<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Powers takes it up a notch
Review: Bendis really takes a serious step up with this volume. I would put this one on equal footing with the first volume "Who Killed Retro Girl". The dialogue is outstanding (as always) and Oeming's cartoonish style of art, together with the dark moody colors give the work a serious undertone that really packs a punch. After a mildly lackluster volume 2, and a rather rushed and padded volume 3, Supergroup takes our heros to higher peaks and deeper valleys than before. The usually familiar government conspiracy idea is given greater meaning and impact due to the truly tragic circumstances that befall the main players here. Bendis and Oeming work together perfectly to bring out the raw emotion that needs to be on display to effectively tell this kind of story. The entire Powers universe is ultimately in jeopardy here, and I am very intrigued to find out how this whole thing plays out. Some comics and subsequent TPB series just continue on, maintaining a staus quo, often without really challenging the reader. Bendis and Oeming appear to be reaching for new heights with volume 4 of the Powers series. I am very much looking forward to voume 5. If you started out with Powers at volume 1, and were disappointed with vol. 2 or 3, I highly recommend that you jump back on the Powers train and get Supergroup.
Rating:
Summary: Powers takes it up a notch
Review: Bendis really takes a serious step up with this volume. I would put this one on equal footing with the first volume "Who Killed Retro Girl". The dialogue is outstanding (as always) and Oeming's cartoonish style of art, together with the dark moody colors give the work a serious undertone that really packs a punch. After a mildly lackluster volume 2, and a rather rushed and padded volume 3, Supergroup takes our heros to higher peaks and deeper valleys than before. The usually familiar government conspiracy idea is given greater meaning and impact due to the truly tragic circumstances that befall the main players here. Bendis and Oeming work together perfectly to bring out the raw emotion that needs to be on display to effectively tell this kind of story. The entire Powers universe is ultimately in jeopardy here, and I am very intrigued to find out how this whole thing plays out. Some comics and subsequent TPB series just continue on, maintaining a staus quo, often without really challenging the reader. Bendis and Oeming appear to be reaching for new heights with volume 4 of the Powers series. I am very much looking forward to voume 5. If you started out with Powers at volume 1, and were disappointed with vol. 2 or 3, I highly recommend that you jump back on the Powers train and get Supergroup.
Rating:
Summary: Powers takes it up a notch
Review: Bendis really takes a serious step up with this volume. I would put this one on equal footing with the first volume "Who Killed Retro Girl". The dialogue is outstanding (as always) and Oeming's cartoonish style of art, together with the dark moody colors give the work a serious undertone that really packs a punch. After a mildly lackluster volume 2, and a rather rushed and padded volume 3, Supergroup takes our heros to higher peaks and deeper valleys than before. The usually familiar government conspiracy idea is given greater meaning and impact due to the truly tragic circumstances that befall the main players here. Bendis and Oeming work together perfectly to bring out the raw emotion that needs to be on display to effectively tell this kind of story. The entire Powers universe is ultimately in jeopardy here, and I am very intrigued to find out how this whole thing plays out. Some comics and subsequent TPB series just continue on, maintaining a staus quo, often without really challenging the reader. Bendis and Oeming appear to be reaching for new heights with volume 4 of the Powers series. I am very much looking forward to voume 5. If you started out with Powers at volume 1, and were disappointed with vol. 2 or 3, I highly recommend that you jump back on the Powers train and get Supergroup.
Rating: 
Summary: Good But Not Great
Review: Detectives Walker and Pilgrim follow a case of a mysterious series of homicides in a group of superheroes. When Walker learns the truth behind the killings, he risks everything to expose the true perpetrators and bring them to justice. While the story--just like the rest of the series--isn't Bendis' best, his great dialogue writing and characterization in this book are. All of the "Powers" stories have been pretty straightfoward and the mysteries have been fairly lackluster; this book is no exception, but Bendis' 'anything goes for this title' style works well, keeping the reader in the story to see what will happen next. A strong point in this book is Oeming's artwork which is cartoony, but combined with Fantazis' dark colors really makes for a grounded, crime noir feel. While this book was good, it was not great. The stories haven't been the greatest, but Bendis' authentic sounding dialogue and Oeming's artwork have been standouts throughout the series. NOTE: This book is suggested for mature readers due to strong language and violence/gore (a comic book equivalent to an R-rated movie).
Rating:
Summary: Not as strong as others, but a good read.
Review: If "Powers" were strictly what it appears to be - cops investigating superhero homicides - it would be a one-joke show. But like the better police procedurals, it examines the detectives and their motivations. Christian Walker was once a Power, and he knows more than anyone about what it is to be a superhero - a LOT more, as the later books show. In this book, without Walker being a "Dirty Harry," he risks everything he has to bring the case of the "FG-3" murders to some kind of conclusion. Bendis seemed to be feeling his way around his unusual theme in this story arc, and he did wander a bit, but this book was the first hint that "Powers" was something more than a cliched dark and cynical look at superheroes.
Rating:
Summary: Not as strong as others, but a good read.
Review: If "Powers" were strictly what it appears to be - cops investigating superhero homicides - it would be a one-joke show. But like the better police procedurals, it examines the detectives and their motivations. Christian Walker was once a Power, and he knows more than anyone about what it is to be a superhero - a LOT more, as the later books show. In this book, without Walker being a "Dirty Harry," he risks everything he has to bring the case of the "FG-3" murders to some kind of conclusion. Bendis seemed to be feeling his way around his unusual theme in this story arc, and he did wander a bit, but this book was the first hint that "Powers" was something more than a cliched dark and cynical look at superheroes.
Rating:
Summary: Kicks the series up a notch
Review: The issues contained in this collection really brought the series to a whole new level. There is a surprising conspiracy, a heart-breaking tragedy and an excellent ending. Bendis is one of the best dialogue and character writers in comics, and here he combines those skills with great plotting.
Rating:
Summary: Hard Boiled Super Hero Extra Vagance
Review: Third Trade Paperback outing for the Powers comic book series, third super homicide case for our heroes, some character development who will enhance the metaplot of the series.
It share the weakness of the previous two: lame detective plot, but that is clearly not the reason for the appeal of the book(s).
Good characters, really good dialogs, a well defined background and captivating art are the selling points.
In a perfect world should have get just three stars, but in comparison to the rest of the market the fourth is well deserved.
And, as a matter of fact, even Watchmen had a lame detective plot.
<< 1 >>
| 
