Power Girl Comics

A complete chronology of Power Girl’s appearances is at Grand Comicbook Database (an alternative source is Comic Book DB). This page focuses on the major eras in Power Girl’s history and the notable series she has starred in. As of 2010 she is starring in JSA and Power Girl.

Justice Society of America (1976-1979)

These are the JSA adventures that were published in All-Star Comics and then Adventure Comics #461-466 from 1976-1979. Power Girl debuted in ALL-STAR COMICS #58, the issue which revived the series and brought back the JSA in regular stories. See Justice Society of America and Return to All-Star Comics (Modern Age).

Justice Society Vol 1 book cover

JUSTICE SOCIETY Vol. 1
Amazon.com

Published August 9, 2006. $14.99 USD. Cover by Brian Bolland.
DC Comics: “Collecting ALL-STAR COMICS #58-67, plus the origin of the JSA from DC SPECIAL #29! Witness the continuing adventures of The Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Dr. Fate, Wildcat and the rest as they are joined by younger heroes Robin, Power Girl and Star-Spangled Kid!”

image: Justice Society Vol 2 book cover

JUSTICE SOCIETY Vol. 2
Amazon.com

Published February 7, 2007. $14.99 USD. Cover by Brian Bolland.
Collects ALL-STAR COMICS #68-74 and ADVENTURE COMICS #461-466 — includes the Justice Society’s battles with the Psycho-Pirate, the immortal Vandal Savage, the Injustice Society and more.

Infinity, Inc. (1984-1988)

Infinity Inc #1 cover

Publication dates at Comic Book DB

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Following the JSA stories, Power Girl starred in the team series Infinity, Inc.. This team was mostly composed of the children and heirs of the Justice Society of America. The series ran 53 issues from March 1984 to June 1988. Originally, the series took place on the parallel world of Earth-Two, but in 1986 it was merged with the rest of DC continuity following Crisis on Infinite Earths. These issues have not yet been collected in trade paperback.

POWER GIRL Miniseries (1988)

Power Girl Miniseries #1 cover

A four issue miniseries was published June 1988-September 1988. It has not been collected in TPB. The story builds on the second secret origin created for Power Girl as the grand-daughter of an Atlantean mage. This story is no longer in continuity due to the restoration of her Kryptonian origin.

Justice League Europe/Justice League International (1989-1994)

Publication dates at Comic Book DB

Following Crisis on Infinite Earths, Power Girl was inducted into the Justice League in Justice League International vol. 1 #24 (1989). She became a charter member of the “Justice League Europe” division and starred in Justice League Europe which ran 50 issues (April 1989 – May 1993) and was then renamed Justice League International vol. 2, running for another 17 issues (June 1993 – September 1994).

These issues have not yet been collected in trade paperback. Given that DC is currently reprinting the Keith Giffen &
J.M. DeMatteis written Justice League International vol. 1 and Justice League America series which preceded/ran concurrent with JLE/JLI vol. 2 (and were written by the same team), it’s very possible that this companion Justice League series may eventually be reprinted as well.

Some of the JLE/JLI vol. 2 characters appeared in a follow up to Justice League International (more vol. 1 cast than vol. 2) in the humorous miniseries Formerly Known as the Justice League (Amazon) in 2003 and its 2005 sequel, I Can’t Believe It’s Not the Justice League (Amazon). Power Girl appears in the latter. The month following the end of that story, she appeared in the four part JSA: Classified story that restored her heritage as a Kryptonian refugee (published in the Power Girl TPB).

JSA (2002-2006) and Justice Society of America (2007+)

Publication dates at Comic Book DB

Power Girl rejoined the JSA in JSA #31 (2002) and has been with the team since. The series ended with JSA #87 and was relaunched five months later as Justice Society of America. PG concurrently stars in her own self-titled series.

In JSA #33 (cover date Jan 2010) the team splits into two squads and the story continues in both JSA and the new JSA All-Stars series (meaning you have to buy both!). PG is in the JSA All-Stars team. (Editor’s note: I do not know at this time how long this split series is intended to last.)

