Power Girl #8

Back when the videogame Tomb Raider first appeared, I thought it was just a lame attempt to sell games by starring a buxom babe as the title character.

Imagine my surprise when I played it and found it to be an excellent action / adventure game! I've been a fan ever since.

I suspect the same is true of this comic. Some may be staying away thinking it's just an exploitation comic - but they're missing out on a great comic.

In past reviews I've raved about the art by Amanda Conners on Power Girl, and this cover should serve as the closing argument for any doubters out there.

Her work inside the comic is just as spectacular, as she manages great action scenes and comedic bits with great skill. But it's the body language and facial expressions that really make her work stand out above the crowd.

This issue in particular is a great combination of funny and sexy, as Power Girl finds herself in an intense battle alongside Vartox the Hyper-Man. They're faced with the Ix Negaspike, a nearly indestructible planet-killing creature.

And even if she survives that battle, can she withstand the amorous overtones of Vartox, who needs her help to repopulate his planet?

The story by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray manages to be both funny while walking the fine line between what's acceptable in a mainstream comic and what's not (although Vartox's dinner outfit may cross that line).

It's especially fun to see a super-heroine who is confident, clever and in control - but also has a strong sense of fun. The story takes some unexpected turns and provides lots of laughs along the way.

This really is an underrated comic. I suspect some readers may be staying away from it thinking it's just another title running on sex appeal alone - but the art is great, the stories are enjoyable - don't avoid it just because the title character is incredibly sexy!

Grade: A-