DCU Comic Book Reviews

JSA CLASSIFIED #1

Power Trip: Part 1 of 4

August 2005

Written by Geoff Johns

Pencils by Amanda Conner

Inks by Jimmy Palmiotti

Cover by Amanda Conner & Jimmy Palmiotti

Synopsis

At one time Power Girl believed she had been Superman’s cousin, but it turned out to be not true.  She was not Kryptonian.  She was just a girl with powers.  Dr. Midnite runs some tests and her eyes are normal despite displaying heat vision the previous week.  Dr. Midnite does confirm that her powers are not mystical in nature.  She knows that the story told to her by Garn Daanuth (she was the granddaughter of a sorcerer from Atlantis) was also a lie.  At her home, Power Girl hears a voice crying out for help.  She turns around and sees a boy in trouble over 50 blocks away.  After she rescues the boy, someone tosses her into a garbage truck.  It is Garn Daanuth who tells her that she is lying to herself and turning away from everything she is or could be.  Power Girl blasts him with heat vision and then tackles him to the ground and pummels him with her fists.  A word from Ted Grant (aka Wildcat) stops her and she realizes there was never anyone there.  The rest of the JSA offer to help her figure it all out, but Power Girl tells them she does not want to know.  Elsewhere, someone prepares to her the truth by summoning the Legion of Super-Heroes. 

Review

It is difficult to review any story in which Power Girl is the central character without discussing the art and the way she is drawn.  In this case, I actually liked the art and liked the way she was drawn.  Interestingly, fair amount of attention was drawn to her ample attributes, including some remarks by Power Girl.  Apparently she never wore a mask because she knows all eyes are elsewhere and a scene later in the book when she saves the boy proves that point.  I like the fact that there is at least knowledge of herself and her body and how she has that kind of effect.  And I like the fact that despite the way she looks, she doesn’t try to use to her advantage.  Her basic feeling is that it is there, deal with it, get used to it, and forget it.

I disliked the way Dr. Midnite was drawn.  For a moment I thought it was supposed to be a flashback to the first Dr. Midnite, but that is not the case.

I wonder if a new origin for Power Girl is really all that needed.  In fact, I rather liked the character she was in the regular JSA series.  She was confused where she belonged, but slowly but surely she was realizing that her family was not Kal-el or the Kents, but the members of the JSA.  I don’t think it really is necessary to create a new origin for her.  If they do, they should use the one in the Superman animated TV show: she is an alien born on a world similar to Krypton, which explains her powers.  Works for me. 

It will be curious to see where this goes.  Will she meet with the new Supergirl?  Future covers indicate she will interact with the Huntress, but besides the fact the original crisis wiped out their histories, I’m not sure what else they have in common. -- MRB

Comic Connections

Note in the background the various drawings of Power Girl in different outfits.  The yellow outfit comes from the time when she thought she was a descendant of Atlantis.  The blue and white outfit was from the time she was in the Justice League Europe.

 

ïPREVIOUS		NEXTð

Home ●  Blog ● Who Are We? ● Site News
Alive and Well since April 16, 2006

 DC Universe Reviews.  All Rights Reserved
  Characters, trademarks, brands are property of DC Comics

For problems or questions regarding this website, please contact our kindly webmaster.
Last updated: 08/06/11.