REVIEW: ‘Absolute Power: Task Force VII’ Issue #6

Absolute Power: Task Force VII #6 is published by DC Comics. It is written by Stephanie Williams, art by Khary Randolph, colors by Alex Guimarães, and letters by Dave Sharpe. This issue is part of the Absolute Power event. One of the Amazo robots heads to one of the last strongholds of the superheroes, Themyscira.

As this tie-in winds down, the last members of the Amazo army are bought into play. Paradise Lost enters Themyscira with the same ruthless relentlessness as the other robots. The potential of getting through to these beings via their emerging personalities has vanished after they were rebooted in Absolute Power #3. The plot moves slowly, containing large amounts of exposition to set up what makes this issue different.

When the action begins, hitting an already fragile setting, the ferocity is unmatched by any of the previous editions of the series. This Amazo hits the Amazons with warfare they have often been hidden from in their idyllic paradise, with even their immense training and tactics unable to push back the unstoppable force that has invaded them.

As the story tears through Themyscira, it becomes clear that the target isn’t what readers may fear. It delves into the island’s heart, tapping into more than just the battle but also the mystical heart of the Amazon race. The execution of the final moment is heartbreaking and fascinating at the same time.

Within Absolute Power: Task Force VII #6, the Amazo robots return to being terrifying. The first few pages of the comic aren’t too interesting, with only the mission briefings being detailed. But Paradise Lost’s cold, calculated dialect makes the skin crawl, especially considering what it does while it talks. The Amazons trying to defend their territory are almost inoffensive towards it, barely causing it to react to the warrior women.

As Absolute Power: Task Force VII #6 begins, the Amazon leadership is in an unsettling mood. Queen Nubia is being questioned for providing sanctuary to the fleeing heroes. But the division instantly vanishes when they are in danger, with all the Amazons in severe danger.

The art is sensational. Although the story takes place in a land of paradise, Randolph turns Themyscira into a warzone. The first turns into a battlefield with a monstrous enemy within. Paradise Lost has a terrific design, with parts of Wonder Woman added to its exterior. The Amazons look formidable, but there are also points where they look vulnerable and surprised.

The brutality on display is surprising. When Paradise Lost does something particularly violent, the panels are turned into silhouettes. This highlights the intensity of what happened without getting too engrossed in the gory details. The battle is quick but powerful, leaving the reader breathless.

The colors blend vibrancy and darkness. It may be an emotionless robot, but Paradise Lost has a gorgeous color palette of red and gold. This makes it stand out and look unnatural around the forest, filled with natural material, with green and brown tones surrounding it. Those silhouetted moments are bathed in red, helping to infer what is happening. When magic is involved, the colors get much more intense and fantastical. The lettering is very easy to read amid the action and chaos.

Absolute Power: Task Force VII #6 adds more surprises to the series. With narrow escapes and the heroes’ ability to start fighting back, perhaps the severity has waned while watching the war through the eyes of evil. But this issue reminds us that the Amazo robots are unpredictable and unrelenting, with even more vicious violence in the penultimate chapter. So many shocks are in store, from the battle results to the secret at the heart of the island.

Absolute Power: Task Force VII #6 is available where comics are sold.