Cultivating new fans is a great idea, and a needed idea.  However, doing it in a way that pushes existing fans away isn’t the right approach.  Done well, attracting new fans and maintaining the interest that is already there will be a win for the character from a business standpoint.  Simply trading out fans does nothing for the character or the business.  With the current approach on Power Girl, it seems clear that the plan isn’t working.  There just isn’t the outlet for the character to be seen by this younger audience.  Not enough of them are in stores to see or hear about the character.  Word of mouth on the internet is almost all negative as well.  Without a more extensive distribution model it’s tough to get new comic fans for any character.  But, that’s a whole different problem.

Why Williams’ Power Girl Isn’t Working

     The biggest obstacle for old fans with the current comic is the overall approach. Just like the “Ric” Grayson debacle, while Kara’s history is supposedly intact, none of the substance of those stories matters.  Furthermore, that history continues to be referenced.  The blog on the DC website insists that this is the original pre-Crisis Power Girl from the original Earth-Two and it’s not the New 52 Power Girl from the New 52 Earth-2. 

     The idea of Power Girl having an identity crisis with imposter syndrome could’ve worked.  However, the way it’s being executed doesn’t.  The character’s history has to be integrated as more than just a mention.  The substance of that has to be center to the character beats of her journey.  The basic idea for this has actually already been done back in JSA: Classified #1-4 and collected in both the 2006 TPB Power Girl and the more recent Power Trip.  What she’s going through now is superfluous.  For anyone whose ready any of those previous editions, this current situation doesn’t make sense- it neither follows logically as “what comes next,” nor as a new challenge, she did this already.  And here’s why-

1. This is the original Earth-Two Power Girl and none of the substance of her previous stories is coming through in this current run, she’s being treated as a brand new character with no experience living on Earth, which is patently incorrect as demonstrated with the references to past stories and the “Everything You Wanted to Know About Power Girl But Were Afraid to Ask” on the DC website.
2. Her characterization, personality, attitude are unrecognizable as the character.  This contributes to the confusion for longtime fans and for potential new readers it’s just sort of boring, there’s nothing interesting about it.  Strange in a strange land is not a new idea, and nothing about this series provides any sort of interesting twist on it.
3. There’s no alignment with her appearances in Justice Society of America which present the Power Girl that longtime fans know and love.

     So, how could this “fish out of water” idea work for Power Girl?  The story has to connect the dots.  It has to explain how the Power Girl that’s always been around is having a new “crisis.”  Power Girl returned to continuity with the Justice Society at the end of Doomsday Clock.  This means that her history should have been returned as well.  Just as the world “remembered” the JSA and their history, as part of the JSA people would’ve remembered Power Girl as well.  That means people would’ve remembered who Karen Starr was, that she had the Starrware computer software company.  Her history was not wiped out.  The current take claims that Karen Starr is a “dead” identity, why?  Why would Karen Starr not be remembered if the rest of the JSA is remembered?  Even the “lost children,” the lost sidekicks of the Golden Age introduced in Stargirl and the Lost Children are remembered by the world once they are returned.  Judy Garrick is remembered- why not Karen Starr and her company?  For old fans to understand what’s supposed to be happening, these issues have to be resolved IN STORY.  And that’s the story that needed to be told to reintroduce Power Girl, not simply ignore the substance that had come before.  Even thinking from a business perspective, if you get new fans that get older trades with the character, she’s not going to be recognizable- her personality, attitude and characterization are a complete 180 degree opposite of how she’s always been portrayed.

What Could’ve Worked…

     The story that should’ve been told should’ve looked something like this…

     Power Girl retuned with the JSA at the end of Doomsday Clock, but unlike the JSA, no one remembered Power Girl.  Maybe because she was a holdover from the original Earth-Two, her history was not remembered.  This would’ve provided the opportunity to do the “stranger in a strange land” type of story.  She really would’ve felt like an imposter because NO ONE would’ve known who she was.  Except maybe the Psycho-Pirate as the ONLY character who remembered the Multiverse before Crisis on Infinite Earths. (Although this is part of the story told in the aforementioned JSA: Classified).

      This doesn’t mean changing her personality would’ve worked, though she could be more vulnerable.  Nor would she have not known what it was like to live as a human on Earth.  However, it allows for a story to be told about a Power Girl that doesn’t have a viable identity, a Power Girl that doesn’t know how she fits in on this earth, despite having the memories that prove she already lived here.  Maybe she would’ve sought out the original Earth-Two.  Maybe she would’ve joined the JSA at this point…maybe Huntress would’ve sought her out and that would’ve connected to Power Girl’s memories of the original Earth-Two Huntress who was her best friend? 

Where Is Editorial?

     The real problem is that Leah Williams has admitted that she didn’t know much about the character and couldn’t possibly have developed this type of story because she didn’t know enough to know that something like what I’ve suggested matters.  Editorial clearly doesn’t care, otherwise Williams stories would not have appeared as they have.  As they are they are a complete non sequitur.  They don’t follow from what’s come before either narratively or as a logical step in character development. 

     For a great character like Power Girl, it’s a shame and disappointment to see such an utter failure both creatively and financially.  The existing Power Girl audience hasn’t been run off entirely, yet.  Can we course correct and get a great Power Girl comic on the stand, soon?

