DCU Comic Book Reviews

JSA CLASSIFIED #3

Power Trip: Part 3 of 4

November 2005

Written by Geoff Johns

Pencils by Amanda Conner

Inks by Jimmy Palmiotti

Cover by Amanda Conner & Jimmy Palmiotti

Synopsis

In Gotham City, Helena Bertinelli (aka Huntress) hunts down Houngan, but finds Plasmus.  As she backs away from him, Power Girl comes to the rescue and saves her.  Power tells Huntress of her recent troubles and stats she wants a friend to talk to.  Huntress wants to know why her?  In Kansas City at STAR Labs, Director Bones is transporting Power Girl’s ship back to DC when Psycho Pirate appears and steals it.  In Gotham, Huntress and Power Girl are talking when Power Girls sees the Crime Syndicate, who tell her it is time to come home.  She then sees the Teen Titans of the future who also want her to come home.  This is followed by the Wizard Shazam, Zod from the Phantom Zone, and Nightwing and Flamebird from Krypton, all of whom want Power Girl and tell her she is one of them.  All of these are figments of her imagination.  She yells from everyone to get away and when she opens her eyes, she finds Psycho Pirate. Elsewhere, Psycho Pirate tells Lex Luthor that he has her.  He then tells Power Girl that that he is only trying to help her.

Review

Before I even read this issue a second time, I had to do some research to determine why the hell Huntress was included.  And what I learned is no different than I already knew:  the original Huntress (Helena Wayne) was part of Earth-2, but was killed trying to save some kids when the Crisis occurred.  What I didn’t know is that Helena was supposed to have been good friends with Power Girl while they were both in the Justice Society and perhaps even in Infinity, Inc.  So, at least this issue now makes a little more sense.  Whew.  And, after reading it a second time, I really, really appreciate what Geoff Johns was able to do with these characters.  Post original Crisis, Huntress and Power Girl have not direct ties, yet Johns was able to connect them by who they are, by their characters, by their feeling of being on the outside and not quite fitting in with other super heroes.  For Power Girl, this continues the theme in the regular JSA book while for Huntress it continues the theme in relation to her status with Batman.  Johns started this issue with two characters with no connection who make a connection.  Sign up Power Girl for Birds of Prey!

Part of me is glad they got all of the alternate realities (and man are there a lot) out of the way in such a whiz-bang fashion, but a part of me was kinda hoping we could see Power Girl interact more often with these characters to see how she might have fit in the story.  However, I think ultimately it was probably a good idea, especially since we know now Psycho Pirate is trying to drive her crazy with all of these different visions.  This was reinforced by Huntress seeing Power Girl alone when she was accosted by the Crime Syndicate.

Amanda Connors art is really hit and miss for me.  I really like the way Power Girl looks and I like the way she handles the humorous elements of the story.  Here four panels of Huntress at the bottom of page 6 is just priceless.  Yet, her Mr. Terrific and Dr. Mid-Nite did not work for me as they seemed too cartoonish, but Psycho Pirate I think is perfect for the story.

And Lex Luthor?  Is this part of the Villains United story?  I suppose that would make some sense since Pariah is involved in that series as well.  Given the conflicting of Power Girl’s history due to the original crisis, I am guessing then that perhaps this 4-story arc will play a large role in the upcoming Infinite Crisis series.  Well that and the fact the next month’s solicitation in the back tells me so, but I guessed that before I read it.

So far I like what I have read, but I really think the strength of the story will be based on the final resolution of Power Girl’s past and her true origin story, whether she is revealed as Superman’s cousin or something else entirely.-- MRB

 

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.