Read our review of Absolute Power: Task Force VII #4 from DC Comics, written by Pornsak Pitchetshote, with art by Claire Roe.
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: Task Force VII #4 Review:
In the issue, Failsafe is trapped in the Court of Owls maze with the Batfamily. But he’s not trapped in with them, they’re trapped in there with him. That’s how that goes, right?
“This was a great issue of this title that continues to punch above its weight,” said host Alex Zalben. “I was really blown away by this one.”
“What’s actually happening in this crossover… This is what the stories are,” added Justin Tyler. “That’s not a knock against the main title. The main title is great, but that’s the widescreen IMAX version of this event. This is the story. This is so essential to the read here.”
Zalben continued that he thought this issue was “particularly smart” to take Failsafe, a character who has fought the Batfamily to a standstill, and throw in the Court of Owls maze, one of the greatest places of loss for Batman. “It amps up the level of danger for them and draws a line of, they’re probably not going to win here,” Zalben said. “It puts them in the on their back legs — and spoiler here, but that’s where they end up. They do not win at the end here, they pull out a draw, at best.”
Tyler also enjoyed including The Ray and Miss Martian as two heroes that seem to be cannon fodder, which led to him being “so scared for these characters… And it just doesn’t go that way, the way the story unfolds. It created so much tension for me to have these red-shirt characters be there, and it made me root for them so hard. It’s just really smartly done.”
Absolute Power: Task Force VII #4 Official Synopsis:
THE MECHANICAL MURDER MENACE OF FAILSAFE! Failsafe — the relentless android with all of Batman’s skills and none of his morals — hunts Nightwing and his newest recruits in a chilling issue from acclaimed writer Pornsak Pichetshote (Infidel, THE SANDMAN UNIVERSE: DEAD BOY DETECTIVES) and artist Claire Roe! On the run from Amanda Waller and her Amazo army, Dick Grayson is gathering heroes to bolster the growing resistance. But even his surprising new allies may not be enough to protect them from brutal consequences when Failsafe finds their hidden lair!