The post The Return of Power Girl…How Leah Williams’ Take Could’ve Made Sense appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Leah Williams
Art: Eduardo Pansica and Julio Ferreira
Colors: Romulo Fajardo, Jr.
Letters: Becca Carey

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

Power Girl and Crush team up with the Holliday Girls to fight some Czarnians.  There’s a surprise lurking in the shadows that should prove to be bigger trouble for PG as her past seems to literally be following her.

Positives

The best part of this issue, like many others in this series is the cover.  The cover artists, this time Yanik Paquett, don’t seem to understand the changes wrought on Power Girl and continue to produce covers that capture the personality of the character that readers know instead of what Williams has reduced her to since she began writing PG in Lazarus Planet and Action Comics in 2022. 

This issue somehow sidesteps lots of the elements that plague Williams poorly conceived take on Power Girl.  While some aspects are inescapable like the “S” shield on her costume, Power Girl is not demeaned overly.  Though there is some, it seems to take a backseat in this issue.  This allows the plot to move forward and not be weighed down by the mischaracterization that hinders this series.

The action in Power Girl #9 is darn good when we get it.  Pansica and Ferreira do a good job of delivering the visuals on the fights.  There are even a couple iconic shots of PG in action.  Bringing in the Holliday Girls is a solid idea.  Michael W. Conrad and Becky Cloonan reintroduced them into current continuity in Wonder Woman #780 about two and a half years ago.  Williams makes the connection to Etta Candy in this issue so readers have a chance of knowing where to look for more about them.

The issue also teases the return of what appears to be the symbioship that featured as the villain in the first four issues of this series.  It’s a little unclear what’s going on, but it’s a nice connection to what’s already transpired in this series.  It’s a logical callback and a good use of the plot point for a greater impact as an overarching storyline.

Negatives

While Williams doesn’t focus on Power Girl’s characterization in Power Girl #9, it’s can be seen lurking in the corners.  You’d like to see PG take charge of the situation more strongly.  It would make more sense if Power Girl had a stronger reaction to the situations.  When one of the Holliday Girls tells her she has a dumb name, Power Girl wouldn’t let that slide without a strong comeback.  She wouldn’t throttle the non-powered Holliday Girl, but she’d put her in her place.  Additionally, as an experienced, former Tech executive, when Power Girl asks how they can stop all the Czarnians technology at the same time, it would make sense that PG would be able to come up with the answer on her own.  

As a tie in to House of Brainiac, Power Girl’s involvement feels very small and insulated.  While smaller moments are useful and needed to balance stories out, the focus seems off for this tie-in to such a massive attack in Metropolis.  This should’ve been the opportunity to showcase Power Girl’s Superman level ability in saving Metropolis instead of relegating her to a fight with essentially a biker gang.  Along the same lines, some of the action tries to be more funny than exciting.  It demonstrates how Williams’ doesn’t understand the humor associated with Power Girl.  These “funny” moments come off as childish and pointless.  Also, Williams’ dialogue is often too cutesy and it also misses the point that Power Girl is a Superman power level character, who SHOULD be (along with Helena Wayne, the Huntress) the preeminent hero of her Earth, not an insecure novice.   

Unfortunately, Pansica’s depiction of Power Girl varies in this issue.  When she’s in action she usually looks good and begins to feel like the depictions that are seen on the covers.  However, Pansica tends to draw PG with a smaller physique, not just her chest but also her arms and shoulders.  The ferocity he captures in the action sequences is gone when she’s static, looking meek and unsure of herself.  Unfortunately, it’s a reminder of the damage Williams has done to PG’s character.  For whatever reason it’s more noticeable in this issue than some others. 

Verdict

Overall, Power Girl #9 is much more enjoyable than previous issues of this series.  With elements that hurt the series downplayed there are not as many distractions.  There’s just enough with the action and the surprise at the end that make it readable.  It’s by no means good, it’s just not quite as bad as most of the issues have been.

The post Review: Power Girl #9 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Leah Williams
Art: Eduardo Pansica and Julio Ferreira
Colors: Romulo Fajardo, Jr.
Letters: Becca Carey

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

Power Girl and Omen get drawn into the Brainiac/ Czarnian affair currently taking place in Action Comics.  Why isn’t Power Girl taken with the rest of the super-beings in Metropolis?

Positives

With Eduardo Pansica and Julio Ferreira returning to the art chores on Power Girl #8 after the past two issues by Marguerite Sauvage, it’s clear that the Pansica/ Ferreira team (and Farjardo Jr.’s colors!) are a pretty darn good combination for Power Girl.  They handle the action well and give Power Girl a much more recognizable personality visually.  She gets that angry face that one expects. (And, they even do a good job communicating the emotions that are out of character for her!)  They draw her more confident than she’s written at times, and even manage to get a bit of attitude across as well.  Overall, their stuff looks good and despite the poor characterization of the lead character, the art invites the reader to like the book.  They are doing their damnedest to combat what Williams is doing with the character in the script.  It makes one wish the concept wasn’t so poorly conceived and executed from a writing standpoint.

