The Power Fantasy Volume 1: The Superpowers
Creative Team
writer: KIERON GILLEN
illustrator: CASPAR WIJNGAARD
letterer: CLAYTON COWLES
publisher: IMAGE COMICS
With the book wrapping up its first large story and taking a break before picking back up, now is a great time to catch up with The Power Fantasy, by Kieron Gillen and Caspar Wijngaard, starting with Volume 1 consisting of issues 1-5.
The book is focused on an alternate history where those with powers are called atomics, and those with the power of a nuclear arsenal are called Superpowers. There are 6 Superpowers, and the world relies on them not to come to blows. What can we justify to make sure it never comes to that.
A fantastic read for those who like to think on their comics even after they put them down. This world is heavy, dramatic, and full of life that keeps the reader turning pages just to see how it all turns out. Definitely worth picking up all 3 trades.
Gillen, coming from multiple well received X-Men runs, comes full force with deep character drama which gives readers a full view of the cast he’s created. The Superpowers are some of the most interesting superpowered characters on the shelf right now with them each having a distinct voice and values that allow readers to identify with the characters from their first appearance on the page.
The world they inhabit is one very similar to our own up until the Trinity Test (Shout out New Mexico, where im from.) This is where the atomics show up, with the story taking place over the course of several different years, with the Atomics affecting large sections of history till the world we are left with is different in huge ways. Things like the Cuban Missile Crisis being altered or large chunks of geography leave an interesting impression that keeps readers asking questions as you turn the page.
The central question at the heart of The Power fantasy is that of The Cold War, which is, how do we not destroy the world?
Those in charge of answering this question are Etienne Lux, who is an omnitelepath, who holds himself accountable to rigid ethics, and Santa Valentina who has the power of an angel and will do anything to stop humanity from destroying itself, particularly through the atomic bomb.
The entire story starts as a discussion to meet this goal of saving humanity. With their differing approaches and character traits acting as the main draw and conflict. Etienne thinks in terms of control and with Valentina thinking in the form of being an example while the other superpowers ask questions that further complicate things.
Jacky Magus has control over magic that pours in from Valentinas Angelic Realm and starts a cult with it to offer control to people. While Ray “Heavy” Harris, a Superpower with complete control over gravity, takes the Genoshan approach of separating the atomics from humans on a social and societal level.
Misumi and Eliza Hellbound are also further complications, with Eliza being bound to the Realm of Hell and Misumi's emotions tied to seemingly a monster/kaiju that destroys cities. How does the world deal with these kinds of existential circumstances?
Asking these kinds of questions poignantly and with such high levels of nuance is seemingly Gillen's specialty. Wijngaards art is a perfect fit for the story being told, being capable of adding a rhythm and vibrancy to moments as quiet as a conversation in a coffee shop or being able to provide large set pieces with breathtaking visuals consistently.
If you aren't already reading The Power Fantasy, you are missing out on one of the most captivating worlds and casts on the shelf right now. If you’re looking for one of the best new “Superhero books” at your LCS, you've found it.
