Absolute Power (2024) #1

Absolute Power #1

by Mark Waid, Dan Mora (cover_art), Alejandro Sánchez (colorist)

THE TRINITY OF EVIL HAS WON. DC’s epic summer event kicks off with a bang, as the combined might of FAILSAFE and the BRAINIAC QUEEN has at last given Amanda Waller the ability to steal the metahuman abilities of every hero and villain on planet Earth. As chaos erupts in the streets and a massive misinformation campaign sways public opinion to her side, the founder of the Suicide Squad methodically targets each superhero dynasty one at a time, starting with SUPERMAN. But even in this darkest of hours, a resistance is forming… and BATMAN is out for vengeance. It’s a shocking blitzkrieg across the globe that is decades in the making—and will shape the course of the DC Universe for years to come! Brought to you by the superstar talents of MARK WAID and DAN MORA — it all starts here!

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Comic Book, Superheroes

38 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 2, 2024

About the author

Mark Waid (born March 21, 1962 in Hueytown, Alabama) is an American comic book writer. He is best known for his eight-year run as writer of the DC Comics' title The Flash, as well as his scripting of the limited series Kingdom Come and Superman: Birthright, and his work on Marvel Comics' Captain America.

Reviews

[Urbon Adamsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

PT Amanda Waller é uma personagem fascinante. É, sem dúvida, uma das figuras da DC que mais cresceu nos últimos anos — tanto nos filmes como na banda desenhada. Só gostava que houvesse mais consistência na forma como é representada visualmente. Parece que cada artista a desenha de maneira diferente: por vezes mais baixa, outras mais alta, mais magra ou mais corpulenta, até o penteado varia. Não percebo porquê — acaba por quebrar um pouco a coerência visual da personagem.

Este evento aborda temas bastante atuais, como a desinformação impulsionada pelas tecnologias de inteligência artificial. Aqui, Amanda Waller manipula a opinião pública através da divulgação de vídeos falsos, onde os super-heróis aparecem a atacar inocentes — tudo para incutir medo e virar a população contra eles.

Estou muito curioso para ver até onde esta trama nos vai levar.

--

EN Amanda Waller is a fascinating character. She’s undoubtedly one of the DC figures who has grown the most in recent years — both in the movies and in the comics. I just wish there were more consistency in how she's visually portrayed. It feels like each artist draws her differently: sometimes shorter, other times taller, slimmer or heavier — even her hairstyle changes. I don't get why — it ends up breaking the visual coherence of the character.

This event touches on very current themes, like misinformation driven by AI technologies. Here, Amanda Waller manipulates public opinion by spreading fake videos showing superheroes attacking innocent people — all to instill fear and turn the population against them.

I'm really curious to see where this story is headed.

[Mr. Cody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our heroes face their most deadly foe in history: misinformation!

[Vinicius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finalmente cheguei no Absolute Power, e meus amigos, que edição absurda foi essa ?! Simplesmente de tirar o folego. O sentimento de que tudo estava indo de mal a pior para os heróis foi algo que foi se afunilando e o sentimento de que não haveria solução me pegou demais.

Eu gostei de toda a narrativa e ambientação construída por trás desse plano da Waller. É totalmente crível que ela chegaria a esse ponto. Em todas as retratados da personagem, sabemos que ela odeia os super heróis, e possui aquela tara de soberania imperialista de que se não puder controlar ou exercer algum tipo de domínio, é visto como inimigo e pode ser descartado. A Waller é a personificação desse sentimento, e mesmo sendo contraditório ela se aliar a tecnologia alienígena e ao "super batman", algo que ela talvez não consiga controlar, meio que vale a pena para ela atingir seus objetivos.

Além disso, o Mark Waid sabe como construir uma narrativa e fisgar o leitor. Além de todo embate que houve e ainda irá acontecer, ele não deixa o roteiro raso sendo vilões X heróis, mas trás também algo que vem sendo debatido a um tempo em nossa sociedade: o desenvolvimento desenfreado de IA. Na trama, vemos uma exemplo claro de algo que acontece corriqueiramente em nosso dia a dia: fake news com "provas" feitas por IA para difamar e caluniar as pessoas.

Tal premissa promovendo o terror e ódio aos supers, mesclado com toda a inteligência e motivação de Waller, deixa essa primeira edição muito boa e com gosto de quero mais, pois agora quero saber como os supers irão reverter tal situação, principalmente por conta do traidor em questão.

Falando do traidor sem dar spoilers, eu fiquei decepcionado com a atitude do personagem por ser fã dele, mas quem acompanha a história do mesmo, principalmente aquelas feitas por Denis Oneil, sabe que ele sente um receio dos supers.

[Murphy C · Rating 5 out of 5]

9/8/24

[José Vitor - zetalendo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sempre soube que a Amanda Waller era a mais fodona ali, mas aqui eles tão transformando ela numa pessoa tão poderosa, não imagino como isso possa se desenrolar.

Gostei do começo do quadrinho, com aquela cena do Superman sendo baleado, fiquei bem chocado.
Eu tinha uma leve noção do que acontecia aqui, mas é de coisa que ouvi já faz um tempo, então estou entrando nesse evento bem as cegas mesmo.

A ideia dos heróis ir perdendo os poderes é legal. Gostei de como foi abordado o uso da I.A para manipular a população, e no geral to gostando muito da forma como a história está sendo contada.

[Roland Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A strong start. I’m getting Final Crisis vibes. I’ve not read any of the lead in for some time. I’m hoping this event refocuses DC a little. The Dawn of era has been a snooze

[Raul Reyes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, my main problem was the art, surprisingly, since after the amazo robots are deployed the art is just doing too much. wish there some breathing moments since it was not the best reading experience and it also had some pretty frustrating moments concerning how even tho all of the series of dawn of dc are supposed to be connected some things don’t quite make sense, mainly Wonder Woman and sarge steel. (Also I’m frustrated about the fact that I read green arrow thinking I was going to get an explanation as to why Ollie is siding with Waller, when in reality you don’t

[Izzy Batres-Patton · Rating 5 out of 5]

SOOOOO tuff

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sinceramente quando vi a proposta dessa nova megassaga da DC Comics, eu não comprei a ideia, não. Mas, vá lá, são Mark Waid e Dan Mora quem estão realizando esse produção, então alguma coisa de bom deve ter, não custa experimentar. Realmente, apesar da ideia principal ser bem bobinha, a execução é bem feita. Principalmente porque os autores levantam uma questão muito contemporânea: o uso de imagens feitas por Inteligências Artificiais (AIs) para manipular a percepção popular sobre determinados eventos, mas principalmente na fabricação do inimigo e na exaltação de figuras políticas. É isso que Amanda Waller, a coordenadora do Esquadrão Suicida faz nessa minissérie com o intuito de exterminar com todos os super-humanos da Terra, de quem ela guarda um ódio mortal, acusando-os de terem acarretado a morte de membros de sua família. Aqui, ela se junta com outras AIs, a Brainiac e a armadura batmanzal Salvaguarda para dar cabo daqueles que ela pensa serem seus algozes.

[Wasim Mahmud · Rating 5 out of 5]

The metahumans are in deep, deep trouble. I refer to it as "deep" because the new and uber-enhanced methods of attack from the Evil Trinity (Failsafe, Waller, and Lady Braniac) are finishing off the heroes physically and completely destroying their reputations in society.

The propaganda, manufactured by Amanda Waller—who has always viewed the metahumans as super threats—has turned most of the media and public against our DC heroes. Waller is manufacturing consent by using one of the most powerful tools of today: the internet.

With all the former Justice League members and different factions on the run for their lives, Waller isn’t playing chess anymore; she has declared war.

Dan Mora and Mark Waid have done a terrific job syncing the first chapter with brilliant artwork and highly relatable writing. This storyline is, and will be, important for years to come.

Comics Review

Name: Absolute Power (Issue #1 of 4)
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Alejandro Sanchez, Dan Mora
Publication date: July 3rd, 2024
Publisher: DC Comics
Genres: Action, Adventure, Superhero
Reviewer : Wasim Hasan Mahmud.

[Sina Tavousi Masrour · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read all 39 issues of this event. Definitely a good one, but this is not necessary to start on the new Absolute comics. It seems like Mark Waid is taking DC further away from their dark and gloomy reputation and just writing fun, solid comics. Not a bad thing at all.

I definitely enjoyed the Wonder Woman issues written by Tom King, too. In fact, his entire WW run has been fantastic.

Amanda Waller is probably the fictional character I hate the most, and she's the main villain of this event, seeking to take control of the universe and de-power all superheroes.

It's an interesting story and it's worth reading.

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great first issue. Not a fan of what happens to my boy Animal man, and Ollie is being way to mean (But I know he playing them) but watching all the heroes get stuffed out and the plan already in action before they can react was great.

[Luan Le · Rating 5 out of 5]

that shit was epic asf. takes notes Marvel’s blood hunt,
this is how you do an event of the year. GA, you’re on my hit list (ik you’re playing double agent)
Mora and Sanchez should be paired up more this issue looked so good.

[Rob Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent start!

[Daunte Gaiter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent start to a new threat to the DC universe. And of course it’s green arrow 🙄 I feel like for the longest he’s wanted to switch sides.

[Leslie Carnahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listen, I don't read big events hardly ever. Especially in single issue. But I saw the Chrissie Zullo cover of Absolute Power and said "well, I can at least try issue 1". And I'm glad I did. What a wild premise. Fear Bating. Deep Fakes. Wild stuff.

