Power Girl The new tattoo redesign cements her status as the ultimate Super-Family rebel, and fans will be clamoring for DC to make a permanent change, as a tattooed Paige Stetler is simply better. Not only is the design badass, but his tattoo sleeves could also be a clever nod to one of his more unusual and short-lived relationships with a classic Justice League member.
…Power Girl’s Green Lantern tattoos could indeed reference this unusual chapter of her romantic history…
Superman #18, by Joshua Williamson and Jamal Campbell, not only marked the final tie-in issue for the Absolute power crisis event, but it also served as Campbell’s last issue as lead artist on the series before Dan Mora took over.
These milestones alone make the issue noteworthy, but It’s Nathan Szerdy’s variant cover that really stands out, featuring a tattooed Power Girl in one of its most striking and epic revamps to date. This cover is part of Szerdy’s ‘Diner Tattoo Connecting Variants’ series, combined with his cover for Superman #19, where Supergirl sports an equally bold tattooed look.
Power Girl’s tattered look perfectly complements her rebellious status
Main cover by Yanick Paquette and Arif Prianto for Power Girl #9 (2024)
Like Supergirl, Power Girl is depicted with full-sleeve tattoos covering her armsalthough their designs are different from Supergirl’s, featuring a different variety of heroes and symbols, even if there is some overlap. Among the characters shown in Paige’s tattoos are Wonder Woman, Green Lantern Arisia Rrab, Mera, Supergirl, Batman, Batgirl, Damian Wayne’s Robin, Miss Martian, Jayna the Wonder Twin and Green Lantern Hal Jordan. The spaces between his tattoos are filled with vibrant backgrounds and stars, creating a unified and eye-catching design.
Power Girl fans, especially those who follow Leah Williams’ current career, know DC worked to make Paige the rebel of the Super-Family. Paige’s rebellious image was reinforced with accessories like the bold motorcycle she uses Power Girl #10, and the Power Girl Cover #9, where she is seen wearing the iconic Lobo costume Bite me Fanboy jacket – a true testament to his ‘I do what I want’ attitude. The tattoos feel like a natural extension of Paige’s character and would be an exciting and fitting addition if DC could find a way to ink her Kryptonian skin permanently.
Power Girl’s tattoos pay homage to her short-lived romance with Green Lantern Hal Jordan
Connection between Power Girl and Green Lantern in Justice League Europe #50 (1993)
Notably, Power Girl’s tattoo sleeves prominently feature Green Lantern Hal Jordan. While this could simply be an artistic choice on Szerdy’s part, it could also serve as a clever nod to Paige’s previous romance with Hal when she was still known as ‘Kara’. During the Red Winter plot, tension, and attraction simmered between them as Hal battled amnesia. This culminated in Justice League Europe #50, where they finally got trapped in one of Green Lantern’s power bubbles, leading to a passionate make-out session despite a villainous audience. That’s why, Power Girl tattoos Green Lantern could indeed reference this unusual chapter in their romantic history.
Superman #18 is now available from DC Comics!