If this DC reboot, revamp, new DC Universe -- whatever you want to call it -- has done anything, its that it has brought DC Comics to the forefront of comic book news. And that, for the most part, is a really good thing. I mean, all comic fans want to see people buying and reading comic books -- we all want this industry to exist, right? Yet, while it's all great and fun that the new DC Universe is being remodeled and characters we know and love are getting a chance to break from the chains of continuity that confine them (and their respective creative teams), not all of the news that has come to light has been great.
Some change isn't always the best -- at least it isn't when you are dealing with some of your favorite comic book characters. In order to pull off a revamp and a launch of 52 new ongoing titles, DC Comics had to cancel a whole lot of comic book series and change the roster to many of their popular teams. Among the canceled books was Power Girl, which had reached issue 27 before coming to an end prior to the launch of the new DC Universe. The series, which had initially seen success in numbers and praise from fans and comic journalists alike, was launched by stellar creative team Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray and artist Amanda Conner.
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The series' first issue saw a lot of success before the second issue dropped to 36,000 units sold and remained there before eventually dipping below the 20,000 units sold mark. That's not to say the series was bad; in fact, it was pretty good. Even after Palmiotti, Gray and Conner's twelve issue run ended and writer Judd Winick took over writing duties on the series alongside artist Sami Basri until Matthew Sturges came on board, the series was still okay. Sadly, money talks and PG wasn't selling the way DC would have liked -- and fans had been bracing themselves for a canceled book. Which unfortunately, is exactly what happened.
This summer, DC revealed an all new line-up of books that would be released starting in September, and Power Girl unfortunately did not make the list. PG not only lost her own ongoing series in the revamp, but she lost a place on any of DC's upcoming team books (Justice League and Justice League International, for example). This was, unfortunately, a rather sad ending to a series which had done its best to give Power Girl something she had never had before -- an identity.
Before the Power Girl series by Palmiotti and Gray, Power Girl was nothing more than an Earth-2 version of Supergirl. She was (arguably) a second rate character whose physical appearance was used to sell her books when her personality seemed lacking. The creative team made her entertaining and interesting; they gave her a personality, interests and ambition. Their treatment of the fact that she is a voluptuous woman was appropriately tongue-in-cheek, and made for some very amusing moments in her book. In twelve issues Power Girl went from being a character who was just a really busty female version of Superman, to being her own woman with her own identity who just happened to have a voluptuous figure. That's what made this book so great, and that's what makes me sad to see it go.
Late last week during FanExpo in Toronto (which we covered here), DC announced an all new series, Justice Society, which was being written by veteran Starman and Justice League writer James Robinson and drawn by Nicola Scott (Wonder Woman). The announcement revealed that the series (which doesn't yet have a release date) would be set on Earth-2 -- coincidentally, Power Girl's home universe. Could DC be saving PG for the Justice Society book? Could Power Girl finally be returning to Earth-2? All that we know for sure is that DC editor Eddie Berganza had been quoted as saying Karen Starr would return -- but he never confirmed that she would be returning as Power Girl.
After a great series that had established Power Girl as having more depth and personality, it would certainly be unfortunate to see the character's departure from comics. Particularly since her final issue made no mention or hint of what was in store for her in the future. It just sort of ended, and frankly, that kind of sucks.
What do you think of Power Girl? What would you like to see be her future at DC comics? Do you think she will join the recently announced Justice Society book?
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