Johns clearly has a love of DC's colorful super-hero universe's history and characters. I can tell from his writing that he and I grew up reading the same comics and enjoying the same super-hero and sci-fi ideas contained therein. AS such, it makes me a perfect candidate to be a member of his audience, but it threatens to exclude newer readers who don't appreciate the references that turn up in his work. But damn, I have to admit... the traditional super-hero action in this script and the light, energetic and slightly baudy art from Amanda Conner make for a wonderfully entertaining read. I could be wrong about the accessibility concerns, as this new series seems to be a hit for DC, but then again, that could be attribution to younger readers fawning over the main character's cleavage.
Something weird is going on in Power Girl's world. She doesn't know who she is anymore. She once thought she was the Kryptonian cousin of the world's greatest hero, but that's been debukned. She once thought she was the granddaughter of a powerful Atlantean sorcerer, but that's not true either. Perched atop the Daily Planet building, she wonders who she is, and an answer presents itself in the form of three teen super-heroes from the future. They claim she's a member of the 31st century Legion of Super-Heroes who was sent into the 21st century on a mission. And now it's time to return home. Yes, an answer has presented itself, but is it the right answer?
Conner's art is delightful, full of personality and energy. There's a lighter tone to her act that leans toward the comedic, but it never threatens to overwhelm the story when things are being played straight. She conveys the more youthful nature of the Legion characters quite well, and the twisted, insane nature of the villain who turns up at the end of the issue really shines through. One element in her art for this issue that really stands out is her depiction of Superman. He seems much less imposing a figure here, more of an average guy than the ultimate heroic icon. It's an interesting approach, and it works. Power Girl doesn't see him as a god-like figure, but like a big brother, and Conner tones down the larger-than-life attributes accordingly.
From the new incarnation of Legion of Super-Heroes to a character from the 1990s vision of the team, from Crisis on Infinite Earths to DC Universe elements established in the little-known Chase series, Johns includes a lot of plot elements that go far beyond the experience of just JSA readers. It could make for a somewhat impenetrable read. I did enjoy the suggestion of a link between Power Girl and the Legion, but unless one is well versed in DC lore, the premise might fly right over one's head.
What emerges here is a psychological story that's just as enthralling as the high-energy action of the book. Though accessibility concerns abound, there's no doubt new readers will be mesmerized by the colorful array of established super-hero characters. More importantly, Johns has established an attitude and personality in Power Girl that's matched by the playful and flirty artwork. 7/10
