Supreme Power, Volume 2: Powers and Principalities

Supreme Power (Collected Editions) #2

by J. Michael Straczynski (Writer), Gary Frank (Contributor)

The heroes have arrived. You've watched them grow. You've learned their secrets. And now, you're about to see them change the world... for better or for worse! When a god-like Hyperion discovers that his whole life has actually been an elaborate government-made lie, his reaction could mean the end of the Earth! Do the world's other super-powered beings have any chance at stopping Hyperion if the truth sends him over the edge?

Collecting: Supreme Power 6-12

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Superheroes, Comic Book, Fiction, Science Fiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published October 20, 2004

About the author

Joseph Michael Straczynski is an American filmmaker and comic book writer. He is the founder of Synthetic Worlds Ltd. and Studio JMS and is best known as the creator of the science fiction television series Babylon 5 (1993–1998) and its spinoff Crusade (1999), as well as the series Jeremiah (2002–2004) and Sense8 (2015–2018). He is the executor of the estate of Harlan Ellison.
Straczynski wrote the psychological drama film Changeling (2008) and was co-writer on the martial arts thriller Ninja Assassin (2009), was one of the key writers for (and had a cameo in) Marvel's Thor (2011), as well as the horror film Underworld: Awakening (2012), and the apocalyptic horror film World War Z (2013). From 2001 to 2007, Straczynski wrote Marvel Comics' The Amazing Spider-Man, followed by runs on Thor and Fantastic Four. He is the author of the Superman: Earth One trilogy of graphic novels, and he has written Superman, Wonder Woman, and Before Watchmen for DC Comics. Straczynski is the creator and writer of several original comic book series such as Rising Stars, Midnight Nation, Dream Police, and Ten Grand through Joe's Comics.
A prolific writer across a variety of media and former journalist, Straczynski is the author of the autobiography Becoming Superman (2019) for HarperVoyager, the novel Together We Will Go (2021) for Simon & Schuster, and Becoming a Writer, Staying a Writer (2021) for Benbella Books. In 2020 he was named Head of the Creative Council for the comics publishing company Artists, Writers and Artisans.
Straczynski is a long-time participant in Usenet and other early computer networks, interacting with fans through various online forums (including GEnie, CompuServe, and America Online) since 1984. He is credited as being the first TV producer to directly engage with fans on the Internet and to allow viewer viewpoints to influence the look and feel of his show. Two prominent areas where he had a presence were GEnie and the newsgroup rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated.

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the comic books Supreme Power #1 to #18 covering the first three volume in this series. J. Michael Straczynski's superb take on a Squadron Supreme reality giving a much more realistic approach to a world seeing its first generation of super powered beings appearing. What would the most powerful being in the world do if he found out he'd been manipulated and played by the American government all his life? This book tells that story cynically well :). A Four Star, 8 out of 12 rated read for me.

2017 read

[Subham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another fun read!

We see Hyperion meeting Nighthawk and Whizzer and well meeting him changes his world view somewhat and meeting with the catholic father who tells him of his ppurpose and need to ask questions, then confronting military and things blowing up and the drama there as the military things he is against them now and then Hyperion meeting Dr Spectrum and then Zarda and the weird events of that and how that transforms his world view and then what actions he takes next will change the world. Also there is some plot with Aquaman like being and the viruses and how the military might have tested it out on criminals hence making them super-villains and the fallout of that?

Its a pretty fascinating read and I love the way JMS handles the deconstruction of DC archetypes and well asks the quetsions if Superman had all this power and was raised by govt and well will he become an authoritarian type and how it happen and the slow coming together of the JLA here is fun and he truly takes alan moore type elements in this book and shows how the worl changes with the coming of Superhumans and its indeed fascinating! The art is great again and really compliments the story really well! Onto vol 3 next!

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

Ok, in this volume the shinola hits the fanola. Turns out alien superbeings don’t like being lied to or manipulated in the way they were raised…who knew?! Hyperion now knows that the government sponsored fiasco that he calls his childhood was all just a scam so the US of A could have a super-weapon in its back pocket. He’s not impressed. Add to that the awakening of a possibly schizophrenic super-woman who wants to help Hyperion take over the world and the fact that the government’s only other superhero, Joe ‘Doc Spectrum’ Ledger is MIA and given to comatose periods when some other force seems to be controlling him, and things do not look good for the Earth. Oh yeah, we also have an opportunistic speedster who wants to cash in on his powers with the biggest pay-cheque available and a psychopathic vigilante who wants to settle race relations his way.

