WHO'S THAT (POWER) GIRL: EXPLAINING POWER GIRL'S HISTORY

[MattBrady]

by Troy Brownfield

If there’s one truism that runs through both the original Crisis on Infinite Earths and its thematic descendant Infinite Crisis, it’s that unexpected characters suddenly get a chance to shine. Granted, Power Girl’s not exactly a wallflower. She’d had significant roles in series ranging from All-Star Comics to Justice League Europe to Birds of Prey and JSA. She recently headlined the much-discussed debut arc of JSA: Classified. And of course, she graces the both variant covers for this week’s Infinite Crisis #2. Still, despite the fact that she’s a perennially minor character, Power Girl has a strident fanbase and certainly plays a crucial role in DC’s biggest project of the decade thus far. Where then did Power Girl originate, and what were some of the highlights on her circuitous path to crossover glory? (Writer’s Note: Notice that I said some of the highlights; this does not pretend to be a complete list of appearances)

All-Star Comics #58 (1976): Revived in the mid-‘70s with the original numbering intact, All-Star Comics was the original home title of the Justice Society of America. An interesting footnote appends to this revival. As explained by Roy Thomas in Alter Ego #1 (Vol. 3) from 1999, a pitch for a JSA revival actually existed in the ‘50s. Thomas quotes Bill Schelly’s 1995 tome The Golden Age of Comic Fandom and relates that years prior to the creation of the JSA’s successor, the JLA, writer/artist/fan Larry Ivie discussed the notion of a JSA sequel series called Justice Legion of the World.. Said series was to star the sons and daughters of the original JSA. Eerily prescient, when you consider the legacy nature of both Infinity Inc. in the ‘80s and the present JSA run.

That idea went by the boards, but one configuration of that notion did bear out when the re-launch happened. Writer Gerry Conway positioned a group within the JSA for youth appeal; these “Super Squad” members included Robin, the Star-Spangled Kid, and a brand-new character: Power Girl. Of course, the adventures of the JSA occurred at that time on Earth-2, so PG served as the E2 equivalent of the Earth-1 Supergirl; that is, she was Superman’s cousin. Power Girl was a big hit with the predominantly male audience; artists Wally Wood and Ric Estrada drew her unabashedly like a pin-up girl, even including (or deleting, if you prefer) that cut-out that still appears (or doesn’t) today.

Showcase #97 (1978): Random Fact: I’ve actually had this issue since it came out. This was the first part of a three-issue arc in what was essentially DC’s “try-out” book at the time. We’re treated to a retelling of Kara’s origin, recounting her lengthy journey to Earth-2. Rocketed from the city of Kandor on Krypton-2 by her father Zor-L, Kara ended up on an errant voyage apart from her cousin Kal-L. Whereas he went directly to Earth-2 and began his new life, Kara’s journey took decades. However, due to suspended animation, she only aged at a third the normal rate; Zor-L solved a few problems by programming the ship with a type of nascent virtual reality that had her convinced that she was living a regular life up through the age of 20. After landing, and essentially being taken in as a daughter by her now-60-year-old cousin and his wife Lois, Kara takes on the name of Karen Starr and becomes Power Girl in the JSA.

This all seems really easy, doesn’t it, and you’re not scared by her history?

You will be. You will be…

Justice League of American #195-197; JLA #207-209 (and All-Star Squadron #14-15) and JLA #219-220 (early ‘80s): While these appearances aren’t mind-bogglingly significant in the life of the character, they do represent several occasions upon which Kara interacted with the heroes of Earth-1 during the annual JLA/JSA crossovers. Most interesting is her cross-world flirtation with the JLA’s young hero, Firestorm. Writer Conway slowly built this attraction over a few years. It has enough meaning for the heroine that she goes ballistic in the early pages of #220 after Firestorm has been injured in an ambush. These are all fun stories, and it’s amusing in retrospect that, in keeping with tradition for such team-ups, most of them incorporated the word “Crisis” into their respective titles.

