Power Girl... I'm In Love

I'm in love with a comic book character... everyone who knows me, would ask, "Which one...? You mean it isn't Superman...?" It's not, but man- she is Kryptonian. I'm talking about Karen Starr, otherwise known as Power Girl and sigh... I Love Her. Let me explain- this is a character I first fell in love with back in the 70's when I started collecting comics. The days when George Tuska and Vince Colletta where drawing strong pages; where names like Joe Staton and Ric Estrada where strong in their art. All Star Comics #58 was one of the first 10 books I received back in 1976- I remember that because of how this character Power Girl was drawn- strong and sexy, I likened her to a blond version of Wonder Woman (and not the Cathy Lee Crosby version either!) and was loving the lil' attitude she gave. More than anything I loved the costume- not like her Kryptonian cousin, or like Kara Zor-El of Earth 1, her costume made her sexier than any scantily clad characters ever created- including Wonder Woman (that's not gonna sit well with Phil Jimenez if he ever reads this). Just GOOGLE Power Girl's image- there are a lot cool art and cosplayers, but be forewarned of the insipid fools who call themselves artists while drawing her scantily clad, topless, or in compromising situtions (although I'm surprised they had time to draw between stints of "pipe cleaning" into a kleenex based on their insipid, yet so-called erotic artistic scribble they call "art" for the character, but I digress...)

I thrilled to reading her adventures in any book she was written in. When the Crisis on Infinite Earths came, I was very vocal in how she was treated after that grand story. She was somehow tied into being an Atlantean and the granddaughter of Atlantean sorcerer Arion (FOUL!). Not the best fix, but DC settled. The best incarnation of her came in Justice League Europe (and the best look/ costume- at that time- IMHO) from Bart Sears), toward the end of that series she had lost her Kryptonian strength (I think it was decreased a lot), her ability to fly and her vision powers (FOUL!).She later got screwed in Zero Hour, giving birth and then losing the baby (FOUL!), then she was in a little known book called “Sovereign Seven”, but that appears to have faded away. She was one of the first agents for Oracle's Birds of Prey, but that robbed her fan base further. Even her costumes have been rewarding and ridiculous; from the grand (first appearance) to the horrendous (A yellow/ white bodysuit), to "WTF!!!" (A blue/ white bodysuit with a short mini-cape, headband, and a diamond shaped opening on her chest)
She was cheated out of her Kryptonian heritage, but all wasn't lost- not at all. Enter "JSA Classified" with Adam Hughes, Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Justin Gray. These three architects vame in with loving care for the character and endeared her even more so to her incredible fan base, drawing in more fans! They hooked her into a battle with The Psycho Pirate, the only being who remembers the whole COIE incident and he revealed to her true origin- as a true life Kryptonian (YEAH!)- just not of this earth, but one called "EARTH 2". The series segued into "Infinite Crisis" and I prayed that she would not lose her life in this series- a nasty rumor of a Kryptonian dying (Superboy, who was a Kryptonian/ Earth hybrid clone did), the joy I felt when I read she was not to die overwhelmed my inner geeky fanboy. She made it through that crisis, she became stronger in the DCU by becoming the chairwoman of the JSA and the JSA All Stars!. The last few times I've seen her, she's been an "older sister" to Supergirl (as she SHOULD be depicted as), and a mentor to Terra. I personally would love to see her more involved in the SUPERMAN books (note to any DC Execs who would read this blog), sort of like a a “2nd/ 3rd-in-command” in the Superman family with Steel, Supergirl, Superboy, and Krypto . I totally love the dynamic of her relationship with Helena/ The Huntress; I really wanna see something like a "World's Finest" thing with them- a best friend (the one thing I know she misses and her fan base misses- she and Helena Wayne Earth 2 were BFFs) would be wonderful story idea. What I don't want to see is her as Hal Jordan's booty call... FOUL!

I get pure eyegasm from seeing Adam Hughes' work of her and to see that he loves her as much shows in his work. BUT... AMANDA CONNOR?!?!?!?!? She's the Boss!!!

I truly believe in this character's future now as I loved her Pre COIE past depiction. I feel NOW that no one... I'll reiterate- NO ONE- calls the shot on this character until they go through her (and Jimmy and Justin!) for the simple reason that she is now in great hands! More careful, loving, endearing hands- there is a better grasp on her now. Not only do we get Kara back, we get Karen Starr, Starrware, and a newly updated design on Ric Estrada's original look: I love the red belt coming back, the boot/ belt buckles are great and show continuity. The design/ look/ feel of the body suit, the cool as cool can be blue gloves, the gold shoulder pad with the leather strap and the cape... I dare anyone to change this look- THIS is her NEW definitive look and all of us fans are in total eyegasmic state of relief! I love the cover to No. one with Amanda's pencils to Power Girl, with the logo, the stars, and Paul Mount's coloring... it's so fresh; the colors grab your attention. If ever a character deserves a place in the DCU and a new start, it's Karen Starr. A few things as fan I'd like to see are:

1) BFF with The Huntress; so important for her to have Helena as a BF. They both are really not tied to their respective mentor’s families, yet they have both played vital, important roles in them. Huntress and Power Girl MUST embrace their destiny as best friends; so that they can see how much they can accomplish together (I realized I just got all Spock Prime for a minute).
2) Karen Starr- the alter ego thing is back and it has to work.
3) StarrWare- it must be vital in the DCU, as is Star Labs. I always thought StarrWare would be like the major O/S system of the DCU.
4) Her relationship with Terra, Linda Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Lois, Martha, Connor, and Clark have to be established as emotional support characters, not really title support characters. If she feels like homemade pie, she should visit Martha. If she wants girl time and Helena is busy, Terra or Supergirl can be brought in for Sisterly Bonding. When she wants to get a woman to woman view on things- Wonder Woman should fit that role (powerful women in the DCU- #1: Wonder Woman, #2: Power Girl). If she sees Connor needs a big sister, they should interact in a way that allows them to feel like family with each other. A support system for Clark and Lois… and a sitter for Krypto!

There could be more, but honestly, again… I am in love with Power Girl. She's in great hands now and this blog is openly written in thanks to the following: Dan Didio, Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Connor, Paul Mounts, Phil Jimenez, Adam Hughes, Brian Cunningham, George Perez, Jerry Ordway, Bart Sears, Gerry Conway, and finally Ric Estrada, who brought Gerry's vision of Kara Zor-L to life in the first place.

Mourning

I was listening to the song "My Immortal" by Evanescence and although it's a really sad song, there are those that hear the song as a funeral dirge and I suppose in many ways it can be. Death isn't something related to just the physical; no- it can be in a relationship between lovers, parents and children, in a marriage, in a friendship, or even in a spiritual sense... in almost every essence of what is known "something living" there is also something known as THE END. I ask, "Who wants to face THE END?" Who is brave enough to look in to the unknown and shout, "I welcome THE END?" No one unless they're a fool. When the end of something comes, before there is a healing, before you can move on- you have a period where you question in heavy sadness why? This is called Mourning and when one mourns, the onlookers offer you their shoulder and feed you kind words like, "Everything will be ok" or "It's for the best". They're kind words, but at that moment, you don't want to hear that, you want the answer to your question, "Why?". Why did they die? Why is it over? Why did they leave me? What did I do? Am I a bad person? Do I deserve this?

The attempted answer will be offered by those who offer their kind words, but the truth is that the question has no real answer- it may never actually be answered by anyone physical. I believe strongly in God and I feel that he has many answers to many questions- I just have draw closer to Him to get what I ask for. Others may have another source to getting their answers, which is based on the situation presented before them; "They died", "They quit" or "They lied to you" or "It wasn't meant to happen" or my favorite "It will get better..." followed by a warm heartfelt promise. I choose to ask God why to my questions; but in this realm of physical matter, our questions goes unanswered. So... we're left with the kind words from family, friends, or even strangers to soothe our sorrow. In the time before healing can begin, in which we curse the feeling and question the reason- we are in mourning, wanting things to be the way they were, wanting a second chance, begging for the ability to go back in time and correct things. We are in mourning, and although we know things will be better in the future, as tomorrow is another day, we want things better RIGHT NOW- The Hell with Tomorrow! The loneliness creeps in, the sad realization that life will go on scares us- a loved one will find another, a death in tears will be fondly remembered in laughter, the friendship of one BFF may open up to a new BFF. The future isn't really sad, but right now- in the present, you grieve, you yell, you shout, you cry, you slump to bended knees, or tears soak your pillowcase at night and you want to know the answer to your question, "Why?"

There is no real answer for this happening right now. You must accept something that you are not in control of- fate. Fate has the answer, as your destiny may lie in this dreadful change you are undergoing. It will shape you, mold you, and strengthen you. It will teach you, change you as seasons change, and it will allow you to celebrate what may come your way. But for now, accept the grief, embrace the sadness, but be careful not to let it overwhelm you. Open yourself to emotions- whatever they are and feel no shame in expressing them. Relish in the past, where times were good and enjoy those memories. Savor the present, although its wrought with sadness, you are alive and this moment in time reminds you of that. Finally, welcome the future with no fear- as your destiny lies there- THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY! Unconquered land is what YOU will make of it. But know this: No one person can tell you how to feel in this period of mourning your life where it stands. Because it is different for everyone and every situation. Accept, embrace, open yourself up, and allow the mourning to come in.

By the way... it will get better- I promise.