Things aren’t looking good for a world with superheroes. Volume 2 of the ‘Supreme Power’ series moves on from the set-up to the beginning phases of the pay-off. Hyperion isn’t happy, but at least he hasn’t gone crazy-town-banana-pants on humanity yet…though that may change if the newly awakened Zarda has her way (let’s just say she’s a lady who doesn’t take kindly to her shopping sprees being interrupted by mere mortals). The Blur is doing endorsements like they’re going out of style until he’s reprimanded by millionaire Kyle Richmond (aka Nighthawk) for being a sell-out opportunist and is recruited to help the vigilante track down and contain a serial killer apparently augmented with super powers by a secret project within the secret project that was responsible for Hyperion and Doc Spectrum. Also, Amphibian keeps acting weird (but I guess that’s normal when you’re thrown into the ocean as a baby and somehow raise yourself). The interwoven threads of the stories are starting to come together, but this was very much a ‘middle issue’ in the series and thus leaves one wanting more. Maybe that’s a good thing…it all depends on when/if the pay-off occurs.

[Soteralzobooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8 à J

[Miss Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, so this story arc was a little more interesting than the first one. More action packed, I'd say. Why only two stars? It feels terribly misogynistic. I know what you are thinking: *GASP* In a comic book? No! And the answer is, yeah, comic books have a long history of pointing a rocket and a scantily clad babe who happens to spread her legs in the direction of said rocket, but in modern stuff there are usually some pretty rockin' ladies. However, in this volume we are introduced to our female characters, and I was a bit disappointed. So far, both seem to exist solely in their relationship to male characters. One is smitten with Dr. Spectrum, the other, Zarda, is some kind of . . . soul mate(?) for Hyperion. So far she's just bossy and obsessed with taking things she finds beautiful. Snore.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great volume. Blur is African American, comes from a poor upbringing, and is probably the biggest "good guy" in the entire series. Nighthawk is rich, and a reverse racist. Then we have Princess Power, Doctor Spectrum who's basically a government agent, and Amphibian shows up as well. While some would write these characters off as derivative, the fact that we know who they are based on only adds to the story.

Also, Gary Frank needs to draw more nudes, because he is really, really good at it.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/3

So far, I really don't care about Joe and blue-fish-woman. The Princess be crazy, and besides for seeing more of Nighthawk & the Blur, I only really care about Mark and seeing where he goes from here (I hope he doesn't end up with Princess Crazy).

The ending with the serial killer case was really creepy. My heart was racing & I was so creeped out I had to keep reading onto Vol. 3.

[WillBrit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a sucker for these The Boys-esque comics, something really enjoyable seeing people with power be manipulated and fight back once they realise

[Brett Milam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ubi dubium ibi libertas is a Latin proverb, meaning, “Where there is doubt, there is freedom.” Of course, if your idea of freedom is the obliteration of the human race, then our concepts of “freedom” differ. But the original intent of the proverb holds: when one questions what they’ve been told, that seed of doubt could be the blossoming of freedom. Where I last left off with Marvel’s 2004 series Supreme Power, through its imprint Max Comics, is Mark Milton of the Hyperion Project, a Superman-like figure, beginning to question the government’s carefully curated citizen-making of him. In the 2005 follow-up, Powers & Principalities, his doubt blossoms into full-blown, godly, destruction. Writer J. Michael Straczynski and illustrator Gary Frank, with Jon Sibal’s striking ink, go darker in the follow-up. Where the first collection was self-referential and comical in parts with an undercurrent of levity, Powers & Principalities has no time for that. A godlike alien being is doubting his government handlers — that, and much more besides, threatens the existence of every human in the world.

