I.M.O. Review of Power Girl #1(DC Comics) By Eddie R.

Fresh Start.

The first time I encountered Power Girl was in the classic Gerry Conway/ Roy Thomas Justice League of America/ All- Star Squadron tale: Crisis on Earth Prime, way back in 1982. Over the years, I bumped into her a few times more, but never really paid much attention to her. It wasn’t until she co-starred in the Justice League Europe Series where I began to take notice, and it’s not for the reasons one might think.

See for me, up until this point, there was a serious lack of “Girl power”, showing that a woman can be just as powerful as a man, as well as intelligent, witty, resourceful, and capable of leading either a team, or even a comic book, of their own. Out of all the excuses used to justify this lack of female empowerment, the most noted was these characters were just a female version of Superman. The irony in all of this was Power Girl WAS a female Superman, being the cousin to Kal-L, Superman of Earth-2.



For me, the day Power Girl changed was in Justice League Europe #9, where she was basically depowered after receiving medical attention from the “New Earth” Superman. Oh, she was still a spitfire when it came to the looks and attitude department, but she just wasn’t the same. I still read the JLE book, and continued to follow PG where ever she went. I did notice though that when she got back to the JSA, it was there where she truly shined. And as the years and annual comic crisis’s passed, she began to slowly regain what she had lost, both in powers and personality.

Now, I could go on about how PG’s origin was messed with, her costume was changed to reflect certain “developments”, and other various faux-pas which have occurred since she debuted in All- Star Comics #58, but I won’t. That’s in the past now, and much like the rest of the PG fans out there, it’s time for a fresh start.

Power Girl #1 is all the good stuff I remember this character being. Kara Zor-L, who now fully remembers her life on Earth- 2, wants a new beginning. And like anyone else, she starts with the most basic element: The secret I.D. She feels it’s the only way she can have a life, and be able to separate herself from the daily heroics.

As Kara tries to re-establish her Karen Starr identity, we learn she has managed to buy back Starrware, set up shop in New York City, and in between go out there and kicking some serious butt. Of course this story wouldn’t be complete without the presence of a very aptly chosen Super Villain who is bent on making Kara his own.

And as a side note, I would like to mention how this villain was actually one of the first Super villains the Earth- 2 Superman fought back in the 1940’s, so their appearance here is not only well justified, but leads to even more questions as to how this villain became even more powerful than what Power Girl remembers.

All I know is I can’t wait until issue two to find out.

8.5/10

Eddie R.
Review Editor.