Why don't Supergirl and Powergirl look exactly alike?

[Choppa]

I don't get it. Everyone else on E1 looks like their E2 counterpart no? (pre IC btw). So what's up with that?

[Flash230]

I'm guessing that it's the same reason why Earth-2's Dick Grayson didn't look exactly like Earth-1's Dick Grayson back in the 70s.

One was an adult and one was a teenager.

So, maybe Supergirl will eventually look like Powergirl.

'least we could hope. :D

[Jack Zodiac]

And I'm pretty sure Karen spent more of her life on Kyrpton than Kara did. But the biggest reason is that Supergirl (on Earth-1) appeared before Power Girl did on Earth-2, so the Earth-1 counterpart of an Earth-2 character appeared first. They needed something to differentiate them. So Power Girl is the exact same person as Supergirl, but more womanly and powerful looking.

[DarkCrisis]

PG has like 10 years on her. Give it time.

[Miss Kitty Fantastico]

There's also the effects of Zor-El's mucking about with crystals and whatever the heck it is he did to Kara - so far as I know it's still up in the air what actually happened, and what was just disjointed halucinations, or Monitor simulations, or Joe Kelly wasting time (yeah, I bailed out), but certainly he did something fairly radical to her physiology, which Power Girl never went through. It's quite plausible that Kara won't grow to resemble her older 'sister', thanks to all that.

[Shellhead]

I don't get it. Everyone else on E1 looks like their E2 counterpart no? (pre IC btw). So what's up with that?

Some did and some didn't. Alan Scott definitely didn't look like Hal Jordan. Jay Garrick didn't look like Barry Allen. Al Pratt didn't look like Ray Palmer. Come to think of it, only the Big Three looked the same, and that's probably because DC didn't want to risk messing up such popular characters as Superman, Batman or Wonder Woman.

[Choppa]

^I mean the same people not same superheroes.

But most importantly, PG has a much bigger chest than SG and I can't imagine that age or something that Jor-El did caused that.

[lovefist911]

Who really cares!? Powergirl is my Superbabe!!!

[Nintendite]

I'd think that it's because, on Earth-2, Kara Zor-L got some different genes then Supergirl got.

[The Joker]

More or less, it probably has to do with the idea of conveying and differentiating the worlds and characters of E-1 and E-2 so it would be more apparent to those new readers at the time. And bringing PG's bust to the forefront was a definate step in that direction.

[Choppa]

More or less, it probably has to do with the idea of conveying and differentiating the worlds and characters of E-1 and E-2 so it would be more apparent to those new readers at the time. And bringing PG's bust to the forefront was a definate step in that direction.

So following the comic book logic they should look very simliar, if not exactly alike because of the age difference?

There is no commonly accepted explanation for this is there?

[marshal99]

The same way that Donna & Diana doesn't look alike even though supposely Donna (post crisis) origin is that she's a magical duplicate of Diana. During the time when Clayface absorbed Diana's magicial clay and devolved her to a younger age , she and donna does look alike. I imagine it's the same with Supergirl & Power girl.
In fact , in an old pre-crisis comic , supergirl paired superman up with a superwoman from an alien planet that is basically an older supergirl and she could easily have been power girl double , if not for the differences in the hairstyle.

http://supermanica.info/wiki/images/5/59/Luma_Lynai.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7e/PowerGirl1st.png

[sabongero]

They are not gifted the same way.

[Killer Frost]

I'd think that it's because, on Earth-2, Kara Zor-L got some different genes then Supergirl got.
That's right. It was explained Earth-2 Kryptonian DNA is not exactly the same as New Earth Kryptonian DNA. That is why the Auctioneer didn't pick out Power Girl as one of the three Kryptonians on Earth.

[Shellhead]

"It was explained Earth-2 Kryptonian DNA is not exactly the same as New Earth Kryptonian DNA."

Translation: Because the women of Krypton-2 have bigger tits, that's why.

[PatrickG]

Kal-L has different powers, power levels, power sources and weaknesses than Kal-El, as well as being shorter and broader built. And their Kryptons had different histories.

I'd say it's unlikely that the Supermen are genetic matches either.

If you read some of the old crossovers, Jat Garrick is Barry Allen's counterpart, not just as Flash. Likewise Alan Scott and Hal Jordan.

And post-52, I'd even guess that Earth-2 Alan Scott is not a perfect genetic match for New Earth Alan Scott.

Heck, Anti-Matter Ultraman looks like Kal-El but isn't even Kryptonian. He's a an antimatter universe human with Kryptonian DNA grafts.

Looking identical doesn't mean identical DNA and having the same life doesn't mean you're the same person.

Among other things, Kara Zor-L's Krypton blew up sixty years earlier. Which means that collectively over various generations, people probably mated a month or two earlier. Which means that while the names are shared, the actual people are different sperm/egg combos.

You wouldn't be EXACTLY you if you were born a month earlier although you'd probably have most of the same basic traits.

Now apply that to get someone (in terms of role) born sixty years early and factor in that the cultural history of the planet is different to the point where an Earth-2 Kryptonian is a different species than a DCU Kryptonian and you essentially have two distinct people who have some similar traits.

But genetically, even if Kal-L and Kal-El were the same species of Kryptonian (and they're not), they'd be distant cousins due to different breeding cycles.

Same for the Karas.

They're probably less related than a blonde human and a blonde descendant of a Neaderthal would be. It's just that there were certain historical patterns that fell into place to give them similar names and similar families.

[kentonindy]

Obviously Power Girl looks different than Supergirl because her real-world creators wanted her to have big breastseses, and then later creators expanded on the idea (pun intended) until it became a genuine character trait. But a plausible scientific explanation for PG's endowment could be that she physically grew up in her rocket.

Both pre-Crisis Supergirl and the current one were adolescents in Kryptonian environments (Argo City and Krypton respectively) and then traveled to Earth in suspended animation, finishing their maturations in Earth's environment. All versions of Superman arrived on Earth as babies. Power Girl is the only one who was rocketed from Krypton as a baby and arrived as an adult.

Perhaps going through puberty in the low-gravity environment of her rocketship resulted in a broader and beefier physique than she would have had otherwise. Maybe her breast-tissue development was similarly effected, making her breasts achieve the largest size possible from her genetic profile.

We know that poor diet and disease can negatively impact development, so the opposite could easily be true. The technology of her rocket would've provided a "perfect" nutritional balance while avoiding the diseases and injuries typical of childhood.

In essence, Power Girl could be seen as the perfect expression of Supergirl's genetic potential.

[Matthew K.]

Power girl has breast implants & typically, a nasty short haircut...Supergirl is more fit/younger.

Other than that, there's little difference.

[Kid Kamikaze10]

Power girl has breast implants & typically, a nasty short haircut...Supergirl is more fit/younger.

Other than that, there's little difference.

That's ridiculous on all accounts, but you clearly don't care.

Way to add to the topic.

[Matthew K.]

That's ridiculous on all accounts, but you clearly don't care.

Way to add to the topic.

All I meant is she has a bigger rack (& a shorter haircut)...other than that they do look similar or related.

Why's it so ridiculous to suggest she has implants? Also, tone down your superfluous holier than thou attitude Kid K...

[Kid Kamikaze10]

All I meant is she has a bigger rack (& a shorter haircut)...other than that they do look similar or related.

You could have said this.


Why's it so ridiculous to suggest she has implants? Also, tone down your superfluous holier than thou attitude Kid K...

Cause she doesn't. She's had big breasts since pre-crisis. And if we are using post-Crisis continuity, she's always had big breasts. Even in the flashbacks in Infinite Crisis, she's had big breast (sorry to bring up past continuity)

Unless a writer brings that up, (which would be a retcon, much to the dismay of many of her fans. Not because they love big breasts, though that might be a factor, but it would also be a forced cop-out. One that would make it seem like DC is bowing down to reverse sexist "feminists"), she doesn't have implants.

