REVIEW: Power Girl #13
Power Girl #13, “Omen’s Bad Omen” shifts the focus to Paige’s bestfriend and roommate Omen to set up the next story arc. As seen at the end of last issue, Lilith appeared to be in a spot of trouble and here we get caught up on how that happens. It’s a day-in-the-life tale with new characters and mysteries that asks questions but the answers will have to play out as the story unfolds.
The standard cover is by Yanick Paquette and Arif Prianto. Although Power Girl and Axel are featured in the foreground, they don’t really have a presence in the issue. With the background consisting solely of a ghostly bust of Omen swirling in eerie green energy, the cover acts more as a reminder of where we left off instead of where we’re headed. Still, it’s a cool cover and it’ll be interesting to see if Axel ever wears that outfit.
Chuma Hill’s variant has a minimalist elegance to it. Using light inks and water color gives a presence to the white spaces and makes the reds and blues all the more vibrant. It really is a compelling piece worthy of displaying.
The variant by Ariel Colón is so realistic it feels like a photograph. Power Girl in a powerful stance in front of the House of El emblem is such an understated image as is, but the realistic art really makes this cover stand out.
Adriana Melo and Colorist Romulo Fajardo Jr. continue their interior art duties. There’s plenty of visual storytelling going on as Omen goes about her evening. This isn’t the first time writer Leah Williams has trusted her art team to carry the emotional weight her story needs to convey and it’s worked really well each time. Omen is put to task to question almost everything about herself during a confrontation with a new character and her despair over the outcome feels as genuine as if she were real.
Leah Williams and Letterer Becca Carey really go for a perspective view of Omen that sells the ending of Power Girl #13 extremely well. There’s some fun interactions with Streaky and it’s good to see Omen palling around with other members of the Superman family, namely Natasha Irons. The good vibes get cut drastically quick as there seems to be someone out to discredit Lilith and the good she tries to do. Along those lines, a new character is introduced and it’s hard pressed to say if she’s a new villain or hero. Either way she and Omen come to blows and even though Ejecta has her bested, she simply leaves Omen with crushing self-doubt. With a promise to learn more about Ejecta next issue, it’s safe to say we’re probably in for one heck of an emotional ride.
(9/10) I think the bones of this story will resonate with many people who feel isolated or alone even among friends. I know it did for me which made the last panel hit especially hard. I have no clue where things are headed, but this issue got my attention with very little action or super heroics.
