SPIN CYCLE
JSA 80-PAGE GIANT
 Published: 18th November 2009 Cover Date: January 2010 Cover Artists: Freddie E. Williams II Writer: Jen Van Meter Penciler: Jesus Merino Inker: Jessie Delperdang Colourist: Allen Passalaqua Letterer: Rob Leigh Editors: Chris Conroy |
Introduction
This is five mini-stories that made a whole tale, revolving around the relatively new character of Cyclone who’s been thrown back in time, because comics!
Cyclone, as I’m sure you all know is the teenage granddaughter of Ma Hunkle, the original Red Tornado, and DC’s first female superhero! Coming out of the same comic as Alan Scott’s Green Lantern it was obvious that Ma would be made at least an honour JSA member, being one of the few of the team that’s been allowed to grow and stay old.
As I seem to struggle to cover a single 22-issue comic I won’t try to cover everything, besides the only one that contains Power Girl is Spin Cycle, so that is the one I’m going to cover today.
Synopsis
Cyclone finds Kara in the building’s laundry, not recognizing her as they’ve not yet met. As Power Girl is one of those who help choose Cyclone as a member, there’s a potential predestination paradox going on here, but as the comic doesn’t seem bothered about it we’ll also ignore the ramifications!
Kara seems remarkably calm about a random teenage wandering away from what must be regular tours, we’re far from the always angry Pee Gee here, and she’s even calmer when she learns that Maxine (Cyclone) is Ma Hunkle’s kin. Especially as Maxine hasn’t twigged that she is out of her own time.
Pee Gee is trying to wash her costume, which seems to have taken some abuse from what encounter she’s just returned from, When Maxine mentions the bullet holes Kara takes it the wrong way and assumes that she’s having a pop at the boob window. Though Maxine is a massive Star Girl fangirl, she’s also a fan of Power Girl and her costume.
After a slightly snarky comment from Pee Gee about most women not seeing it the same way Maxine proceeds to explain exactly why she likes the costume, a mix of distraction and a statement of this is who I am deal with it! Kara it seems hasn’t ever thought of this, though this is after the infamous waiting for a symbol (a symbol pending if you will) of JSA Classified. Though time travel is involved so you can’t take anything for granted really!
Still happy with this response they both go out to the JSA’s rather lovely rooftop garden, and we find out that Kara is wearing the very mid-2ooos fashion of low rider jeans! Just then Wildcat, the original Ted Grant (Wildcat are a little complicated at this time), followed in short succession by the villain Icicle on a very ice-themed slide. To start Pee Gee makes quick work of the villain, but we then learn Wildcat won some jewellery in a Pinochle game. because he is old a remembers how the game is played. After freezing up Power Girl Icile tries to get the jewels from Cyclone, but she just traps him in a… well cyclone whilst Pee Gee gets the injured Ted away from the fight. We even get some bickering from the two, though with a lot less malice than back in the old All-Star days.
After some encouragement from Kara, and Wildcat mentioning that she might join up in the future, the two go off and Cyclone drifts in time to go onto the next adventure.
Final Thoughts
Whilst it’s only nine pages this story is a little slice-of-life tale that I have a soft spot for! It even manages to avoid, whilst touching on the, female heroes fighting that seem to follow Power Girl around whatever era she’s in. Cyclone is just the right amount of bubbly fan girl without being annoying and even though she wins the day it’s not done by making Power Girl look, well less powerful.
It’s inoffensive fluff, but that’s not a bad thing, sometimes it’s just nice to have a simple story told well, which is what this story is to me!