Earth-2 Power Girl/Supergirl: Before and After

[aeka]

I've been literally waiting all day to make this post, but now that I'm home, I now get to finally introduce the new Earth-2 Peege...err umm...Supergirl costume.

When we first met the one and only Peege, it was back in 1976 with a glorious introduction in All Star Comics #58. In fact, so glorious an entrance, I'll just post the whole damn thing (racism notwithstanding).





Then there's the fact Peege was a complete logophobe in the 1970s. (Ironically she's missing her trademarked chest window and belt, just like on her current costume).



This was still true in the 1990s when she thought she was Atlantean.



Still true in the 2000s (sexual overtone notwithstanding).



So what changed? She loves logos now!



“Superman’s cousin loves her adopted world with a passion, seeing how the people of Earth have adopted her and taken her to their hearts,” said EARTH 2 writer James Robinson. “She is the definitely brightest light among this first group of Earth 2 heroes.”

“Meet the Earth 2 Supergirl, aka Karen Starr,” said WORLDS’ FINEST editor Wil Moss. “As readers of MISTER TERRIFIC already know, Karen has been busy since she arrived on the main DCU Earth, creating a successful company and dating the brilliant Michael Holt. But what are her true motives behind those actions? How did she get here? And what incident prompts her to take up her new identity of Power Girl? Find out in WORLDS’ FINEST #1!”

I suppose if Helena started out as her father's Girl Wonder (as opposed to originally starting out as the adult Huntress), it only makes sense to start out Earth-2's Kara Zor-L the same way. The question is did Peege still get rocketed off as a baby like in the DCU of old and only got as old as adolescence before landing on Earth and debuting as Supergirl? On a similar note, I can't wait to find out what inspires her to become Power Girl.

As for the costume itself, I can do without the gloves (which are a bit overkill) and the "S" logo looks wonky on her costume, but other than that, I think it works. It's a nice homage to her original costume while confirming to the world at large that she's the Earth-2 Supergirl when asked "Huh? Who the hell's Power Girl?"

Comments

[darkknightjrk]

I like how the Supergirl costume is a slight nod to the original Peeg costume. It is weird, because from the Worlds Finest cover, it looked like her Supergirl costume was all white too. Maybe this is her first costume and she went to the white just before she was blasted to the DCU?

[flint_marko]

Why does Superman get interrupted in that page?

[rainspirit]

New 52 Earth-Two Supergirl: The ONLY Supergirl that gets to wear sensible kneepads!

[nightauditguy]

RIP boob window

[rdfox]

Ugh. Yet another crappy Jim Lee design. Seriously, it looks just like 90% of the armor styles in DCUO, which all look like the same crappy stuff that we've gotten in the New 52.

[aeka]

Actually it was Kevin Maguire who designed both the Earth-2 Supergirl and Power Girl costumes. :/

[rdfox]

Huh. Sure *looks* like one of Lee's designs. Then again, given the presence of the choker collar and many of the other elements that he put on all the other New 52 costumes, I wonder if Lee had laid out mandatory design elements for all of 'em?

(I know, I know. I'm just still bitter at the loss of, y'know, GOOD DC comics; I tried a *lot* of DCnu, and I still ended up going from about four to six books a week to four books a MONTH...)

[randyripoff]

You can call that Power Girl if you want, but that's not Power Girl.

[terabient]

eehhhhhhhhh I don't know how I feel about the Supergirl costume (I am trying to withhold judgement on the whole idea of Power Girl once being called Supergirl in E2 continuity until I see how it plays out...) It's not as bad as some of the DCnU designs but it's still really busy, which strikes me as a poor choice for a character whose costume designs have been rather minimalist.

On that note I always liked the 1970s PG costume the best.

[jaybee3]

I think the original 70s costume would have been fine with the reboot - sometimes simpler is better. The problem with the (Lee-inspired even if he didn't actually create them) designs of the new 52 is how complicated all the outfits are with all the collars, and lines and armor (Superman's being the most ridiculous along with Red Robin's wings). They really should have consulted some fashion experts if they were going to redesign EVERYTHING.

And I never got the impression in Mr. Terrific that "Karen Starr" (who didn't seem, act or even look like the Power Girl I knew) was "dating the brilliant Michael Holt". They seemed friends with benefits at most. He was more interested in the other girl.

[inwitariturelie]

So...She's the only one who isn't "darker" than her counterpart?
I guess we should be thankful for small mercies.

I actually like the outfit, It's definitely a Power Girl inspired Supergirl (although I have wondered if the basic shape of the main Earth was designed to make them more similar :/)

[viridian5]

Am I the only person who thinks the center seam on the Supergirl uniform makes her look like she has cameltoe?

[bruinsfan]

Ah, that comic with Power Girl, the Star-Spangled Kid, and the Earth-2 Superman is the very first super-hero comic I recall reading as a kid. (Before that it was all Richie Rich, Casper, Wendy, Hot Stuff, and Little Lotta.) Thus was born a lifelong hobby!