Mark is essentially a diversionary tactic for the U.S. government. Since he was made public in the previous collection, the government uses him stateside for essentially good publicity and to divert attention from their true activities overseas with Corporal Joe Ledger, going by the name Doc Spectrum now, who has the crystal from Mark’s ship making him godlike. Thanks to the Chinese, Mark catches on to this and first, starts doing his own missions overseas, and then when his government handlers learn of this and try to squelch it, Mark finally has that seed of doubt about … everything. He eventually learns that he is an alien who arrived on an alien spaceship and his “parents” weren’t really his parents at all, but more government handlers whose deaths were faked. Mark tracks down Doc Spectrum and they have an explosive showdown befitting two godlike entities colliding. After this confrontation, Doc Spectrum needs to heal, and that’s when we learn of an underwater woman with superpowers. She doesn’t have a name yet, but Doc Spectrum promises to provide her one.

It should be said that Mark’s government handlers, whether General Casey of military intelligence who previously handled him, or his new handler at the National Security Agency, Bryce, are awful. Bryce thinks Project Hyperion should’ve been kept secret and then they could have used Mark to control the world, more or less. But Casey is a cuckoo bird himself. There’s a flashback scene of when the government first recovered baby Mark from the spaceship. Casey, even then, was inquiring about what it would take to kill the baby, if they needed to. In the present day, when Mark comes to confront Bryce and Casey, Casey sets off the equivalent of multiple atomic bombs (minus the radiation due to a new technological weapon) in a bid to kill Mark. It doesn’t work. Afterward though, the previously alluded to Princess, analogous to Wonder Woman, but evil, finally comes forth from her hiding place and helps to revive Mark. Princess Zarda was put into a spaceship and sent away along with Mark by their parents, the God of Night and the God of War, respectively. So, she’s godlike, too. Unlike Mark, though, she wants to conquer and rule the world.

My favorite section of the book was #12, because there was a nice four-panel story structure from beginning to end: first, Mark and Zarda, as she tells him about his history in Italy; second, Richmond, Nighthawk (Batman-like), who tried to recruit Stewart Stanley, the speedster, to help him against what he suspects is a superpowered serial killer, killing Black prostitutes by ripping off their left arms, in Chicago; third, Dr. Steadman, the original doctor for Mark, who learns a terrible secret about “vDNA” in Washington D.C.; and fourth, a very foreboding and ominous panel set in Shreveport, Louisiana. Eventually, Mark flies away from Zarda, because he’s ready to do good for people in spite of the governments lies, and Zarda goes through Italy acquiring her outfit (she’s been naked this whole time). Stanley is put off by Richmond calling superheroes like him “you people.” Richmond, though, placed an ad in every newspaper to enlist Mark’s help. Mark comes, but he needs to “think about it.” Dr. Steadman learns another branch of the military is using alien virus DNA, or vDNA, on murderers to see what happens when the alien virus combines with human DNA. Many of the superpowered murderers then broke out of prison, and they need Mark’s help to capture them all. Before the military can kill Dr. Steadman, Doc Spectrum comes to his rescue. And finally, as I suspected was the case, Shreveport is the site of one of these superpowered murderers. Indeed, the one Richmond is after. In one gross scene, a woman flees from the man, and the panel just reads, “Eeeee … SKRUNNNCH.” Gross.

In a great cliffhanger, each of the four panels ends with a representative — Zarda, Mark, and Doc Spectrum, at least — saying, “I’m ready.” For his part, the murderer is singing with the woman’s left arm in his hand. I can’t wait to read what comes next!

If there ever is an adaptation of this series, at least part of it is unfilmable. That’s because the underwater woman and Zarda are both depicted as completely nude, at least until Zarda raids some of those Italian stores for clothing. Which makes sense because neither one would come into the world clothed.

[Jedhua · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Info: This collection contains Supreme Power issues #7-12.


ABSOLUTE RATING: {3.5/5 stars} (Rounded Up)

STANDARDIZED RATING: <4/5 stars>



As Mark Milton boldly continues his public superhero career as Hyperion, the army and NSA fight amongst themselves behind the scenes for control over him. While the NSA believes Hyperion should step out of the limelight and serve his intended function as a strategic tool of political/military coercion overseas, the army brass maintain that he's best situated as a continued diversion away from Joe Ledger – a top-secret operative the US government has been using to exert their influence over foreign affairs. But when Mark catches wind of these machinations following a secret meeting with a Chinese official, he flies off the handle, and becomes determined to get answers one way or another. Meanwhile, there's been a mysterious humanoid creature thriving deep beneath the ocean, and it's about to make first contact...

Well, well, well. Looks like JMS really *can* write well if he puts his mind to it. If you are one of those folks on the fence about reading this after the previous book, listen up: the first volume was structured the way it was only for housekeeping purposes, and *this* book is where things really heat up and take form. For one thing, I can guarantee you're not going to have those same complaints about the lack of action: Frank really steps things up here in that regard, providing a ton of excellent fight sequences. And they're set up very nicely by Straczynski's improved plotting, script, and pacing. Also, if you were frustrated with the last volume's limited explanations, you'll be pleased to know this one fills in a few of the gaps and leaves you with far less unanswered questions by the end.



Starting with issues #7-8, we begin to see a change in Hyperion, and he quickly starts to question his prescribed role in society. And though we knew this was coming, it's clear that the writer's patience in walking us through his gradual evolution has payed off, and my sympathy for Mark caused me to dread what ultimately (and understandably) may become of him. But as tense as things start to get in the first two issues, they're really just a warm-up for what Straczynski's got planned for the remaining four. I can't really get into a whole lot of detail here, but I will say that once he gets started in issue #9, he never lets up, and ends off with a pretty cool cliffhanger at the end of the book. There are even times where the writing feels quite reminiscent of Warren Ellis (like in the third and sixth issues), and Straczynski proves himself capable of some similarly ominous and suspenseful storytelling. So I gotta give him serious props: that's no small feat, and it's not a comparison I'd ever make lightly.







And somehow, when the action dies back down during the second half of the book, JMS still maintains the momentum. If anything, things only get *more* engaging as they move along, not less. It's here that we get introduced to new characters like Princess Zarda and the weird amphibian lady, but more importantly, it's here that the complex characterization shines the brightest. Especially intriguing were the developing relationships between Hyperion and Zarda, and between Nighthawk and the Blur. What's so cool about Zarda's character – besides the copious nudity, of course – is that she talks and acts like a genuine goddess, and her casual aloofness and vanity playfully nudge at Hyperion's own reluctant pride. The interaction between Nighthawk and the Blur is perhaps even more entertaining, and it was great to see these two proud individuals challenge one another to become better men.


[Is it just me, or does this Hyperion-Zarda scene mirror that Superman-Wonder Woman scene in The Dark Knight Strikes Again? Just where exactly does the creative "homage" end with you, Strac?]

I wouldn't have guessed so from volume one, or even judging from the user ratings/reviews, but I actually enjoyed this book enough that I feel somewhat excited to start on the final installment. As I predicted, this volume benefits greatly from the deliberate groundwork laid in the previous arc, and so it's able to take off with minimal lead-up. I'm gonna try and remain cautiously optimistic here, but with Powers and Principalities, this series really does appear to be on an upswing, so I wouldn't be surprised if book three is able to achieve a solid four stars. Here's hoping...

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty good and a had some badass moments, but it also is a little all over the place. The overall flow of this book was pretty choppy too not as cohesive in a way like the plot is moving too fast. There is a lot of talking but not very good explaining. So far I’m more confused after reading this than I started.

The biggest problem with this is that for how fast the plot moves it could also do it in less issues if that makes any sense. Or better yet not be bogged down with a lot of non-answers. Why tell us information if it is basically useless. JMS might as well have just not used words and just the IMAGES instead so we could assume on our own instead of being more confused by the so called “answers”.

3.5/5 rounded down since I don’t feel like it deserves to be rounded up.

[Devero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Il secondo volume di questa saga vede Straczynski mettere a confronto Hyperion con ciò che gli è stato insegnato dallo stato, nonché con la scoperta che la sua solitudine non è tale.
Il suo incontro con Whizzer è indicativo del crescente malessere di Hyperion nei confronti dei militari che lo controllano, dei media, e della società; il suo incontro con Nighthawk mette in luce quanti dubbi sorgano nella sua mente sull'imprinting morale che fin dalla nascita gli è stato inculcato.
L'incontro col Dr. Spectrum e poi con Zarda pongono Hyperion di fronte ad altre questioni, tra cui quella della sua identità ed origine.
Ed altri metaumani sono in giro...

