Mary Marvel was created by an author of comic books.
Mary Marvel . Mary Marvel was one of the first female spin-offs of a major male superhero , and predates the introduction of Superman 's female cousin Supergirl ( also created by Otto Binder ) by more than a decade . Otto Oscar Binder ( August 26 , 1911 -- October 13 , 1974 ) was an American author of science fiction and non-fiction books and stories , and comic books .