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Powers (2000) #2
Powers, Vol. 2: Roleplay
Powers features one of the most awarded and acclaimed teams of the last several years and winners of the 2001 Eisner award for best new series.Detectives Christian Walker and Deena Pilgrim work out of the special homicide office in charge of cases that involve Powers, those that have talents and abilities far beyond those of normal men.
This graphic novel details one of the most disturbing cases of their careers. A group of college kids who role play their favorite super-heroes are being murdered one-by-one, and unless Walker and Pilgrim can stop the killer, more kids will die.
This graphic novel details one of the most disturbing cases of their careers. A group of college kids who role play their favorite super-heroes are being murdered one-by-one, and unless Walker and Pilgrim can stop the killer, more kids will die.
112 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
10 people are currently reading
652 people want to read
About the author
Brian Michael Bendis
4,417 books2,569 followersA comic book writer and erstwhile artist. He has won critical acclaim (including five Eisner Awards) and is one of the most successful writers working in mainstream comics. For over eight years Bendis’s books have consistently sat in the top five best sellers on the nationwide comic and graphic novel sales charts.
Though he started as a writer and artist of independent noir fiction series, he shot to stardom as a writer of Marvel Comics' superhero books, particularly Ultimate Spider-Man.
Bendis first entered the comic world with the "Jinx" line of crime comics in 1995. This line has spawned the graphic novels Goldfish, Fire, Jinx, Torso (with Marc Andreyko), and Total Sell Out. Bendis is writing the film version of Jinx for Universal Pictures with Oscar-winner Charlize Theron attached to star and produce.
Bendis’s other projects include the Harvey, Eisner, and Eagle Award-nominated Powers (with Michael Avon Oeming) originally from Image Comics, now published by Marvel's new creator-owned imprint Icon Comics, and the Hollywood tell-all Fortune and Glory from Oni Press, both of which received an "A" from Entertainment Weekly.
Bendis is one of the premiere architects of Marvel's "Ultimate" line: comics specifically created for the new generation of comic readers. He has written every issue of Ultimate Spider-Man since its best-selling launch, and has also written for Ultimate Fantastic Four and Ultimate X-Men, as well as every issue of Ultimate Marvel Team-Up, Ultimate Origin and Ultimate Six.
Brian is currently helming a renaissance for Marvel’s AVENGERS franchise by writing both New Avengers and Mighty Avengers along with the successful ‘event’ projects House Of M, Secret War, and this summer’s Secret Invasion.
He has also previously done work on Daredevil, Alias, and The Pulse.
Though he started as a writer and artist of independent noir fiction series, he shot to stardom as a writer of Marvel Comics' superhero books, particularly Ultimate Spider-Man.
Bendis first entered the comic world with the "Jinx" line of crime comics in 1995. This line has spawned the graphic novels Goldfish, Fire, Jinx, Torso (with Marc Andreyko), and Total Sell Out. Bendis is writing the film version of Jinx for Universal Pictures with Oscar-winner Charlize Theron attached to star and produce.
Bendis’s other projects include the Harvey, Eisner, and Eagle Award-nominated Powers (with Michael Avon Oeming) originally from Image Comics, now published by Marvel's new creator-owned imprint Icon Comics, and the Hollywood tell-all Fortune and Glory from Oni Press, both of which received an "A" from Entertainment Weekly.
Bendis is one of the premiere architects of Marvel's "Ultimate" line: comics specifically created for the new generation of comic readers. He has written every issue of Ultimate Spider-Man since its best-selling launch, and has also written for Ultimate Fantastic Four and Ultimate X-Men, as well as every issue of Ultimate Marvel Team-Up, Ultimate Origin and Ultimate Six.
Brian is currently helming a renaissance for Marvel’s AVENGERS franchise by writing both New Avengers and Mighty Avengers along with the successful ‘event’ projects House Of M, Secret War, and this summer’s Secret Invasion.
He has also previously done work on Daredevil, Alias, and The Pulse.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
October 6, 2023
Role playing superheroes does not end well for a group of kids. It's bad enough that they're breaking the law just by wearing super hero costumes. Indie-punk rookie Powers Division detective Deena Pilgrim gets into the deepest of pooh after her erm... 'accident' with a suspect, who wasn't technically a suspect. Meanwhile Walker is out on his own trying to break the 'Roleplay' case.
A somewhat textbook case is brought to life by Michael Avon Oeming's superb visuals including a fair amount of dialogue-less panels for the action, and the sheer genius-art he uses to show how cross-dimensional movement is portrayed (you'll see :)). When I first read this, I was like WTF! Another super solid 9 out of 12.
