Power Girl Reading Order

This reading order is designed to give an outline of major storylines featuring Power Girl (Kara Zor-El/Karen Starr) throughout DC Comics. It may not encompass every one of her appearances, but is an outline of the major ones and the stories that affect them.

The continuity details relating to each specific storyline are explained in the “Review” of each storyline. Every “Review” link will provide a detailed continuity breakdown of that story and will explain any reference the story makes to other aspects of the DC Universe. All of this can be found under the “Continuity” section of each link.

Jump to: New 52 – Rebirth

New 52

With the beginning of the New 52, the DC Universe’s continuity was reset. Power Girl’s history was wiped clean and all of her prior appearances were removed from the current continuity. In this new continuity, she maintains a strong connection with the Earth 2 Universe (Reading Order) and with the Earth 2 Huntress (Reading Order).

Power Girl is technically reintroduced through a few appearances in the Mister Terrific series. However, her first major role is starring alongside Huntress in the Worlds’ Finest series. The two heroes star in this series until it intersects with the main narrative from the Earth 2 series. At this point, both storylines merge and continue on through the Earth 2: World’s End and Earth 2: Society comics. Alongside all of this, Power Girl also makes brief guest appearances in other comics, though these rarely contribute to her overall narrative progression.

Earth 2 issues are from the Vol. 1 series.
Supergirl issues are from the Vol. 6 series.
Suicide Squad issues are from the Vol. 4 series.
Batman/Superman issues are from the Vol. 1 series.
Harley Quinn issues are from the Vol. 2 series.
Secret Origins issues are from the Vol. 3 series.

Notes

1. Power Girl has a very minor role in these issues. They mostly help give cryptic teases toward her eventual role in the Worlds' Finest series. Her relationship with Mister Terrific, from these issues, is also mentioned later in the Worlds' Finest series.
2. This issue explains why Power Girl and Huntress are in their current situation. However, Power Girl's role in this issue is pretty effectively explained over the course of Worlds' Finest Vol. 1: The Lost Daughters of Earth 2 (Review).
3. Power Girl only makes an extremely minor appearance here. However, it somewhat serves as a direct prelude for the Worlds' Finest series.
4. Power Girl plays a supporting role in this story arc. It may be of interest to readers who want to see Power Girl and Supergirl interact. It also explains Power Girl's costume change.
5. Power Girl plays a pretty minor role throughout these issues. They feature her in a few action-packed fights but do little to contribute to her character development.
6. The entirety of the Harley Quinn series takes place in a weird section of DC's continuity that appears to go unaffected by anything else happening in the universe. Thus, Power Girl's role here exists independent of her other adventures. We have only placed them at this point in the reading order to somewhat match the time these issues were published. In addition, the entirety of the Harley Quinn and Power Girl series takes place in between the pages of Harley Quinn #12 but we recommend just reading them all in a row for a more streamlined reading experience.
7. This issue explains some background events going on during the Earth 2: World's End event. It specifically places some attention on Power Girl so it may be valuable to fans interested in her story.
8. This issue explains some background events going on during the Earth 2: World's End event. It is not essential to that storyline but does feature another appearance from Power Girl.
9. These issues are flashbacks to a time before the entire Earth 2 (Reading Order) saga began. It explores some of Power Girl's earlier days so it may be valuable to fans interested in her story.

Rebirth

The Earth 2 Universe (Reading Order) and the characters within it appear to maintain their continuity in the transition from the New 52 to the Rebirth eras. However, it is hard to say this for certain because that universe and its characters make almost no appearances in this era. In fact, Power Girl's one appearance is the only indication that the continuity from the previous era is maintained.

Power Girl's one appearance takes place in the Deathstroke series. Though her appearance there is minor, it confirms that she still exists and, therefore, is pretty essential to her character. Unfortunately, the story teased in this one issue has yet to be continued in any specific comic.

Harley Quinn issues are from the Vol. 3 series
Deathstroke issues are from the Vol. 4 series

Notes

1. The entirety of the Harley Quinn series takes place in a weird section of DC's continuity that appears to go unaffected by anything else happening in the universe. Thus, Power Girl's role here exists independent of her other adventures. We have only placed them at this point in the reading order to somewhat match the time these issues were published.

All DC Comics Reading Orders