Review: Absolute Power #2
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer:Â Mark Waid
Art:Â Dan Mora
Colors:Â Alejandro Sanchez
Letters:Â Ariana Maher
Reviewed by:Â Matthew B. Lloyd
Summary
The remaining heroes are gathered at the Fortress of Solitude, and as they plan, they have no idea what’s coming.
Positives
Once the story settles in on the gathered heroes, Nightwing takes control of the situation and gives the orders. This is a fun moment as it builds on status of Nightwing and the Titans as the premier team in the DC Universe. Waid conjures up some his excitement in his script as so many heroes get an assignment and one can imagine what Dick Grayson is attempting to accomplish.
Dan Mora turns in another outstanding job on the art, and it really makes Absolute Power #2 a visual delight. Mora and Waid include a lot of characters that haven’t had a lot of exposure- Judy Garrick (The Boom), Airwave, and Dan the Dyna-Mite. To me, this suggests that some of these characters will have a larger role in the future and it’s great to see Golden Age and Legacy characters pushed forward.
As far as the stakes go for this issue, things seem to be amping up. With some of the events in this issue which are better left unspoiled, save they revolve around Superman and Jon Kent, it does feel like there will be a lasting impact with the conclusion of this series. It’s not exactly clear what it will be, but it definitely seems possible that the landscape of the DC Universe will undergo some significant developments. I’ve even got a crazy idea of how this will lead in to Absolute Comics. A crazy idea, not a reasonable one, though I’ve got one of those, as well.
Negatives
It’s tough to get into a story when the conflict feels forced or manufactured. Amanda Waller’s campaign against the superheroes still doesn’t ring true. The DC Universe hasn’t been characterized as a place in which the average citizen feel in danger or threatened by the existence of the super beings of the world. It’s hard to swallow this as a reader and it’s easily the weakest part of Absolute Power. It’s something that will continue to be a millstone as this series continues. Tom King has made the same mistake in Wonder Woman. It’s just not believable that the average citizen would turn their collective backs on Wonder Woman. It’s a weak premise executed poorly that MUST be believed for the story to be believable. It’s not working for King or Waid.
Some of the lead up to this series explains more about what’s going on with some of the characters than we get inside the series proper. Perhaps, a few extra issues would’ve been beneficial to help readers that aren’t reading everything. If I hadn’t read Green Arrow, I’d have more questions than I do. And, does anyone care about Dreamer? It’s clear she’s got more going on than what we see here, but without knowing that her turn in this issue just seems forced and rushed. I’m not sure why she’s here, at all. Waid hasn’t shown anything compelling about her to make the reader care about her or given any reason for her to be important.
If you’re not paying really close attention, the transition between pages 11 and 12 might be confusing. Mora’s layouts definitely could’ve been more effective. I felt like I’d missed something. After being confused and getting to almost the end of the issue I went back and figured it out. It was disappointing because Waid had gotten me excited for the plans that Nightwing was laying out for the heroes and I was hoping to see that begin, even though it’s clear some of them will take place in tie-in issues.
Verdict
Absolute Power #2 is a disappointment in that what it seems to set up is left on the table with a complete right turn that is nowhere near as interesting. It appeared that this issue was going somewhere and improve upon last month’s outing. It’s far more interesting and exciting to see the heroes fighting back instead of another full issue of them getting beaten by a lame villain like Amanda Waller. Still, the issue does promise some things in the future.
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