Summary

• Power Girl, once known as Kara Zor-L, adopted a new identity in 2023 as Paige Stetler, a name with a cowboy connection that fans will love.
• The transformation was part of the Dawn of DC initiative and gave Power Girl a fresh start distinct from Supergirl in Power Girl #1.
• Paige Stetler's lone ranger name suits her preference for working alone, inspired by writer Leah Williams' experiences with cowboys on a Montana ranch.

Power Girl, Earth-2's Super Girl, officially distinguished herself from Kara Zor-El in 2023 by adopting a new identity, shedding her previous name Kara Zor-L in favor of Paige Stetler. However, "Paige Stetler" is more than just a randomly chosen name; it holds a cowboy connection that fans are sure to love.

For fans who may have missed the complete overhaul of Power Girl’s civilian name, a transformation that served to establish her as a character distinct from Earth-Prime’s Supergirl, this change occurred in Power Girl #1 by writer Leah Williams and artist Eduardo Pansica back in September 2023.

This alteration was part of the Dawn of DC initiative, which marked a fresh start for many DC heroes. Williams, spearheading the heroine's complete revamp, recently disclosed in a DC Exclusive that Power Girl’s new civilian last name, Stetler, was cowboy-inspired, while the heroine's first name, Paige, emerged from an equally unique naming process.

Power Girl’s New Name, Paige Stetler, Has a Cowboy-Inspired Origin

In her interview, Williams revealed that the name Paige was influenced by several characters, including Omen, former Teen Titan and current partner of Power Girl, and Superman Jon Kent. The name "Paige" for Power Girl originated from Omen's various nicknames for the heroine, including an abbreviated version of Power Girl, PG, which was later shortened to Peej. This nickname caught Jon's attention during a team-up, prompting him to suggest that "Peej" sounded like the name Paige. Williams explained that this interaction marked "the beginning of our Power Girl story. This is page one," leading to the creation of the name Paige.

Power Girl’s penchant for working alone sets her apart from the rest of the Superman Family, making her lone ranger name particularly fitting.

Williams then delved into the inspiration behind Paige’s last name, "Stetler," revealing that she drew from her personal experiences of working on a cattle ranch in Montana and interacting with numerous cowboys. She further elaborated that several cowboys she encountered on the ranch bore the surname Stetler. Williams expressed her desire for Power Girl to have a "cowboy-sounding name because, compared to the rest of the Super-Family, she’s a bit of a lone ranger." Power Girl’s penchant for working alone sets her apart from the rest of the Superman Family, making her lone ranger name particularly fitting.

“I wanted her to have a cowboy name,” she explains. “I used to work at a cattle ranch in Montana, so I've known lots of cowboys. Some of them were named Stetler. I wanted her to have a kind of cowboy-sounding name because, compared to the rest of the Super-Family, she’s a bit of a lone ranger. ~Leah Williams

Power Girl’s Lone Wolf Status Will Soon Be Changing In DC’s House of Brainiac Arc

However, with the arc on the horizon, Paige’s lone wolf status is sure to undergo a temporary change as she finds herself compelled to team up with other DC heroes, including Lobo’s daughter Crush, to confront the threat of Brainiac’s unleashed Czarnians. While Paige will always remain the rebel of the Superman Family and likely embark on many solo missions in the future, it's refreshing to see DC shaking up the status quo by involving Power Girl in more team-centric and partner-centric storylines, allowing her to interact with other DC favorites.

Source: DC Comics

Power Girl

Alias

Kara Zor-L

Created By

Gerry Conway, Ric Estrada, Wally Wood

Franchise

D.C.

First Appearance

All Star Comics

Alliance

Justice Society of America, Justice League Europe, Infinity Inc., Birds of Prey, Suicide Squad, Sovereign Seven, Justice League

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