BRONZE AGE MINUTE: Superman #261

DC; February 1973
Cover by Nick Cardy

Title: “Slave of Star Sapphire!”
Synopsis: Carol Ferris mistakenly thinks Superman has murdered Green Lantern, so she takes the Man of Steel as her slave.

Writer: Cary Bates
Penciler: Curt Swan
Inker: Murphy Anderson

Review: For a comic book series supposedly written for a younger audience, it’s surprising how often Superman seems to cross over into kink. This issue doesn’t even attempt to hide its fetishistic tendencies with its straight-up BDSM cover. Cary Bates’ story doesn’t make much sense, but that’s OK: It’s all an excuse to have Green Lantern’s girlfriend take Superman as her slave, and for Lois Lane to dress up in identical cosplay to fight for control of her man. It’d be easy to say “you can’t make this stuff up,” but, well, here it is.

Grade: C-

Second opinion: “Nick Cardy’s cover for this issue is, well, unforgettable.” – John Wells, Comic Effect #23 (summer 1999) … Recommended by The Slings & Arrows Comic Guide second edition (2003).

Cool factor: It’s a Superman BDSM cover.
Not-so-cool factor: It’s a Superman BDSM cover.

Collector’s note: According to MyComicShop.com, there is a Mark Jewelers variant of this issue.

Character quotable: “I command you to kiss my boots … and you must obey!” – Carol Ferris, AKA Star Sapphire

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