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 spoilers]

Writer: Geoff Johns
Art: Mikel Janin
Colors: Jordie Bellaire
Letters: Rob Leigh

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

The recruitment drive continues and in the process of trying to “apprehend” The Harlequin’s Son, the Golden Age Legionnaire shows up, and…WOW!

Positives

Geoff Johns knows his DC Universe.  Don’t take that lightly.  It’s not something that can be said about many DC writers these days.  Mark Waid, Jeremy Adams and Johns demonstrate every month that they know the history and how things should fit together.  Johns plays a huge card this issue on a final page reveal (no spoilers).  Additionally, Johns also hints around the edges at some of the changes to history that have transpired in this “New Golden Age.”  Even though there are changes afoot as we’ve seen mainly in Alan Scott: The Green Lantern, Jay Garrick: The Flash and Wesley Dodds: The Sandman have also shown some of this new history, though all is not clear.  Like it or not, with this series and the three mini-series mentioned above, there is a new history at work here and it’s only being revealed slowly.  

The issue is peppered with references to new history as well as what history has been retained.  This not only ties in plot elements that have already been introduced, but some of the plot points seen in the adjacent mini-series.  Ruby’s story continues last issue which connects to Alan Scott: The Green Lantern, Jay and Judy are busy together which sets them up for Jay Garrick: The Flash, Quiz Kid is seen overhauling a T-Sphere that puts him in position for his appearance in Jay’s book, and we also get a glimpse of the Freedom Fighters, specifically Phantom Lady.  This allows Johns to show readers that it’s Grant Morrison’s post- Infinite Crisis iteration of the team.

Positives Cont’d

There are some clever character bits and pieces that are strong.  Power Girl seems like the Power Girl we’ve known for the past 48 years and outside the DC mandated uniform bears no similarity to the awful version in her current title.  Helena Wayne gets some confirmation that what she’s attempting in giving second chances not only works, but is known in the future as a success as confirmed by the Golden Age Legionnaire.  Mikel Janin brings all of this to life beautifully; Justice Society of America #9 is a great looking comic.  

The chase for The Harlequin’s Son, Michael Mayne, points to some of the history that is different and needs to be filled in.  Mayne is a new character, and what he says suggests some things about his mother.  He seems to cast her in more of a villainous role than her pre-“New 52” history.  Mayne’s mention of his father not only raises the question of who his father is, but curiously point to the person I’m willing to suggest here- Alan Scott.  There’s a long story there, but it’s not mine to tell.  

Justice Society of America #9 ends on a reveal that again points to Johns knowledge of DC Comics history.  It’s a reveal that will be a “holy $#!+ moment for readers who know.  It’s an incredible plot development that will certainly raise a lot of questions about the current state of the 31st Century.

Negatives

The negatives in this issue, outside of delays (maybe on purpose to line up with the other mini-series?) really can’t be determined until Johns’ plot points come to fruition.  So far the journey on this new history has been pretty compelling, and only time will tell.  Unfortunately, Johns is scheduled to leave DC behind soon and what comes after this issue is completely unknown.  Jeremy Adams seems to be the best candidate to continue with Robert Venditti a close second.  It’s not like they’re going to lure Roy Thomas in for a run.  After the first issue of Dan Jurgens The Bat-Man: First Knight, I would throw his name in the ring as well.

Verdict

Johns has certainly been doing the best job of presenting DCU history changes between this title and the related mini-series (Jeremy Adams is a close second in Jay Garrick: The Flash), and this issue is a prime example of that.  The biggest question remains is if it is being done well enough for readers to embrace it.  Justice Society of America #9 presents a number of ideas and it still feels like there’s not enough space to give resolution to all of them.  Perhaps, the point is not to reveal everything, but set things up for them to be developed elsewhere and elsewhen.  This issue though is quite wonderful.

The post Review: Justice Society of America #9 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: Brittany Holzherr
Art: Meghan Hetrick (narrative sequence) and Various
Colors: Various
Letters: Darran Robinson

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

So, there are some unauthorized photos of Power Girl going around, and she feels the need to address it.  This is the “story” in which we get various reprinted covers of Power Girl from various series from her entire history.

