Absolute Power: Task Force VII

Absolute Power

by Jeremy Adams, Steve Orlando, Various

See DC's blockbuster event Absolute Power from the perspective of the villains, as the Trinity of Evil's living weapons target powerless heroes in seven stories from all-star comics talent!

In Absolute Power, the Trinity of Evil--Amanda Waller, Failsafe, and the Brainiac Queen--have succeeded in stealing the powers of every metahuman on Earth, both heroes and villains!

Aiding them in this vicious plot are Task Force VII, a series of Amazo androids patterned after the DC Universe's greatest heroes, enforcing Amanda Waller's new brutal new world order across the globe.

In Absolute Power: Task Force VII, DC's heroes are under attack from the forces of Last Son, Depth Charge, Jadestone, Failsafe, Velocity, Paradise Lost, and Global Guardian--deadly cybernetic creatures with the abilities of Superman, Aquaman, Green Lantern, Batman, the Flash, Wonder Woman, and Martian Manhunter!

Dive into the darker side of Absolute Power in this anthology-style volume featuring top-tier writers and artists including Leah Williams, Caitlin Yarsky, John Layman, Max Raynor, Jeremy Adams, Travis Mercer, Porsnsak Pichetshote, Alex Paknadel, Pete Woods, and more!

This volume collects Absolute Power: Task Force VII #1-7.

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Graphic Novels Comics

208 pages, Paperback

Published February 4, 2025

Reviews

[Molly™☺ · Rating 1 out of 5]

The more I read about Absolute Power, the less I like it, and the same goes for Amanda Waller as a character. Following the Amazos on their journey to de-power all of your favourite characters, there's nothing interesting or surprising here as the outcome is pretty much the same in every issue. Repetitive and boring, this is skippable content, especially for casuals, and the creative teams behind this are capable of so much more.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Ya Boi Be Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 A nice collection focusing on each Amazo. The different creative teams aids the wide-spanning feel as each issue does something differently to flesh out the event. Though some of these do more introducing a concept or idea than actually really fully exploring. Many show something neat happening with an Amazo or situation and does not have the issue count or page space to really do much and these ideas are left out largely in the main event some of these feel a bit incomplete or like a tease for something that isn't continued elsewhere. But it's still a fun collection and as per usual I really enjoy these for fleshing out an event and really exploring the concept in ways the streamlined narrative of the main issues of the event don't do.
Super-Family's Amazo - A fun story with the Shazam boy and girl along with Black Adam. Has good action and humor. It also touches a bit on WW’s BF during all this as well as the Amazo's gaining consciousness.
Aquaman's Amazo - This one wasn't as good. It feels like a lot of exposition. The Amazo getting influenced by the sharks is a nest concept but unless it comes back again it was barely explored. The Doom Patrol didn't do much either here. Continuing Diana's BF storyline he figures out Steel is setting him up and he gets knocked out and turned prisoner.
Green Lantern’s Amazo - This one focuses on the JSA (including original magic-powered GL) saving Carol Ferris from the Amazo before it gains a slight bit of conscience though it never really uses it and instead goes on its instincts / programming until the end where it decides to learn about its new choices and free will though reading the ongoing that doesn’t happen. In fact Alan Scott is imprisoned in a panel iirc. It also includes a bit of all the magical heroes including a brief cameo from Xanthe yay! The WW BF story continues with him breaking out and hiding as personnel and finding where they keep the supers and the villains and is probably the best WW BF part so far. Sad it’s in an issue I don’t super enjoy especially with its art.
Failsafe, so not actually an Amazo - Failsafe fights Nightwing, Tim Drake, whoever tf The Ray is, and M’Gan M’Orzz the female Martian Manhunter. It was really cool how part was told from Failsafe’s POV so we can get that calculating Batman vibe from him since that is what he was built as. We also get a neat scene where it’s all dark except for when Nightwing’s lightning batons light up as Failsafe tries to get Nightwing off-guard by arguing that superheroes not killing people isn’t adapting to the new dangers and villains costing lives in the name of moral superiority. On one hand it’s an interesting point but it's undermined when in-universe it’s also just Failsafe’s programming just trying to put him off-guard. Like, yeah. Failsafe has no empathy but also he’s an AI. It’s literally all just programming instincts. It sorta ruins any interesting argument brought up by him. On the Steve Trevor (WW BF) side, we get the reveal that the villains were forced to make the Multiverse Portal.
Flash’s Amazo - As per usual I have little interest in the Flash and yet every event or tie-in that has a moment with that branch of DC is a pure joy. A very touching look at Flash and the Speed Force, specifically the emotional anchors towards his lover that keep him able to shift between the Speed Force Zone, or whatever it is, and Earth. Steve Trevor-wise the Multiversal Portal brings through some evil Justice League which agrees to help Waller. This is a neat idea but that doesn’t happen. In the event that is nowhere. Maybe it’s in another tie-in? I mean the gross white fleshy Flash is in it but as one of multiple Multiversal Speedster goons.
Superson / Jon Kent - A fine issue showing Jon recuperating and dealing with the lingering subconscious Brainiac Queen in him. Lots of fun dream setpieces and Dreamer surviving in his head and helping him ensue. We also get more Jon Kent love triangle which I'm getting iffy on. Don't get me wrong the love triangle isn't terrible and is full of good drama. But he is dating his boyfriend so the love triangle comes off very close to emotional cheating right now.
WW Amazo - After the supes ran off of Themyscira the WW Amazo returns and fights a bunch of Amazons and does this cool thing where he absorbs powers from superhero souls in the Well of Souls. Cool idea that again isn't actually in the event or done with after it's introduced. Fun fight scene though and Amazo scouring through WW's memories and the power of keeping home in your feelings and memories was nice. Steve Trevor also is caught and is on the run hiding and ending up with Damian Wayne and WW as they stage a breakout.
Martian Manhunter's Amazo - Kind of comes closest to showing how this affects the world. Mostly because it deals with three different non-USA teams from Interpol, UN, and some solo lobo International one. The writer took a good time telling who these characters are since DC doesnt really show them. But it doesn't succumb to endless exposition or anything. It has a neat point about how even with extinction there still is superhero team drama. Steve Trevor helps break supes out to WW and Damian's little breakout gang. Honestly not much other than setup for issue 4 of the main title with Waller's multidimensional conquering goal.