There’s even a single moment, maybe three panels where Power Girl seems to almost be at odds with what’s going on with her characterization, the look on her face, something in her eye and the emotions passing beneath the surface may in fact betray something  larger at play…that somehow…the real Power Girl will emerge.  Perhaps, Williams is playing some long game (and playing it poorly) and Power Girl IS being directed…controlled…it appears it’s possible in the sequence on the bottom of page 9.  In the middle of that page, PG expresses that attitude…not of the co-dependent, insecure character Williams writes earlier in the same issue, but the attitude longtime fans EXPECT from the character, the attitude that talked back to the stalwarts of the JSA in her earliest appearances in order to be taken seriously.  It’s noticeable that when Power Girl is in combat or in action mode in this issue, she is more recognizable and enjoyable because of it.  Even if it’s just a glimpse it gives hope as does the fact that there’s another aspect that could be interpreted as a clue Power Girl is being manipulated.

The fact that we also get a “Psychic Jerk Jar” revealed in the apartment that PG shares with Omen leads credence to the idea someone may be controlling her…and it may be Omen, who’s been right under the readers’ nose from the very beginning of this new (and wretched) iteration of Power Girl.  Strangely, this version of Power Girl is beginning to feel more familiar as this off brand characterization is what’s expected and feels familiar.  

Negatives

It’s very difficult to read a Power Girl who is insecure, lacks confidence in her abilities and is generally shy and dependent.  Williams gives us that as we learn she can’t roller skate…(when she loses balance wouldn’t she just levitate herself unconsciously since she can fly?).  She’s afraid to run into Lois who also happens to be at the park where she and Omen are skating because she has a column due.  

The dynamic between Power Girl and Superman in Power Girl #8 is still awkward…both in story and through Williams characterization of Power Girl.  Williams subtly shows us that PG’s feeling are hurt because SHE wasn’t also abducted with the rest of the super-beings of Metropolis.  She seems to need Superman’s reassurance when he finds her…(um…why wasn’t he abducted?)  And, it will never makes sense that she’s identifying with the main Earth’s Superman as family….  It’s these moments that take away from the positive steps noted above. 

It would be easier to take Power Girl’s struggles to make it in this version if she were attempting to do things on her own and for herself, but wedging her into the Super-family eliminates any sense of individuality which has been a hallmark of her character from her inception.  Williams has yet to show WHY Power Girl feels she needs to fit in with the Super-family, WHY she isn’t getting what she needs from her friends (AND surrogate family!) in the JSA, WHY she’s unable to make her way on her own.  There’s a story missing that needs to be told in order to make sense of all these “why’s.”

Verdict

The real question that must be answered with Power Girl #8 is whether or not this version of Power Girl can be enjoyed on its own terms or even in spite of itself.  Lord knows I WANT to like a Power Girl solo series.  Williams has stated that she wanted to show the differences between Power Girl and Supergirl… and she’s doing that.  She may not understand either character in terms of established histories and characterizations, but she IS making them different.  Can Paige Stetler be enjoyed as a bit of a mess trying to navigate her way through a world Williams assures us she doesn’t understand whilst consumed with feelings of insecurity and redundancy?  I don’t know that a reader who has a history with Power Girl, a reader who understands the substance of her character and identifies with/ enjoys her established characterization can make the leap…it’s too … different.  The art from Pansica and Ferreira want to make you like it.  It’s effective in that way, but unless an audience embraces this iteration it feels hopelessly at odds with what people have always liked about Power Girl, and this issue gives the reader very little of that.  As a Power Girl fan for nearly the entirety of her existence, this issue continues to disappoint.  The art is able to raise this issue a bit, surprisingly.

The post Review: Power Girl #8 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Leah Williams
Art: Marguerite Sauvage
Colors: Marguerite Sauvage
Letters: Becca Carey

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

Power Girl and Supergirl defeat the villain who has transported them to Ferimbia…and, they receive the help they need to return home.

Positives

This is an ongoing Power Girl comics and it’s a great idea to have a Power Girl ongoing series (have to start somewhere).  The story here has a bit of Silver Age wackiness as noted in the review Power Girl #6.  It’s easy to imagine Supergirl having an adventure like this in her stories from the backups in Action Comics in the 60’s.  

Marguerite Sauvage changes up her style to reflect the world that Kara and Kara are in.  It’s a solid story telling choice that accentuates the “other” place they are in.

Negatives

Tonally this storyline which concludes in this issue is way out of place for Power Girl.  Of course, one must understand her character which Leah Williams has so far over the past 13 months has demonstrated she does not.  It’s not that surprising that Williams writes a story that doesn’t fit.  This is not to say if Power Girl (the one true Power Girl, this ain’t her in this series) couldn’t have a story like this, it’s just that her reactions to everything would be completely different.  Williams has PG lean into the whole thing.  It would’ve been in character for her to be annoyed, angry and a bit more aggressive and impatient in this situation.  There’s a single instance that comes close to this in Power Girl #7.  This tone somehow doesn’t translate to a throwback/ nostalgia feel for the Supergirl stories in the Silver Age, but instead pulls a little bit of Amethyst, but mostly what one imagines My Little Pony comics to be like.  It feels nothing like a Power Girl story.

Williams tries to land a Power Girl boob-joke, but it doesn’t land.  Williams can’t find a way to put the pieces together to make her version of Power Girl feel legitimate.  It just comes off like a parody…almost like a Mad Magazine version of a Power Girl story.

