Power Girl #2

This book goes over the top. And in doing so, it lets us know just where The Top is so we know where to go from there. Because as much sheer crazy wackiness as there is - even in the face of Power Girl being on the verge of dissection for most of the issue - there are many other things that are admirable in this book.

I admire how among all of Karen's employees, it is Donna - the one woman we see - who is willing to brave the attacks outside for the sake of getting to her loved ones.

I admire how Karen never gives up, never stops believing in herself and never stops TRYING to escape through the issue. None of this "I'm doomed!" B.S. or "Alas, poor me!" crap. Not even so much as a "Who will take care of Streaky when I'm gone?" Her one thought as doom approaches? "I have to get out of this... There has to be a way!"

I admire how Amanada Conner is able to make Kara look powerful and sexy while still capturing the inherent humor and drama of the story, making things consistent even as she moves between comedic and tragic scenes.

Yes, the sheer insanity of a mad scientist whose brain is in a giant white gorilla, demanding a superheroine surrender her body or else he will destroy New York City is a bit silly. Then again, you're expecting a mad scientist who put his brain inside the body of a giant white gorilla to be rational and make sense all of the time? I admire that too, because it is an utterly goofy premise and the Ultra Humanite is a very goofy character. And this book embraces that and plays it to the hilt.

Yes, the revelation that Ultra Humanite had a sexual relationship with Satanna once he was IN his giant ape-form (soaked in blood, no-less) is disgusting. But it's no more outrageous than the similar relationship between Gorilla Grodd and a female scientist or Gorilla Grodd and Giganta that was depicted in the Justice League cartoon. It all happens off camera and is played totally for laughs. And amazingly, it was played in completely and totally clean, in the same way as those Justice League episodes - without the S-E-X word being used and the comedy coming from the "ewww... gross" reaction of everyone else. And I admire that little touch - even though this book isn't aiming to be Approved By The Comics Code Authority by any stretch of the imagination.

But mostly, I admire how in an ever-darkening market, where character death is becoming more and more commonplace and cheap story gimmicks more frequent that this book - much like PG herself - is what it is, with no apologies for what it is not.

It is a fun read. And it is not ashamed of that, nor should it be.