When Superman’s home planet Krypton exploded, a big chunk containing Argo City and its inhabitants remained intact and drifted through space. Eventually that chunk of the planet turned into Kryptonite, deadly to the last of Krypton’s survivors. The life of teenaged Supergirl was spared by her father, who built a rocket and sent her to earth.

After seeing her rocket land, Superman investigated and discovered the super powered teen. The two quickly figured out they were both from Krypton and their fathers were brothers—making them cousins. Superman gave her a brunette wig with pigtails to hide her blonde hair and placed her in an orphanage. (Thanks Cuz!) Superman kept Supergirl’s existence a secret for almost three years before introducing her to the public.

Supergirl was eventually adopted and graduated from high school in 1965, making her a bit too old to be a part of the Teen Titans—the group put together by Robin and some other sidekicks that same year. Despite her lack of contemporaries, Supergirl enjoyed her share of wacky adventures and silly supporting characters including Streaky her super cat, Comet her super horse, and Jerro her merboy boyfriend. Sure beats dying on a Kryptonite rock hurtling through space.

Illustrating one playing card a day using characters found between 1957-1967 in DC Comics. Next: it’s heavy metal Wednesday with Lead!