REVIEW: ‘Absolute Power’ Issue #2

Absolute Power #2 is published by DC Comics. It was written by Mark Waid, art by Dan More, colors by Alejandro Sánchez, and letters by Ariana Maher. This is the main book of the Absolute Power event. In Absolute Power #2, the few heroes that Waller’s forces haven’t captured take shelter in the Fortress of Solitude, but even that safe haven isn’t impenetrable.

The plot within this whole event is beautifully interconnected, but readers don’t have to search out every tie-in. The key moments in the crossover either happen in the core book or are at least mentioned within the pages of Absolute Power #2. This issue sees the characters try to pick up the pieces after the all-out assault and figure out the next steps. Rarely is a whole congregation of superheroes so outgunned, but Waller’s army has stolen the powers of most big hitters and imprisoned almost everyone else.

Absolute Power #2 has a spectacular pace and structure. Things are calm for the first several pages. The focus is initially on letting the soldiers on either side of the war set up their plans. Splitting the structure from the heroes to the villains makes the reader aware of conflicts about to happen, building a sense of anticipation and dread. Teams are set up on either side of the war and sent on missions that will occupy both the tie-ins and the main book.

Then comes the onslaught. Waid unleashes a battle that is filled with horror and shocking revelations. New weapons are unearthed against the heroes that will hit close to home. The pace is electrifying. Panic sets in, and the characters are scattered, either trying to fight back or escape. There are some surprising side-switchings, and more big figures are captured. Each time the heroes lose ground, iconic locations are lost and compromised. This story’s stakes are massive, and the sense of spectacle matches it.

Despite not writing those previous crossovers or storylines, Waid brings many of the resounding concepts that have led to this situation to the forefront of Absolute Power #2. The Justice League has been disbanded for a while, leaving a power vacuum for the heroes. As Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and other members of the superhero community reel from the attacks, a leader must be selected to start sending the heroes out on their tasks and guiding the fight back.

However, others in the group now consider themselves to be more capable of leading or strategizing, leading to some fraught dialogue and tensions threatening to boil over. There are various voices within the Fortress of Solitude, and many are depowered. This causes them to fray at the seams.

Up steps Nightwing. Waid taps into the elevation of Nightwing and the Titans as one of the beacons of respect and power within DC Comics, forced into protecting the world like the Justice League once did. It has been a storyline spread over several titles, with Dick Grayson at the pinnacle of his popularity. He delivers a speech that is perfectly written by Waid, embracing what Dick has learned from his mentor and what also separates him from Batman. Where Bruce is a tactician, Nightwing can inspire as well. This is the issue where he becomes the general.

The art can get extremely dark on this issue, which was slightly unexpected. There are moments when Mora taps into a form of technological horror. The Brainiac Queen has converted one hero into a weapon, and the damage done to them is horrifying. The details are intricate and skin-crawling. It is difficult to know what skin, injuries, or machinery are, and it is easily the most drastic part of the event so far.

The Brainiac Queen herself is also creepy. When she expands and becomes a swirling mass of wires, she is intensely unnerving, with a face devoid of emotion. That is a recurring theme across the villains; they cannot be reasoned with. The Amazo’s brutal robots that absorb heroes’ powers are sleek and severe. This terror is surprising because Mora’s style is usually very friendly and approachable. So, to be able to slip into instilling fear displays immense depth from the artist.

The colors can change to fit the situation perfectly. The Fortress of Solitudes is bright and vibrant for much of the book. The clear blue of the crystals is so bright it is almost white, and a vast space is generated. This fits the colors of the various heroes within it without clashing with any of the backgrounds. But when that safety is breached, the colors get much more nefarious. Red and green emanate from the characters, representing firepower and technology, while purple denotes magic and sorcery. The lettering is phenomenally dynamic, with many word balloons getting larger and bolder as the action begins.

Absolute Power #2 presses tighter on the throat of the heroes. The book is intricate, especially in the line art details and some of the more powerful conversations. But Waid and Mora also treat the fight scenes like a sledgehammer. They explode with extreme velocity and ferocity, scattering heroes and dwindling their numbers. It’s an all-out war spreading across DC’s Earth, removing as much hope as possible.

Absolute Power #2 is available where comics are sold.