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The Power Company: Recharged #1 spins directly out of the DC Power: Rise of the Power Company #1 anthology. Primarily focusing on the consequences of Amanda Waller’s actions in the Absolute Power event, this story hinges on an outbreak of xenophobia in Atlanta. Luckily, there is a Batman on the case! Well, John Ridley’s Batman. Let’s talk about our new team below.
“Who All Gonna Be There?”
Ambitiously, this book brings together a massive creative team of mostly black and brown creators. In addition to Bryan Hill (Outsiders 2019), Power Company assembles the notable talents of Khary Randolph, Alitha Martinez, Ray Anthony Height (Studio Skye Tiger) and Norm Rapmund among numerous others to bring this tale to life. Throughout the first issue, the art undergoes slight rotations in style that never upsets the flow of the storytelling. Although, the background interiors in some sections features incredible detail, while other sections feature noticeably simpler renders. The cast choice is more of a rehash of Outsiders, rather than rosters from The Kingdom or the original Power Company. Especially, because it uses Black Lightning and two Bat-characters. Notably, Hill uses Atlanta, Georgia as a setting. This choice doubles as a fresh DC Comics locale, and an ethnically symbolic “black city” to mine stories from.
Playing off the “Waller Was Right” turmoil, Power Company explores the growing discontent about meta-humans in the DC Universe. According to Hill, this is worsening for young black metahumans in Atlanta facing various hate movements. Of course, this is unrelated to Zipporah Smith’s “Humanity First Movement” introduced in DC Power as well. Allegedly, Josiah sets up shop in Georgia to “change the narrative” about meta-humans to spread good will. Still, his team and actions remain fairly secretive, so the actions aren’t matching the intention quite yet. Regardless, this issue follows the team taking the first hopeful steps of working together. Sort of.
It’s A Batman Series Right Now, Tho
Frankly, issue one is all about Jace’s version of the Dark Knight. After quelling a zombie possession scheme in New York, Duke contacts Jace about a team-up. Despite reluctantly agreeing due to how personal the case seems, the misdirect and reveal of a larger collaboration genuinely disgusts him. Nonetheless, he annoyingly assumes command of the team, yelling orders, while repeatedly letting them know he works alone. Duke and Jace have a sibling dynamic, Vixen finds him dramatic and frustratingly childish, and Josiah can barely get a word in. Oh, and Black Lighting is here running “oversight,” despite originally refusing the call in DC Power. As for the team dynamic outside of Jace, they work fine, taking down thugs dressed almost exactly like Cluemaster.
A good portion of the issue surrounds Jace’s investigation of the “Sons of Liberty (not Metal Gear Solid related)” hate group and its mysterious leader, “Agent Liberty.” In fact, the book begins with Agent Liberty’s fairly thrilling triple murder. As well as a flashy takedown of the lame looking “Gepetto,” whose armored mask and faulds, hooded duster, and Bane-like pipes all over his body, wrists, and face reminds me of Dr. Doom. Hill depicts Jace’s investigative skills like every TV detective; with mental recreations of crime scenes, while profiling his perp with details he couldn’t possibly know. Although, the book pointlessly homages the Wayne murder, which has no meaning to any of the characters in the story. In action, Jace sadistically tortures, quips, explosively intimidates, and taunts his enemies. Moreover, he brutally roasts his new allies as well, openly deriding their poor skillsets while showing him nothing but respect.
Recommended If…
You were a fan of IAMBATMAN.
You’ve been waiting on the Power Company‘s return.
Bryan Edward Hill is your favorite writer.
Overall
In a way, this revival seems like The Power Company in name only. Honestly, this is a good pilot for a Jace Fox/Duke series, but really undersells the rest of the cast, particularly, Vixen and Black Lightning. There’s no reason why a Justice Leaguer like Vixen has to justify saving someone by saying “there’s more of us.” Additionally, Agent Liberty is cool looking, but his scheme amounts to catfishing and murdering people. Hill portrays the villain as smart enough to predict heroic intervention, but dumb enough to invite it, wait for it, and monologue to them. Lastly, I hope the book avoids pigeonholing Jace as a bootleg Batman, blindly adopting Batman’s traits instead of giving him independent behavior. Overall, it is a fun, serviceable start, albeit not without flaws here and there.
Score: 7/10
DISCLAIMER: DC Comics provided Batman News with a copy of this comic for the purpose of this review.
“}]] The Power Company: Recharged #1 spins directly out of the DC Power: Rise of the Power Company #1 anthology. Primarily focusing on the consequences… Read More