2021, 201, 2017 and 2013 read
A somewhat textbook case is brought to life by Michael Avon Oeming's superb visuals including a fair amount of dialogue-less panels for the action, and the sheer genius-art he uses to show how cross-dimensional movement is portrayed (you'll see :)). When I first read this, I was like WTF! Another super solid 9 out of 12.
2021, 201, 2017 and 2013 read
April 21, 2018
3.5 stars
Powers is one of those comics that's just easy to read.
Short, not much dialogue, interesting enough to keep you coming back for more.
The Roleplay storyline is fairly simple. A handful of college kids decide to roleplay as different superheroes and end up dead.
The mystery isn't all that interesting once it's all said and done, but I suppose that's alright. You do get to find out a little bit more about the world Bendis created, though.
Huh. Yeah, I don't really know why I like this one, but I do. Maybe it's kind of like all those bodice-ripper romances that I enjoy so much. Just...fun for the sake of fun?
There's not much going on in this one, but I thought it was cool.
Powers is one of those comics that's just easy to read.
Short, not much dialogue, interesting enough to keep you coming back for more.
The Roleplay storyline is fairly simple. A handful of college kids decide to roleplay as different superheroes and end up dead.
The mystery isn't all that interesting once it's all said and done, but I suppose that's alright. You do get to find out a little bit more about the world Bendis created, though.
Huh. Yeah, I don't really know why I like this one, but I do. Maybe it's kind of like all those bodice-ripper romances that I enjoy so much. Just...fun for the sake of fun?
There's not much going on in this one, but I thought it was cool.
September 17, 2019
A bunch of kids roleplay as superheroes and get murdered for it. Walker and Pilgrim are on the case. I loved the ending to this. The moment with Johnny Royale was very surprising as well. It seemed like that would have led to more long term but I guess not. Still it was a shock. I'm still digging this series in my third go around through it.
February 10, 2020
2.5|5
Decent. I still don’t like the art style,it looks so amateurish,even if it didn’t bother me as much as it did in the first volume. The story itself isn’t great either; it was rather tiring to read for some reason. I’ll probably read the next volume but I’m not sure if I’ll commit to the whole series.
Decent. I still don’t like the art style,it looks so amateurish,even if it didn’t bother me as much as it did in the first volume. The story itself isn’t great either; it was rather tiring to read for some reason. I’ll probably read the next volume but I’m not sure if I’ll commit to the whole series.
April 19, 2022
A step up from the first volume in regards to pace and plot. It offers a much more compelling narrative, with a really interesting main concept. Sadly, it ends a little on the flat side. Where I was expecting a big, climactic conclusion, there was only one page of dialogue to essentially wrap everything up with the Roleplay case. The other problem is the layout which isn't the easiest to follow at times, meaning that you end up reading some dialogue or looking at certain panels out of sequential order. Overall, it's a fun read that just misses out on being four stars.
May 26, 2014
Powers is an interesting concept. It looks at the superhero world from the viewpoint of superheroes being the perps and victims of murder. With this second volume, the victims aren't quite superheroes. They are college students playing an elaborate superhero role playing game that gets deadly when they get murdered by a superhuman.
This was dark and sad, to think that these kids were being murdered that way. And the root cause makes it even more distressing. Detectives Christian Walker and Deena Pilgrim investigate this crime, and Deena in her forthright way steps on some toes and gets herself in trouble. There is a part that is really funny, in a sick kind of way. So Walker is forced to solve the crime on his own for the most part. He calls in some markers with folks he knew from his superhero days.
I didn't like this one as much as the first book in the series. It seemed less dynamic, although it has an interesting statement on the concept of superheroes as celebrity and part of popular culture. The kids were playing with fire in big and small ways, considering dressing up like a superhero is illegal in the story and also for another huge reason.
Powers is for people who are intrigued by a different view of superheroes, but the story is focused on dialogue and characterization and less on action and over the top exploits of superpowers. In a way that's kind of refreshing, but you have to be in the mood for it. It was a departure from some of the other graphic novels I am reading right now, so I think the downer aspect of this book didn't quite work for me at the time.
Overall rating: 3.25/5.0 stars
This was dark and sad, to think that these kids were being murdered that way. And the root cause makes it even more distressing. Detectives Christian Walker and Deena Pilgrim investigate this crime, and Deena in her forthright way steps on some toes and gets herself in trouble. There is a part that is really funny, in a sick kind of way. So Walker is forced to solve the crime on his own for the most part. He calls in some markers with folks he knew from his superhero days.