Bene Gary Frank ai disegni, ed i dialoghi di Strac rimangono più che buoni.
4 stelle

[Matej · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume was not as strong as the first one, but it was still interesting and had some good twists and turns.
I like the "adult" and more realistic take on the Justice League, and would recommend this to anyone who likes Justice League elseworlds stories because this is basically it.

[Graham Barrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Read in 2013, review from 2023)

Not as good as the first volume (i.e., the depiction of the Wonder Woman stand-in) but still entertaining and I'd go with Supreme Power over The Boys comics any day.

[Marcos_e.e · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nota 8,5.
Nem dá pra considerar um arco ainda e serviu mais de ponte entre um arco e outro. Introduzindo uma nova personagem nisso tudo. Eu curto o visual e os diálogos, é tipo The Boys se The Boys fosse um bom quadrinho.

[Elfo-oscuro · Rating 4 out of 5]

He disfrutado bastante con lahistoria de los 3 volumenes, con varias sorpresas en la lectura

[Shawn Ingle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the mature, more realistic superhero storytelling. The artwork matches it well.

[Cyril · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story and art
4 stars

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 4 out of 5]

JMS continues to very slowly bring together his JLA (Squadron Supreme), but his character studies are so interesting that it's worth waiting.

Hyperion (Superman) continues his story from v1, and this is mainly about repercussions: what happens when you've lied to Superman his whole life.

Doctor Spectrum (Green Lantern) is still obviously Hal Jordan, but he's also presented as Superman's opposite number, which is fascinating because it feels so true in the Supreme universe.

Zarda (Wonder Woman) finally gets more attention, and she's intriguing too; her presentation as a goddess of war is a far cry from Wonder Woman's role as a diplomat of peace in the time period, but it also feels very true.

Overall, this volume is much better integrated than its predecessor, with the minor characters of the Blur (Flash) and the female Aquaman even having good connections to the main story (though both of the women existing mainly as balance to male heroes is a bit grating). It's also fascinating to see how JMS connects the appearance of villains to Hyperion and to the malevolent government.

Overall, another strong volume whose only really fault is that it stops just as things look like they're about to hit a big climax.

[Troy-David Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume follows up from “Contact”. Mark’s life has been sheparded and guided: in short, he’s been lied to his entire life. What next? How do you control an indestructible man who is deciding what he wants and how he wanta to go about taking it?
There is an interesting exposition about Mark’s power levels and what it might take to stop him: IF it works, that is.
The re-imagined Squadron Supreme is continued through this volume and is heading into some dangerous and thought-provoking territory.
I am very much a fan of this look into what super-humans would be like in this modern setting.
Certainly a much darker outlook than that of the Silver Age of super-heroes.
Be sure to follow this with “High Command”.

[Fantasy Literature · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this volume, the shinola hits the fanola. Turns out alien superbeings don’t like being lied to or manipulated in the way they were raised . . . Who knew?! In Powers and Principalities, the second volume of Supreme Power, Hyperion now knows that the government sponsored fiasco that he calls his childhood was all just a scam so the U.S. of A. could have a super-weapon in its back pocket. He’s not impressed. Add to that the awakening of a possibly schizophrenic super-woman who wants to help Hyperion take over the world and the fact that the government’s only other superhero, Joe “Doc Spect... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...

[Jdetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this less than I do, but despite being more cynical than the original, Straczynski manages not to allow his story to wallow in it's darker aspects, and he keeps giving us characters to root for. Very well done.

[Little Timmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if power corrupted a superhero, or the government decided to manipulate superheroes to their own use. Straczynski does a fantastic job telling the stories these questions pose. Well above average art and exceptional story and characters make these pure please to read. High recommended

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little pulp post-Under the Banner of Heaven to cleanse the palette before moving on to something serious again.

[Gary Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The "Wonder Woman" character was kind of silly. And she doesn't really fit everything that's been established so far.

[Alain DeWitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting alternate take on the Superman mythos. Look forward to reading the remaining installments.

[Andrew Obrigewitsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was good. Unfortunately my library doesn't have the third volume though. So I may have to buy it to see how this ends.

[Ondra Král · Rating 2 out of 5]

Už se něco +- začíná dít (po dvanácti číslech, wow), ale nuda převažuje.