Reading through Powers 25 #4, it’s pretty clear that Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming are putting a new spin on the formula that made the original Powers such a hit. Like the original Powers, the story focuses on a pair of detectives, one of whom has superpowers. Here’s where Bendis and Oeming throw a curveball: not only does the world know that Moebius Moon has powers, but he’s the first superpowered detective to be part of the Powers Division.
It’s a far cry from how Christian Walker was once a superhero before losing his powers and becoming a detective, yet it also shows how the world of Powers has changed drastically. Another significant change concerns the partnership that’s at the core of the book. While Walker and his partner, Deena Pilgrim, took a while to get used to working together, Moon and his partner, Kutter, get along pretty well. She even wants to see his powers (though he gives off some great reasons why he can’t just power up).
This is one of the reasons why Powers 25 has been such a great read. The creative team has 25 years of experience under their belt at this point, so they’re able to build on what came before while still crafting a story that stands alone. They also buck certain trends of the “legacy sequel”, as Kutter and Moon feel like their own distinct characters rather than different versions of Walker and Pilgrim, while the general concept of Powers is delivered in a way that longtime fans and newcomers alike will love.
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That doesn’t mean that Bendis and Oeming have changed what makes Powers work. Bendis’ dialogue still flows freely and is full of enough profanities and wordplay to fill a whole stack of comics. Oeming also continues to mix the mundane with the superhuman, with special attention paid to a scene where a suspect literally starts growing inside of Powers HQ. Things seem normal at first, but with each panel the suspect grows bigger and bigger, dwarfing everyone in the room until Moon puts him down with a blast of his powers.
Powers 25 #4 also introduces a new character in the form of Archie Gates, the brilliant super scientist who runs Legacy Star Labs – and might be connected to the case that Moon and Kutter are investigating. Unlike Reed Richards or Michael Holt, Gates seems far less interested in helping humanity. In fact, he outright says he’s “superior” to others, and nonchalantly goes through Kutter and Moon’s entire life history in a blatant breach of privacy. Already, the reasons to hate Gates are piling up, and they only grow as the issue progresses.
Keeping in the tradition of past issues, Bendis and Oeming have included some extra back material. This time, it’s the story they worked on for The Old Guard: Tales Through Time, a haunting tale set amid the aftermath of war. There’s also a link to the official Jinxworld Discord, so readers can connect with the creators and see their process. Powers 25 #4 shows that it can still push the story in new directions and keep what made the original series work, and other publishers should take note.
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