I didn't like this one as much as the first book in the series. It seemed less dynamic, although it has an interesting statement on the concept of superheroes as celebrity and part of popular culture. The kids were playing with fire in big and small ways, considering dressing up like a superhero is illegal in the story and also for another huge reason.
Powers is for people who are intrigued by a different view of superheroes, but the story is focused on dialogue and characterization and less on action and over the top exploits of superpowers. In a way that's kind of refreshing, but you have to be in the mood for it. It was a departure from some of the other graphic novels I am reading right now, so I think the downer aspect of this book didn't quite work for me at the time.
Overall rating: 3.25/5.0 stars
January 17, 2024
Pilgrim and Walker are back and rolling strong in the second volume of this gritty and noirish super-powered police procedural. Expect, lots of tense and brooding action, the worst LARP ever, teleportation problems and the demise of a promising villain.
December 2, 2017
Powers is a nice little unique title. While not mindblowing I can see why it got a cult following.
This one starts very different than volume 1. We have a group of kids who cosplay their favorite heroes. Pretty normal right? Especially now days with how popular nerd culture is. However, these guys really go all out and this is a world where superheroes, capes, use to run around actually fighting crime. So when these kids who are roleplaying get caught up with someone who isn't so happy to play "games" we start to see deaths like a motherfucker. So this brings out two favorite detectives to figure this case out.
Good: I really enjoy the dialog between the two main detectives. They remain to be the highlight. I also like how the story is structured. Wide shots, lots of banter, and big reveals that somehow all make sense. Typical Bendis fun.
Bad: The dialog can be so heavy it feels a bit forced at times. Also the end results wasn't as satisfying as I hoped. The villain could of used more work, or not really a villain, but yeah, it just was okay reveal.
Overall a solid second volume. I think I'ma really sit back and enjoy most of this series. A 3 out of a 5.
This one starts very different than volume 1. We have a group of kids who cosplay their favorite heroes. Pretty normal right? Especially now days with how popular nerd culture is. However, these guys really go all out and this is a world where superheroes, capes, use to run around actually fighting crime. So when these kids who are roleplaying get caught up with someone who isn't so happy to play "games" we start to see deaths like a motherfucker. So this brings out two favorite detectives to figure this case out.
Good: I really enjoy the dialog between the two main detectives. They remain to be the highlight. I also like how the story is structured. Wide shots, lots of banter, and big reveals that somehow all make sense. Typical Bendis fun.
Bad: The dialog can be so heavy it feels a bit forced at times. Also the end results wasn't as satisfying as I hoped. The villain could of used more work, or not really a villain, but yeah, it just was okay reveal.
Overall a solid second volume. I think I'ma really sit back and enjoy most of this series. A 3 out of a 5.
September 15, 2019
Do you want to die?
Teenagers dressed in tights, falling off rooftops. What's wrong with this picture? Deena Pilgrim and her partner are investigating. Unfortunately, Deena is put on suspension, so her partner has to solve the case by himself...
The artwork is very reminiscent of Batman/Superman Adventures. I used to watch the cartoon weekday afternoons back when I was in high school. Those were the good old days!
September 16, 2019
Another noir superhero mystery. Good writing, bad art. And by bad art I mean awesome layout and editing but a cartoony style of art that I find just irritating. And as for the writing, a little bit more effort in actual world building would be appreciated. So a good series that just doesn't grab me.
August 11, 2015
This story was relatively short but interesting.
Here we examine the concept of normal people roleplaying as heroes and what happens when they interact with the real super-heroes.
Here we examine the concept of normal people roleplaying as heroes and what happens when they interact with the real super-heroes.
October 12, 2016
I've always found this volume a big let-down after the high quality of Powers, Vol. 1: Who Killed Retro Girl?. On the surface, it's a great switch-up. Bends shows us how the book isn't going to be just about supers getting killed by giving us the case of a bunch of cosplayers who get in over their head.
And there's a great subplot in this book with Johnny Royalle and Deanna's interactions with him, including one of the most shocking moments in the early Powers.
The problem is with the mystery (or procedural if you prefer). Hunting down the killers of the kids is OK enough. It's generally in the same style as the first volume, which is running down one lead after another instead of actual deduction. It only really falls apart with the ending, with feels so surprising and so unearned that it spoils my enjoyment of this volume every time I get to the last few pages.
