Absolute Power: Ground Zero (2024) #1

Absolute Power

by Mark Waid, Gleb Melnikov (inker), Skylar Patridge (inker)

THE DOMINOS FALL!As the DC Universe braces for the “Absolute Power” blitzkrieg, the key to capturing metahuman powers on planet Earth will at last be unlocked! Bridging the events of Batman, House of Brainiac, and Suicide Dream Team, this special oversize GROUND ZERO issue brings Waller’s total dominance to the doorsteps of the world’s finest heroes…using the combined might of FAILSAFE, BRAINIAC QUEEN, and the SUICIDE SQUAD to do it! Witness years of storytelling culminate, brought to you by Absolute Power series architect MARK WAID and the masterminds behind the trinity of evil, CHIP ZDARSKY, NICOLE MAINES, and JOSHUA WILLIAMSON!

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Superheroes, Comic Book, Science Fiction, Mystery, Crime

44 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 25, 2024

About the author

Mark Waid is an American comic book writer widely known for shaping modern superhero storytelling through influential runs on major characters at both DC Comics and Marvel Comics. Raised in Alabama, he developed an early fascination with comic books, particularly classic stories featuring the Legion of Super-Heroes, whose imaginative scope and sense of legacy would later inform his own writing. He first entered the comics industry during the mid 1980s as an editor and writer for the fan magazine Amazing Heroes, before publishing his first professional comic story in Action Comics. Soon afterward he joined DC Comics as an editor, contributing to numerous titles and helping shape projects across the company. After leaving editorial work to focus on writing, Waid gained widespread recognition with his long run on The Flash, where he expanded the mythology of the character and co-created the youthful speedster Impulse. His reputation grew further with the celebrated graphic novel Kingdom Come, created with artist Alex Ross, which imagined a future DC Universe shaped by generational conflict among superheroes. Over the years he has written many prominent series, including Captain America, Fantastic Four, Daredevil, and Superman: Birthright, bringing a balance of optimism, character depth, and respect for comic book history to each project. Waid has also collaborated with notable artists and writers on major ensemble titles such as Justice League and Avengers, while contributing ideas that helped clarify complex continuity within shared superhero universes. Beyond mainstream superhero work, he has supported creator owned projects and experimental publishing models, including the acclaimed series Irredeemable and Incorruptible, which explored moral ambiguity within the superhero genre. He later took on editorial leadership roles at Boom Studios, guiding creative direction while continuing to write extensively. In subsequent years he expanded his involvement in publishing and digital storytelling, helping launch online comics initiatives and advocating for new distribution methods for creators. His work has earned numerous industry awards, including Eisner and Harvey honors, reflecting both critical acclaim and enduring popularity among readers. Throughout his career Waid has remained a passionate student of comic book history, drawing on decades of storytelling tradition while continually encouraging innovation within the medium. His influence extends across generations of readers and creators, and his stories continue to shape the evolving language of superhero comics around the world today through enduring characters imaginative narratives and thoughtful reinventions of familiar myths within popular culture and modern graphic storytelling traditions.

Reviews

[Urbon Adamsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

PT Edição zero do evento Poder Absoluto.

Nesta revista ficamos a conhecer melhor os planos de Amanda Waller, com novos detalhes que ajudam a compreender as suas verdadeiras motivações.

Mais uma vez, o argumento de Nicole Maines destaca-se — agora em parceria com Mark Waid — resultando num texto sólido e envolvente.

Um excelente primeiro passo para este evento, que nos deixa genuinamente entusiasmados pelo que aí vem.

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EN Issue zero of the Absolute Power event.

In this issue, we get a deeper look into Amanda Waller’s plans, with new details that help us better understand her true motivations.

Once again, Nicole Maines delivers strong writing — this time in partnership with Mark Waid — resulting in a solid and engaging script.

A great first step for this event, leaving us genuinely excited for what’s to come.

[Vinicius · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esse é aquele típico gibi que constrói uma trama amarradinha, com mistério e que te deixa com gostinho de quero mais quando você termina.

Absolute Power Marco Zero, como ficou a tradução no BR, trata de mostrar em partes, como se fossem capítulos, o avanço do plano da Amanda Waller, com ela recrutando personagens pontualmente e planejando cada detalhe sendo traçado meticulosamente.

Quem acompanha a DC sabe que a Amanda é casca grossa e não deixa barato as coisas, ela faz de tudo para conseguir o que quer, e aqui não é diferente. Ela recruta personagens e os manipula, resgata um robô com IA Brainiac, reativa o Salvaguarda do Batman e ainda mexe com robôs Amazo.

Dessa forma, temos Amanda Waller fria e calculista, que deixa o leitor curioso para saber o desfecho desse plano.

[James B · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a really good setup. I'm a bit bummed about all the tie ins, I have no urge to read a Superman or Wonder Woman comic. This should hold me over until World War V releases, so it should be worth it

[Roland Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting setup. I’ve not read DC for a while but this is decent. Excellent team of writers

[José Vitor - zetalendo · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 estrelas

Uma boa introdução.
Aqui é mencionado muito de outros volumes dos outros heróis, mas é só seguir o fluxo que não fica perdido.
A proposta do evento é bem interessante, e tô curioso para saber como tudo isso vai desenrolar.

