Power Girl

Power Girl in World's Finest v1 #12.

Power Girl is a female comic superhero who features in DC Comics.

Biography

Origin

Kara Zor-L was a female version of Kara Zor-El from the alternate universe of Earth-2 in the Multiverse.

She promised her cousin that she would wait a few more months before revealing her existence to the world. However, she witnessed an incident involving a volcano that threatened the Justice Society of America that caused her to intervene. (All-Star Comics v1 #58) After years of keeping her existence a secret Power Girl made her debut saving Peking, China from a volcanic eruption. Flash and Wildcat of the JSA had previously failed to prevent the catastrophe, the handiwork of Brainwave, who caused a number of disasters in hopes of causing a chain-reaction that would blow up Earth. Similar circumstances averted the disasters in Capetown and Seattle, with new heroes helping the Justice Society. Power Girl suggested that Brainwave set them up to fail but did not foresee the interference of the new heroes, whom power Girl dubbed the Super Squad. The Justice Society and Squad confronted Brain Wave aboard his space station, and learned that he had sapped the willpower of the Justice Society of America that they displayed in averting the disasters to return will and youth to Per Degaton. When the Justice Society had the villains on the ropes, Brain Wave used his mental powers to send Earth on a collision course with the sun, demanding they submit or see the planet die. Power Girl sent Brain Wave's space station toward the sun, overheating it and causing the villain to pass out. The Justice Society then decided to take in the Super Squad so they could learn from each other. (All-Star Comics v1 #59)

Power Girl did not like the JSA treating her like a kid which led to her challenging the Flash to a race. She lost but proved she would never back down from a challenge. Vulcan attacked the team because he once idolized the JSA, but blamed his inhuman condition on his attempts at heroics, and now wanted to kill his former idols. He set their headquarters ablaze and left. Power Girl met Xlk-Jnn an alien that gave Vulcan his powers, and he informed her that he needed to treat Vulcan because he was now vulnerable to sunlight. The mad Vulcan killed the alien, but Star-Spangled Kid now knew his weakness and used a blast of cosmic rod starlight to destroy Vulcan. (All-Star Comics v1 #61) Power Girl and other Justice Society members later stood guard over Dr. Fate whilst Dr. Mid-Nite tried to save his life. Wildcat passed the time by reminding Power Girl that he thought she did not belong on the team. The Justice Society were called away when Lemurian sorcerer Zanadu kidnapped Hawkgirl and tried to destroy Tokyo where the heroes fought him in battle. (All-Star Squadron v1 #62)

Justice Society

She later came to re-join the ranks of the new Justice Society as a replacement for Black Canary who had to leave the team. Power Girl went through a series of mandatory tests as part of the new team where she learnt from the new Doctor Mid-Nite Pieter Cross that her previously believed Atlantean heritage may have been false as he learnt that her abilities were innate rather than the result of magic. (JSA v1 #32)

Power Girl overhauled the JSA security system and set up a satellite com system for the JSA. (JSA v1 #38) She then had a press conference in Central Park to announce her new foundation to provide a safety net for orphaned children who’d fallen through the cracks of society. She’d always wanted to use the money she’d earned in software for a worthy cause, and turned inward to her own memories of growing up without parents. The conference was interrupted by her old enemy Force, but before they could fight Force was taken out by Da’ Bomb, a supervillain madly in love with Power Girl. She wanted nothing to do with him and when he tried to kiss her they ended up in battle. Power Girl subdued him by hitting him in the head with a hundred-foot-crane, but despite his defeat he told her he was grateful for the chance to fight her. Back at JSA headquarters Power Girl told Star-Spangled Kid and Hakwgirl about her adventure and offered them a bit of advice. Power Girl had qualities that made people think of her as a witch even though those same qualities would have been accepted in a male hero, but she told them to always be true to yourself and show people the type of woman you were even if it was not popular. (JSA v1 #39)

Power Girl was among the heroes Black Adam fought with the fighting ending after Captain Marvel suggested a pact be formed to resolve the matter. As Black Adam was a hero to Kahndaq, the suggestion was that he rule it and be its protector but that he should abandon any plans for the world at large. Black Adam came to agree to these terms and allowed the Justice Society to depart the country. (Hawkman v4 #25)

