Take a photo of a barcode or cover
krausemouse's review against another edition
3.0
Thanks to my friend Dustin at work, I finally get an introduction to the enigmatic Power Girl. I have a stack of 5 TPBs, so I am ready to get to know her. ;-)
sean_from_ohio's review against another edition
2.0
I decided to check this trade out to learn more about Power Girl and where she comes from. After reading it I can say that I'm more confused now than ever before. While the book contained different origin stories from the seventies, eighties, and the modern version all I got out of was that no one has come up with a definitive origin yet. The book is a hodgepodge of Power Girl and the modern main storyline serves no purpose as PG is just as confused as readers. The art by Amanda Conner is decent yet not spectacular. One thing that does bother me about her art is the constant smirk on her characters faces. It usually doesn't mesh with the story. Overall, I think this book can easily be passed by.
bengresik's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
andyshute's review
5.0
I already own (and love) the two Gray/Palmiotti/Conner's collections but the library had this collected edition with the addition of the Geoff John's PG focussed JSA Classified 1-4.
I'll say it again, but the solo series is brilliant. I only intended to read the stories that were new to me but I kept right on - there was nothing lost on re-reading and a lot to gain.
Similar to what Fraction and Aja have achieved with Hawkeye recently, Palmiotti and Gray manage to create a little magic in taking a somewhat redundant character and just running with the freedom that allows. They have a light deft touch, full of grace and humour, embracing yet poking fun at the cheesecake and crafting a lovely relationship between PG and Terra.
The real hero though is Amanda Connor. She is awesome! Truly she shines, with a vibrant, dynamic style, wonderfully expressive faces and eye rolls, an aggressive action style and some wonderful inking (something that I don't often pay much attention too, but here is very powerful). I cannot sing her praises enough - she elevates these stories.
The stories themselves are fun (especially the playful seduction ofZed, Vartox) but really, it's the little moments that shine. Karen taking Atlee to the movies, feeding/cleaning the cat, her morning routine. Magic.
If anything the preceeding Johns scripted tale is a let down. Bit harsh perhaps - it's a perfectly servicable tale that cleverly plays on the 'multiple origins' history. However, it feels completely different to the playful tone that follows and really, there's no continuity.
In contrast, the Conner's scripted short with Wonder Woman is a lovely tale featuring my favourite feline sidekick. Really, the best super pet outside of Pizza Dog. It's just a shame they did't collect the Terra miniseries as well for completion.
If you haven't picked up the solo runs then do so - they are some of the best comics in the last 5-10 years. Well worth some time and great for re-reading.
I'll say it again, but the solo series is brilliant. I only intended to read the stories that were new to me but I kept right on - there was nothing lost on re-reading and a lot to gain.
Similar to what Fraction and Aja have achieved with Hawkeye recently, Palmiotti and Gray manage to create a little magic in taking a somewhat redundant character and just running with the freedom that allows. They have a light deft touch, full of grace and humour, embracing yet poking fun at the cheesecake and crafting a lovely relationship between PG and Terra.
The real hero though is Amanda Connor. She is awesome! Truly she shines, with a vibrant, dynamic style, wonderfully expressive faces and eye rolls, an aggressive action style and some wonderful inking (something that I don't often pay much attention too, but here is very powerful). I cannot sing her praises enough - she elevates these stories.
The stories themselves are fun (especially the playful seduction of
If anything the preceeding Johns scripted tale is a let down. Bit harsh perhaps - it's a perfectly servicable tale that cleverly plays on the 'multiple origins' history. However, it feels completely different to the playful tone that follows and really, there's no continuity.
In contrast, the Conner's scripted short with Wonder Woman is a lovely tale featuring my favourite feline sidekick. Really, the best super pet outside of Pizza Dog. It's just a shame they did't collect the Terra miniseries as well for completion.
If you haven't picked up the solo runs then do so - they are some of the best comics in the last 5-10 years. Well worth some time and great for re-reading.
gerryds's review against another edition
3.0
Mixed bag. Art was good, but a good chunk of the stories were reminiscent of an older Supergirl story that I didn't like at all at the time. This version is better but felt unnecessary.