From a story craft perspective, too much of this issue is an an information dump giving some Ferimbia’s history and why there’s a usurper on the throne.  It’s necessary to have this information for the resolution, but perfunctory in its presentation.  This gives the impression that the story has been rushed and that’s probably so that beginning next month Power Girl can be part of the Superman event (yawn), House of Brainiac.  Whether or not one is excited for this event, it remains a mistake to force Power Girl into the Superman family.  To do so, once again exposes Williams’ ignorance of the substance of Power Girl’s character and DC Comics lack of care for her and her fanbase.  It’s literally the last thing Power Girl would want to do. 

Verdict

There’s just no reason to expect Power Girl #7 to be any better than issue #6.  In fact, there’s not reason to expect any issue of this series to improve significantly.  Williams’ lack of understanding of the character and inability to write an interesting story (she abandoned the interesting stuff in the first arc) give no hope for Power Girl fans.  Perhaps, Power Girl is new to you…it’s impossible to separate established a character substance, history and tone for longtime fans.  This series has turned its back on those fans seemingly in the hope that this new Paige-iteration will attract a different audience.  Head over to the current Justice Society of America comic for the real Power Girl (costume notwithstanding) so Paige can wither and die on the vine with a subsequent rebirth of Karen Starr, Power Girl.

The post Review: Power Girl #7 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoiler]

Writer: Leah Williams
Art: Marguerite Sauvage
Colors: Marguerite Sauvage
Letters: Becca Carey

Reviewed by: Matthew Lloyd

Summary

Power Girl and Supergirl team up to investigate the disappearance of a number of people and the relationship to a new drug making the rounds- Avalon.  It’s not quite what they expect.

Positives

The best thing about Power Girl #6 is the variant covers by Dan Panosian and Brad Walker.  These are two great depictions of Power Girl, despite featuring the current costume.  Panosian wisely loses the jacket to draw attention to Power Girls arms.  Clearly, this isn’t the Power Girl that’s actually in the comic itself.  Unfortunately, one would have to spend extra to get both of these variants.  Panosian also depicts Power Girl as an overall more physically imposing individual.  Walker and Panosian both capture the inner PG as a strong, independent, confident character.  Again, it’s unfortunate that the Power Girl inside the comic shares none of the physical or internal traits Panosian and Walker’s covers show.

There’s an interesting idea in this comic that Williams presents of a “drug” that transports the user to an alternate dimension.  Oddly, it seems like it might fit better in a My Little Pony story than Power Girl, or indeed any DC Universe comic.  If anything, it doesn’t seem out of place for one of the more whimsical Supergirl stories from the Silver Age save the inclusion of the drugs.  It’s surprising that Williams is able to connect Streaky’s story in Power Girl #5 no matter how tenuously.

Eduardo Pansica, who drew the first four issues of this series has been replaced by Marguerite Sauvage who drew the Power Girl back ups in Action Comics and the Power Girl Special.  Pansica’s style fits Power Girl better, but Sauvage’s art is definitely well suited to the playful world Kara and Kara enter in pursuit of the missing people.  Sauvage actually changes her style a bit to reflect the difference between Ferimbia and the regular world.  Her regular style would fit just as well, however…

Negatives

…the more cartoony approach fits too well with the tone of the script so that any sort of gravitas is lost.  There’s no irony here, either.  It’s hard to feel the weight of the situation outside of the facts we are told in the narration and dialogue.  For a character who’s been emasculated in this current incarnation, Power Girl #6 takes all the oomph out of her adventure as well.  The story arc in issues #1-4 at least felt like there was something significant happening.  This first chapter in this new arc is bereft of any seriousness.

The characterization is minimal and subtle.  Williams may do a nice job depicting the relationship between Kara and Kara indirectly, but it leaves the reader with the impression that Supergirl is more competent, more experienced and more capable than Power Girl.  We are used to this characterization of Power Girl by Williams, but it’s still difficult to consume.  Pretty sure Supergirl even blames Power Girl for getting them stuck in a mess.

When Williams was interviewed about taking this series on, one of the things she stated was that she wanted to “definitely wanted to showcase what sets her apart from the rest of the Super-family; not only in her expertise, but how different her personality is. She’s kind of a wild card comparatively because her experience and background differ so greatly [from the others].”  Six issues in it’s clear that what Williams has envisioned about Power Girl is the complete opposite of every other incarnation of Power Girl.  It’s obvious now that this won’t change until someone (an editor? someone on the internet?) explains to Williams that she’s got it all wrong.  Supergirl is not the more confident, experienced and capable character, Power Girl, Karen Starr is.

Verdict

I’ve finally figured out who this series is for.  It’s definitely not for existing fans of the character who supported her in her first nearly 50 years of existence.  As Williams doesn’t understand anything that happened to the character before she started writing her, Williams has invented an approach.  It’s for young girls (and boys?) who feel insecure and like they don’t fit in anywhere.   That’s all well and good, but there’s no reason to reinvent Power Girl to fit this approach.  The first five issues have been an awful experience and Power Girl #6 doesn’t really change that.  This is probably the worst issue of the series, friendship is not magic in this case.

The post Review: Power Girl #6 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Leah Williams
Art: David Baldeon
Colors: Romulo Fajardo, Jr.
Letters: Becca Carey

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

Streaky the Super-Cat gets a mission of his own!  Streaky must save some missing pets in the neighborhood.