Following a disagreement in operational methods, Power Girl and the younger members of the JSA split into the Justice Society of America All-Stars. At the same time, she began devoting more time to her old R&D firm, Starrware Labs in New York City. (Power Girl v2 #1)

After his defeat, Kara was spared any major conflicts until Ultra-Humanite's ex-girlfriend Satanna tried to avenge his defeat. She nearly succeeded in killing Power Girl, but Atlee's intervention saved her life. (Power Girl v2 #10)

Power Girl tried to convince the JSA and Batman about Lord and the threat he posed. However, during the meeting, another mind wipe causes them to forget about him once again. Power Girl then goes to Professor Ivo's new lab in Vietnam where he's revived, Project Cadmus. Before she could shut it down, Maxwell stopped her and used his powers, to force her to kill the Justice League International. The JLI managed to snap her out of Maxwell's control and decides to join them in stopping him. She then goes to dig up the corpse of Ted Kord to prove that he was murdered. When she takes the body to Batman to examine it, he initially refused, but after some convincing with Batman (the recently returned Bruce Wayne), the two examined the body to learn that Ted Kord was indeed killed by Lord. Power Girl then joins Batman and the JLI in stopping Maxwell Lord. After Lord was defeated, Kara was able to restore her company and refocus it on using her creations to help the general public. Knowing that this would mean Karen Starr would have to enter the public spotlight, she puts some advice she received from Superman into action and begins putting more effort into managing her secret identity. (Power Girl v2 #23)

Post-Flashpoint

Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events. Kara Zor-L

The Wonders of the World were the greatest heroes of Earth-2. Captained by the core Ternion of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, they were joined by Robin, Catwoman, Supergirl, Mr. 8 and two others. Darkseid invaded Earth 2, plunging the world into war, and the Wonders fought him, his general Steppenwolf and his armies of Parademons across the globe, but the raging conflict dragged on without either side gaining a clear advantage until Darkseid used his Rapture Generator to subvert the wills of the entire populations of Italy, Brazil, South Africa and Pakistan using the anti-life equation. Now servants of Darkseid, he planned to use them as cannon fodder for Steppenwolf. Mr. 8 built a machine to pierce other dimensions in hopes of finding Apokolips and bringing the fight to Darkseid’s world. He didn’t succeed in that task, but uncovered numerous parallel Earths, and saw many of them that were similar to Earth 2. In some the Wonders won, in others they lost, and after observing numerous possible future outcomes Mr. 8 resolved to find a way to avoid the future Earth 2 was headed for. Mr. 8 and the Ternion attacked Darkseid’s base housing the Rapture Generator, and after a fierce fight Mr. 8 told his teammates he was about to attach a module that would override it, but instead unleashed synthesized opal kryptonite of his own invention on Superman, driving him mad, and causing him to attack Wonder Woman. Mr. 8 explained to Batman that what he was going to do would seem insane and monstrously evil, but had to be done to assure victory. 8’s module, once attached to the generator, blew up the countries subjugated by the anti-life equation, killing millions. Mr. 8 said that if the Wonders had done the “right thing” and fought to save them they would have lost the war against Darkseid. The opal kryptonite’s effect’s wore off, giving the Ternion time to flee as Mr. 8 set his device to destroy Darkseid’s base, saving himself by fleeing into the ninth dimension. Mr. 8 knew his former teammates would pursue him, but hoped one day the world would remember him as a hero and not a villain. (Earth 2 #0)

Batman met with Wonder Woman and Superman, telling them he’d come up with a way to repel Darkseid’s invasion. Batman had figured out that the beacon towers set up by Darkseid powered the Parademons and gave them marching orders, but each time the Wonders of the World managed to destroy a tower its transmissions simply rolled over to other towers, and any destroyed towers were quickly replaced by new ones sent in via boom tube. Batman developed a chip with a virus program that would shut down a tower, and when it’s transmission rolled over the virus would spread to all the other beacon towers. The Wonders went to work, with Batman making his way to a tower while Superman and Wonder Woman held off the armies of Parademons guarding it. Robin provided air support, and Supergirl accompanied a squadron of U.S. soldiers standing by with nuclear weapons ready to deploy against the towers in case Batman failed. Steppenwolf got the drop on Wonder Woman, stabbing her in the back, killing her. Parademons swarmed Superman, attaching an explosive device to the back of his head, killing him. Batman managed load the virus into the beacon tower, then warned Robin to fly away from the area, because he knew the tower’s self-defense system would cause it to explode. She wanted to save him, but he told her he had no choice but to sacrifice himself. A boom tube opened up, and Batgirl and Supergirl flew through it, ending up on Prime Earth. The war was over, and Darkseid was forced to withdraw. (Earth 2 v1 #1)

Overview

Personality and attributes

Kara Zor-L in Power Girl v2 #27.