Girl's Night Out was definitely my favorite of this collection. That was a lot of fun.
Girl's Night Out was definitely my favorite of this collection. That was a lot of fun.
mysteriousnorse's review
4.0
Fun and Sexy. As much as I love serious and dark comics, most of the time, I’m just hoping for some good characters in creative situations with decent art. Gray, Palmiotti, and Conner provide the best of that here. Kara deals with insane situations, but it’s light and vibrant. Comics gold.
Other Comics Reviews
Challengers of the Unknown
Jack Kirby’s The Fourth World Omnibus
Batman by Neal Adams Omnibus
Roots of the Swamp Thing
Orion Omnibus
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow
Detective Comics: 80 Years of Batman: The Deluxe Edition
Other Comics Reviews
Challengers of the Unknown
Jack Kirby’s The Fourth World Omnibus
Batman by Neal Adams Omnibus
Roots of the Swamp Thing
Orion Omnibus
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow
Detective Comics: 80 Years of Batman: The Deluxe Edition
suziegon's review
5.0
This is a pretty female-positive book, and shows a healthy and well-rounded (as in showing all-around life) relationship between women. I love the Birds of Prey, but their lives outside missions aren't shown much. And as great as the characters are, they always seem to have a problem with their male romantic interests in the back of their minds. Gotham City Sirens are great too, but there's always a lack of trust between group members and the tendency to betray each other - on top of romance problems. In "Power Girl: Power Trip", readers are treated to THREE ENTIRE PAGES of Karen (Power Girl) and Atlee (Terra) JUST at the movies together - two-and-a-half of which is them simply interacting with each other as friends. It's relaxed, warm, and we don't see nearly enough of heroes being normal people in comics. There are other similar moments like this in the book. The normalcy sets Power Girl apart. You get to SEE she's at least trying to live a balanced life between work, heroism, and just being herself. It's so refreshing.
One issue I had with this book was the ending of the "Power Trip" arc. It might have just been me, but I feel like it wasn't properly resolved before we see Power Girl back to normal and seemingly all sorted out in the next issue. I would've appreciated seeing how she dealt with learning she's actually from another universe. Maybe it was dealt with and just not included in this collection, I don't know. But it would've been nice to have it here.
Another problem is the way Karen/Power Girl is sexualized. It's always pointed out as something Karen doesn't like, yet the comic keeps showing her in situations where the reader /will/ sexualize her, or another character is. I think the writers were trying to point it out ironically, but it happened so often it backfired, to the point of it becoming a bit of a nuisance.
Other than that, I love this book and I'm in love with Power Girl as a character. She's smart, sassy, and kicks ass while maintaining healthy relationships and keeping things fun. Can't recommend it enough. The stories are light and fun, but also humanizing, and the art is LOVELY.
One issue I had with this book was the ending of the "Power Trip" arc. It might have just been me, but I feel like it wasn't properly resolved before we see Power Girl back to normal and seemingly all sorted out in the next issue. I would've appreciated seeing how she dealt with learning she's actually from another universe. Maybe it was dealt with and just not included in this collection, I don't know. But it would've been nice to have it here.
Another problem is the way Karen/Power Girl is sexualized. It's always pointed out as something Karen doesn't like, yet the comic keeps showing her in situations where the reader /will/ sexualize her, or another character is. I think the writers were trying to point it out ironically, but it happened so often it backfired, to the point of it becoming a bit of a nuisance.
Other than that, I love this book and I'm in love with Power Girl as a character. She's smart, sassy, and kicks ass while maintaining healthy relationships and keeping things fun. Can't recommend it enough. The stories are light and fun, but also humanizing, and the art is LOVELY.
jackm4's review against another edition
5.0
This was extremely good! While of course some issues and pages are clearly dated it's still worth the read!
This book essentially guides you through Power Girls long and confusing history and origin and although you don't get a definite answer at the end it makes you understand her much more than just jumping back and forth between each one.
The early issues are nice, she was quite strong considering the time period and it was far less sexual.