Positives

Power Girl may in fact be the most obvious choice for an issue reprinting covers.  In a sense, Power Girl Uncovered #1 is like a “pin-up” book, but it can also evoke memories and feelings depending on the readers history with Power Girl.  If one can take the covers completely out of context it can be enjoyable, as well.  Some of the images are more iconic for the character, and those are the best.

Despite the cover showing Power Girl in her disappointing current costume, Pablo Villalobos captures the attitude so long associated with the character.  This attitude is not present in the wretched series currently being published but as a Power Girl image, it’s quite wonderful.  The variant covers are also good.  It’s a shame they aren’t included in the book itself.

The first cover that really stands out is the first cover…Otto Schmidt’s variant for the recent Power Girl #1.  This cover depicts PG in (nearly?) all her costumes, including some that haven’t been seen since the ’90’s.  It would make a cool poster.  It’s a chance for the reader to compare and contrast her different looks.  The cover of Showcase #97, Power Girl’s first solo story ever is up next.  It’s great to see DC reach so far back, though it does server as a reminder how distance the current series is from the substance of the character.

Positive Cont’d

The next few covers remind the reader of Power Girl’s long history in the DC Universe, something the monthly book can’t adequately account for.  There’s a Justice League Europe cover, a JSA cover as well as one from Infinite Crisis that recapitulates Power Girl’s origins on the original Earth-Two.

Some of the strongest covers come from Amanda Conner who is strongly associated with the character.  Conner has two covers included.  Many of the covers feature PG in her classic costume or at least a version of it.  These are the most iconic and really work for the idea of a “pin-up” book.  They tend to capture the attitude and personality readers have loved about the character that is sorely missing in the current series.

There are some covers that feature Power Girl in her current costume.  The one’s that stand out are those than depict the confident, capable and brash woman underneath.  Jeff Spokes, Ariel Diaz, the Dodson’s, Dani, Fran Cho, Stanley “Artgerm” Lau, Ryan Sook, and Warren Louw all accomplish this.  Adam Hughes and Alex Ross have perhaps the two most iconic images selected for inclusion.

Negatives

There’s a brief narrative sequence that runs through Power Girl Uncovered #1 that is most unwelcome.  It fits perfectly with the characterization of Power Girl in the current series and it is a reminder of how bad it is.  This includes and appearance by the purposeless Omen.  It’s written by the series’ editor, Brittany Holzherr.  This adds nothing to the presentation of the covers, and if anything it detracts.  It’s just a reminder of how poorly Power Girl is being depicted, currently.  It’s even harder to take here when there are so many great images of the character that reinforce the feeling that the current iteration is someone else entirely.  Holzherr tries to start things out with the classic “eyes up here and not on the boob widow” joke, but it’s not nearly enough as the rest of the dialogue is difficult to consume as Holzherr demonstrates she has just as poor a grasp on the character as regular series writer, Leah Williams.

Some of the images that don’t work are the ones that are overly stylized or simply in a style that is incongruent with the character. Covers by Leirix, Ricardo Lopez Ortiz, Babs Tarr and Saowee fail to capture the inner substance of the character.  Ironically, they fit much better with the current take on Power Girl.  If this is notable for any reason, it confirms that when the substance of the character is captured, the current costume looks better.  Meghan Hetrick doesn’t do PG any favors on the narrative bits.

It’s unfortunate that Gary Frank, the cover artist on the current series is only represented with the nearly throwaway cover to issue #5 when his cover to issue #2 would’ve been more representative of the character, despite the cover to #5 being more representative of the current series.

Verdict

It may seem like it would be difficult for DC to screw up what is essentially a pin-up book for Power Girl, unfortunately DC manages to do just that with Editor Brittany Holzherr spearheading the effort.  It all boils down to this current incarnation being so terrible.  Even with a book that could’ve just been the covers with some innocuous narration, we have to be reminded of all the missteps that’ve been made by Leah Williams and overseen by Brittany Holzherr.  If you don’t read the pages with “story,” Power Girl Uncovered #1 is actually a better experience.

The post Review: Power Girl Uncovered #1 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.

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