The Absolute Power summer event has kicked off, and following suit are tie-in stories like Absolute Power: Task Force VII #1. Out today, this series follows the Marvel Family and their rush to get an edge on the Trinity of Evil. Armed with Amazos, it’s not looking good for Shazam and Mary Marvel or Black Adam! Oh, and all three show up in the first issue!
Written by Leah Williams, this issue shows just how ruthless Amanda Waller is when she wants something. We see it via Parasite, who she uses like a drug-tracking dog to find the Marvel family. Paired with a Superman Amazo, the kids don’t stand a chance, especially when they can’t use their powers, or they’ll be found out.
After a good opening scene with Waller, this issue slows way down and feels quite decompressed. It spends valuable time with Dino-Accountant, who has just organized the endless paperwork in the Rock of Eternity. The joke is rather obvious–things are organized right before anarchy descends on his filing work–and some rather kid-friendly comedy takes up a chunk of the issue. The issue eventually descends into a mindless fight comic with Black Adam and Amazo going at it. It’s a slow read, to be sure.
Waller is not a nice lady.
Credit: DC Comics
A check-in with Steve Trevor, as well as this issue spinning out of Wonder Woman #11 (which isn’t even out yet), tie this book closely to Wonder Woman. The inclusion of Trevor and what he discovers will please fans of Tom King’s run. If you haven’t been reading that series you may feel a bit in the dark, though.
Art by Caitlin Yarsky is clean and suits the kid-focused main characters. The art pops thanks to Alex Guimaraes’ colors with a fun vibrancy that makes this read more for young adults. There’s some great facial expressions from the Marvel family that relies on good acting to work. The amount of character Yarsky infuses into Dino-Accountant is also spot on. The humor doesn’t quite work, but Yarsky makes the silly strong and apparent.
If you’re a diehard Shazam fan, Absolute Power: Task Force VII #1 is going to be a no-brainer purchase. For casual fans just looking for the full Absolute Power experience, however, skip this issue as it has little that can’t be summed up quickly.
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