All-Star Squadron #25/Infinity Inc. #1 (Sept. ‘83/Mar. ’84): This is where Kara realizes the promise of that Justice Legion pitch. Squadron introduced the young heroes that would later be revealed as the sons, daughters, or wards of various JSA members. By the time that the regular series rolled around, old Super Squad members Star-Spangled Kid, Huntress, and Power Girl would join up. Both Squadron and Infinity Inc. were written by Roy Thomas, and both would end up being hit hard by events coming elsewhere.




Crisis on Infinite Earths #1-12 (1985-1986): Well hey. As the universe-spanning throw-down commences, Kara often finds herself in the heat of the action. After the battle at the dawn of time in issue #10 that restarts the universe, Kara remains. No immediate explanation is offered of how she exists, given the nature of the new merged Earths, and her story is given curiously little attention as issue #11 defers mainly to the plights of the E2 Superman, Robin, and Huntress.

Of course, the real turning point comes at the climax of the series. With the E2 Superman and Lois departing, Power Girl is left with no real connections. Unfortunately, this is not dealt with right away, which leads to the subsequent two decades of altered origins and confused continuity. And that, my friends, is why Marv Wolfman thought that the whole DCU should have gone back to #1s.

Secret Origins #11 (1987): Looking for a scapegoat? Blame this one. Post the original Crisis, this was supposed to be the series that helped make it all clear, offering streamlined origins of DC’s characters, paying special attention to the relatively new (hello, Blue Beetle), and the relatively confusing, as with Power Girl, and those whose timelines were contracted, expanded, or otherwise messed with coming out of Crisis.

In this issue, we get the tale that completely hoses Power Girl’s backstory for the next eighteen years. This book (released the same month as History of the DC Universe #2, Legends #1 and Wonder Woman #1) gives us a Power Girl who completely remembers every little detail of the Crisis, from Earth-2 to her cousin Kal-L to the Anti-Monitor. Then she’s visited by Arion, Lord of Atlantis from the early ‘80s DC book of same name, and told that she’s actually the sorcerer’s granddaughter who has been rocketed to the future.

Yeah, I never bought it either. It’s easier to just think of Arion as a demented trickster, who just wanted to screw with someone.

Yeah, that was weird, but just wait – your head’s going to explode a couple of highlights down.

Justice League International #24/Justice League Europe #1 (1989): After taking part in the battles that spun out of Invasion!, Power Girl and several other heroes get invited to join a European branch of the recently-launched Justice League International. JLI would switch over to Justice League America with the debut of the sister title. Much of the JL books were played for laughs in the day, and much humor was wrung from Power Girl’s buxomness and Wally West’s rather caddish pursuit of her.

There was a more serious turn a few issues in when Power Girl was injured and needed an operation; Superman participated in the procedure, but it reduced Kara’s powers for a good long while. But at least she got that scruffy cat. Power Girl also went through a couple of costume changes in this era: for a period she wore a white and gold suit, then a fairly ugly red, white and blue thing (complete with headband) for the early ‘90s.

Zero Hour (1994): Through a series of events that a few fans have told me that they’d like to forget, Power Girl spent this crossover knocked up (this isn’t the Ms. Marvel you’re looking for…move along). Her mystic pregnancy resulted in her birthing the villain Equinox, who later died. Yay.

JSA #31 (2002): After years of largely kicking around as a guest star, Power Girl finally landed a regular roster spot in the very successful revamped JSA. Fans had eagerly asked for her inclusion for a number of years, and writer Geoff Johns finally acquiesced. Though he had originally pled a lack of affinity for the character, she quickly became a favorite, offering a cogent and feisty point of view, sparring verbally with Wildcat and serving as a role-model of sorts to Stargirl.

Over the intervening time, Power Girl grew into a JSA mainstay and significant time has been spent on questions relating to her origins. During the “Princes of Darkness” arc, Power Girl finally learned that the Arion origin was not her true beginning, once again casting her past into doubt.

