Powers 25 – Good Heroes Fall, New Detectives Rise

Powers first hit shelves back in November 2000 and ran all the way until 2017, covering five volumes plus a bunch of specials and one-shots. All told, the series has over 100 issues, making it one of the longest-running independent comics out there. Now, the original team Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming are back with Powers 25, kicking off the “next generation” of the series published by Dark Horse Comics

The first issue jumps straight into the action. We meet Detective Kutter, a special homicide officer, standing on a rooftop after what looks like a superhero has crash-landed and left a ton of destruction behind.

As she’s about to call in the body and a cleanup crew, something unexpected happens—one of those moments that tells you weird stuff is just getting started.

Check Out More Powers Here

Bendis’ dialogue and Oeming’s art really carry the story together. The pacing is solid, and the art and colors are eye-catching without ever feeling overdone. Even as someone who’s never read Powers before, I was hooked right away. The way the visuals and story feed off each other makes it easy to follow and fun to read.

I can’t help but think that Powers was a big influence on Garth Ennis’ The Boys, which came out in 2006. Both explore superheroes policing superheroes, but Powers digs into the politics of it all, showing what it’s like to be a detective in a world full of powered people.

Overall Grade 9.5/10

As a new reader, what really grabbed me is how familiar it feels while still offering something fresh. There are shades of Amanda Waller, X-Men, and some solid social commentary, which kept me turning pages and wanting more. This one’s definitely going on my pull list.

So yeah—check it out, enjoy the ride, and remember: READ. YOUR. COMICS!