Oh, and maybe characters are a problem too. There just doesn't feel like there's as much richness here as in the first volume. (Also: what happened to Calista?? Another let-down.)
Though I grouse, this is OK. It's decently good until you get to that ending, and even with that it's still maybe three and a half stars.
And there's a great subplot in this book with Johnny Royalle and Deanna's interactions with him, including one of the most shocking moments in the early Powers.
The problem is with the mystery (or procedural if you prefer). Hunting down the killers of the kids is OK enough. It's generally in the same style as the first volume, which is running down one lead after another instead of actual deduction. It only really falls apart with the ending, with feels so surprising and so unearned that it spoils my enjoyment of this volume every time I get to the last few pages.
Oh, and maybe characters are a problem too. There just doesn't feel like there's as much richness here as in the first volume. (Also: what happened to Calista?? Another let-down.)
Though I grouse, this is OK. It's decently good until you get to that ending, and even with that it's still maybe three and a half stars.
May 3, 2025
When I try to say anything about this book, I can't really think of anything in particular. It is what it is: a police procedural in a superhero universe. But having said that, I couldn't put this down and literally read it in a single sitting. So there you go.
June 16, 2014
Something devilishly satisfying about killing off a group of superhero RPGers...
October 9, 2015
Not as engaging as the first one, but it was still good. I want to know more backstory for the two main characters.
December 30, 2018
Actual rating: 3.5
September 25, 2016
More detective serial than typical superhero fare which is definitely the advantage. This definitely calls into question the morals of the detectives as they work to solve a crime involving college kids.
December 28, 2016
Another okay installment! This isn't doing much for me. It's a bit stock and middling at its worst, nicely drawn and promising something bigger at its best. I'm going to read one more trade and see how I feel, as it may have started to develop an overarching narrative in the last issue. This is one of the few comics I think could benefit from the (in development!) television series.
March 26, 2010
"Roleplay" was more satisfying for me than "Who Killed Retro Girl?" because of two things. The first was that I really liked the concept of it; college students roleplaying their favorite superheroes in a D&D type of way which en ds in them being murdered. Something interesting that we learn is that it is illegal to dress up as a superhero. The second reason that this was satisfying was the end result. While I can see why the ending would be underwhelming to some, this, unlike Volume 1 satisfied me with its ending which I found to be depressing and unfortunate. Powers impresses with the amount of time that is spent on characterization especially the way Bendis balances characterizatiion with plot. A lot of time is always spent interrogating suspects and he manages to always be building on Walker and Pilgrim's characters and interaction with each other through the questioning. The page layout might be my favorite creative choice about "Powers". Instead of always using vertically based page layouts, this series takes both the left and right page and makes them work together by making the panels go horizontally into the next page instead of further down into the same one. It is not done all the time, which is good because I wouldn't want it to be too much, but it makes everything feel slightly cinematic with coincides well with the film noir inspired shadows. While Volume 1 was definitely more personal for Walker and Pilgrim, in that respect I like it more than this volume, I was overall more satisfied with this volume and I can't wait to read more.
April 12, 2015
Another top notch story arc from Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming.
Love the artwork. Reminds me of the Batman Animated Series. Dark and edgy. Very cool. On to volume 3.
Love the artwork. Reminds me of the Batman Animated Series. Dark and edgy. Very cool. On to volume 3.
October 9, 2015
This wasn't as engaging as the first one, but it was still good.
October 26, 2016
Not as good as the first for some reason
May 24, 2018
This definitely left me wanting more, I hope the library has some. I felt like things got wrapped up a little too quickly, though really it should’ve been wrapped up even more quickly because what kind of dummies with a serial killer after them don’t come forward and say who it is? It did leave things open for the next volume as we have a new killer to find. Issue 7 wasn’t included in this volume or the last one and I’m curious about what I’ve missed. The little girl has disappeared without any mention so I’m assuming it was covered in 7 and I wonder why it wasn’t included in either volume. Walker got to show he’s still capable in a fight even without powers and Deena is starting to look suspicious but I’m pretty sure that’s just to add conflict to their relationship and she’s not actually going around dishing out vigilante justice. There weren’t a lot of powers in this book, but that seems to be the way of things here, we’re in a superhero world, but life goes on mostly normally. One bit of powers I didn’t understand at all, a badly done 3D graphic coming from another dimension and making Deena throw up, what was that about? A reference to a game or something I’m not getting or just randomness?