Supergirl #1 (2005): An interesting wrinkle is introduced when the latest iteration of Supergirl arrived on Earth. In proximity to one another, this most recent version of Kara and PG Kara find that their powers go wonky when in one another’s presence. A thread for IC, to be sure.

JSA: Classified #1-4 (2005): After teasing with a number of red herrings (including the notions that Kara might be Andromeda from the Legion of Super-Heroes, the child of Superboy and Wonder Girl, or the child of Ultraman and Superwoman from the Crime Syndicate), Johns reveals that Power Girl is . . . truly . . . after all this time . . . the cousin of Earth-2’s Superman. Which is as it should be. Obviously, this dovetails into the final page of Infinite Crisis #1, which leads us back to this week.

Power Girl stands out (groan) among the heroines of the DC Universe because she’s one of the few that actually pays attention to her body image. Consider the number of stunning women strutting about in comics who are actually oblivious to their nature. Kara acknowledges the benefits of her physique as well as its limitations; she can use it to her distracting advantage in combat, but it makes those regular conversations a little more difficult. Still, Kara has always been portrayed as a strong woman; steely of will and sharp of mind, she’s worked in business as well as adventuring. Whereas we have a surfeit of inexperienced heroines and only a few icons, Power Girl owns a nice middle-ground wherein she’s a veteran fighter with the benefit of youth (somewhat like the tough junior forward on your college team of choice).

Sure, it would be blind and naïve to ignore the fact that Power Girl enjoys a certain popularity among the dominant male fanbase because she’s basically Jayne Manesfield/Pamela Anderson/a-sane-and-sober Anna Nicole Smith in a cape. What has actually made the character interesting over time is her overt feminism and her unwillingness to be pigeon-holed by her appearance. With Infinite Crisis in full swing, and constant reminders about Kara’s importance, I’d like to suggest that she’s important because she fulfills a neglected niche: the tough, confident, savvy female hero for whom strong and sexy meld seamlessly, but still possesses enough introspection to bravely confront her own body and identity issues. That’s definitely an em-powered girl.

Troy Brownfield writes lots of stuff for Newsarama. His favorite tough chick is his wife, Becky. She may not throw cars, but he wouldn’t want to test it. Besides, she has to be super-human to put up with Troy for nearly thirteen years.

[BrotherI]

Cheers, Troy. I didn't want to get JSA Classified and now I never will!

[Kolimar]

Originally posted by MattBrady
(Writer’s Note: Notice that I said some of the highlights; this does not pretend to be a complete list of appearances)

Also not complete.

Secret Origins Vol. 2 #11 (February 1987): "Ancient Histories"

Warlord Vol. 1 #116 (April 1987): "Revenge of the Warlock"

Warlord Vol. 1 #117 (May 1987): "Legacy of Nightmare"

Warlord Vol. 1 #118 (June 1987): "Of Captives and Cannibals...Scavengers and Kings"

Warlord Vol. 1 #119 (July 1987): "The Kraken Pentacle"

Warlord Vol. 1 #120 (August 1987): "Vale of the Snowmen"

Warlord Vol. 1 #121 (September 1987): "Clouds of War"

Warlord Annual Vol. 1 #6 (1987): "When the Gods Make War"

Warlord Vol. 1 #122 (October 1987): "The Scepter of Doom"

Warlord Vol. 1 #123 (November 1987): "Incantation to Eternal Light"

Warlord Vol. 1 #124 (December 1987): "Scavenger of Souls"

Infinity, Inc. #50 (May 1988): "It's A Grimmworld, After All!"

Infinity, Inc. #51 (June 1988): "A Death in the Family"

Power Girl #1 (June 1988): "Threads"

Power Girl #2 (July 1988): "Tapestry"

Power Girl #3 (August 1988): "Heritage"

Power Girl #4 (September 1988): "Destiny"

Doom Patrol Vol. 2 #13 (October 1988): "Power and Chaos"

Doom Patrol Vol. 2 #14 (November 1988): "Order and Doom"

Starman Vol. 1 #5 (Holiday 1988): "Don't You Know There's a War On?"