Positives

A super-pet focused story can be a fun change of pace for a title.  This reviewer fondly recalls the Krytpo centered issue, Superman #712 by Kurt Busiek a few years back.  Power Girl #5 isn’t quite a moving issue like that, but more a fun diversion.  As far as that goes, Power Girl #5 is a decent issue.  The art fits the story, and isn’t over the top or overly cutesy.  Baldeon does a good job of communicating through the animal faces, especially Streaky.  There are no thought balloons for streaky so the art has to do all the heavy lifting.  The streaky part of the story which takes up most of the issue isn’t bad.  It’s not perfect as we’ll see below, but the issue would’ve been more satisfying if the final pages hadn’t tried to set up what comes next.

Negatives

The one thing that stands out immediately in the Streaky sequences is the use of gobbledy-gook for human language as heard by Streaky.  Instead of jumbled letters that don’t make sounds, or blah’s or hashes like Woodstock in Peanuts, Williams has nonsense words that can be pronounced.  This is distracting because it makes it appear that if read they will reveal words that are just a little off.  A quick try showed that there was nothing there.  It would’ve been more effective to just make it obvious instead of wasting the readers time to to try to get something out of nothing.

One of the problems with using Streaky is that there have been multiple incarnations of Streaky over the years.  This Streaky has powers, a cape and the lighting streak down his side. A quick recap of Streaky’s history would’ve added more to this story.  Williams probably doesn’t know anything more than what’s on the Wikipedia page for Streaky, so it’s not surprising.  That’s been her approach to Power Girl, so one shouldn’t expect something more to connect the reader with more context.

Negatives Cont’d

The Power Girl/ Omen/ Supergirl bit at the end sets up the next storyline for Power Girl, but it also brings down the overall enjoyment of Power Girl #5.  It would’ve been easy to simply keep the issue about Streaky and give readers a true break from this iteration of Power Girl.  Unfortunately, this section just serves as a reminder how bad this series is and how poorly it’s been conceived from the outset.  Williams lack of understanding of Power Girl is exacerbated as she seems to have flipped the experience levels between PG and Supergirl.  It utterly fails at being a Power Girl comic in making PG the less experienced, less confident, less independent character.  This all comes through in the exchange when Supergirl comes to ask PG to team up.  Ugh.

It’s hard to tell if Williams attempt to give PG friends and a little mini super-team of her Supergirl and Omen is laudable or misguided.  It’s reminiscent of Batgirls which was a wonderful series, but not getting the character’s personalities corrent dooms what she’s trying to do.  A Supergirls team up book was pitched a long time ago by Peter David, called Blonde Justice which would’ve featured the Linda Davnvers Supergirl becoming Superwoman, the Silver Age Kara Zor-El Supergirl and Power Girl.  There’s just barely the suggestion of the idea here in Power Girl.  That Peter David idea genuinely sounds like fun.  Power Girl would’ve been characterized correctly and the differences in personalities would’ve worked.  Williams writes PG too much like a young Supergirl should be and there’s no genuine friction.  It’s all about the ridiculous imposter syndrome which has never been part of Power Girl’s character so it not only feels misplaced, but FORCED, leaving Power Girl to not even feel like Power Girl.

Verdict

If you just read the Streaky section of Power Girl #5, the issue is a decently fun diversion.  There’s noting remarkable about it, but it’s not terrible.  It’s an innocuous little tale to put a couple smiles on your face.  Overall, the issue suffers from the ending…realizing there’s no escape from this version of Power Girl.  This series is not for fans of Power Girl, that’s obvious.  It’s not quite clear who it’s for.  Maybe there’s an audience for it…I’d love to know if it has found an audience that likes this Power Girl.

The post Review: Power Girl #5 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Leah Williams
Art: Eduardo Pansica and Julio Ferreira
Colors: Romulo Fajardo, Jr.
Letters: Becca Carey

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

Omen saves the day as Power Girl fights Superman while she’s under the control of her Symbioship.  Paige just can’t catch a break from Leah Williams.

Positives

Williams has some good ideas in Power Girl #4, they just don’t play out well.  I mean if you’re a Power Girl fan, you’d expect her to be the hero…but, not under Leah Williams.  That said, it’s nice to see Superman acknowledge Power Girl’s intelligence and problem solving skills as he admits he was wrong about the “virus” and PG was right.  Additionally, the whole idea of the Symbioship trying to control Power Girl is interesting, and a pretty intriguing concept that’s unique to her and her story.  It’s hard to tell if this is supposed to be the end of this arc and the Symbioship is going to cause more trouble next issue or just somewhere down the line.  Normally, this would not be a problem, but the idea of the Symbioship being the cause of Power Girl’s terrible characterization in this series needs to be concluded IMMEDIATELY if it is to in fact be revealed as such. 

It would make PERFECT sense with how Williams has written Power Girl if the ship was making her dependent on others so she could be prepped to be dependent on the ship instead.  That’s the story I feel is somewhere twisted up inside this take on Power Girl.  It’s a great out for the poor characterization and bizarre set up of the supporting cast.  It’s obvious…so…pfft.

Negatives   

While I’ve not mentioned it in previous Power Girl reviews because I’ve been distracted by the awful scripts, Power Girl #3 brought up some concerns with her physical depiction.  For whatever reason, PG just isn’t drawn like PG.  In this run, Pansica is drawing her slim, fairly flat chested and apparently quite young.  By contrast, the covers by Gary Frank capture a more accurate Power Girl energy.  She’s bulkier- in a good way- and musters the sneer and confident facial expressions which are iconic to her character.  While they aren’t on every cover together, it’s apparent that Power Girl isn’t depicted that way on the inside either in the art or the script.  The interiors just present a Supergirl with short hair and none of the defining characteristics that set the two apart visually.

