Powers 3: Little Deaths

Comic Info

Powers Coloring Activity Book #1

Reprints Powers (1) #7, 12-14, and Annual #1, Powers Coloring and Activity Book, and Jinx True Crime Confessions #1 (January 1998-November 2001).  Deena Pilgrim and Christian Walker are on a new case when Olympia is found dead, and Pilgrim is about to learn about the superhuman groupies.  Also, the Shark is on trial and Pilgrim and Walker are handling the case.  Plus, comics are big business, and Walker’s got writer Warren Ellis for a ride-along.

Written by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by Michael Avon Oeming, Powers Volume 3:  Little Death is an Image Comics superhero police procedural.  Following Powers Volume 2:  Roleplay, the collection contains the storyline “Groupies” from Powers (1) #12-14 (July 2001-October 2001) and the stand-alone Powers (1) #7 (November 2000), a story from Jinx True Crime Confessions #1 (January 1998), and the Powers Annual #1 (November 2001) and Powers Coloring Activity Book (March 2001).

This is the “experimental” collection of Powers.  While other editions of the book contain more streamlined tales, this is a rather hodgepodge of issues and a short storyline.  Despite this, Powers is still at its best here.

Powers (1) #13

I do wish the mystery was bigger and that it was a full collection.  It is fun that Bendis experiments a bit with this volume, but I do like the mystery.  It is also interesting to note the strange drive-along issue which has a visit from writer Warren Ellis.  This issue was skipped in the previous collection and I’m curious what the level of collaboration (if any) between Bendis and Ellis for the issue…it seems odd that Bendis didn’t just use himself since he also wrote stories like Fortune & Glory which were about him.

I still love Oeming’s art.  The art carries a great weight.  It isn’t realistic, but it works for the story.  Oeming also presents part of the story as a version of the super-hero rag magazine The Powers that Be as they explore the real world of Olympia…It was not a new approach but always fun.  The coloring book is almost worth photocopying and giving your own hand at coloring.

Powers is a great book.  I am often critical of Bendis, but I can’t be critical of this title.  The comic is a great combination of fun character, superpowers, and a police drama.  It is funny and surprisingly shocking at the same time.  Powers 3:  Little Deaths is followed by the full-length story Powers 4:  Supergroup.

Preceded By:

Powers 2:  Roleplay

Followed By:

Powers 4:  Supergroup