February 10, 2020
I'm trying to read more cartooning and comic book stuff. This effort I came across has me a question:
$13.95 for this? Thankfully, I got it for 25 cents and bought it for a friend. Though, I'm not sure if I'll pass it on. As long as it's understood i don't like it and don't recommend it.
There's an obvious story that is extremely poorly written and presented. When Will Eisner developed the panel pauses, he didn't mean waste pages and pages doing it and then NOT move the story along.
The bad writer has a character babbling valley Girl-speak that ramble from panel to panel. The fellow, thinking he is a writer, needs to learn about story telling. Especially within a limited number of pages.
This stupid mess is poorly written, illustrated and an entire waste of time and clearly states where the comic book industry is today: Lost in being able to tell a story. Even a bad one.
Bottom line: Again, i don't recommend this book. 1 out of ten points.
$13.95 for this? Thankfully, I got it for 25 cents and bought it for a friend. Though, I'm not sure if I'll pass it on. As long as it's understood i don't like it and don't recommend it.
There's an obvious story that is extremely poorly written and presented. When Will Eisner developed the panel pauses, he didn't mean waste pages and pages doing it and then NOT move the story along.
The bad writer has a character babbling valley Girl-speak that ramble from panel to panel. The fellow, thinking he is a writer, needs to learn about story telling. Especially within a limited number of pages.
This stupid mess is poorly written, illustrated and an entire waste of time and clearly states where the comic book industry is today: Lost in being able to tell a story. Even a bad one.
Bottom line: Again, i don't recommend this book. 1 out of ten points.
March 14, 2020
Bendis has as genuine talent at crafting 6-issue arcs. While a great many writers will pad out their stories to make it longer, Bendis excels at the moments they struggle with. He has a knack, exemplified by the work in this volume, of creating tiny moments that can step away from the adventure and excitement if the main thrust of the story, and still be utterly fascinating.
Oeming's pencils are also stellar in this volume, with fewer repeated panels, and most of the story highlight his simply great characterization.
All in all, a phenomenal story, masterfully told.
Oeming's pencils are also stellar in this volume, with fewer repeated panels, and most of the story highlight his simply great characterization.
All in all, a phenomenal story, masterfully told.
July 6, 2020
In the police division that deals with metahuman crime, Detectives Walker and Pilgrim have to solve a case involving the murder of a bunch of college kids who were only roleplaying as superheroes.
Bendis' writing is interesting, clever and hilarious as usual. What really bumps this work up from a entertaining three star read is Michael Avon Oeming's artwork. I love the way he plays around with form and style in a way which is rare in the industry. A unique take on the superhero genre, fun and witty.
Bendis' writing is interesting, clever and hilarious as usual. What really bumps this work up from a entertaining three star read is Michael Avon Oeming's artwork. I love the way he plays around with form and style in a way which is rare in the industry. A unique take on the superhero genre, fun and witty.
September 18, 2023
Oeming's line got cleaner from the first volume and he seems more confident.
Bendis is dialogue machine, bubble after bubble, sometimes to a point (not necessarily h8s fault) where you dont know how the read them in order (too many on page, one over the other).
Again, the story is simple, mostly episodic (by volume, not issue). It's fine but not complex. It's an easy read.
But there is a lingering feeling the story will expand further (I have a bit of a insight though, as I read many years ago, the first series).
Bendis is dialogue machine, bubble after bubble, sometimes to a point (not necessarily h8s fault) where you dont know how the read them in order (too many on page, one over the other).
Again, the story is simple, mostly episodic (by volume, not issue). It's fine but not complex. It's an easy read.
But there is a lingering feeling the story will expand further (I have a bit of a insight though, as I read many years ago, the first series).
November 30, 2023
These compilation volumes are a convenient way to catch up on the story for those who didn't read it when it was initially released, or don't have the funds to purchase back issues. However, these volumes are story-based, so volume 1 reprinted the Who Killed Retro Girl? story, which was issues 1-6, and this volume reprints the Role-Play story, which was issues 8-11 - issue 7 is not included in the compilation volumes.
September 2, 2018
I liked the first volume better, but this is still much better than your usual comic. Again, not sure why but I love the dialogues, and the art is very solid. The story arc felt short, I think there were less issues than in volume 1. Looking forward to the next one, but can my local library keep delivering the goods?
May 17, 2019
An interesting set up for a mystery and some nice world building as one has to wonder in a world of actual super heroes would people be allowed to dress up as those super heroes. But this series just has way to much dialogue that is kind of boring to read sometimes.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews