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Powers (2000) #4

Powers: Supergrupo

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Contiene Powers vol. 4: Supergroup TPB USA.
Uno de los más importantes miembros de un popular supergrupo ha aparecido violentamente asesinado. Su muerte provocará que el gobierno establezca importantes controles sobre la población de vigilantes con poderes especiales. Como consecuencia de ello, los detectives Walker y Pilgrim se verán forzados a tomar una importante decisión que cambiará sus vidas y sus carreras para siempre... Y también la manera en la que el mundo ve a los superhéroes.
Guión: Brian Michael Bendis
Dibujo: Michael Avon Oeming

176 pages, Paperback

First published June 24, 2003

6 people are currently reading
321 people want to read

About the author

Brian Michael Bendis

4,129 books2,569 followers
A 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.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
Profile Image for Baba.
4,067 reviews1,511 followers
July 2, 2022
This reality's foremost celebrity, income generating, but Government sanctioned, super powered group falls apart like a jellyfish in a tumble dryer! Our anti-heroine Detective Deena Pilgrim and our once-wore-a-mask hero Detective Christian Walker get the case, only to be almost immediately usurped by the FBI! If you already feel the love for this Powers series, this volume should be the one that captures your unborn children and soul forever - Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming dispel the idea of a just, sane and empathic world of super powered beings and bring home just how unhinged, unpredictable and lethal super powers in the hands of a human beings would likely be; and even more they bring home how dangerous those powers would be in the hands of Governments, corporations and under the spell and judgment of the media.

The seeds of the long-form story begin to sprout in tihs volume, as I presume Bendis & Oeming realised their book was going to be here for awhile, so the foreshadowing and future hints rare more liberally used. This volume also does what all the truly great superhero books do, after the first 3 volumes of controlled violent they finally brings the violence at 1,000 Km per hour - it's horrific, deadly and final! 10.5 out of 12, a Five Star read!

2021 read; 2019 read; 2017 read; 2013 read.
Profile Image for Anne.
4,739 reviews71.2k followers
April 28, 2018
To me, this was the best story arc yet.
Things happen in this one that seems to have a wider impact than the other 3 volumes, which kind of seemed like self-contained stories.

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There's a whole lotta spoilery stuff that happens and you (finally) get to know a tiny bit more about Christian and his life outside the police force. But the main storyline revolves around a group called FG-3 that seems to have been formed a bit like a boy band.

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Like I said, this is easily the most engaging story so far. After the clusterfuck that was the last volume, I wasn't really sure if I wanted to continue, but this one made it seem as though this might go somewhere interesting.

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I'm not willing to say I'm 100% on board with this title yet, but it has a more potential than I gave it credit for last time around.
Profile Image for Chad.
10.3k reviews1,060 followers
September 17, 2019
Walker and Pilgrim investigate the death of the member of America's premier superhero team. The series takes a big shift during this arc, hinting at something of a conspiracy while big changes are in order for multiple characters. This is probably the best arc of the series so far. It also contains the first epic city wide fight of the series.
Profile Image for Shannon Appelcline.
Author 30 books169 followers
October 15, 2016
This volume continues to show off the strengths of the Powers comic. Police procedural? Check. Superheroes are exploding. Superhero deconstruction? Check. Because they're money-hungry pricks.

But it also continues to expand the Powers universe in interesting ways.

First, we get our first really dramatic superhero scene, as Zora and Boogie Girl fight. It's dark and gritty, it's shocking. It's perhaps the most effective (and memorable) sequence in the comic to date.

Second, we get our first insinuations of something bigger, as Walker learns that the Bureau might not be all that we expect.

Third, Walker himself becomes an interesting character, eclipsing Deena for the first time, as he collapses into tragedy while simultaneously holding on to ... some secret.

Fourth, we get the first big status quo change, telling us that Powers isn't just going to be a static vehicle for police procedurals.

Boom! The Powers universe just got a whole lot more interesting.
Profile Image for James DeSantis.
Author 17 books1,205 followers
March 23, 2020
After a long break I decided to return to Powers, and what a book to pick it back up on!

This one starts off with a big news report on a group of superheroes. At one point they were the biggest group of superheroes around, worth a shit load of money, and then suddenly they all begin to die. Explosion from the inside, some suicide squad shit going on. So of course we have our heroes, Walker and Pilgrim on the case. But as always, the truth is a lot darker than what is presented at the start.