Invasion! #2 (1988): "Invasion! Book Two: Battleground Earth"

Starman Vol. 1 #6 (January 1989): "Fortunes of War"

Justice League International Vol. 1 #24/2 (February 1989): "Across a Crowded Room..."

Justice League Europe #1 (April 1989): "How Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down On the Farm After They've Seen Paree?"

Justice League Europe #2 (May 1989): "Somebody Up There Hates Us!"

Justice League Europe #3 (June 1989): "Another Fine Mess!"

Justice League Europe #4 (July 1989): "Bialya Burning!"

Justice League Europe #6 (September 1989): "No More Teachers' Dirty Looks...?!"

Justice League Europe #7 (October 1989): "Teasdale Unbound!"

Justice League America #32 (November 1989): "Breaking Point!"

Justice League Europe #8 (November 1989): "Showdown..."

Justice League Europe #9 (December 1989): "Under the Skin"

Justice League Europe #10 (January 1990): "After the Fox!"

Adventures of Superman #463 (February 1990): "Speed Kills!"

Justice League Europe #13 (April 1990): "Furballs II"

Justice League Europe #14 (May 1990): "You Oughtta Be In Pictures"

Justice League Europe #15 (June 1990): "The Extremist Vector, Part 1: Kings of the Dust"

Justice League Europe #16 (July 1990): "The Extremist Vector, Part 2: Conquest"

Justice League Europe #17 (August 1990): "The Extremist Vector, Part 3: On the Brink!"

Justice League Europe #18 (September 1990): "The Extremist Vector, Part 4: The Happy Place"

Justice League Europe #19 (October 1990): "The Extremist Vector, Part 5: Pushing the Button"

Justice League America Annual #4 (1990): "What's Black and White and Black and White and Bl"

Justice League Europe Annual #1 (1990): "Bialya Blues"

Justice League Quarterly #1 (winter 1990): "Corporate Maneuvers (and Leveraged Buyouts)"

Justice League Europe #20 (November 1990): "Rue Britannia"

Justice League Europe #21 (December 1990): "Blood, Sweat and Tabloids"

Justice League Europe #22 (January 1991): "Catnap"

Justice League Quarterly #3 (summer 1991): "When You Wish..."

Justice League Europe #23 (February 1991): "Foxy Ladies"

Justice League Europe #24 (March 1991): "Worm Food"

Justice League Europe #25 (April 1991): "Nightcrawlers!"

Justice League Europe #26 (May 1991): "Stars in Your Eyes"

Justice League Europe #27 (June 1991): "The Vagabond King"

Justice League Europe #28 (July 1991): "The Man Who Wears the Stars"

Justice League Quarterly #4/3 (fall 1991): "Cat Tales"

Justice League Europe #29 (August 1991): [Breakdowns Part 2] "Turning and Turning"

Justice League Europe #30 (September 1991): [Breakdowns Part 4] "The Widening Gyre"

Justice League America #55 (October 1991): "Breakdowns Part 5: Bialya Blues"

Justice League Europe Annual #2 (1991): "Too Much Time"

Armageddon 2001 #2 (October 1991): [No Title]

Action Comics #670 (October 1991): [34] "Skullduggery"

Justice League Quarterly #5 (winter 1991): "Be Careful What You Wish For"

Justice League Europe #31 (October 1991): "Breakdowns Part 6: Things Fall Apart"

Justice League America #56 (November 1991): [Breakdowns Part 7] "Look Homeward Leaguers"

Justice League Europe #32 (November 1991): "Breakdowns Part 8: The Center Cannot Hold"

Justice League America #57 (December 1991): [Breakdowns Part 9] "The Descent of... Despero"

Justice League Europe #33 (December 1991): "Breakdowns Part 10: Mere Anarchy"

Justice League America #58 (January 1992): "Breakdowns Part 11: Mayhem"

Justice League Europe #34 (January 1992): "Breakdowns Part 12: Blood-Dimmed Tide"

Justice League America #59 (February 1992): "Breakdowns Part 13: Ex-Factor"

Justice League Europe #35 (February 1992): "Breakdowns Part 14: The Ceremony of Innocence"

Justice League America #60 (March 1992): [Breakdowns Part 15] "Swansong"

Justice League Europe #36 (March 1992): "Breakdowns: Postscript (Part 16 of 15)"

Justice League Quarterly #6/3 (spring 1992): "Who's Been Sleeping In My Bed?"

