I’ve been trying to figure out what comic to review for Fridays now that the only physical comics I have left are the Ninja Turtle and Sonic comics. I reviewed the first of two physical comics of Star Power I’ve been able to get currently and the second issue, both also available online. In both the digital releases and the online archives they were released as single issues, with each storyline collected physically as a trade because it cost them less after the first miniseries. Unless I come up with something better I’m going to review the rest of the archives in this format with links to the issues online.
Never bring a starship to a sword fight.
Star Power #3
(self-published; October, 2013)
“Star Power And The Ninth Wormhole” part 3
WRITER: Michael Terracino
ARTIST: Garth Graham
Black Hole Bill warns that the Void Archons, basically the enhanced version of the Void Angels, are coming…more to save his own skin since they plan to blow the station up. Danica learns that her friend Grex used to be a Void Angel, but now she wants to protect others. Danica figures out a way to track the Archons’ cloaked ship using the station’s advance telescope and prepares to meet them before they can complete the journey, managing to take down all but one of their ships with the Star Power Sentinel powers. Star Power, as the station is calling her, manages to get back to Sanctuary Six just in time to save everyone but the Void Archangel threatens to remotely destroy the ship, taking out the station and the Archons she purposely knocked out rather than killed unless he meets with her, then alerts his queen, who will sent a representative rather than “get her hands dirty”. Star Power knows it’s a trap but she has no choice but to walk into it.
What they got right: This is an all-ages comic so having the superhero killing everybody isn’t going to happen. However, they also find a reason for the villain to not just kill everybody either that makes sense, as the main villain doesn’t want to “waste resources” like henchmen. That’s also pretty smart and keeps the “I’m so evil I’m going to kill my own men for no good reason” trope at bay. Meanwhile, Danica isn’t just about her powers as it’s her scientific intelligence that allows her to figure out how to break through the cloaking field, not her Sentinel powers.
What they got wrong: Star Power does all the work and the Sanctuary Six protectors don’t get to do anything. Calling for an evacuation is a good idea, but having a plan to expose the Archons means they should have at least had something to meet any ships that got past Star Power.
What I think overall: We have a girl character who is heroic, powerful, and still fun but also effective. She’s about fighting real evil, not some “patriarchy” or being a girl boss. She just wants to be a superhero scientist and succeeds at both realistically. More superheroines should look to this comic’s hero as a positive example.
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