Powers, Vol. 12: The 25 Coolest Dead Superheroes Of All Time (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
I've soured quite a bit on this series for the last 4-5 graphic novels, but this one brought me back to some of what I loved about it. The characters are complex and react to each other within that complexity. The grittiness and reactions of the characters to each other are much more real-world than most comic book stories. Mr. Bendis has a story to tell, but he allows each character to have their own stories, ambitions, drivers, etc that are part of the story even if they aren't the main story. I like where they've taken the plot now and hope to read volume 13 soon. Like a lot of the long-form, open-ended creator-owned series out there on the market right now, I feel POWERS is losing its luster. The biggest problem with this series is that it's not a priority for Bendis & Oeming. It took nearly 2 years to get the last two trades out, and while they were both pretty good reads, I get the sinking feeling that the series hit its creative peak a while back.This volume contains the final resolution of the "Deena gets powers" storyline. I wish I could offer more enthusiastic critiques, but overall, I just stopped caring about these characters. I think the interesting stories (Walker's new role in the Millennium Guard and his partnership with Calista as Retro girl) are being ignored in favor of whatever it is Bendis thinks he's doing with the Deena / powers virus story. Even the bit about Triphammer's daughter being a victim is given only cursory story time.Further, I think Oeming's art is getting sloppy. Compare this volume to the first few and you can see a definite reduction in Oeming's output. I don't know if this is a stylistic choice or just sloppy draftmanship, but there it is.
What do You think about Powers, Vol. 12: The 25 Coolest Dead Superheroes Of All Time (2009)?
Seamy and sinister story of child murder and psychic vampires - return to form for Powers.
—zeta_bd
Confused me as I had read no other books in this series, still an enjoyable book.
—kayla
Another fantastic comic recommended by Jason
—tarrahgeiger