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Esta edição abre alas para a nova megassaga da DC Comics. A Panini Comics Brasil uniu na mesma edição o preview do Free Comic Book Day com a edição Ground Zero, ambas escritas por Mark Waid, mas a segunda em colaboração com outros escritores da DC Comics. A primeira parte, só por Waid é melhor que as outras, trazendo uma apresentação a um vilão elétrico de alguns planos de Amanda Waller. Depois, temos as tentativas de Waller de reativar a armadura Salvaguarda do Batman como seu Batman de uso pessoal. Assim como ela "cria" a Brainiac em um ambiente digital para que ela se torne uma espécie de filha ao seu comando. Assim, uma trindade perversa é formada com Brainiac, Salvaguarda e Amanda Waller com o intuito de erradicar todos os super-humanos do Universo DC, e substituindo eles todos por inteligências artificiais. Humm, será que podemos chamar essa Trindade Sombria de Big Techs?

[Murphy C · Rating 4 out of 5]

9/8/24

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been out of the loop for about 8 months. So color me impressed that I could get into this pretty easy.

This sets up Absolute Power with ease. Amanda is up to her old ways, and plans to wage war on people with power. So she recruits (or forces) Dreamer to hunt down certain heroes. Then she gets Failsafe back online, yep the one who fucked up Batman. Then she also gets a robotic creature who she "raised" in the robots head to go to war on people with power like Superman/Batman/Wonder woman ect.

So we set the stage for the war and now it's time to act.

[Raymond Paquette · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good beginning. It threatens to eliminate the line between gods and men. However, Waller is not someone who deserves power. She is as flawed, if not more than the people she hates. This will end badly for all involved.

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Resulta algo ya no solo "accesorio", si no hiper revelador de cara este evento que no parecía tan interesante cuando se anunció. Pero ahora que estamos antes las puertas de iniciar Absolut Power y todas los grandes avances argumentales en las "primeras espadas" del mundo editorial de DC mostrados. Pues sí que hay muchas ganas de asistir al momento donde Amanda Waller ha conseguido todo el potencial de poder y control desde su presencia gubernamental. Ya no solo cuenta con grupillos de supervillanos o antihéroes coaccionados a misiones rastreras. Está actuando a ojo público en su plan de quitarles la posición de héroes salvadores a nuestros conocidos personajes del Multiverso DC (entendiendo a escala terrestre). ¿Y para qué?... Para valerse de dos entidades de Inteligencia Artificial (era el momento sin duda, Mr. Waid) que se pondrán a trabajar en un control global total... Y ya sabemos que una es la personalidad irreprimida de Batman en un cuerpo metálico trascendiendo las limitaciones físicas humanas y otra es una forma de vida creada por Brainiac en lo que parecía un eslabón para instaurar su linaje... Pero ambos ya trabajan de una u otra manera con Waller.

Tenemos por tanto un conjunto de historietas que ofrecer perspectivas varias de los tejemanejes de Waller. Pero CLAVES. No tenemos nada que pueda sentirse superfluo. Por otro lado, también se da información de "cómo hemos llegado a este punto" bastante de agradecer (para qué leerse la miniserie del Suicide Squad con Dreamer?). Como también la mini entrevista con Dan Mora y ese CONTUNDENTE preludio al primer número que deja todo dispuesto para unos meses cuanto menos interesantes en el panorama DCita.

[Nicolo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolute Power is DC's big crossover event for 2024, and this book summarizes the various storylines that lead into it with its own original short stories that bridge it to Absolute Power (2024) #1.

Convenient for the new reader who wants to dive into the event with only the main miniseries to read. No need to buy all those individual issues from the prior storylines. Although a trade later on could prove useful and accessible.

[Cory · Rating 4 out of 5]

I lied, starting Absolute Power now because there’s too much I want to read…rest of Green Lantern, All-In Special, Absolute Batman/Superman/WW…I could go on. This was pretty good setup other than being unfamiliar with the context of all the side characters (I’m not reading every little cross issue right now…might come back to it if I like the main story and the GL tie-ins). Failsafe is really cool though! Don’t love Waller as the main villain, but interested to see where this goes.

[Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looks like EVERYONE was given a POV in this story...

This is told in three parts:
1. Dreamer's story
2. John Starr's connection to things
3. The Brianiac Queen's origins and connection to Amanda Waller
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Gives a glimpse of just what Amanda Waller is coming at the superheroes with. Hopefully gets included as 'issue zero' of an Absolute Power miniseries.

[Marlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

It has been some time since I picked up a DC comic, but I remember really enjoying the stories from DC Rebirth. Amanda Waller is stirring things up once more, creating a bit of chaos. I am curious to see where this will go.

[carol ⋆.˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

He visto mucho hype sobre Absolute y quiero ver qué tal. Yo la verdad es que de los pocos comics que he leído solo han sido unos cuantos de Superman a si que yo no sé nada de Jay.

Pero estuvo interesante.

[Rocket · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just so sick of Amanda Waller

[Yasser Maniram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Threading several recent series into a DC-event. Good art and story.

[Ryan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wasn’t sure what to expect from this event, but really liked the intro

[Richard Goild · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is going to be scary, intense and so good, I can tell.

[Raul Reyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can feel them making Waller cartoonishly evil and I don’t like it

[Dave · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay for a prologue I suppose but felt a tad like the FCBD issue. It sets up the premise of Walker’s initiative to depower the heroes and to enforce her agenda.

[Luan Le · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was fun. setting it up in 3 acts, 3 art styles and moving all the pieces into place for absolute power event.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amanda Wallers plan to take control has started

[ComicBookCult Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stage is set, the players are in position, the time is now! Great introduction to Absolute power, this seems exciting!

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

4

[Fazun · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Oguz Kagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Starting!

[Rorscharch71 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Art 3
Story 3

[Andja · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting.....