Justice League Spectacular #1 (1992): "Team Work"

Justice League Europe #37 (April 1992): "Changing"

Justice League Europe #38 (May 1992): "Dissolving Deconstructo"

Justice League Europe #39 (June 1992): "Returning"

Justice League Quarterly #7 (summer 1992): "Klaarsh Reunion!"

Justice League Europe #40 (July 1992): "The Coming of... Chthon!"

Justice League Europe #41 (August 1992): "Welcome to the Dark"

Justice League Europe #42 (September 1992): "Mother of Monsters"

Justice League Europe Annual #3 (1992): "Eclipso Over London"

Eclipso: The Darkness Within #2 (October 1992): "Brilliant Men"

Green Lantern Vol. 3 #30 (early October 1992): "Gorilla Warfare, Ch. 1: The Trouble With Gorillas"

Justice League Europe #43 (October 1992): "'Round and 'Round and 'Round It Goes..."

Justice League Europe #44 (November 1992): "With A Little Bit of Luck"

Justice League Europe #45 (December 1992): "Red Winter 1: A Wind From The East"

Justice League Europe #46 (January 1993): "Red Winter 2: First Chill"

Justice League Europe #47 (February 1993): "Red Winter 3: Blizzard"

Justice League Europe #49 (April 1993): "Red Winter 5: Hard Ground"

Justice League Europe #50 (May 1993): "Red Winter 6: The Ice Breaks"

Justice League Quarterly #9/3 (winter 1992): "You Bet Your Life"

Justice League America #70 (January 1993): "Grieving"

Superman: The Man of Steel #20 (February 1993): [5] "Funeral For A Friend Part 3: Funeral Day"

Superman Vol. 2 #76 (February 1993): [6] "Funeral For A Friend Part 4: Metropolis Mailbag II"

Justice League Quarterly #11 (summer 1993): "Beautiful, Wonderful, Perfect"

Justice League International Vol. 2 #51 (June 1993): "The New World"

Justice League International Vol. 2 #52 (July 1993): "All Is Maya"

Action Comics #690 (August 1993): [24] "Lies & Revelations"

Justice League International Vol. 2 #54 (early September 1993): "Impostors"

Justice League International Vol. 2 #55 (late September 1993): "Lest Darkness Fall"

Justice League International Vol. 2 #56 (early October 1993): "Ambush"

Justice League International Vol. 2 #57 (late October 1993): "Inferno!"

Justice League International Vol. 2 #58 (November 1993): "Nocturne"

Justice League International Vol. 2 #59 (December 1993): "Ordinary People"

Justice League International Vol. 2 #60 (January 1994): "Out of the Future"

Bloodbath #1 (early December 1993): "Bloodbath"

Bloodbath #2 (late December 1993): "Bloodbath"

Justice League International Vol. 2 #61 (February 1994): "Born of Man and Woman"

Justice League International Vol. 2 #62 (March 1994): "The Sacrifice"

Eclipso #16 (February 1994): "Fallout"

Eclipso #17 (March 1994): "Big Game"

Eclipso #18 (April 1994): "Works of Darkness"

Justice League International Vol. 2 #63 (April 1994): "Visions of Death"

Justice League International Vol. 2 #64 (May 1994): "Immortal Truth"

Justice League America #89 (June 1994): "Judgment Day Part 1: D-Day"

Justice League Task Force #13 (June 1994): "Judgment Day, Part 2: Split Decision"

Justice League International Vol. 2 #65 (June 1994): "A Whole New Ball Game"

Justice League America #90 (July 1994): "Judgment Day Part 4: The Shadow of Death"