The modern issues on the other hand? Conner absolutely obliterated it, there were some moments in which Karen was clearly going through depression and Conners art forced it to be about her boobs. Don't get me wrong sometimes the writing did call for that type of page but not when she's flying away sad with her arms pushing her boobs out.
Outside of the sexualisation in later issues this was amazing and definitely worth the reading!
This book essentially guides you through Power Girls long and confusing history and origin and although you don't get a definite answer at the end it makes you understand her much more than just jumping back and forth between each one.
The early issues are nice, she was quite strong considering the time period and it was far less sexual.
The modern issues on the other hand? Conner absolutely obliterated it, there were some moments in which Karen was clearly going through depression and Conners art forced it to be about her boobs. Don't get me wrong sometimes the writing did call for that type of page but not when she's flying away sad with her arms pushing her boobs out.
Outside of the sexualisation in later issues this was amazing and definitely worth the reading!
librarimans's review
4.0
This was a lot of fun and Amanda Conner's art (as always) really stands out.
dantastic's review
4.0
Power Girl: Power Trip collects JSA Classified 1-4 and Power Girl 1-12.
This has been out of print for ages and I thought I got a good deal on it from Amazon. Well, someone got a good deal and it wasn't me. This is an ex-library book for one thing and for another it looks like someone read it out in the rain without an umbrella. Water damaged as hell.
Anyway, Power Girl: Power Trip is a fun book. Amanda Conner's Power Girl is cute and bouncy but not ridiculously so. Gray and Palmiotti wrote a love letter to both Power Girl and her convoluted place in the DC Universe. Old favorites like Psycho Pirate and the Ultra Humanite make appearances, as well as lesser known characters like the current version of Terra and Vartox, a Sean Connery from Zardoz ripoff from the 1970s.
I wasn't crazy about all of it, though. There's a cringey explanation of Power Girl's boob window that isn't "guys like to look at boobs" and an attempt to give the Ultra Humanite a sympathetic origin. Some times bad guys are just shit heads.
Given how convoluted Power Girl's origin has become over the years, the book is surprisingly accessible. Power Girl is trying to figure out her place in the world and Terra and the readers are along for the ride. A lot of humor comics wear thin after a while but I thought the jokes landed very well in this. DC could easily make Power Girl a more humor oriented character ala Byrne's She-Hulk if they wanted to devote more resources to her. They won't because she's not part of the Bat-Family but the potential is there.
Aside from the ridiculous condition of my copy, I enjoyed this very much. Power Girl: Power Trip is hilarious and the most accessible DC book this side of Scooby-Doo Team-Up. Four out of five boob windows.
This has been out of print for ages and I thought I got a good deal on it from Amazon. Well, someone got a good deal and it wasn't me. This is an ex-library book for one thing and for another it looks like someone read it out in the rain without an umbrella. Water damaged as hell.
Anyway, Power Girl: Power Trip is a fun book. Amanda Conner's Power Girl is cute and bouncy but not ridiculously so. Gray and Palmiotti wrote a love letter to both Power Girl and her convoluted place in the DC Universe. Old favorites like Psycho Pirate and the Ultra Humanite make appearances, as well as lesser known characters like the current version of Terra and Vartox, a Sean Connery from Zardoz ripoff from the 1970s.
I wasn't crazy about all of it, though. There's a cringey explanation of Power Girl's boob window that isn't "guys like to look at boobs" and an attempt to give the Ultra Humanite a sympathetic origin. Some times bad guys are just shit heads.
Given how convoluted Power Girl's origin has become over the years, the book is surprisingly accessible. Power Girl is trying to figure out her place in the world and Terra and the readers are along for the ride. A lot of humor comics wear thin after a while but I thought the jokes landed very well in this. DC could easily make Power Girl a more humor oriented character ala Byrne's She-Hulk if they wanted to devote more resources to her. They won't because she's not part of the Bat-Family but the potential is there.
Aside from the ridiculous condition of my copy, I enjoyed this very much. Power Girl: Power Trip is hilarious and the most accessible DC book this side of Scooby-Doo Team-Up. Four out of five boob windows.