In appearance, Power Girl was depicted as a tall, athletic young woman with fair skin, short blonde hair cut close around her head, and a strong, muscular build that emphasized her Kryptonian heritage. Her costume was a white one-piece suit with long sleeves, accented by a red cape fastened at the shoulder with a circular clasp, a blue belt, and blue boots. The most distinctive feature of the outfit was the open circular cut-out on her chest. (All Star Comics v1 #58)

In personality, Power Girl was shown as assertive, outspoken, and often impatient compared to her Justice Society colleagues. She frequently voiced her opinions bluntly, and her directness extended into combat where she preferred decisive physical action rather than cautious planning. She displayed confidence in her powers and was unafraid to challenge even her veteran teammates. However, she had a strong sense of loyalty to the team and a willingness to put herself at risk for others, reinforcing her straightforward but heroic outlook. (All Star Comics v1 #59)

It was said that Power Girl never took orders without question. (Hawkman v4 #25)

She had said that the main thing she felt was loneliness. This was the prime reason she joined the likes of Justice League Europe and Justice Society as she wanted to belong somewhere. (JSA v1 #63)

Power Girl had said that everyone tended to take a quick glance down her cleavage with some women doing it as well. People tended to think that the reason her costume had a hole in the chest region was her showing off or for lewd reasons. However, in reality, she could not think of a symbol and left it empty until she could eventually figure it out and close the hole. (JSA: Classified v1 #2)

Her cousin was Superman making her another survivor of long lost Krypton. (All-Star Comics v1 #58)

She had said that talking to Superman had always made her feel better. (JSA: Classified v1 #2)

Powers and abilities

As a Kryptonian, Power Girl gained superhuman abilities whilst present on Earth. (All-Star Comics v1 #58) In powers, Power Girl possessed Kryptonian physiology under Earth’s yellow sun. This granted her superhuman strength, enabling her to lift and hurl massive weights and engage physically with metahuman opponents. She could fly at high speeds, demonstrated in combat and during rescue efforts. Her invulnerability allowed her to withstand physical strikes, energy blasts, and collapsing structures without injury. Additionally, she possessed enhanced senses, including telescopic and x-ray vision, which aided her in identifying threats and protecting civilians. All of these abilities were evident in her earliest appearances with the Justice Society. (All Star Comics v1 #60)

Her physiology meant that she did not have to sleep or required only minimal rest. Karen did not feel cold or hot or any kind of pain. (JSA v1 #63)

Pieter Cross speculated that her flight was the result unconscious gravity manipulation of gravitons that were hypothetical particles with zero charge. (JSA v1 #32)

In her guise as Karen Starr, she established a technology company called Starrware where she operated as a successful businesswoman. (Power Girl v1 #1)

Notes

• Power Girl was created by Gerry Conway, Joe Orlando, Ric Estrada and Wally Wood where she made her first appearance in All-Star Comics v1 #58 (January/February, 1976).
• The character was based on Supergirl who was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino.
• In the Post-Crisis continuity, an edict was that Superman was to be the sole remaining Kryptonian in the DCU leading to Power Girl's backstory being retconned as a result with her for a time being claiming to be an Atlantean descendant of Arion.
• On Comic Bulletin, writer Jimmy Palmiotti wrote, "Okay. When the character was created, Wally Wood was the artist that drew Power Girl, and he was convinced that the editors were not paying attention to anything he did. So, his inker said 'Every issue, I’m going to draw the tits bigger until they notice it'. It took about seven or eight issues before anyone was like, 'Hey, what’s with the tits?' And that’s where they stopped. True story."
• On Twitter, her creator Gerry Conway wrote, "The true, dumb reason for the circle? At the time, it was a convention for hero costumes to have a chest symbol. I thought a giant “P” looked silly. The circle was intended as a nod to convention without being conventional. Not a sexy thing at all, until Wally Wood’s inks."

