Worlds' Finest #1 review

Trapped on a world not their own, Supergirl and Robin take very different approaches to life. The former, Kara Zor-L, founds a hi-tech empire under the new name of Karen Starr in a bid to build her way back home. The latter, Helena Wayne, identity hops while fighting crime as urban legend the Huntress, believing they'll never get back to where they started so she may as well get used to her new world. As we join them, it's been five years since a mysterious event whisked them from Earth 2 to Earth 1, and something of a turning point.

The Huntress is erasing her life as mafia princess Helena Bertinelli after the events of her recent mini-series, while Karen believes she's finally found a way home in the shape of a 'quantum tunneler' designed by heroic ex Mr Terrific. Industrial espionage at Starr Enterprises' new Tokyo R&D lab puts paid to that notion, and introduces our heroines to irradiated villain Hakkou, just as Karen finally adopts a new superheroic identity - Power Girl.

But that's not all there is to this issue, as the present day sequences share the book with flashbacks to the Worlds' Finest teams' early days on their new world. We see Helena steal 'seed money' from Wayne Enterprises which she uses to buy equipment for her Huntress role, while Karen invests it in her business. And as in the main run, we see the close relationship between two heroines who are, to all intents and purposes, sisters.

For they're both heirs to their world's greatest heroes - Helena raised by father Bruce and mother Selina (Catwoman) Kyle, Karen having lived since arriving from Krypton with Clark and Lois. They've both lost the people most important to them, but while Kara still cries over her loss - not yet 20 and already she's lost two worlds - Helena's moving on. These women are chalk and cheese, but they're best friends, sticking together not just because they're all they've got, but because they genuinely like one another. They're complements, as shown by this belter of a scene, in which writer Paul Levitz demonstrates that meta-commentary can be subtle.

The sleek art is the work of George Perez, drawing the present day sequences with the back-up of inker Scott Koblish and colour house Hi-Fi. His eye for character and detail never flags, my one quibble being the new look for Power Girl; never mind the frightful new costume, she's lost the distinctive face that's part of her charm. There's still a hint of the sly humour Levitz's dialogue gifts her, but it's just not Karen. There are no such problems with his Huntress, this is the woman we've known for so long.

And yet, in one way, it isn't. The opening page makes it clear that in this new continuity there was a 'real' Helena Bertinelli, but she died, leaving her life open for Helena Wayne to inhabit. And while this Huntress shows respect for her predecessor Helena, it yet feels that DC is speedily washing its hands of the woman who was the Huntress in comics for 25 years.

That apart, I loved every minute of Levitz's script - he's having fun, and it shows in the heroines' easy rapport. The alternate narration device works well, given us insight into Power Girl and the Huntress with none of the contrived echoing some writers strive for. I suspect his biggest challenge will be finding foes suited to this new crimefighting duo, but who knows, Hakkou may prove the character find of 2012 - if only it were Haiku we could at least expect some especially interesting dialogue for letterer Carlos M Mangual to tackle.

There is one puzzling moment (click on image to enlarge):

Er, isn't he your dad, Helena? Perhaps there's a subplot on the horizon ... after all, if she believes Bruce Wayne won't notice a spot of accounts theft she's got another think - and crossover - coming.

The other key creative, Kevin Maguire, shines on the flashback sequences, his trademark facility with facial expressions serving the characters well. His Karen is more like the Peege of old, though handicapped by having to look somewhere between a traditional Supergirl and Power Girl. Anyway, as coloured by Rosemary Cheetham, the scenes of the young women leaving Earth 2 and settling on Earth 1 are a joy. I can't remember the last time a comic had co-pencilers as talented and experienced as Maguire and Perez - long may it continue.

Given the amount of Superman and Batman Family titles already published as part of DC's New 52 initiative, it's hard to justify one more courtesy of the Newer 52. But a comic this fresh, and fun, it's hard to argue against.