'Power Girl Vol. 1: Electric Dreams' is the sort-of sequel to 'Power Girl Returns', and it picks up the main storyline of that one pretty well.
There are complicated, fraught alien/Kryptonian and human relations and politics (oh joy), alien invasions, an alien virus, alien tech robot possessions (like Brainiac, or Brother Eye), Superman as Power Girl's mentor and confidant, Lois Lane as Power Girl's boss in her civilian identity, an espionage agent/possible CIA agent subplot that goes nowhere, a dying elderly lion that Power Girl forms a connection with, an entire, near-wordless issue dedicated to the nightly escapades of Streaky the Kryptocat, a plot involving a drug being sold to college kids, a not-so virtual reality/fantasy world, fantasy/alien lore, a witch, yet another hivemind control plot, and Power Girl and Supergirl becoming fantasy knight heroines and savours of said fantasy world, that's a planet in outta space.
Really, the latter stuff I mentioned would have worked great in a 'Harley Quinn' comic. Even the artwork matches Harley's cartoony style and sense of humour.
It is totally bonkers. It is what superhero comics should be.
Omen, aka Lilith, is present and still Power Girl's best friend (I still don't know what happened to Atlee). Though she is superfluous sometimes, often playing the comic relief role, more than once at inappropriate moments. Omen seemingly randomly pops up in places where it doesn't make sense, and at one point at the end it appears she was added into a scene for a plot-related reason... and then she never shows up again, like the writer or the artist forgot she was there. What the hell?
WTH also are the telepathic hero's actions, especially towards normal civilians, which are highly, morally questionable...
PG's civilian name is now Dr. Paige Stetler. It's great that she's canonically a doctor, and still a smart businesswoman seeking to save the world through safe, environmentally-friendly science and tech, but whatever happened to Starr Labs? Why does PG have a boss when she was her own boss at her own company? Why is she suddenly shy and lacking in social skills and cues? She was a CEO!
What do the general public think happened to Karen Starr, PG's former civilian alter ego? That she disappeared off the face of the earth, and then this Paige Stetler appears out of nowhere and looks exactly like her and has practically the same job as her? Oh wait, Paige wears glasses, and Karen didn't, so they are different people to everyone else, according to long-established DC rules.
Speaking of DC tropes, here's a tired one: slight spoiler, but Power Girl gets temporarily mind controlled to become evil and angry again - she gets mind controlled/possessed by evil tech powered by the colour red again! But at least in this instance she is given some agency, and fights back. But DC, please, no more plots revolving around villains taking over PG's mind and body without her consent! It's creepy, and trite at this point.
Lois Lane is a qualified, competent, confident, smart, strict-but-fair, powerful boss to Paige Stetler, and she knows she's Power Girl! Lois has seen it all, as the top, award-winning Daily Planet journalist-turned editor-in-chief, and wife of Superman and mother of his child. Her cameo, her new job, her growth and development - they are appreciated.
It's awesome to see Power Girl and Supergirl's sisterly relationship and partnership carried over from 'Power Girl Returns'. A+!
With cool, expressive, shadowy, varying, flexible artwork, and action and character work, 'Power Girl Vol. 1: Electric Dreams' is a must for Power Girl fans, and regular DC Comics fans. It is a damn entertaining superhero comic. It knows Power Girl (shifting, inconsistent civilian identity traits notwithstanding), and treats the superheroine with respect, reverence, and care. She is a worthy hero, and person.
A tragic person whose past is coming back to haunt her, to ruin everything she has built up for herself. But with help, she can overcome it. She can fight it, punch it. Again and again, for however long it takes for her own form of a systemic abuser to go away for good, and not take control of her; not take everything away from her new, remade life and identity.
She is strong in the ways that matter, after all.
Welcome back, Power Girl. Aka, the original Kara Zor-L, Superman's cousin.
Power Girl = Girl Power.
Final Score: 3.5/5
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