Absolute Power #3 is written by Mark Waid and published by DC. Artwork is by Dan Mora, colours by Alejandro Sánchez and letters are by Ariana Maher. Main cover art (left) is by Mora.
Absolute Power #3 is available from today, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your digital copy from Amazon Comixology UK right here.
Synopsis
Our heroes are on the run following the Trinity of Evil’s devastating attack on the fortress of Solitude! With Superman’s headquarters in ruin and the super-powers on Planet Earth in the clutches of Amanda Waller, Failsafe, and the Brainiac Queen…is this the end of the line? No way—the resistance lives on! Using fortress technology cobbled together by Mr. Terrific and Air Wave, Earth’s last hope have retreated to Themyscira, home to Wonder Woman and famously suspicious of outsiders. Can Superman, Batman, and the rest of the depowered heroes strike an alliance with these elite Amazonian fighters? All this, and a mad mayday from Barry Allen as DC’s war for Absolute Power rages on!
Review
How have we reached this point already? Today the tide begins to turn in DC’s huge Absolute Power with super-powered issue which refuses to let go of its grip on the reader. With the weight of such a huge storyline baring down on it, can Mark Waid and Dan Mora’s magnum opus of the DC continue its run of good luck?
The penultimate issue in the main event title starts out with our heroes on the back foot. Following the siege of the Fortress of Solitude, the surviving heroes have managed to portal their way to Themyscira. Whilst Queen Nubia isn’t exactly to have a disparate group of de-powered and desperate heroes on her doorstep she nonetheless offers them brief sanctuary. From here it’s time to regroup, make a plan and bring the fight to Waller’s doorstep.
Before I get down to the heroes next moves it’s important to spotlight how Waid is connecting the dots. This issue, more than previous, tugs at plot threads from the various tie-in books. Passing reference to Batman, Superman and others undertaking their own missions first hints at events taking place outside of the main title. As those characters begin to pass through this issue there are stronger hints and connection which draw those stories closer to the main thread. Waid shows a confidence in the reader by not slavishly retreading those stories. There’s an acknowledgement and understanding between writer and reader what is important to the story and it adds to the overall cohesiveness of the event.
READ MORE: SDCC – Mark Waid Talks Absolute Power and Justice League International
Issue #3 is another great spotlight for Nightwing. His stedfast leadership seems to be all that holds the surviving heroes together. The centre of this issue really hangs on his coordination and his strength. As he brings those on Themyscira together there are voices of dissent amongst the ranks. Barda certainly makes an impression on this chapter of the story. Seeing Nightwing handle those situations and witnessing Waid’s writing of the character makes me proud as a fan. This is the pinnacle of Nightwing’s rise to prominence in the DCU. After bringing the Titans in as the lead team this is how he cements his place and at this point he could easily end up leading the soon-to-be-reformed Justice League.
The group inevitably splits up and the book splinters to factor in multiple missions which are underway. It helps that DC is allowing Absolute Power to run extended issues. There’s a full 30 pages of story in issue #3 and that allows plenty of room for development and the multiple plot threads. Waid’s pacing remains nothing short of exquisite. Each chapter starts during what feels like a breather and then speeds up to a crescendo of a finish. There are some huge moments in this issue. None of which I’m going to spoil here. But issue #3 certainly drives the plot forward in leaps and bounds.
Dan Mora continues to draw the hell out of the DCU. The artwork on this series is unparalleled. The sense of pride and determination to make the series the best it can be is palpable in every panel. Whether it’s the group scenes on Themyscira with scores of heroes debating their next move. Or the moments of action as Flash infiltrates Waller’s base. They all look incredible with so much detail and movement that it feels like a snapshot photo from a live-action project. There’s absolutely nothing I can say to critique Mora’s artwork or Sánchez’s colours. Perfection.
Verdict
Another issue of Absolute Power. Another book that I simply couldn’t put down. Great writing. Stunning artwork. I’m hanging on every panel of this event. But as the tide begins to turn I worry that any feelings of hope might be misgiven with another month of storytelling still to come.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