[Paxton Holley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty good. It follows the 7 Amazo super robots that are stealing all the heroes’ powers. One issue for each robot. Some are better than others but most are pretty good.

[Alex A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Supposedly providing the villain's perspective of Absolute Power, this series, for the most part, functions as 'World of Absolute Power ' instead.

With a different team on each issue, there's inconsistent quality and importance. Despite all the moving pieces, the Steve Trevor epilogues in each issue are actually quite good. (But somehow Jet, a character who hasn't been in comics for ~2 decades, is long dead in #6 and alive in #7.)

#1 -L Williams/Yarsky - Confusing art progression, not so good art, and lame dialogue. (Though Billy asking about robot slurs is funny.) = 1 out of 5

#2 -Layman/Raynor - great-looking action-packed issue, but no real event impact or Amazo POV. = 3.5

#3 -Adams/Santucci - the only issue woven into an ongoing series so it has weight. Looks great too and characters are well written. = 4.5

#4 -Pichetshote/Roe - a nice (though ultimately unimportant) event side story with Failsafe's POV added. The cartoonish art works too = 4.5

#5 -Paknadel/Woods - decent art and story. You also get insight into the Amazo as he tries to understand Barry. = 3

Super Son -Grace+Maines/Timms+Mercer - kind of an impactless issue because 1) it's mostly a dream and 2) Jon was only possessed for 1 issue and didn't do anything too heinous. Timms art>Mercer. Seems like an excuse to have pointless LGBT character cameos (why is Galaxy in Jon's dream, has she interacted with him?) and only there to set up relationship drama between Jon, (likely not dead) Dreamer, and milquetoast Jay. = 2

#6 - S Williams/Randolph - the art is fantastic. Like #4, a good event side story. If what happens in the story affects continuity, then there'll be deep repercussions for the Amazons. = 4.5

#7 -Watters/Galan - I'm a sucker for international teams but I know this issue is an unrelated backdoor pilot (much like the 'We Are Heroes' line for Lazarus Planet). Art is great and most of the characters haven't been featured in a while so the writer can do whatever. = 4

[Dave Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

This anthology of tie-in stories are a bit stronger overall than tie-ins to major summer events tend to be. Most of the writers and artists featured here were new to me. What I had hoped the most to get out of this book was a deeper understanding of Waller and Failsafe's operations against the metahumans of the DC universe. I was especially eager to get more info on how the Amazos were built and the technology that allowed them to steal and absorb the powers of so many different kinds of heroes. If that info ever made it to print, I'd love to know where I can read it.

