Oeming's art, however, doesn't perfectly match the hardcover's format. Oeming's artistic choices are like a welcoming beacon, allowing readers to more easily embrace two hard-nosed cops who find themselves in extreme situations. A different art style might have made Powers too grim and dark, pushing the reader away from the characters. Instead of embracing the dark side, Oeming uses a cartoonish-style that plays perfectly against some very serious storylines.

Oeming is the anti-Frank Miller, eschewing realism and forced grit. The same can be said for the Powers tandem of Bendis and Oeming, both great creators on their own made the better when placed together. Bendis' run on Daredevil would be a pale shadow of itself if not for the artistic talents of Maleev and more so Bendis' ability to craft stories to fit that talent. In fact, it is Bendis' ability to find harmony with his creative partners that sets him apart from most writers. Surprisingly, the much-ballyhooed dialogue-writing skills of Brian Bendis is not his greatest attribute.

Picking up the first year's worth of tales isn't a step down from what's to come. And while most series take at least a half-year to hit their stride, Powers is great right out of the gate. Only Bendis' Alias comes close to mirroring the cadence of Powers. While Bendis has since done great things with superheroes in Ultimate Spider-Man and New Avengers, Powers has its own, unique rhythm. He's in fine form in this first hardcover collection. Inevitably, things turn horribly wrong, ending with a fitting finale for Ellis.īendis is well known for deft one-liners and a love of Tarantino-style rambling dialogue. The cynical 'graphic novel' writer follows Walker for the day, learning the gritty truth about police work. 1 is the stand-alone story 'Ride-Along' starring Warren Ellis. While the first story arc, 'Who Killed Retro Girl', earns much deserved praise, the true gem of Vol. 1, which includes one of the greatest cameos in comics history. The new hardcover collects the first eleven issues of Powers Vol. Her partner, the wily vet, has a secret, one that justifies many of his actions and offers a different perspective on a cop's motivations. Deena, a new transfer, projects brashness in an attempt to prove her worthiness and competence to Walker. Both Walker and Pilgrim prove themselves to be far more complex. Deena seems like the cliché upstart partner who's going to teach the veteran a thing or two. At first blush, Walker appears to be the typical loner cop who doesn't need a partner and always has to do the driving. Powers follows detectives Christian Walker and Deena Pilgrim as they investigate powers-related crimes.

Powers, Vol. 1 by Brian Michael Bendis