DC Comics’ summer event, Absolute Power, officially kicks off today after an excellent prelude issue last week. It’s a story about Amanda Waller, Failsafe, and Queen Brainiac teaming up to defeat all superheroes who don’t abide by Waller’s rules. Armed with the highest of tech, Waller can actually mount a direct attack, which is what this issue is all about.
Absolute Power #1 has a few twists, bold art by Dan Mora, and a high-stakes cliffhanger that’ll have fans thirsty for more. It’s an excellent opening event book checking off all the boxes for what you want in a series that promises real change for these legacy characters.
The issue opens with Superman stopping some average robbers on the roof of a skyscraper. One of them takes a shot, and the bullet goes through him. Shocked by this, Superman sees blood and falls with many stories below him. It’s going to be a death drop for him. The story then cuts to 28 hours earlier, and Animal Man and Animal Girl are having a great time in the sunshine. A crowd sees them land, and they scream with fear and begin attacking them. It’s really bad, and soon, a montage reveals heroes everywhere are being attacked thanks to fake news.
So begins Waller’s frontal attack on heroes. She’s weaponizing information and taking heroes out. In the span of 10 pages, writers Mark Waid and Mora show us multiple heroes getting attacked or reacting to attacks. It’s total chaos and there seems to be nothing they can do.
Eventually, the story picks up where it left off, with Superman, Jon Kent, and Superboy entering the story. The pace and plotting work perfectly, with not a single panel wasted. The story builds with Waller ramping up attacks, messaging the American people, and heroes reacting in kind.
Superman, NO!
Credit: DC Comics
When Amazos enter the fight, it feels like the heroes are beyond taken off guard, and there’s nothing they can do. Throw in the fact that superheroes may be joining Waller, and there’s a vibe not unlike Marvel’s Civil War. People will choose sides, heroes will go into hiding, and this battle will be hard fought by the good guys.
One of the biggest surprises is Waller’s control over Failsafe and Queen Brainiac. They’re still somewhat of their own minds, but it’s pretty clear the “Trinity of Evil” is a trinity of one: Waller. That’s a smart move since Waller typically doesn’t share or play nice with teammates. It also works as this event could be Waller’s last move in the role she’s had for decades. That adds stakes on her side of things.
As always, Mora’s art is incredible, with crazy detail, great dynamic range, and character-forward art where it needs to be. As Waid told me recently, Mora can draw two pages a day, and when you see how high-level this is, that’ll make it even more shocking.
There’s so much to love about Absolute Power. From the stellar art, complexities of Waller’s use of fake news, the loss of superhero powers, and almost no way the heroes can win, you’ll be dying to read the next issue. Absolute Power will resonate with readers for now and maybe always. Absolute Power is the very definition of a superhero epic.
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