Art by: Eduardo Pansica, Júlio Ferreira
Colors by: Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Letters by: Becca Carey
Cover art by: Gary Frank (cover A)
Cover price: $3.99
Release date: November 28, 2023
Power Girl #3 finds Paige commiserating with an alien lion as she ponders the nature of the Kryptonian "virus" killing humans.
Is Power Girl #3 Good?
Sadly, Power Girl #3 is a nothing burger of an issue. Leah Williams has reportedly stated her request for background information on Power Girl was denied, and she was told to write whatever she wanted. Williams appears to have taken that guidance to heart, as this Power Girl is woefully out of character, and this plot is going nowhere fast.
When last we saw Power Girl, she sheepishly avoided heading to South America to investigate the Kryptonian "virus" that appeared to originate from her version of Krypton. Overflowing with self-doubt and apprehension, Paige eventually flew South, but her investigation was cut short when she ran into Amalak, who was infected with... something. Paige held her own against Amalak before the latter ripped out his eye to stop whatever was controlling his mind and threw himself off a cliff.
Sadly, Power Girl #3 is a nothing burger of an issue. Leah Williams has reportedly stated her request for background information on Power Girl was denied, and she was told to write whatever she wanted. Williams appears to have taken that guidance to heart, as this Power Girl is woefully out of character, and this plot is going nowhere fast.
When last we saw Power Girl, she sheepishly avoided heading to South America to investigate the Kryptonian "virus" that appeared to originate from her version of Krypton. Overflowing with self-doubt and apprehension, Paige eventually flew South, but her investigation was cut short when she ran into Amalak, who was infected with... something. Paige held her own against Amalak before the latter ripped out his eye to stop whatever was controlling his mind and threw himself off a cliff.
Now, Paige sits, mopes, ponders, and second-guesses next to the lion-like alien in the Southern Fortress of Solitude as she considers whether or not the "virus" is a body-hopping parasite. Superman tries to provide support but ultimately gives Paige the space she needs to figure herself out in her own way and time.
If it wasn't clear, there's a lot of moping, pondering, and sleeping in the fetal position in this issue. The brief bits of action are Paige flying at super speed while she searches for something.
What's great about Power Girl #3? The absolute highlight of this issue is Pansica and Ferreira's art. The character designs, costumes, layouts, and admittedly, even the character acting is well done.
What's not so great about Power Girl #3? Williams clearly doesn't understand the character, frequently overlapping her personality with the same troubled emotions experienced by Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl. Despite their multiversal sameness, Power Girl worked because she was distinctive enough in looks and personality to be her person, not another version of Supergirl. Williams has performed a lobotomy on that distinction to the point where the two characters are nearly interchangeable.
Further, the plot to find out what's going on with the "virus" is stuck in Neutral. Paige spends no time visiting witnesses, examining evidence, or doing anything to find out why people are dying. The brief bit of detective work happens in a throwaway inset panel. Readers learn to appreciate a character, especially superhero characters, through their actions. Sitting around and moping for most of an issue just doesn't cut it.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
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Bits and Pieces:
Power Girl #3 is going to lose more readers for two specific reasons. First, the plot about a Kryptonian "virus" gets almost no attention. Second, Paige's feelings and personality have been modified to the point where she's nearly indistinguishable from Supergirl, which is exactly the opposite of what should be happening. If Leah Williams didn't know anything about Power Girl, and DC Editorial wouldn't help her out, I'm sure somebody could have (should have) loaned her some back issues.
4/10
Yep, another waste of the Power Girl name - page after page of moping over a lion… does she actually know it’s dying, why not ask Superman? How did the big cat get out of its quarters? Since when can nothing get into a Fortress, it happens fortnightly? Why is Lilith dressed like a drabber Cyclone?
ReplyDeleteAnd most of all, if DC wouldn’t tell Leah Williams about Power Girl, why didn’t she, say, take it upon herself to read a Wikipedia page? At least then whatever she made up had less chance if being 180 degrees from Peege’s classic person.
Powergirl has always been one of my favourite DC characters but since the new 52 reboot she's just been blah. And definitely not the powergirl I loved. The new civilian name "Paige" is awful and she just looks too thin. in my head Karen is alot broader and muscular than Supergirl. But this comic has her drawn as a carbon copy of Supergirl, very disappointing.
ReplyDelete