This volume probably deserves a 3.5 rating, but since half stars aren't possible on Goodreads, I've opted to err on the side of rounding down. Most of these tales are unlikely to work as stand alone stories. In fact, the editors keep pretty busy making references to the issues of the main Absolute Power series or "throwing to" tie-in stories in ongoing series like Wonder Woman and Green Lantern. I'm not exactly glad that I read this collection, but I don't regret it either.

[Alek Hill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Completely unnecessary for the Absolute Power event.
Each individual issue centers on one of the Amazos in a singular story that in my opinion breaks the continuity of the main event. This book is really what disappointed me about the Absolute Power event. I didnt like how the Amazos were showcased and utilized in the main issues and this book just made them seem even more irrelevant. There "infection of a conscience" seemed to down play the threat they presented. It felt like there only purpose was to be the mcguffin that explains how the metas lose their powers. After that they really had no function.

I would have preferred a book demonstrating more of how heroes were being taken down and how the Amazos were doing more damage by taking away heroes than helping. But alas we did not get that at all.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absolute Power kept the tie-ins fairly light in terms of spin-off mini-series, with only this book and one other outside of the main DC Universe ongoings. The individual issues of this series each focus on one of the Amazos that Amanda Waller unleashed across the world, with a different creative team on each.

What I find a little telling is the fact that I...don't remember a lot about these issues individually. I know there were a few that filled in a couple of gaps from the main series, but aside from the Green Lantern issue - which continues to be relevant like six months later - a lot of these issues really don't feel massively important overall.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Usually DC crossovers have a central miniseries with a handful of padded anthology material around to try out new creators and compile into a companion trade paperback to sell. But this one was a nice surprise. It helped deepen the story, especially the issue about Superman's son, and it included solid talent like Leah Williams and Sina Grace. The last couple issues were pretty weak, but I liked most of this collection, and I rarely say that about DC crossover tie-ins.

[Will Cooper · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some parts of this were interesting, like an Amazo growing a conscience and the Flash race issue. But I did feel like if an Amazo get all these powers they are getting, they should do a better job than they all did?

Especially after Failsafe did that reboot, which seemed to do...nothing? Just inconsistent.

[London Heady · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Flags and Green Lantern issues are incredible. Maybe my favorite issues out of this entire event. The rest range from fine to bad. In general worth a read if you liked the main event, but largely unneeded.

[Ross · Rating 2 out of 5]

another puzzle piece in the 'Absolute Power' story...

This follows the initial power stealing of all the supers by the upgraded Amazos. An average collection at best, this does the job it sets out too with no real frills. It's a shame this isn't included with the 'Absolute Power' 4 parter, since this would make a more complete story.

Depth Charge: to Atlantis and Aquaman (a little too sharky)
Failsafe: Batman's computer AI gone rogue
Global Guardian: based on Martian Manhunter (going overseas to get Eurocorp and the NGG)
Jadestone: after Green Lantern and the classic JSA (conscience 2.0?)
Last Son: after Superman and fam
Paradise Lost: after Wonder Woman (including all the Amazonians)
Velocity: trying to outrun The Flash fam (robotics and the Speed Force?)

[Jacob Shaffer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn’t wait for this to be over. Unsurprisingly the best story was the Green Lantern one

It’s not worth being up to date, don’t let the FOMO get ya, if you’re gonna read Absolute Power, read something else

[Michael · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t think this volume should exist. It was all over the place with multiple tie-ins. Almost every story in this volume ended with “Continued in….” I’m not a fam if this Absolute Power storyline nor the way it’s executed. I won’t remember one thing from this volume.

[Dean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ups and downs. I think Jeremy Adams had my favourite issue.

[Belfry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

[Federico Kereki · Rating 2 out of 5]

You need to read several individual comic book issues to really follow the story... as is, you have to assume or imagine what happens elsewhere, and things jump a lot.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good to see some of the story flushed out a bit.

[Amber Loptien · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring. Now I get why they had 12 connecting covers for 7 issues. Sales needed to be boosted.

[Raul Reyes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall quality was just meh, since all of the stories kind of just didn't have satisfying conclusions since they're tie-ins. Favorite issues are the first one since it was kind of goofy, and the flash one since at least it gave a cute story to Barry. The last issue felt incredible unnecessary, and the nightwing issue made zero sense without what I'm assuming was exposition they gave in the batman title I'm not reading.
What was most frustrating about these books is that it felt like we were missing connecting scenes between the main book and these ones to understand how we got there.

[John Rudd · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some good here, (an amazo gaining free will after absorbing GL's light, Jon Kent having super Themyscira therapy) but mostly just context for the already lackluster story - 2.4, a good companion to Absolute Power, but nothing special like the rest of the event