Supergirl #6 Bengal Variant - Superman #233 Homage

A couple of days ago, Steve Orlando tweeted out this pic (from Comicosity), the Bengal variant of Supergirl #6.

If you know me at all, you can imagine how over the moon I was at this image.

Everything about this works - the smile on Supergirl's face as she smashes these chains, the links flying everywhere, the power in this pose! It is just perfect.

And it is even more perfect because it is clearly an homage to one of my favorite comics of all time!

Back in late 1970, Superman #233 was on the rack. On the first issue of the Kryptonite Nevermore storyline which introduced the world to the Sand Superman, we see this classic Neal Adams image of Superman breaking Kryptonite chains.

Yes, Superman breaking chains has been around since the earliest Shuster/Siegel images, this is the image which seems to be seared into comic minds.

I love this story. I love Sand Superman. I love this cover.

And other people love it too! It has been homage plenty of times.

Last year, Jonboy Meyers did a version for a Supergirl #1 variant available only via ComicConBox.

Adams riffed on himself when the Superman #233 story was reprinted in Action Comics #485.

Adam Hughes did his take for Action Comics #900. I like how the links here fly to the foreground and are the numbers 900. Very nice. And the back lighting just works.

In one of the more unique riffs, Eduardo Risso did an homage for Superman #700.

I find this inky, shadowy version compelling.

Of course, no discussion of Superman #233 by me would be complete without showing off my issue signed by Neal Adams as well as Denny O'Neil and Murphy Anderson.

Thanks to Bengal for bringing that image to life for Supergirl.

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