The name Power Girl has always suggested aspects of the character’s personality- strength, confidence, COMPETENCE…and yet, this series has been hard pressed to demonstrate any of that.  With last issue and Power Girl #4, we finally got a little competence from PG, yet it’s overrun when Omen has to save Power Girl.  That’s right…Power Girl can’t even save herself in her own comic.  It makes it seem like Omen’s sole existence is to be here to be the hero that Williams doesn’t want Power Girl to be.  Williams has already seeded this run with examples of Power Girl’s incompetence, so it’s not THAT surprising, it just continues to be disappointing.  It continues to demonstrate that Williams is completely lost when it comes to understanding anything of substance about Power Girl’s character.  Maybe Williams should just rename her Pitiful Girl, that would fit the stories and characterization in her scripts.

Negatives Cont’d 

There’s some internal logic that doesn’t make sense either that just elicits more head scratching.  In previous issues, we’ve seen Power Girl depicted as new to Earth and what’s it’s like to live among humans.  In Power Girl #4, the Symbioship recounts following her career on Earth…that right, her CAREER, referencing changes and the YEARS she and the ship have been on Earth.  YEARS, the ship says it “grows old.”  And yet, Power Girl doesn’t know what it means to live as a human?  She’s just learning to “human” (see last issue).  This is completely aside from understanding the character.  This is a complete lack of understanding what the writer herself has already written about the character IN this series- just LAST ISSUE!  Is editorial completely asleep?  Drunk?  Stoned?  Does anyone actually care?  Whoever greenlit this series should be fired.

Verdict

If Leah Williams had an editor that was competent and given some direction, this storyline could be salvaged into something VERY apropos for Power Girl.  As it stands it’s the equivalent of amateur hour.  Pansica’s depiction of PG may be off, but the storytelling is solid and there’s a look to the book that is enjoyable.  Of course it would be more enjoyable if one were illiterate.  Can this just be cancelled and relaunched with a competent writer and editor who actually know and care about the character?  It’s disgusting, you wouldn’t see this happen with Batman or Superman…er um, yeah, that did happen with Superman- BENDIS!  I guess it’s the curse of being related to the Man of Steel.  I’m going to try not to vomit.

The post Review: Power Girl #4 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Leah Williams
Art: Eduardo Pansica and Julio Ferreira
Colors: Romulo Fajardo, Jr.
Letters: Becca Carey

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

Power Girl trusts her instincts as she figures out who or what is behind the Kryptonian virus.  This means ignoring Superman and finally seeming a bit like herself.

Positives

Power Girl #3 is unequivocally the best issue of the series so far.  That may not be saying a lot, but it certainly feels like there’s a door opening for Power Girl to seem like herself.  There’s a lot more introspection for Power Girl in this issue and this lends itself to Leah Williams finding a more accurate voice for Power Girl.  The revelation of the source of the Kryptonian virus gives Power Girl some agency.

It all culminates in Power Girl ignoring what Superman is saying about the virus and Power Girl thinking for herself.   Allowing Power Girl to do something truly on her own without advice from Lois Lane and overtly going against Superman makes her seem more like the Power Girl that’s existed up to her re-appearance in Lazarus Planet.  It’s not clear exactly what all this means, but the last page does indicate that Power Girl was right about the virus and that there may be a whole lot more going on.  The ending also suggests that the symbioship may be responsible for the odd portrayal of Power Girl in this series.  If true, it’s a great development, but the execution of it started things off on the wrong foot almost alienating the Power Girl fanbase.

Negatives

If this whole storyline has been manipulated by the symbioship, then it explains away almost all the oddities, including the extremely annoying and unwelcome Omen in this series.  Power Girl #3 is no different.  Omen is perhaps at her most annoying in this issue. 

Power Girl still isn’t herself and it still informs most of the issue with only a bit a hope that things will be familiar, eventually.  If this has all been part of the plan, it’s been executed very poorly.  There’s hasn’t been enough in the series to make it clear that Power Girl was aware something was wrong.  It could’ve been done better with just a little bit of awareness from Power Girl.

The real negative is that the symbioship may not be causing any of this and Williams is really presenting Power Girl as a blank slate and she thinks she’s trying to fill it in.  Power Girl has a long history that is important to her character and to why people like her character and had a strong fanbase before Williams began writing her.

Verdict

Power Girl #3 gives hope that the REAL Power Girl may return.  Williams gets to this point by getting inside Power Girl’s head just a bit for the first time.  There’s still an uneven quality to the series, but this issue the best of it so far.  Perhaps, the quote on the final page, “Paige is gone,” means more than just what it seems to in the scene, maybe Paige Stetler IS gone and Karen Starr will be back by the end of this story arc, and with that the Power Girl fans love.

The post Review: Power Girl #3 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Leah Williams
Art: Eduardo Pansica and Julio Ferriera
Colors: Romulo Fajardo, Jr.
Letters: Becca Carey

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

More of Power Girl’s private life is revealed…and Amalak gets a surprise that ties into the Kryptonian virus.  