Overall, this was probably the most bombastic book yet. Filled with some great chase scenes and a killer fight scene. Also, the art feels better and better, and so much like a awesome cartoon. I also enjoyed the emotional connection here with a really great moment at the end and middle of the story. The only thing I didn't love was the panels, as at times they can be confusing the order when it's a spread page or not.

Overall, easily the best volume of the series so far. Now we're talking! A 4 out of 5.
Profile Image for Mitchell Friedman.
5,826 reviews225 followers
September 17, 2019
Jarring and uncomfortable. But well written and drawn. Okay the profanity and violence was a bit much. But it fit the story. Deena Pilgrim is an absolute here in this one, and over and over again. Kind of makes you think she has a death-wish. Definitely a pretty good size body count in this one.
Profile Image for Imogene.
855 reviews25 followers
February 4, 2024
Phew. I'd like to give 4 1/5, but I cant. BEEP you, ratings system. This volume was intense, violent, and shocking. There are all sorts of connections between the supergroup, and all the other kinds of corporate sponsored, commercially produced groups (thinking of a few music groups here) and the way they are manufactured to appeal to the "proles" and make money.

I see conspiracy, I see layers, I see brutal and squalid endings. I see one of my new favourite series kicking ass!

Oh, Christian.
Profile Image for Julio Bonilla.
Author 12 books39 followers
April 9, 2020
I never would have left the group if I knew they were capable of this!! 🧑🏾‍🦱


A long time ago, Christian Walker was a vigilante with powers. And in this volume, karma comes to bite him in the ass.


I definitely need to read the first volume by any means necessary.

Profile Image for Mohan Vemulapalli.
1,148 reviews
February 26, 2024
"Powers: Supergroup" is a strong addition to the previous volumes and one of the most impactful and deep story arcs of the series. Pilgrim and Walker investigate an unusual murder only to find a deep and disturbing mystery about the origin of the city's most popular supergroup. This is a complex story with lots of emotional resonance that should not be missed. The story sets the stage for significant new character and plot developments for the series. Additionally, the book contains an extensive article on the creative processes behind the books that was originally published in "Draw!" magazine. This is definitely a book that fans of the series should not miss. Expect redballs - lots of redballs, mysterious corporate overlords, a not so pleasant visit from the FBI, a blast from Walker's past, the interview of a lifetime and tragedy from on high.
Profile Image for Catherine.
110 reviews32 followers
April 19, 2010
This is easily the best out of the first four volumes and definitely catapults the series into the next level. I was really taken aback by how intense things got and how much actually happened. It really activates the scope of the series and represents what they think is important and what direction things are going to go in. This was incredibly intsense and dramatic with unexpected and satisfying results. I'm very upset about a certain character's end however as I hoped to see a lot more of this person.. : ( The end was so visually assertive. I love how much of the series is dedicated to really putting us in the perspective of a media consumer and news watcher. It not only makes you feel like part of that world but it really shows different points of view on issues within the series and how things are being taken by the mass public.
Profile Image for Matej.
234 reviews19 followers
August 3, 2014
Even though the previous volumes where pretty good, this one is the best so far. There are more action scenes, more emotions, and features the most interesting case so far.
The art starts out great, and it is as same as it was in previous volumes, but by the end Michael Avon Oeming starts using a pen, instead of a brush, and the results are even better.
Just a great read.
1,607 reviews12 followers
July 11, 2022
Reprints Powers (1) #15-20 (November 2001-April 2002). FG-3 is the hottest team around, but it is struggling within. Wazz is making talk show rounds about the group, and Boogie Girl finds herself on the run after the mysterious death of Benmarley. Deena Pilgrim and Christian Walker find themselves on another superhero mystery but learn that the powers above them don’t want the investigation to continue. As the danger increases, Christian could lose everything if the secret is revealed.

Written by Brian Michael Bendis, Powers Volume 4: Supergroup is an Image Comics superhero police procedural. Following Powers Volume 3: Little Deaths, the series features art by Mike Avon Oeming. Issues in this collection were also collected as part of Powers—Volume 1, Powers—Book 1, and the Powers Omnibus. .

Powers was at its peak at this point. I jumped on after the second trade and it had me hooked. I didn’t read the book off the shelf and I remember awaiting the release of each trade just to find the next part of the story. Powers 4: Supergroup has a cliffhanger that left me wishing for the next volume.

The series has a rather basic set-up. It is standard police procedural with Deena and Christian being called in on a murder, but things always go sideways in the series. While this starts out with a murder, it quickly evolves into a government conspiracy and a talk on manufactured teams in a world filled with heroes…it would happen and it is only logical to explore in a series that takes a post-modern approach.

