Comics Expert Has Prototype 'Supergirl' Magazine From 1944

(CBS) -- Supergirl comic books are on the racks at Comics Revolution in Mount Prospect, but the DC comics character goes all the way back to 1959.

The name "Supergirl" goes back even further, CBS 2's Ed Curran reports.

Vintage comics expert Gary Colabuono has a Supergirl issue nobody's ever seen, what he calls an "ash can edition."

The volume was drawn in 1944 so that the publisher could protect the name. Superman had already been around since the late-1930s.

"They made these prototype comics to see what it would look like. They also registered the trademark, 'Supergirl,' when they made this book," Colabuono tells Curran.

The one-of-a-kind, black-and-white collectible is worth a lot.

"I've turned down $50,000 for this particular edition," says Colabuono, who retrieved the comic from a safe-deposit box.

Colabuono owns other "ash can" editions, including those for Superboy, Superwoman and Superrman. The combined worth of all of them could be worth $500,000.

CBS's "Supergirl" live-action series debuts tonight.