Sorry about my tone, but as a PG fan, I'm a bit aggressive when it comes to that type of stuff (because it gets tossed around alot).

[Calybos]

Power Girl is capable of finishing a meal, something Supergirl is clearly terrified of.

[DonC]

Have Michael Turner draw them, then they'll be identical.

[Miss Kitty Fantastico]

Supergirl is more fit/younger.
Younger, yes. More fit? Not in the comics I've seen. Strip them of their powers and PG would run rings around Supergirl.

[Mulett]

Power Girl is older, has a different costume and hairstyle and also has a larger chest. Beyond that, it may well be that -facially - she and Supergirl are very similar. I personally think it a great shame that Power Girl has become known as the superhero with the big boobs. It's incredibly disrespectful to the character. And she is a terrific character - much more interesting, I have to say, than the current Supergirl.

[4thHorseman]

Power Girl is capable of finishing a meal, something Supergirl is clearly terrified of.


:D That made me LOL

[Kage Kisaragi]

Obviously Power Girl looks different than Supergirl because her real-world creators wanted her to have big breastseses, and then later creators expanded on the idea (pun intended) until it became a genuine character trait. But a plausible scientific explanation for PG's endowment could be that she physically grew up in her rocket.

Both pre-Crisis Supergirl and the current one were adolescents in Kryptonian environments (Argo City and Krypton respectively) and then traveled to Earth in suspended animation, finishing their maturations in Earth's environment. All versions of Superman arrived on Earth as babies. Power Girl is the only one who was rocketed from Krypton as a baby and arrived as an adult.

Perhaps going through puberty in the low-gravity environment of her rocketship resulted in a broader and beefier physique than she would have had otherwise. Maybe her breast-tissue development was similarly effected, making her breasts achieve the largest size possible from her genetic profile.

We know that poor diet and disease can negatively impact development, so the opposite could easily be true. The technology of her rocket would've provided a "perfect" nutritional balance while avoiding the diseases and injuries typical of childhood.

In essence, Power Girl could be seen as the perfect expression of Supergirl's genetic potential.

Seriously this is the best answer you're gonna get on this topic. Cudos to you my friend cudos. :)

[Kage Kisaragi]

Also let me point out according to Al Graz'za's flash backs Kara's mom was also very well enbowed so who knows maybe the future will hold Kara up to the same measurements.

[dswynne]

I always thought that Kara Zor-El would end up looking like her counterpart from the one-shot "Elseworld's Finest: Supergirl & Batgirl".

-De

[Lorendiac]

I don't get it. Everyone else on E1 looks like their E2 counterpart no? (pre IC btw). So what's up with that?

The story I've heard is that when Gerry Conway created the "Power Girl" concept in the mid-70s, he hoped to introduce her in dialogue as the never-before-mentioned, aggressive feminist, full-grown daughter of the Golden Age versions of Lois and Clark.

Obviously, if she were Superman's daughter, she'd be a completely original character and wouldn't look exactly like any other DC character from Earth-1 or Earth-2, right? So she'd need a brand new look, right?

So whichever artist first drew her to illustrate Conway's concept, defining her "basic look," might well have figured he had a very free hand to draw her any way he wanted, since (at first) she wasn't supposed to just be a carbon copy of Kara Zor-El, the Silver Age Supergirl! Then someone at DC apparently said to Conway, "No, no, we don't want to confuse people by having one Superman have a cute blond cousin and the other Superman have a cute blond daughter about the same age. Make Power Girl the Earth-2 Superman's cousin!"

But by that time, the artist already would have been drawing her as having a different face and a much larger bra size, right? So presumably the artists on "All-Star Comics" in the 70s just went right ahead and kept using that "distinctive look" for her now that it had been created, and didn't worry about the differences between the physical appearances of Kara Zor-El and Kara Zor-L.

