Mad Magazine: Supergall

Last week, after 10+ years of running this site, I finally got around to 'reviewing' the 1984 Supergirl film. Read it here: ( https://comicboxcommentary.blogspot.com/2019/01/bullet-review-supergirl-movie-1984.html ). I know that was more of a glance than a true review. But the truth was I was so dazzled by Helen Slater's performance that all of the warts of the plot were easily overlooked.

So I was thrilled to dust off this copy of Mad Magazine #277, a book I knew would take a much harsher look at the inane aspects of the movie. And a big hearty thank you to great friend Martin Gray who sent this to me a couple of years ago, knowing I would eventually get to it. (You might have surmised it came from across the pond by the 70p price tag.)

I mean, when you start out with an image of Alfred E. Neuman as Supergirl, you know that this isn't going to be a good look at this film. And after all, we are talking about Mad, a book which was meant to poke fun at things.

Now it has been many many many years since I read a Mad Magazine. So really this look at the movie are a number of single panel jokes which follows the plot of the film. But it isn't a true 'story'. So if you hadn't seen the film, you might be even more confused. I have picked out a couple of my favorite gags to showcase here.

The parody is called 'Supergall' because Mad couldn't believe that Warner Brothers would have the gall to release this after the excellent Superman movies.

I love how she says she'll survive the tremendous pressure by not reading the reviews of the film. The idea that this is a terrible movie is come back to over and over.

One of the more cringe-worthy moments of the movie is the immediately-rapey truck drivers who ogle Supergirl and threaten her. I like how she turns the tables here.

And Linda Lee as 'mild mannered preppy' is a great line.

One of the things that is amusing is the number of coincidences that happen in the movie. So the idea that she stumbles onto the school where Lucy Lane is a student, and paired up with her, and she knows Jimmy Olsen is called out as 'Advanced Plot Contrivances'.

And I love that Faye Dunaway's age difference with Ethan is called out as a joke.

I like how Ghostbusters is promoted as better entertainment than Supergirl.

Unbiased, I have to say Ghostbusters is better.

Of course, there has to be a couple of randy jokes given the target audience. So a breast joke about being worse aerodynamics seems like perfect PG-13 fodder for the Mad audience.

And I also wondered why a water tower would be on a gas station roof.

"Can you do everything that Superman does?"
"Yes ... except at the box office!"

That is tremendous.

Ugh. Kara and Ethan having a baby? Yeesh!

Anyways, I cherish this book. Thanks again Martin.
It was much easier, given my inclinations, to let Mad Magazine skewer this movie than to do it myself.

Is it worth hunting this down? Only as an oddity in a Supergirl collection.

Posted in: Reviews