[Colin Post · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t usually go in for Big Events but this has the makings of a good one - bombastic, cinematic, big stakes, fantastic art. I love how Waid seamlessly integrates tons of different characters too. Love some Animal Man action!

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Y así da comienzo. Tras tantos números disgregados en diferentes cabeceras de esta nueve era comiquera de DC que se extiende también a la historia editorial de décadas del personaje de Amanda Waller. Sin ninguna posibilidad de hacer frente al golpe maestro de "El Muro", Mark Waid relata una nueva y contundente caída de los mayores héroes de DC con un "ataque relámpago" donde pasar del odio público a los superhéroes "diseñado" por los nuevos aliados cibernéticos de Waller al más osado movimiento que alude el título de este evento. Por el cual hasta el mismísimo Superman se ve afectado por una bala anónima de un criminal común. En este acoso y derribo, se descubre (si no has leído su serie regular) la participación en el bando de Waller de uno de los grandes héroes de la Liga de la Justicia. En todo un nuevo tablero de ajedrez del que los héroes parten sin muchas fichas.

Dan Mora, quien ya se había fogueado a gusto junto a Waid en el nuevo World´s Finest. No teme el sinfín de personajes y situaciones de acción que comprime este número. Y su arte ya es totalmente apreciado en el panorama DCita comiquero.

[Nicolo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dan Mora and Mark Waid are the creative team from Batman/Superman: World's Finest and they bring their A-game here. The only difference is colorist, a move which suited the tone of the story. Instead of the relatively bright colors from Batman/Superman: World's Finest, this book has a muted color palette by Alejandro Sanchez. Sanchez' colors are appropriate for the sense helplessness and confusion the DC superheroes felt after Amanda Waller finally made her move.

Absolute Power is going to be a four-issue miniseries and I hope it contains most of the story because I'm not going to get the tie-ins. Comic books have become too expensive nowadays that each issue deserves to have as much story as it can without feeling like filler.

This is a strong first issue, and this story looks promising, even if our heroes' future look dim.

[luciddreamer99 · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's possible I need to read House of Braniac and other lead-in issues, but I didn't care for the plot here. Beautiful artwork, though. I always imagined Waller as a overall force for good who was somewhat hard-edged, if a bit Machiavellian; she is painted as pure villain here and not likable at all. Even Norman Osborn in Dark Avengers has understandable motivations, if he was more a villain. It's also not that I don't find the plot plausible, as I think something like the beginning of the story could happen (trying to avoid spoilers); I just don't find it a particularly clever plot for Waller, and again seems outright villainy. I'll give this plot a chance to unfurl, but I'm not a fan of this opening salvo by the villains.

[Butt Coffee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The lead into the story was just kind of dumb to me. The public was so easily tricked by faked video footage by Brainiac Queen into believing the heroes did all these terrible things overnight? No. In a world of AI and deepfakes, that the comic acknowledges, the public fell for it hook, line and sinker overnight. So much so that they would attack the heroes on sight. If that part was changed into something else, it would've been a bit better.

[Cory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ground Zero was decent but this book was AWESOME! Very appropriate that I finished it on Inauguration Day as a new administration of misinformation gets sworn in. Excited to see how the heroes combat Waller, Failsafe, Brainiac Queen, the Amazo bots and a former friend… Still wonder why Waller is the big bad and everyone seems to know exactly who is responsible right off the rip, but I’m interested to see where this event goes.

[Murf Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly entertaining adventure. I have been reading comic books for several decades and I am still constantly amazed at how the stories keep topping one another. I wanted to read this graphic novel because This is the precursor to the DC animated series Justice League Unlimited. I liked the way DC linked the two mediums even if there release years are different.
And a story where someone gets over on Batman does not happen very often.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looks bad for the DC heroes with powers stolen, identities known, cut-off, imprisoned,
and in desperation mode with Amanda Waller, Brainiac Queen, Failsafe, an army of powered up
Amazo’s and even Green Arrow arrayed against them and holding all the cards.
Story was decent by Waid. Mora’s pencil work great as always. My problem was the coloring. It
Looked way off at times.

[grimbamreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5


dont know much about majority of the supporting characters but its nice to see a dc world thats lived in and has an established network of heroes across the globe. this felt so intense and the stakes felt so high. cant wait to read more

[Raymond Paquette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superman’s down, Batman’s out, everyone has been caught. This is a powerful opening. Let’s hope it blows up in Waller’s face.

[Ryan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have been getting “event” fatigue - but this is feting me fired up for what’s to come

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bro wtf... Holy shit

[Yasser Maniram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amanda Waller has gone too far.

[Reco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just...wow

Great start to a series! Amazing plot and graphics. Pulls you in fast! I'm looking forward to this one. Let's go!