Justice League Task Force #14 (July 1994): "Judgment Day, Part 5: The Longest Yard"

Justice League International Vol. 2 #66 (July 1994): "All Out of Time"

Justice League America #91 (August 1994): "Heroes Passage"

Justice League Task Force #15 (August 1994): "Silver Ages"

Justice League International Vol. 2 #67 (August 1994): "Family Troubles"

Zero Hour: Crisis In Time! #3 (September 1994): "Zero Hour"

Zero Hour: Crisis In Time! #2 (September 1994): "Zero Hour"

Zero Hour: Crisis In Time! #1 (September 1994): "Zero Hour"

Zero Hour: Crisis In Time! #0 (September 1994): "Zero Hour"

Justice League America #93 (November 1994): "The Baby Hunt"

Justice League America #94 (December 1994): "What Are You Made Of?"

Justice League America #95 (January 1995): "Where the Wild Things Are"

Justice League America #96 (February 1995): "Rush to Judgment"

Justice League America #97 (March 1995): "A Burning Goal"

Justice League America #101 (July 1995): [The Way of the Warrior, Part 2] "Preasure Cooker"

Justice League America #105 (November 1995): "The Killer Elite"

Justice League America #106 (December 1995): "Up From the Underworld"

Justice League America #107 (January 1996): "The Devil's Due"

Justice League America #108 (February 1996): "One Hand In Darkness"

Justice League America #111 (June 1996): "The Purge, Part 1: Now It's Time..."

Justice League America #112 (July 1996): "The Purge, Part 2: To Say Goodbye"

Justice League America #113 (August 1996): "The Purge, 3rd and Final: To All Our Company"

Aquaman Vol. 5 #23 (August 1996): "Deep Trouble"

Aquaman Vol. 5 #24 (September 1996): "United We Fall"

Aquaman Vol. 5 #25 (October 1996): "Betwixt And Between"

Supergirl Vol. 4 #15 (November 1997): "Gods of the Twillight"

Supergirl Vol. 4 #16 (December 1997): "Blonde Justice"

Aquaman Vol. 5 #41 (February 1998): "Babewatch"

Aquaman Vol. 5 #42 (March 1998): "Necessary Poisons"

Aquaman Vol. 5 #50 (December 1998): "Reflections"

JLA #27 (March 1999): "The Bigger They Come..."

Body Doubles #3 (December 1999): "Cold Snap"

Body Doubles #4 (January 2000): "Ladies' Night"

Birds of Prey #12 (December 1999): "Hellbound Train"

Birds of Prey #13 (January 2000): "Apokolips Express"

Birds of Prey #14 (February 2000): "Apokolips Express, Part 2"

Birds of Prey #16 (April 2000): "The Joker's Tale"

Birds of Prey #17 (May 2000): "Nuclear Roulette"

Green Lantern: Circle of Fire #1 (early October 2000): "Darkness Visible"

Green Lantern/Power Girl #1 (October 2000): "Deep Down Below the Surface"

Green Lantern: Circle of Fire #2 (late October 2000): "Full Circle"

Justice Leagues: JL? #1 (March 2001): "Justice Leagues, Part 1: Twilight's Last Gleaming"

Justice Leagues: Justice League of Amazons #1 (March 2001): "Justice Leagues, Part II: Jungle Work"

Justice Leagues: Justice League of Atlantis #1 (March 2001): "Justice Leagues, Part III: Sea Change"

Birds of Prey #33 (September 2001): "The Courtship"

Birds of Prey #34 (October 2001): "The Heartbreaker!"

