Read our review of Absolute Power: Ground Zero #1 from DC Comics, written by Mark Waid, Joshua Williamson, Nicole Maines, and Chip Zdarsky, with art by Gleb Melnikov, Skylar Patridge, and V Ken Marion.
We reviewed the book on the Stack podcast. But in the interest of highlighting more about the title, here’s a summary of the conversation with our thoughts. And if you prefer the longer audio version, that’s below as well!
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Absolute Power: Ground Zero #1 Review:
In this issue, we’re leading into DC’s Absolute Power event with three short stories focusing on Failsafe, Brainiac Queen, and Dreamer — all key figures in the upcoming series.
“I thought it was good,” said host Alex Zalben simply. “In particular the Brainiac Queen story was maybe the best Amanda Waller thing I’ve read in months at this point… She’s very much worn out her welcome in DC Comics. So the fact that I read this I was like ‘this is good’ means that it was probably very good.”
Justin Tyler agreed, adding that he’s felt like a lot of the Waller stories have been “treading water” leading up to this. “In this she’s actually making the moves that we’ve been waiting for,” Tyler added. “So that’s exciting. But I want to commend this book and editorial and the creators here for scooping up all those super interesting smaller characters and stories and making them the focus.”
Zalben noted that the turn here for Dreamer in particular is fascinating because she’s not a villain, “but she has been forced into a place where she is doing villainous acts. It’s upsetting to read, but I am emotionally involved in that.”
He also felt the same about the Failsafe story, focusing on a D-list time travel villain. “By the end of the story, I really wanted him to get out of this [situation]… We’ll see how it pans out in Absolute Power proper, because those sorts of things are often, ‘here’s a wash of our universe.’ But this setup I thought was very very good.”
Absolute Power: Ground Zero #1 Official Synopsis:
WITNESS THE TRINITY OF EVIL’S RISE TO POWER IN THE CAN’T-MISS PRELUDE TO DC’S SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER! 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, Superman: House of Brainiac, and Suicide Squad: 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!