Positives

Like last issue, the cover by Gary Frank is the best thing about Power Girl #2.  Frank captures more about the character than Leah Williams does in the entire issue.  Eduardo Pansica and Julio Ferreira do a good job on the art, and there are a couple panels that channel the right kind of Power Girl energy and attitude.  However, the depiction of Power Girl in her “Paige” identity leans into Manga territory at times and is definitely out of step tonally with a recognizable portrayal of Power Girl’s character.  There are also a couple sequences with some effective storytelling, most notably the opening sequence with Amalak as he discovers something unexpected about the Kryptonian virus. 

If one knew nothing of Power Girl, Power Girl #2 provides some details on her character…that is THIS version of the character.  That said, if you are already familiar with the character, and perhaps know a lot about the character before she appeared in Lazarus Planet and Williams’ Action Comics back ups, this issue is just weird….

Negatives

For reasons unrelated to this Power Girl series, I’ve been rereading all of the appearances of the Helena Wayne Huntress.  As one might expect, Power Girl is in a lot of them.  Details from her history that may have slipped through the cracks are coming back into focus.  Williams is cherry picking events from Power Girl’s published appearances, but including nothing of the substance of them and with this issue she introduces another “greatest fear” for her that she creates from Power Girl’s origin.  Apparently, because Power Girl’s was raised in the symbioship that brought her to Earth she feels like she is afraid she is living in a simulation and not a “real girl.”  This is a potentially interesting idea, I suppose, but like so many aspects of this iteration of Power Girl it feel very foreign and disconnected to- up to this point- a very grounded character.

It’s clear that this is a new iteration of the character that does not have any previous appearances.  Williams is writing her like she is brand new to Earth, despite having already demonstrated that she has worked with her cousin, Superman from her universe, and had a now “useless” identity of Karen Starr (presumably on the main DC Earth).  The lack of greater context for these experiences creates more confusion because they don’t make sense with other aspects of Williams script.  It’s particularly apparent when when Williams has PG claim she doesn’t understand particular social cues making it seem like she just arrived on Earth.  A moment that seems like it is purposely ridiculous is when PG claims she is “so good at hugging now,” and Omen responds with “Look at my awkward little alien learning how to human.”  This is so bad it’s almost funny, and it’s not supposed to be.  I truly feel sorry for Pansica, Ferreira, Fajardo and Carey that they have to contribute to this scene.

Negatives Cont’d

It’s hard to reinvent a character without an obvious reboot or tell a story detailing how the character has arrived at a new stage in life.  There’s no story that brings the reader from her past (that somehow exists, because it IS referenced) to this new present.  It’s just a past that Williams isn’t telling us.  She seems to be writing it as if we know, but we don’t…she’s just making this stuff up.

The biggest problem this Power Girl series has is that she just doesn’t seem familiar.  Her attitude, personality and mindset is just completely opposite of what readers have come to know about Power Girl.  In Power Girl #2, Williams has Power Girl acting more and more like Supergirl.  She even has to suffer Lois Lane giving her pointers on how to be Power Girl and how to act around other people.   It’s heartbreaking to see a character misrepresented so terribly.  An alternate Earth Supergirl that is a brand new character would be tolerable, but not Power Girl who has an established personality, attitude and extensive history living on Earth among humans and a substantial career as a hero.

We learn in this issue that “Paige” is working at the Daily Planet.  It was certainly suggested last issue that she was going to have a different job with Steelworks.  So much for PG being her own woman.  She’s just like Clark, now!  

Negatives Cont’d

PG isn’t the only one being written as a different character.  Oddly, the depiction of Streaky seems to be more like Power Girl’s cat, Stinky.  Streaky has always gotten into trouble, but didn’t really have an attitude.  Stinky on the other hand, had an attitude that seemed to mesh with Power Girl’s.  Streaky comes across much more like Stinky than Streaky in this issue.

Omen seems to be here for comedic purposes.  Unfortunately, it’s not landing.  She’s just sort of annoying.  Additionally, Omen continually referring to herself as PG’s bestie is just laughable.  It just doesn’t make sense to not acknowledge any Power Girl’s past friendship with Helena Wayne, it would be like claiming that Speedy was Batman’s sidekick instead of Robin.  From a technical aspect, these moment with Omen don’t really add to the “friendship” because they are either awkward, superficial or both.

Verdict

With the depiction of Power Girl as insecure, dependent upon Superman and Super-family, inexperienced living on Earth, it’s probably OK to refer to her as Paige, as she’s absolutely nothing like the Karen Starr Power Girl we know and love or the one we’ve seen before.  You might be able to enjoy some of the art in this issue, but it’s a real struggle to connect with this iteration of the character.  Furthermore, it actually makes it difficult to engage with the Amalak/ Kryptonian virus storyline because the characterization is so bizarre.  Power Girl #2 seems to take on elements of DC’s line of YA Graphic Novels which distances it even further from the character’s origins, yet explains so much about inconsistencies with this iteration.

The post Review: Power Girl #2 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Leah Williams
Art: Eduardo Pansica and Julio Ferreira
Colors: Romulo Fajardo, Jr.
Letters: Becca Carey

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

It’s Dr. Paige Stetler’s introduction as an employee of Steelworks.  Things go awry as an alien thief crashes to steal some items from the event.

