Power Girl #5

This is a comic book that isn't really doing anything unusual with the format - it's really a standard superhero comic book, with the main character fighting the bad guys, maintaining a secret identity and trying to have something like a normal life outside the crazy world of a superhero.

But it does all those things very well, and has at its heart a very likeable hero in Power Girl. She draws a lot of attention from fans because of her (ahem) obvious attributes, and the fact that's she's a strong female who takes no guff and is always ready to punch out the bad guys.

This comic manages to walk a fine line between depicting her as a sex object (which would be an easy trap to fall into) and making her completely unapproachable (like Wonder Woman). The comic has fun with her (shall we say) robust image, but she does come across as genuine and fun to be around.

There's a good example in this issue - she has a nice moment with a member of an emergency medical team as she recognizes him for his heroic efforts.

In this issue she's facing a new situation, as aliens have landed in Central Park and are loose in the city - the question is, are they good aliens or bad aliens?

Of course, one of the key secrets to the success of this book is the delightful artwork of Amanda Conner. Her characters are so expressive, she makes this comic a joy month after month.

Kudos to the writers - Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray - for creating a comic that stays in the bounds of the traditional superhero comic, but still manages to tell a good story, create interesting characters and be a heck of a lot of fun.

Grade: B+