POWERS #1
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Michael Avon Oeming
Published by Icon
Release Date: January 21, 2015

Deena f***ing Pilgrim is in the f***ing house.

That’s right, one of the most badass characters in comics is back in a new volume of the series that is finally going to grace the small screen in the near future. Sure, Deena hasn’t been gone all that long, but any time she returns to the comic book page it is cause for celebration. She’s tough as nails in this one, and Bendis and Oeming show why she is, without a doubt, the best there is at what she does. Deena owns every panel she appears in, and her foul-mouthed, gruff demeanor is very charming. There is no B.S. with this character, and it is obvious from the beginning. I haven’t read Powers in a while and it is obvious that Bendis has crafted this one to be accessible to new readers. No prior knowledge of any of the other volumes is required, but if you are a long time Powers reader it isn’t like this is a reboot. There’s something for everyone in this issue, and Bendis is kicking off this new era of Powers with some very strong writing, great dialogue and very strong pacing. This issue feels like all the great parts of a police procedural, but with the most kick-ass detective ever.

Michael Avon Oeming has built the world of Powers visually and his comfort level drawing these characters is obvious. His style is very interesting in that it adds a comedic element to the comic without sacrificing drama. Intense momeents are still extremely intense, but moments when Deena is talking cases with other officers are flat out hilarious. He captures her strength well and delivers some extremely unique layouts in this one. Toss in a nice homage to the original volume of Powers and you’ve got a comic that looks as snappy as it’s script.

Powers #1 is a great jumping on point for anyone looking to try the series out based on all the show buzz. It gives readers a look at the world the book is set in, some of the challenges for law enforcement in said world, and the ass-kickery that only Deena Pilgrim can deliver is on full display. Powers is like if Law & Order featured super powered humans but was on HBO and kicked all kinds of ass. If you dig the sounds of that, Powers is your book.

The Verdict: 9.0/10