Positives

It’s great that DC has given Power Girl a new solo series, and there’s a pretty cool looking main cover by Gary Frank on Power Girl #1.  The interior art by Eduardo Pansica and Julio Ferreira is pretty darn good, too.  The art style definitely fits better than Margueritte Sauvage’s which graced the recent Power Girl Special and the back ups in Action Comics at the beginning of the year.   It’s more grounded, though Sauvage’s was appropriate for the mindscape sequences in those stories.

Negatives

Before we get into the real problems with Power Girl #1, there’s nothing outstanding about the villain conflict in this issue.  An alien thief story can go either way, depending on the characters and how the alien connects to the hero.  That connection is tenuous at best as the Kryptonian connection is made despite Power Girl being from a different Krypton.  It’s still not a bad thing, but it’s not really compelling.  It just seems like a moment for her to announce that she’s not from the same Krypton as the rest of the Super-family.  Her new ability to “astral-punch” is unnecessary, but it’s the character work in this comic that is indefensible.

The biggest problem with Power Girl #1 is the same problem that was in Power Girl Special #1- Leah Williams doesn’t understand the personality or history of the character.  This makes her characterization of Power Girl wrong.  Right behind it is the feeling that this is a separate Power Girl from the one appearing currently in Justice Society of America.  

It’s not a surprise that Williams continues to pair Power Girl with Omen.  That’s been the set up from the beginning of the backups in Action Comics.  However, the need to pair her with such an unlikely character points to the lack of understanding of Power Girl’s history.  Power Girl fans don’t care about Omen, and she’s certainly not PG’s bestie.  Also, in this same vein is this subplot with the Super-family of the main Earth.  Kara has never desired to be part of the Super-family of the main Earth or even felt any significant kinship with them so trying to force her into it makes zero sense.  Power Girl is a JSA character.  That is her family.  Her memories of Earth-Two tie her to those characters, not the iterations that exist on the main earth be it Earth-One, Prime Earth or Earth-0.  Furthermore, it conflicts directly with what we’ve seen  Justice Society of America that is being published concurrently and features Power Girl in this new terrible costume.  That series as well as The New Golden Age #1 have shown that Power Girl’s history with the JSA is intact.  It’s been shown that those stories with Power Girl from the ’70’s, ’80’s and such happened and are part of her history.  Those are her people, that’s her family.

The title box for Power Girl #1 gives a brief synopsis of her history in the broadest terms, but with a few details that don’t match.  It appears that Williams?, DC?, both? are trying to merge the history of the pre-Flashpoint Power Girl with the New 52 Power Girl.  It’s hard to tell if editorial is as confused and as ignorant as Williams or if editorial is just asleep.   The title box gives her Kryptonian name as Kara Zor-L (original Earth-Two Kryptonian name), but gives her story as the New 52 Power Girl who worked with that Earth’s Superman and is then that Earth’s sole survivor.  HER Kryptonian name was Kara ZOR-EL!   This can’t be the original Earth-Two Power Girl, because Power Girl did NOT work a lot with Superman, she worked with the JSA and purposely distanced herself from Superman to be her own person an not rely on the fact that Superman was her cousin.   Additionally, this synopsis doesn’t even reference her time with the JSA, it just tries to place her with the Prime Earth Super-family despite the fact that she’s appearing with the JSA in that title!  This may seem redundant if you checked out the review of Power Girl Special #1 and accompanying editorial, but this erroneous characterization and historical inaccuracy of Kara’s character will hold this series back.  Like Brian Michael Bendis’s atrocious Superman run, when you start on the wrong foot you can’t go forward effectively.  If the premise is false, there’s no way to move forward.

Negatives Cont’d

Beyond that, Williams writes her as sort of mousy and unsure of herself at her introduction party.  She’s done this sort of thing before…she was a software developer and head of her own company.  Has Williams chosen to ignore that as well?  Her reliance on Superman to help her flies in the face of the way she’s been portrayed for her entire existence until Williams began writing her.  She’s supposed to be strong, resourceful, independent and brash.  It’s disgusting.  Way to completely alter what people like about Kara’s character!  Even the New 52 version maintained her personality!

This new identity of Paige gets a surname…Stetler.  No idea where that came from, but she’s still Karen Starr in the JSA book.  It’s almost like there’s a fight going on with competing takes on the character.  It makes no sense that DC would publish two separate characterizations of the same character.  Get it together DC!  Make sense of this!  Get…rid of THIS!

Verdict

If you’re a fan of Power Girl, I suggest you don’t buy this or read it, it’ll just make you upset.  If you like this…then you must be new to the character.  If you’re a fan of Power Girl, vote with your wallet, complain vociferously, let DC know you want the real Power Girl who has a nearly 50 year history.  Let them know you don’t want Paige Stetler.  DC let Jeremy Adams undo all the damage to Wally West that Tom King did to him in Heroes in Crisis, so it’s possible to get the real Power Girl back.  Furthermore, DC also rolled back Superman’s identity reveal perpetrated by Bendis.  There’s still more to fix from that run, but Jon Kent may be doomed to being an adult forever.  The cover is nice and Pansica’s art is good, but this comic is not worth buying or reading.  Go to Justice Society of America for your Power Girl and hope they get her back into classic duds, soon.  Please DC, don’t let Leah Williams ruin this character anymore.  I don’t even think this is Power Girl.  Paige Stetler- wanted for identity theft.

The post Review: Power Girl #1 appeared first on DC Comics News.