Powers: #12 - The 25 Coolest Dead Superheroes of All Time

So that's that. I'm up to date. Trade wise that is. I believe that they're three issues into their newest run. But... I'm kinda good to take a break. Especially since this last book wrapped things up quite well. In fact, if someone told me that this was the last Powers book, I think I'd be cool with it. It brought a major story to conclusion, and gave a lot of their cast of characters something to do in it. If I were to do Powers as a trilogy of films (no way you could cram it all into one and do it justice) this would be a perfect place to end the third one.

I'm very curious to see where they could go from here. Not to say that there isn't room to go places, there's definitely enough stuff going on - but the way this one ends... let's just say it will be interesting. Now I can breathe and read other books and get back to trying to watch movies from time to time. Although I've finally got all the outstanding pieces of my film back together so I can hit that full force as well.

Powers: #11 - Secret Identity

Eleven down, one more to go. I'm chewing through these things like they're going out of style. I can't help it. Obsession rules. It means that I'm probably missing a lot of wonderful subtle detail, but I fully intend on picking up my own copy of this series at some point and going back through to enjoy the details more. The series has gone in a wonderfully dark tone. I have it on good authority that the next book will end a big story arc, so I'm excited to see how it wraps up things. Like I said about the last book, I should be raving more but I'm just so used to it being good, and I'm chewing through them quickly. This series really delves into a lot of interesting areas that the major comic-chains just can't touch, and it does it so well. Chock full of fantastic characters and intriguing ideas - it's a must read.

Powers: #10 - Cosmic

After this one there's only two books left before I'm completely caught up on this series. And I'm kinda sad about it. And the irony is that the book has gotten SO good that an installment like this, which is full of amazing stuff, doesn't blow my mind - because I now EXPECT this book to be this good. So it's an odd thing to say, I suppose - that it's amazing, but it doesn't knock my socks off. I think in a way it does, but also I've been trying to figure out where I would go with this story and the book is doing some similar things. Not to say it's predictable. I'm just a tad obsessed. There is a really lovely creative narrative device that they use in this book that fits it well.

In a series where almost every new book is a game-changer of sorts I look forward to the next two before I have to wait an eternity to continue the story... it's okay... there's enough on my pile otherwise that I've been neglecting.

Powers: #9 - Psychotic

So while I didn't leave this installment with the "holy shit" factor, there's still some wonderful things going on inside of these pages. This almost feels like the beginning of a new chapter in the powers story, one that will grow over the next couple of issues. There's an interesting story going on inside of here, and the usual themes are in full force. In the supplemental material in the back of the book there's an in depth interview with Bendis & Oeming where they reveal that a lot of the plotlines for the superheroes are lifted from the life stories of rock stars and bands. Interesting and very revealing. Glad to know that I'm not the only one who does this sort of thing. I'm not sure yet, but every now and then I think that Powers is slowly becoming my favorite series. It's not quite there yet. But it's definitly up there.

Powers: #8 - Legends

Back from their epic-length tangent, the Powers explore a world where things have changed, drastically, and are about to change even more. I never would have believed I'd be as hooked on this series as I am given how I felt about it in the early books. It really is a fantastically entertaining series. I want to say so much more but I don't want to give away any of the glorious details found within here. If you're a fan of graphic novels this is a must-have series. I've been borrowing it from a friend, but I can't imagine not buying the entire series at some point. It's just that good.

Powers: #7 - Forever

And the obsession continues... So this book is a beautiful tangent away from the main Powers storyline, and it comes at a good point in time - with the main story about to shift in a whole new direction it was nice to look back and fill in some blanks and answer some questions that have been sitting around. I can't IMAGINE having been a fan and having to contend with this storyline while wanting the main storyline to continue - I mean with the collections I can sift through this quickly and then get right back into it, but the ongoing issues took weeks inbetween. Big props to the patience of those who were cool with that, because this is a really rewarding and interesting book. Brave of the authors as well. I dig it. I might take a break from Powers for a little bit and catch up on Jack of Fables in anticipation of Fables #13 coming out next month - it's a cross-over issue so I think that I need to be caught up to get the fullness of what's going on in that world. That and I've got a stack of movies to watch, and I've promised myself that I'm going to try and be better about reading actual books this year. Crazy though, huh?

Powers: #6 - The Sell-Outs

I'm probably starting to sound like a broken record as I review this series, but it does keep getting better and better. Deeper. More interesting and entertaining. By having created this alternate super-hero universe Bendis has a very large sandbox to play in and boy does he play! And he's able to go to places that the big-two can't. And he's goddamn ruthless in a delicious way. He'll take this world in whatever damn direction he pleases and I love him for it. The end of this book came with a very large game-changer for this series. Really excited to see where he takes it from here.

Powers: #5 - Anarchy

Okay. So clearly I'm on board with this comic series now. And to think I almost gave up on it. This issue was a really really quick read, and really pushed the story and characters into a new direction. There's some great discussions in this volume about the idea of superheroes to begin with, and what happens to our society when we look to others to protect us. Lots us stuff to chew on and make you think. I like it. As a side note, the graphic novel collections are packed with really great extras, Bendie and Oeming are never shy about discussing their craft, which is nice. Worth checking out for sure. I'll be honest, it takes until the fourth book for this series to really start cooking, but it's worth getting through. You could probably skip the third book altogether and not miss a whole hell of a lot.

Powers: #4 - Supergroup

Don't mind me as I take my foot firmly out of my mouth. So after having read the third in this series I said that I this series was merely okay, and that I don't have time for merely okay comics. Well. Powers is no longer merely okay. I said I'd give it one more volume, and as if by fate, this thing did cartwheels in a new direction. Really really great. To the point where the last volume almost seems like a bonus feature. Now, it still is a far way away from being my favorite series, but considering that I was about to give up on it after the last one, and now I can't wait to dig into the next volume, that's a big step forward.
I'd like to see this made into a T.V. series. I think that could be really great (or terrible) depending how it's handled. Some great writing in these pages. It's really starting to come into it's own.

Powers: #3 - Little Deaths

I got turned onto this comic series recently and in addition to my writing about television and films I'm going to keep a little dialogue about the graphic novel series I'm reading as well.
I'm not entirely sure how I get about 'Powers' to be completely honest. There's some really great back-and-forth-banter-dialogue going on in here, but that alone isn't enough. More often than now I find myself wanting to get to the point. The series itself takes place in a world where people with powers are normal. And there's a cop, Walker, who is a former Power, that is the go-to-guy for dealing with crimes involved with Powers. So that's interesting and intriguing. But the stories they tell are just kind of 'meh'. I mean besides slowly teasing us about Walker's past there isn't a whole hell of a lot of intrigue or a sense of some bigger over-all story going on here. I mean, there's definitely some commentary here about the idea of super heroes realistically surviving in society, but it feels a little like Watchmen-lite to me. I've got two more of these books outstanding to read, and I will read them, but if it doesn't pick up I'm gonna set it down. There are too many great comic series out there to spend time on ones that are 'just okay'.