The second big aspect of the story is Christian getting his life destroyed. His girlfriend gets murdered, he’s blackmailed about his past secret identity, and he’s facing a government conspiracy that ends up costing him his livelihood. Deena has always been the train wreck of the comic, but here, Christian switched to the detective off the rails. It is a nice way to keep the series balance (and it leads to a great moment about the previous Johnny Royale storyline). In Powers, actions definitely have consequences.

Powers 4: Supergroup continues to show the series range and ability to explore. The issues always seem to read fast, but they have more “words” to them than many other standard comics at the time. This story leads into a storyline which has been burning a while underneath the series, and a showdown with Kaotic Chic is coming. Powers 4: Supergroup is followed by Powers 5: Anarchy.
Profile Image for Adam Rodgers.
361 reviews2 followers
June 3, 2022
Bendis and Oeming address the problems of a state created superteam as Walker and Pilgrim have to deal with a particularly unusual superhuman homicide case.

While Oeming's layouts are a little hard to follow in places his trademark stylistic artwork remains the perfect pairing to Bendis' involved storytelling. With the storyline juxtaposed between the detectives and a network tv news programme we also see further glimpses of Walker's superhero past.

Bendis peppers the narrative with a number of future story points for the continuing series, as well as nods to what has come before. There are some shocking scenes and developments here but this remains another compelling installment to the Powers series.
Profile Image for Brandon.
81 reviews4 followers
June 6, 2024
Four volumes in, and there's something about the ??? Christian Walker that makes him an all-time favorite comic book character. This volume finally hit the right combination of "keep you guessing" crime drama and character development for our protagonist; it feels like Powers firing on all cylinders.

As someone who truly values originality and surprise in fiction, "Supergroup"'s twists and turns put a smile on my face. But Walker's pain throughout... it broke my heart. Hats off, Brian Michael Bendis, I simply *need* to see where this series goes next.
Profile Image for Peter Evett.
384 reviews
October 8, 2025
Outstanding arc in the story. Goes even darker than usual - which says a lot. The unexpected, but which seem so of course after the fact, continues as a hallmark of Bendis' incredible overall story. Oeming is outstanding as usual - and the gross/tragic moments are appropriately over the top. So much dark shadow (even than usual) so right in keeping this horror show rolling.

Wow, the 4th? time through its still gripping. Greatness and another argument for best ongoing series in comic history. Yep, I said it again.
1 review
December 12, 2025
Such a great book and series

I'm re-reading these for the first time in many years and these are still fantastic. Complex and well-thought out characters set in stories that seem all too plausible if there were superpowered humans among us. I put this right there with similar series as Sleeper, The Boys, and Invincable.
Profile Image for Jacq.
559 reviews1 follower
November 15, 2020
Che dire? Gran bel fumetto! Ottima l'intesa Bendis-Oeming e bella storia. Son sicuro che Ennis aveva in mente Powers mentre scriveva The Boys. Ma non c'è gara: Powers è di un altro livello! Voto: 9/10.
Profile Image for roberto ortiz.
215 reviews
February 21, 2021
Cuando necesitas seguir avanzando en la lectura para saber que va a pasar, te das cuenta que estas leyendo algo bueno. Que cumple su función de entretener, bien hecho, con muuucho diálogo pero que permite conocer buenos personajes.
Muy entretenido.
23 reviews5 followers
October 4, 2023
Oeming is more confident in his art. Much more detail too. While the previous 3 volumes were more procedural in nature (one volume, one case) this one keeps the formula but expands in world and character buiding. It also shakes the status quo that was mantained until now. Best volume so far.
Profile Image for Timo.
Author 3 books17 followers
June 21, 2017
Now this was a grim one, wasn't it? Loved it.
And Deena Pilgrim.... she is hot and nice.
60 reviews
April 26, 2019
3.75 stars -- still very good, just didn't quite grab me as much as the volumes before and after
Profile Image for Lavell.
184 reviews1 follower
Read
September 13, 2019
Nothing like something or someone with more power than you have and trying to police them. This series was interesting and warranted reading. Shame this is my last one and 14 in the series.
Profile Image for Aethena Drake.
1,182 reviews3 followers
January 24, 2020
Excellent comic. The creative team does an amazing job of building a great story. I am impressed with their ability to convey so much emotion in a comic.
Profile Image for Koen Claeys.
1,348 reviews26 followers
November 14, 2020
Having read this volume I know why I liked this series so much when it originally appeared. Much better than what came before.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews

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