Solitude!

(click on the panel for a larger view)

Sure, you could quibble on why Superman waited years before he allowed Supergirl to have her own tiny section of his Fortress, but considering the primary demographic of Action Comics at the time (i.e. teeming hordes of pre-teen boys), admitting a girl into what was essentially the ultimate "boys' clubhouse" was a big step that just couldn't be rushed into.

Comments

[Captain Average]

What, no giant Hi-Fi?
And I love that you tagged this with "green shag carpeting".

[Pat Curley]

I have often commented that DC's handling of the female counterparts mirrored somewhat the way society treated them as well; in the late 1950s-mid 1960s they were "not quite ready", but their time was coming. Supergirl, Batwoman, Lady Blackhawk and Miss Arrowette all were initially prone to failure, but over time became valued partners. The first case I can think of where a female version was not portrayed as inadequate at least initially was Doralla, the Girl from the Superfast Dimension in Flash #145, in 1964.

[suedenim]

It strikes me that Supergirl's wing isn't inconsistent with the "boys' clubhouse" aspect - it's like "OK, I'll give Kara her own room where she can do... whatever it is that girls do. But most important, she'll be out of my hair, and not playing with *my* stuff!"