REVIEW: ‘Absolute Power’ Issue #3

Absolute Power #3 is published by DC Comics, written by Mark Waid, art by Dan Mora, colors by Alejandro Sánchez, and letters by Ariana Maher. This is the penultimate issue of the Absolute Power event. With the heroes desperate and out of options, they begin fighting back, even without their powers.

This comic shifts the balance of the two sides, putting the heroes back onto the front foot and having them attack Waller’s forces. Now, hiding in Themyscira, the last place on Earth where Nightwing’s forces can be undetected. They are fried and tired, struggling to gather the forces needed to fight back. However, as the extra significant issue progresses, there will be a shift in momentum.

Nightwing sends teams across the globe, causing battles in fascinating and exciting locations. The meticulous planning of Amanda Waller, Failsafe, and the Brainiac Queen is beginning to falter, and panic is setting in. The fight has gone international now, introducing some fascinating aspects of the DC Universe. Heroes are created for this issue, defending their territories from Waller’s invasion.

What was once a calm and collected chess match has evolved into the last rounds of a title fight boxing match in Absolute Power #3. The desperation leads to some brutal confrontations, with many former invulnerable heroes now able to be defeated by a single blow. The whole issue has the specter of Jon Kent, Superman’s son,  hanging over it. Corrupted by Waller and the Brainiac Queen, his immense powers make him the most potent weapon in the villain’s arsenal. This creates a moral quandary about handling him, leading to one of the most intense battles of the event so far.

The characters are at their wit’s end, and that draws tensions and conflict out of them. Nightwing and Big Barda are the most prominent instances of that. The vast New God joins the action but has a warrior’s mindset. She accepts that Jon may have to be put down to stop him. This directly contrasts Nightwing, who will always try to find another way. This is the first and most significant challenge to Nightwing’s leadership, And Waid writes these confrontations superbly. With the Trinity not present in Absolute Power #3, it falls to Dick and Aquaman to be the inspirations.

A lengthy conversation between Arthur and Air Wave is an exceptional piece of writing, demonstrating the generations between them and the experience within the Atlantean King. With the villains, their united front is very much falling apart. Failsafe and the Brainiac Queen cannot display emotion, but Waller is falling apart. A genuine connection has been fused between Waller and Brainiac Queen, with Amanda viewing her as a daughter.

The art is sensational in Absolute Power #3, elevating the spectacle of the situation. The heroes are forced to improvise with weapons and armor to be able to fight without their powers. This leads to some fascinating redesigns from Mora. Borrowed costumes and weapons are attached to already-established outfits, and they all look fantastic. The villains are terrifying and unsettling. What has been done to Jon is horrifying. The detailing is exceptional, damaging almost every inch of the young man’s skin. It makes that storyline one of the most impactful of the whole event, even if it hasn’t been explored elsewhere.

The battles spread across the world in various locations. Each battle has enormous stakes, which shows in the physicality and brutality. The paradise of Themyscira threatens to be turned into a warzone, and that change is presented within this single issue. But the Amazons are warriors and can contend with war better than anyone.

The colors match the intensity of Absolute Power #3. The art can get extremely chaotic when the battles reach their pinnacle, and Sánchez brings a vibrant passion to each page to control the chaos. When needed, the number of shades will be reduced on the page to add clarity when it is most needed. A dominant color draws all of the attention when there is a dense punch or an explosion of energy. The lettering is efficient and precise. The colors of the word balloons and caption boxes may change, but the font never does, which helps massively with legibility.

If there were a negative about this series, it would be the reduction of issues. Four issues, even if they are extended, do not feel like enough for this culmination of storylines and events that have taken years to reach. It’s not a commentary on the issues themselves—each one has been an exhilarating visual masterpiece—but more on the structure of the whole crossover.

Absolute Power #3 provides a foothold towards victory. The superstar creative team has made this series a hardcore, visceral war for the heart of every hero in the DC Universe. They have been pushed close to extinction, but all it takes is a handful to keep the dream alive. The pace is breathtaking, and the intensity doesn’t stop from theatre to finish.

Absolute Power #3 is available now wherever comics are sold.