I always liked the boob window, even though I can understand why women would find it sexist and probably why it was included in the first place, but I always felt it never really hindered her character.
If you make any variation on the Superman/Supergirl costume it's going to look like a generic superhero. At least she has those Mega Man boots for a little distinctiveness.
Ohh, that’s a “P” over her left boob. I thought it was two stripes. And I don’t normally see negative space, a la “two fish” in Superman’s “S,” so this is a design fail.
This is kind of off topic, but as a kid it took me years to realize that Superman had an "S" on his chest and not some abstract alien symbol. What works for Scott Kim doesn't work for comic artists.
I can see it being justify by a 3-panel story arc. Panel 1: they stare blankly at each other. Panel 2: They both start saying "You looked better befo- ... yeah." Panel 3: They turn around and each go their way... Next time we see em, back to old costumes. Fix'd!
I'm gonna have to be a dissenter. Granted, I'm not a fan of Power Girl, but just looking at both costumes through the lens of someone who likes superheroes in general, I like the new one better.
As a woman I liked the old the Power Girl costume. She knew she had ridiculously big breasts (unlike all the other over-sized bimbos who everyone pretended was a perfectly normal shape) and she owned that fact, not only acknowledging it but making it part of her super-identity. Now the message is, instead of "its okay to be different as you can still be awesome", "if you want to be a super-heroine you have to be generic".
She was extremely generic before: she was another Superman clone, except she was female so she was hypersexualized and objectified. Oh, is that not what you mean by generic?
Nah, she's not generic! She's just working with what she's got; we all know women only have three things an author can iterate on: their sexiness, making babies, and finding someone to make babies with. They just made Power Girl's thing sexual titalation.
And there's nothing generic about pigeon-holing all female characters into only one of three procreative attributes.
Whats more intresting than that they changed her costume in the New 52, is that they kept the boob window on her costume in the Ame-Comi line of comics. You know those anime(ish)-style comics where supposedly all heroes are females and younger(the last ones up for debate, but that´s my impression anyway). I thought that scenario would make a perfect excuse to not have her boob window. I mean why change it in the New 52 which is the main universe and not this alternate one? It makes no sense!! :D Not saying I´m totally against the boob window, just wondering what their thought processes were on that one.
btw, if you havent checked out the ame-comi series yet, do it! Its full of girl power, and thats always welcome in super hero comics. I dont think its perfect, but the action is fun and the characters are written pretty well, focusing on the most basic personality traits to appeal to as many readers as possible. It just has a lot of potential :) And I am looking forward to the ongoing where they will assemble the all-female justice league :D
I will admit I was partially drawn to Power Girl for the sex appeal, but she was a fucking badass in the old universe and her costume suited her. She looked powerful. I think it's more the simplicity of it than the boob window, but if there was an emblem or something there it would detract and if there was nothing there it would be too plain. Her half cape thing was cool too, and her boots and gloves tied it together really well. Just an overall good character design, especially Amanda Conner's take on it.
*sigh*
ReplyDeleteSadly, it is indeed true.
I get why DC would want to redo her costume, but the new one is pretty dull.
'Ol Nicholas Prom misses the old costume with the cleavage. If it ain't broke, don't fix it :)
ReplyDeleteI always liked the boob window, even though I can understand why women would find it sexist and probably why it was included in the first place, but I always felt it never really hindered her character.
ReplyDeleteHe's so right, the new cosume is terrible. But you know us fanboys, we hate change.
ReplyDeleteMore kids would brush their teeth if she showed up in the old costume.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about anyone else, but her new costume just draws my eyes to her left breast instead of both of them.
ReplyDeleteHey, I LIKED the boob window! And the boots. Amanda Conner drew amazing boots.
ReplyDeleteAmanda Conner can make pretty much anything look amazing but she totally owned Power Girl.
DeleteIf you make any variation on the Superman/Supergirl costume it's going to look like a generic superhero. At least she has those Mega Man boots for a little distinctiveness.
ReplyDeleteSo sluttifying Starfire is okay but Power Firl is to be made to look generic and boring?
ReplyDeleteDafuq, DC?
Dafuq?
Power Firl... yeah...
DeleteI'm lacking sleep, sue me. :P
Doesn't Power Firl work with Suicide Squid a lot?
DeleteOhh, that’s a “P” over her left boob. I thought it was two stripes. And I don’t normally see negative space, a la “two fish” in Superman’s “S,” so this is a design fail.
ReplyDeleteThis is kind of off topic, but as a kid it took me years to realize that Superman had an "S" on his chest and not some abstract alien symbol. What works for Scott Kim doesn't work for comic artists.
DeleteIt also took me several years to discover that those wierd yellow blobs in a red field was supposed to be an S.
DeleteI'll happily trade.. I'd like Starfire back, and Power Girl could keep the boob window.
ReplyDeleteI can see it being justify by a 3-panel story arc.
DeletePanel 1: they stare blankly at each other.
Panel 2: They both start saying "You looked better befo- ... yeah."
Panel 3: They turn around and each go their way...
Next time we see em, back to old costumes.
Fix'd!
I'm gonna have to be a dissenter. Granted, I'm not a fan of Power Girl, but just looking at both costumes through the lens of someone who likes superheroes in general, I like the new one better.
ReplyDeleteI liked the old cape design better, personally.
DeleteAs a woman I liked the old the Power Girl costume. She knew she had ridiculously big breasts (unlike all the other over-sized bimbos who everyone pretended was a perfectly normal shape) and she owned that fact, not only acknowledging it but making it part of her super-identity. Now the message is, instead of "its okay to be different as you can still be awesome", "if you want to be a super-heroine you have to be generic".
ReplyDeleteShe was extremely generic before: she was another Superman clone, except she was female so she was hypersexualized and objectified. Oh, is that not what you mean by generic?
ReplyDeleteNah, she's not generic! She's just working with what she's got; we all know women only have three things an author can iterate on: their sexiness, making babies, and finding someone to make babies with. They just made Power Girl's thing sexual titalation.
DeleteAnd there's nothing generic about pigeon-holing all female characters into only one of three procreative attributes.
Whats more intresting than that they changed her costume in the New 52, is that they kept the boob window on her costume in the Ame-Comi line of comics. You know those anime(ish)-style comics where supposedly all heroes are females and younger(the last ones up for debate, but that´s my impression anyway). I thought that scenario would make a perfect excuse to not have her boob window. I mean why change it in the New 52 which is the main universe and not this alternate one? It makes no sense!! :D Not saying I´m totally against the boob window, just wondering what their thought processes were on that one.
ReplyDeletebtw, if you havent checked out the ame-comi series yet, do it! Its full of girl power, and thats always welcome in super hero comics. I dont think its perfect, but the action is fun and the characters are written pretty well, focusing on the most basic personality traits to appeal to as many readers as possible. It just has a lot of potential :) And I am looking forward to the ongoing where they will assemble the all-female justice league :D
I will admit I was partially drawn to Power Girl for the sex appeal, but she was a fucking badass in the old universe and her costume suited her. She looked powerful. I think it's more the simplicity of it than the boob window, but if there was an emblem or something there it would detract and if there was nothing there it would be too plain. Her half cape thing was cool too, and her boots and gloves tied it together really well. Just an overall good character design, especially Amanda Conner's take on it.
ReplyDeleteThen they killed it.