Absolute Power #2 review

The stakes may not be as high as other DC Comics events, but Absolute Power has certainly made things as dire as ever. Amanda Waller is utilizing Failsafe, Queen Brainiac, and an army of Amazos to remove superhero powers and lock them up. Now, with many heroes off the table, the remaining heroes, which include Superman, Batman, and the Titans, must figure out their next move. Absolute Power #2 is out this week, and the stakes are even higher!

You probably shouldn’t read Absolute Power #2 if you dislike feeling hopeless. The issue opens with a nice recap with a giant computer screen showcasing the heroes who have been captured and imprisoned. Meanwhile, the remaining free heroes hide in the Fortress of Solitude. They’re safe, for now, and trying to figure out who should lead them.

Enter Nightwing and the Titans, who steamroll a few characters who argue they have the best strategic mind for this battle. Nightwing has been offered as good as any other Justice League member in recent years, which continues here. The speech Mark Waid gives him is good, with a healthy dose of leadership that becomes the character. A plan is hatched, and the hope in the room increases.

Enter an attack by Waller’s goons, including Jon Kent, who is now in cyborg form. When Superman sees his son augmented and twisted, Dan Mora pulls at your heartstrings. He and Queen Brainiac are just as unfeeling as each other, which starkly contrasts the heroic speech that was just delivered. Chaos ensues, and Mora makes you feel every hit and explosion.

Waid and Mora do a good job setting up story seeds in the chaos of battle. One involves Jon’s remaining humanity, while another takes Dreamer and pushes her in a new direction. One can see how, even with the heroes scattered, characters have distinct directions to take to win this fight.

On the flip side, there’s some good storytelling going on with Waller. So far, the reader can at least understand her motivation, knowing she’s not some purely evil villain. This issue shows she’s willing to push things way too far. Her line is edging into a place she can’t come back from.

Is there anyone as good as Dan Mora in the superhero comics art department? Jon Kent’s cyborg transformation is horrific but also slightly cool. The circuitry running through his arm and face is highly detailed and almost pretty. The digital screen on Queen Brainiac’s chest is also quite cool, with colors by Alejandro Sanchez. Throw in cool designs like the Flash motorcycle, and there’s a lot of cool stuff to take in.

So far, Absolute Power has hit all the right notes for a good Big Two event. The heroes are powerless, scattered to the wind, while the villain has just the motivation to see things through. More importantly, after reading Absolute Power #2, it’s evident that the characters will be changed, with new directions sprouting from the event like any good story should.