Birds of Prey #35 (November 2001): "The Shout"

Wonder Woman Vol. 2 #175 (December 2001): "The Witch and the Warrior, part 2: Girl Frenzy"

Joker: Last Laugh #3 (December 2001): "Lunatic Fringe"

JSA #31 (February 2002): "Making Waves"

JSA #32 (March 2002): "Stealing Thunder. Prologue"

JSA #33 (April 2002): "Stealing Thunder Part 1: Wish Fulfilment"

JSA #34 (May 2002): "Stealing Thunder Part 2: Troublestruck"

JSA #35 (June 2002): "Stealing Thunder Part 3: Lightning Storm"

JSA #36 (July 2002): "Stealing Thunder Part 4: Time-Bound"

JSA #37 (August 2002): "Stealing Thunder Part 5: Crossing Over"

JSA #38 (September 2002): "Father's Day"

Suicide Squad Vol. 2 #12 (October 2002): ""

JSA #39 (October 2002): "Power Crush"

JSA #40 (November 2002): "...Do No Harm"

JSA #44 (March 2003): "The Tears of Ra"

JSA #45 (April 2003): "Princes of Darkness Prologue: Peacemakers"

JSA #46 (May 2003): "Princes of Darkness Part 1: Into the Valley"

JSA #47 (June 2003): "Princes of Darkness Part 2: Eclipse"

JSA #49 (August 2003): "Princes of Darkness Part 4: Army of Darkness"

JSA #50 (September 2003): "Princes of Darkness Part 5: The Last Light"

JSA #51 (October 2003): "Princes of Darkness Coda: Justice Eternity"

JSA #52 (November 2003): "Brand New Day"

JSA #53 (December 2003): "Blinded"

JSA #54 (January 2004): "Virtue, Vice & Pumpkin Pie"

JSA #55 (February 2004): "Be Good for Goodness Sake"

Hawkman Vol. 4 #23 (early March 2004): "Black Reign"

JSA #57 (late March 2004): "Black Reign"

Hawkman Vol. 4 #24 (late March 2004): "Black Reign"

JSA #58 (April 2004): "Black Reign"

Hawkman Vol. 4 #25 (April 2004): "Black Reign"

JSA #60 (June 2004): "Redemption Lost Part 1"

JSA #61 (July 2004): "Redemption Lost Part 2"

JSA #62 (August 2004): "Redemption Lost Part 3"

JSA #63 (September 2004): "Waking the Sandman Part 1: Insomnia"

JSA #64 (October 2004): "Waking the Sandman Part Two: Night Terrors"

JSA #65 (November 2004): "Out of Time Part I"

Identity Crisis #1 (August 2004): "Coffin"

JSA #67 (January 2005): "The Autopsy"

JSA #72 (June 2005): "JSA/JSA"

Green Lantern: Rebirth #1 (December 2004): "Blackest Night"

Green Lantern: Rebirth #4 (March 2005): "Force of Will"

Green Lantern: Rebirth #6 (May 2005): "Brightest Day"

Countdown to Infinite Crisis #1 (2005): "Countdown to Infinite Crisis"

JSA #73 (July 2005): "Black Vengeance, Part 1"

JSA #74 (August 2005): "Black Vengeance, Part 2"

JSA #75 (September 2005): "Black Vengeance, Conclusion"

JSA #76 (October 2005): "In Search Of..."

JSA: Classified #1 (September 2005)

JSA: Classified #2 (October 2005)

JSA: Classified #3 (November 2005)

JSA: Classified #4 (December 2005)

[jonjesper]

well written, much needed and much appreciated article Troy!
Thanks!!!

[Mr Wesley]

Great summary, Troy!

Just for the record, I've always thought Power Girl was one of the most underused and under developed (pun intended) heroes. I was really glad when she joined the JSA, and am thoroughly excited about her presence in Infinite Crisis.

Here's hoping that one of the new series spinning out of IC is Power Girl!

[Kolimar]

Originally posted by MattBrady
Zero Hour (1994): Through a series of events that a few fans have told me that they’d like to forget, Power Girl spent this crossover knocked up (this isn’t the Ms. Marvel you’re looking for…move along). Her mystic pregnancy resulted in her birthing the villain Equinox, who later died. Yay.

IIRC, Equinox was a hero engineered by Arion to defeat a villain called Scarabus and he didn't die, he just disappeared.

[Dave Fury]

Originally posted by BrotherI
Cheers, Troy. I didn't want to get JSA Classified and now I never will!