Alternate Versions

• In Kingdom Come v1 #2 (1996), an alternate version of Power Girl appeared in the Kingdom Come reality that was designated as Earth-22 in the Multiverse. In this future world, she came to take the name Power Woman. Immediately following the disaster in Kansas, she returned to active duty, initially helping Superman subdue Americommando and the Minutemen as they engaged in a battle with Red, White, and Blue on Ellis Island with innocent citizens in the crossfire. Kara remained loyal to Superman's team, though her dis-temperance required Superman's intervention when the Flash pulled Norman McCay out of the spectral dimension while he and the Spectre were watching events unfolding on board the Green Lantern's satellite. Although she seemed to perish during the meta-human battle at the site of the Gulag when a nuclear weapon had detonated on the warring crowd, she later showed up at the birth of Superman and Wonder Woman's child to protect him from Gog, who arrived from a Hypertime reality in the future to kidnap the child and to cause the Kansas incident to happen years earlier so that Superman could be framed for allowing the event to take place.
• In Tangent Comics: Powergirl v1 #1 (1998), an alternate version of Powergirl appeared in the Tangent Comics reality that was designated as Earth-9 in the Multiverse. Powergirl was a humanoid being artificially created by the communist government of China. Despite originally looking like a teenage girl she was created and matured to that relative age through precise genetic creation; she is actually only a few years old. Powergirl was designed to have inherent superhuman powers and abilities, her government's response to the emerging superhuman populace on Earth. She is the second Chinese-created humanoid; her immediate predecessor, "Super Girl," was flawed and quickly died from genetic deterioration. Powergirl is presently the only known long-lasting humanoid of the Chinese super-humanoid project to date. It is unknown if there were other successive humanoids produced after she proved unwilling to serve her creators with mindless devotion. If there were, their fates are unrevealed. The United States government, then led by President Schwartz, conducted an operation in extracting Powergirl from the Chinese and into American hands. However, Powergirl refused to side with either China or the U.S. in which she traveled on her own to decide for herself. Apparently, Powergirl made her decision to join the Superman's, Harvey Dent's, open control of Earth as his primary enforcer and supporter. Powergirl is also currently his fiancee and has engaged in an open romantic relationship with Dent while living with him at his retreat in Switzerland. She participated in violently engaging the Secret Six and the heroes of New Earth who were opposed to Dent's enforced control of Earth-9. She killed Manhunter and captured several of the heroes in the process.
• In DC Comics Bombshells v1 #28 (2017), an alternate version of Powergirl appeared in the DC Bombshells reality that was a world that existed within the Multiverse. Power Girl was a clone created by Hugo Strange after Supergirl's defection, using samples of blood and hair Kara had to give when she applied to be a Night Witch. Kara despised Supergirl, whom she accused of betraying the Soviet Union and leaving it defenseless, not knowing how and why Supergirl and Stargirl fled. Power Girl became the Soviet Union's latest secret weapon and Leningrad's main defender during the German Siege. She sortied every night, trashed the German troops and flew back to Strange's lab bunker before the Sun rose. She finally found Kara when the Girl of Steel was captured and taken to Strange's lab. Strange pitted Power Girl against Supergirl, but Supergirl managed to reach Power Girl out and get her to open her eyes to the fact the Communist Party was using her and Strange regarded her as his puppet. Angry, Power Girl rebelled against her creator and pummelled him. Then she revealed to Supergirl that Strange had created another clone, whom he called Superman. The trio escaped from the underground lab, and Power Girl joined Kara's team.

In other media

Television

• In Justice League Unlimited, Power Girl herself did not appear in the animated television series set in the DC Animated Universe but a character named Galatea was based on her.

Films

• In Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, Power Girl appeared in the setting of the animated film where she was voiced by actress Allison Mack.

Video games

• In DC Universe Online, Power Girl appeared in the setting of the MMORPG video game where she was voiced by actress Adrienne Mishler.
• In Injustice 2, Power Girl appeared as an alternate premier skin for Supergirl in the fighting video game where she was voiced by actress Sara Cravens.
• In DC Legends, Power Girl appeared as a playable character in the mobile video game.

Appearances

• All-Star Comics v1: (1976)
• Power Girl v1:
• JSA v1:
• Hawkman v4:
• Justice Society of America:
• Power Girl v2:
• World's Finest:
• Earth-2 v1:

External Links

• DC Database Entry
• Comicvine Entry
• Wikipedia Entry

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