Was all that clear as mud? :)

[Jack Zodiac]

Way I heard it, the reason she's so bust is because, when Wally Wood first drew her he just made 'em kinda' big and thought it'd be humorous to keep making them bigger each page until an editor told him to knock it off. I guess no one cared until they got back-breakingly large. Luckily, Wally's a pretty decent artist and didn't just give her huge tits, but a huge frame, too.

And that's an interesting theory, Loren. I never heard about Gerry planning on making her the Golden Age Superman's daughter. That would've been cool.

[filthysize]

Because Power Girl eats.

[The Ray]

Because Power Girl eats.

WIN! Congratulations, you're the owner of a brand new internet.

[Shellhead]

Way I heard it, the reason she's so bust is because, when Wally Wood first drew her he just made 'em kinda' big and thought it'd be humorous to keep making them bigger each page until an editor told him to knock it off. I guess no one cared until they got back-breakingly large. Luckily, Wally's a pretty decent artist and didn't just give her huge tits, but a huge frame, too.


I've heard that explanation repeatedly here at CBR, but it turns out that it isn't true:

http://ragnell.blogspot.com/2006/05/power-girl-you-be-judge.html

[lovefist911]

they look alike right here. HA!

http://comicspriceguide.com/cover2.asp?tid=456&cid=67194

http://comicspriceguide.com/cover2.asp?tid=443&cid=23765

[Kage Kisaragi]

one day people will realize that this planet holds true to real diversity and that there are people who are actually skinny naturally and not because they are anorexic or belimec. :(

[Joe Acro]

one day people will realize that this planet holds true to real diversity and that there are people who are actually skinny naturally and not because they are anorexic or belimec. :(I know people like that.

[Kage Kisaragi]

I know I'd like to have a superhero who wore that S shield and had my body type when I was 15/16. Man, That totally lift my spirits a little. How about skinny gangly superhero who still manages to look attractive to the opposite sex cause shes pretty or something and or maybe a couple nice features like a cute butt or small but perky breast all on the body of a younger girl around my age back at the time I was in high school, god a guy can dream. :)

[lovefist911]

If that's your thing, give me Power"Girl" anyday.

[Paul Newell]

I've heard that explanation repeatedly here at CBR, but it turns out that it isn't true:

http://ragnell.blogspot.com/2006/05/power-girl-you-be-judge.html
Well whoever wrote that post got it wrong. It was true and was reported repeatedly in magazines and books for years. Keith Giffen pencilled many of those issues, Wood was inking, and confirmed that that was what Wood was doing. The reason it's not too noticeable is because it was noticed fairly early on in the run and some issues had the breasts redrawn smaller.

Just because it's not on the internet, doesn't mean it's not true.

[Kage Kisaragi]

If that's your thing, give me Power"Girl" anyday.

its funny you mention that, because the big difference is one is a full grown adult later 20's or such while the other is in her mid teens. If Kara looked like Power at 16 not only would the artist at DC be the most incompatent idiot but the people who bought it and accepted would have proven that ignorance is bliss. :o

[stingerman]

I don't get it. Everyone else on E1 looks like their E2 counterpart no? (pre IC btw). So what's up with that?


S*it I didnt even know they were the same! haha!

[Frank]

I always wondered: why is Powergirl not called Powerwoman? It seems to me she was woman the moment she appeared in a comic-book.

[Jack Zodiac]

Eh, she was still a teen when she showed up on Earth, and she was in a teenage supergroup. Power Girl seemed pretty fitting at the time. Still does, too. She doesn't need "woman" in her name to let anyone know who she is.

Also, kickass avatar, Frank. Can't wait for that book.

[lovefist911]

Eh, she was still a teen when she showed up on Earth, and she was in a teenage supergroup. Power Girl seemed pretty fitting at the time. Still does, too. She doesn't need "woman" in her name to let anyone know who she is.

Also, kickass avatar, Frank. Can't wait for that book.

yup. Her name is fine the way it is.

[Paul Newell]

Aaaand when a Power Girl thread devolves only lewd and rude posts.....It's time to close it.