You're missing out then. Johns and Conner did a perfect job with Powergirl and I hope DC has them do more adventures with her in the future.

[WookieLove]

Great review; thanks!

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I hope if E2 Superman is now either evil or just completely duped by Alex Luthor, that Power Girl can resist her cousin in replacing E1 with E2

Kolimar, what was the point of posting all those issues???

[Terram]

How... arcane.

[Kolimar]

Originally posted by WookieLove
Kolimar, what was the point of posting all those issues???

If some guy suddenly finds himself in love with the character and decides to acquire every single post-Crisis appearance, he'll know what to look for.

Originally posted by MattBrady
serving as a role-model of sorts to Stargirl.

[Ace]

I think JSA Classified was excellent and Infinite Crisis 2 was even better. I would have preferred one of the other origins from a fan's perspective(I LOVED the Andromeda idea), but this is likely the best from the storyline perspective.

One minor thing. Maybe someone can help clarify this for me.

I remember in an issue of JSA around Princes of Darkness, Arion told Power Girl that he had lied to her about her origins for her mother's sake.

Am I remembering this wrong? Or is this just a case of Johns not planning things out fully(which would surprise me on some level), which would make this a throw away line? Or does it actually have meaning?

Anyone else remember the line?

[IvCNuB4]

Right. That was Arion, when he revealed he wasn't really her great-great-grandfather. He claimed her mother had sent her from the future to him for safe-keeping, and that her mother would return needing Kara's help.
There was also a scene in either JSA or Hawkman when the JSA was in St Roch for Hawkman's birthday, and a fortune teller told Karen that her life-line was reversed, suggesting that she was from the future.
That may've been Johns' original idea (for a JSA arc) before it was decided to use PG in Infinite Crisis ....

[cncoyle]

You also left out Mae West in her comparison.

[Johnny Smith]

Originally posted by BrotherI
Cheers, Troy. I didn't want to get JSA Classified and now I never will!

Hey! That arc was good stuff!!! And fun!

Buy the trade at least ...

[MattBrady]

Originally posted by cncoyle
You also left out Mae West in her comparison.

not really, history has shown that, unlike Mae, when Power Girl was bad, she was really, really, really bad.

MattB

[Power Guy]

That's a great recap of Power Girl's history. I'm very impressed with the amount of detail and accuracy.

[Cousin Cory]

One (very) minor chapter in PG's history that no one has mentioned (or probably wanted to mention) so far... not even included in Kolimar's list...

Sovereign Seven.

[Hutchimus Pr]

Great review of Power Girl's history!! Scott Tipton did one recently too:
http://moviepoopshoot.com/comics101/

I'm glad to see this character finally getting her due.

[cncoyle]

Originally posted by MattBrady
not really, history has shown that, unlike Mae, when Power Girl was bad, she was really, really, really bad.

MattB

I must admit I'm offended that he dared to put Anna Nicole Smith & Pamela Anderson in the same sentence as Jayne Mansfield. That's like putting Rita Hayworth in with Kate Moss!

[Kolimar]

Originally posted by Cousin Cory
One (very) minor chapter in PG's history that no one has mentioned (or probably wanted to mention) so far... not even included in Kolimar's list...

Sovereign Seven.

That never happened. It was all a dream.

[GI BRO]

so how long until you figure peegee needs a new origin or a dirtnap?

i figure she has no origin agian in 5 years time.

[Kolimar]

Originally posted by Cousin Cory
Sovereign Seven.

Here

Sovereign Seven #25-36








No one says my list's incomplete and gets away with it... well, except me and I did.

[MattBrady]

Originally posted by cncoyle
That's like putting Rita Hayworth in with Kate Moss!

pshaw - you could fit three Kate Mosses inside a Rita Hayworth, and still have room left over for a bag of coke.

MattB

[Hypestyle]

So, uh, will Power Girl ever get a chest symbol-- besides the obvious?

[O.J. Flow]

Good show, Mr. Brownfield. Is that the cover to Justice League of America #197 I see there??