Trade Paperbacks

JSA Vol. 4: Fair Play JSA #26 – 31, JSA Secret Files #2. PG first appears in #31 Amazon.com
JSA Vol. 5: Stealing Thunder JSA #32 – 38 Amazon.com
JSA Vol. 6: Savage Times JSA #39 – 45. PG not in #41-43 Amazon.com
JSA Vol. 7: Princes of Darkness JSA #46 – 55. PG not in #58 Amazon.com
JSA Vol. 8: Black Reign JSA #56 – 58, Hawkman #23 – 25. PG appears in all but JSA #56 Amazon.com
JSA Vol. 9: Lost JSA #59 – #67. PG not in #59, 66 Amazon.com
JSA Vol. 10: Black Vengeance JSA #68 – 75. PG not in #68-71 Amazon.com
JSA Vol. 11: Mixed Signals JSA #76 – 81. PG appears only in #76 Amazon.com
JSA Vol. 12: Ghost Stories JSA #82 – 87 Amazon.com
Justice Society of America Vol. 1 Justice Society of America (vol. 3) #1-4 Amazon: Hardcover, Softcover
Justice League of America: The Lightning Saga JLA #0 and #8-12 and JSA #5-#6. PG appears in JLA #8, 9, 10 and JSA #6 Amazon: Hardcover, Softcover
Justice Society of America Vol. 2 JSA #7-12 Amazon: Hardcover, Softcover
Justice Society of America Vol. 3 JSA #13-18 and Annual #1 Amazon: Hardcover, Softcover
Justice Society of America Vol. 4 JSA #19-22, JSA Kingdom Come Special: Superman, JSA Kingdom Come Special: Magog, JSA Kingdom Come Special: The Kingdom. (PG not in ‘Magog’) Amazon: Hardcover, Softcover
Justice Society of America Vol. 5 JSA #23-28 Amazon: Hardcover, Softcover not yet published

POWER GIRL TPB (2006)

Power Girl book cover

POWER GIRL TPB
Amazon.com

Published June 7, 2006. $14.99 USD.

Recommended primer for Power Girl. This standalone book takes the reader through the various origin stories that have been provided for Power Girl throughout her history. “Discover the origins of one of the DCU’s most powerful heroines in this new collection featuring Power Girl’s first solo adventure in SHOWCASE #97-99, her second secret origin in SECRET ORIGINS #11, and JSA CLASSIFIED #1-4, key stories tied to the cosmic events of INFINITE CRISIS! Is Power Girl the cousin of Earth-2′s Superman? Granddaughter of an Atlantean mage? From the future or an alternate dimension? All Karen Starr knows is that she exists in a world that doesn’t fit. When her powers begin changing or blanking out altogether, she searches for answers long denied her.” [DC Comics]

TERRA Miniseries (2009)

Terra cover

TERRA TPB
Amazon.com

Power Girl appears in three parts of this four issue miniseries that introduces the new Terra, whom PG later takes on as her sidekick in her own series (featuring the same creative team). The TPB also includes the stand-alone introductory tale from Supergirl #12.

POWER GIRL (2009+)

Publication dates at Comic Book DB

In 2009 Power Girl received her very first solo series. As of spring 2010, the series does not cross over with the events in JSA, making it easy to read on its own. The series starts with her taking on her Karen Starr identity once more and moving to New York City (while still remaining a member of JSA – the logistics are never addressed) where she begins rebuilding Starr Enterprises while continuing solo superheroics. She takes on teenaged hero-in-training Terra as her sidekick.

Trade Paperbacks

Art and cover by Amanda Conner. Written by Justice Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti.

Power Girl Vol 1 cover

POWER GIRL Vol 1: A New Beginning
Amazon.com

Collects POWER GIRL #1-6
Published April 14, 2010
$17.99 USD, 160pg

POWER GIRL Vol 2: Aliens and Apes
Amazon.com

Collects: POWER GIRL #7-12
Published October 12, 2010
$17.99 USD, 144 pg

DCAU: Justice League Unlimited

The Justice League Unlimited comic, based on the animated TV series Justice League Adventures/Justice League Unlimited, features many characters, like Power Girl, who did not appear during the show’s run. Power Girl appears in JLU #6, #13, and #16.

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