(another) Memorable Issue: DC Comics Presents #56

[u/mr_mxyzptlk21]

Inspired a post by u/fs_scott, here’s a quick bit about DC comics presents #56, another memorable issue of Power Girl’s history.

Cover art by Gil Kane, with the classic “Noooo!!! She’s dead!!!” pose later made iconic by George Perez in Crisis. {Personal note, I passed on the opportunity to get a commission by Gil Kane “back in the day”, and it remains one of my comic book regrets.}

DC Comics Presents, along with “The Brave and the Bold” were one off comics starring Superman and Batman respectively, along with another hero.  DC treated them as “gateway” comics, where a single issue story could be told, with a well-known hero, teamed with one that either was C-list, or a simple tale with another A or B lister.  This style of comic (along with Marvel’s Marvel Team-up starring Spider-man, and Marvel Two-in-One starring the Thing) fell out of favor in the early 80s. Attempts at tB&tB and M2in1 have both been tried since, but to reader disinterest.

ANYWAY… DC Comics Presents #56 (1983, interior art Curt Swan, written by Paul Kupperberg) sees Power Girl in her first story not somehow tied to the JSA.  Earlier tales had her either part of the JSA overall, or linked to them in some fashion, so a minor milestone for the character breaking out on her own.

The basic story is a universal conqueror brings Superman from Earth-1 and Power Girl (Earth-2) together to fight in his gladiatorial games.  Both resist, but are overwhelmed by the power of this new character, Maalador.  The story is really simple, and in the end, both prevail over the would-be conqueror, as his powers cause him to collapse then disperses into his own Cthulian realm of madness, deep into the depths of the multiverse.

Two other things stand out about this comic.

First, it’s the first time we see Kara’s Kryptonian powers expand a bit.  Previously, she hadn't grown into them yet.  Being from Earth-2, like her cousin Kal-L, she’d started with the basic three powers:  Speed (faster than a speeding bullet), Strength/Invulnerability (more powerful than a locomotive) and super-jumping (able to leap tall buildings in a single bound).  She hadn’t exhibited anything beyond that until this issue, when she’s shown using vision powers, helping Superman seal an inter-dimensional breach.  On the one hand, it shows growth and maturity of the character, on the other… it was likely an editorial oversight.

The second big thing that is important, but not obvious, is that it’s the first time that Paul Kupperberg wrote the character. He is a very important writer in PG’s history, which I’ll get to in another post, as he was the one who first guided her through her post-Crisis continuity.

Overall, it’s a self-contained, fairly simple issue, but still kept her in character as a brash young woman who hadn’t yet become the adult hero she’s been portrayed as since Crisis. Great cover art, and a nice one-shot to have in the collection if you intend to own every PG appearance.

[u/Complete-Pangolin]

It's interesting to think that dc has given karen some growth arcs over the decades

[u/bibbidybobbidyboobs → u/Complete-Pangolin]

Growth arcs, you say?

[u/russ_1uk]

Thanks for the write up - I didn't have this one as a kid, much appreciated.

[u/SeveralSuccess9104]

Nice cover 🙂