|
Growing up is hard for any teen, but when you're the most
powerful girl on Earth it takes an immeasurable effort. As
the Infinite Crisis begins, the Maid of Might must choose
where she can be of the most help. Should she stay by Superman's
side, join the JLA or accompany a task force heading to the
centre of the universe? Power Girl also brings her own bewildering
baggage as she is confronted by the Legion of Super-Heroes
and battles the Ultra-Humanite on an Earth that no longer
exists. A year later, the Bottle City of Kandor is under the
protection of the two heroines. Will they have the strength
to overthrow the city's loathsome dictator - a dictator named
Kal-El...?
This
graphic novel is a rather bitty affair. For one thing, the
Bottle City of Kandor part of the story only lasts for three
of the issues (Supergirl #6-8) collected in this volume
(as to why "Candor" is spelt with a "c" in the title, I guess
it's some kind of play on the American spelling of the word
candour). The preceding pages collect material from JSA
Classified
#2, JLA #122-123, Superman #223 and Superman/Batman
#27. Some of the material takes place during the Infinite
Crisis, with the rest transpiring one year afterwards.
It's also potentially a rather confusing collection. Because
Supergirl has flitted between so many other characters' titles
of late, you need to be well versed in recent developments
within the DC Comics universe. It helps, for instance, if
you've read the Superman/Batman graphic novel Supergirl,
in which this latest incarnation of the Maid of Might made
her debut, and are familiar with the events of the Infinite
Crisis. (Then again, if you are well read in terms of DC's
output, then you may have seen some of this material before.
For instance, the pages from Superman #223 were previously
published in the graphic novel The
Journey.) You also need to know your Power
Girl from your Supergirl, your Legion of Super-Heroes from
your Justice League of America, your Earth-Two from your Earth-Three
and your Nightwing from your Nightwing.
Yes, you read that last bit correctly. The Nightwing featured
here is not the better-known Nightwing, the one who used to
be Robin, alias Dick Grayson. This is the Nightwing of Kandor,
the Batman-inspired vigilante identity previously assumed
by Superman. The latest Nightwing is Power Girl (the Maid
of Might's Earth-Two equivalent), with Supergirl as her partner
Flamebird, a guise previously adopted by Jimmy Olsen and Lois
Lane, among others.
The "Candor" storyline raises more questions than it answers
- hinting at, but not actually confirming, the identity of
the dictatorial Kal-El who has taken control of the Bottle
City. Things are left up in the air as Supergirl hastily departs
Kandor for a one-shot contemplative episode, "Big Girl, Small
World" (originally published in Supergirl #9).
Further confusion is caused by the fact that, as drawn by
pencillers Ed Benes, Ron Adrian and Ian Churchill, and inker
Norm Rapmund, Supergirl and Power Girl are sometimes difficult
to tell apart in close-up. There's no such problem in the
opening story, "Power Trip", pencilled by Amanda Conner, with
inks by Jimmy Palmiotti. Here Power Girl is clearly fuller
of both figure and face than her counterpart.
And
talking of figures... this graphic novel devotes so much attention
to the female form, be it tightly clad, scantily clad or even
unclad, that it can be a little embarrassing to be seen reading
it in public! Power Girl's mighty boobs threaten to bust out
of the famous hole at the front of her skimpy costume in "Power
Trip". "Nevermind", a flashback to the days of Power Girl's
former home, Earth-Two, contains some astonishing crotch shots,
courtesy of artist Kevin Maguire. And Supergirl gets her kit
off several times during the course of "Candor".
Geoff
Johns, the writer of "Power Trip", offers an explanation for
Power Girl's revealing outfit. "People always ask me why I
have this hole right here," she tells Superman. "They think
I'm just showing off... or just being lewd. But the first
time I made this costume, I wanted to have a symbol, like
you. I just... I couldn't think of anything. I thought, eventually,
I'd figure it out. And close the hole. But I haven't." Well
dear, if you don't want people to stare, why don't you just
put a blank bit of cloth there?
Supergirl: Candor isn't the most super graphic novel
I've ever read, but if you're looking for girl-and-girl action,
it should keep you entertained. How's that for candour?
Richard
McGinlay
Buy
this item online
We
compare prices online so you get the cheapest
deal! Click on the logo of the desired store
below to purchase this item.
|
|
|
£7.19
(Amazon.co.uk) |
| |
|
|
|
£6.74
(Waterstones.com) |
| |
|
|
|
£8.99
(WHSmith.co.uk) |
| |
|
|
|
£7.19
(Forbiddenplanet.co.uk) |
| |
|
|
|
$10.19
(Amazon.com) |
All prices correct at time of going to press.
|
|
