Pop Preview-POWERS
by Marc Bryant.

Welcome to the first Pop Preview, where each month, we'll be taking a sneak peak at an upcoming title, giving you the 'heads up' on cool new books you might've otherwise missed out on, and we're kicking things off with a great one!

POWERS is the latest offering from Brian Michael Bendis (TORSO, SAM and TWITCH) and Michael Avon Oeming (SHIP of FOOLS, YOUNG JUSTICE) with colors by Pat Garrahy (JLA). An ongoing series published by Image Comics, POWERS is available for pre-ordering in this month's Diamond Previews.

THE SKINNY

According to writer, co-creator Bendis "Detective Christian Walker is a special homicide officer in charge of cases that involve...Powers. What is a cop's job like in a world where powers are par for the course? And what kind of cop is given the assignment?"

"POWERS takes place in a large unnamed metropolitan city. It will feel and breathe like a crime fiction drama but its backdrop will be littered with brand new original and mysterious hero and villain icons created especially for this series.

These characters will strictly remain in supporting roles and cameos. We will rely on the simple shared popular notions of comic book characters and not on elaborate continuities and origins."

In the first storyline, Walker investigates the murder of Retro Girl, when her mutilated corpse is found butchered in a dirty alley. Walker is teamed up with rookie Detective Deena Pilgrim. As hidden truths about Retro Girl come to light, Walker finds that to solve this crime, he might have to reveal his own dark secret.

"Basically, POWERS is about fame and how much people are obsessed with it."

Oeming describes POWERS like this, "POWERS reads like an episode of HOMICIDE, with our super-hero element being treated merely as a part of the story, a McGuffin, you might call it. The heroes and villains are like the briefcase in PULP FICTION, or its inspiration, the box from KISS ME DEADLY. They're another storytelling device. There are no 'glory' shots, or splash pages of flying fights."

"Basically, POWERS is about fame and how much people are obsessed with it. Look at the world we live in now, look at how star-obsessed we are. Its as though people feel this need to be famous. Since most of us aren't, we feel need to live vicariously through those that do. Now, replace the star status of a Tom Cruise or a Jim Carrey with the god-like standing of a real Superman!"

"But, just like in the 'real world', not all heroes are god-like. Many would be minor leaguers, looking for fame with their powers. Many others would be washed-up has-beens. Brian often sites VH1's BEHIND THE MUSIC as a good example of this-stars rise, stars fall. Since our main characters are cops, we will usually be seeing the stars that have fallen."

Oeming on Bendis: "Brian was either attracted to my thick hair or my ability as an artist. Also, we have the same energy level to our work, a dedication and obsession to tell a better looking, better told story. We're peas in a pod."

"Brian often sites VH1's BEHIND THE MUSIC as a good example..."

Brian writes very real, dimensional characters, full of values and faults. Walker is a truly likable character...Deena is quirky and jazzy. Other characters run the gamut like in a Mamet play or an episode of THE SIMPSONS. You just don't know what to expect next. One of Brian's talents as a writer is to spot the cliche'. He sees it coming and knows how to avoid it."

CAMEOS GALORE

As an added bonus for readers, POWERS. will feature background characters created by such luminaries from an "A-List" that includes David Mack, Joe Quesada, Paul Jenkins, Bob Gale, Phil Jimenez, Angel Medina, Mike Allred, Ashley Wood, Brian Holguin, Jim Valentino, Steve Lieber, Ed Brubaker, Dan Brereton, Mark Crilley, Judd Winick, Jim Krueger, and Phil Hester, with many more to be announced.

HEADS UP!

Readers won't have to wait until spring to dive in the world of POWERS, though. An on-line comic strip preview is available at Bendis' www.jinxworld.com, and is published every week in COMIC SHOP NEWS!

Marc Bryant is Features Editor of PopImage.

Back

Attitude | ProFile | Industrial
Interviews | Reviews | Pi Comics
Talkback | Archives | Gallery