Absolute Power: Task Force VII #4 review

The focus shifts again in the mini-series allied to the Absolute Power event book, this time showing a band of freedom fighters bidding to strike back against Amanda Waller’s global power grab. Hiding in the Maze of Owls under Gotham City are Nightwing, Robin, the Ray, Miss Martian and Voodoo. While Dick Grayson and Tim Drake are trained to get by without powers, the others are coming to terms with having had their abilities absorbed by Waller’s Amazo squadron.

Where’s Voodoo? Nearby, but busy.

The rest of the heroes soon arrive to help, while on the other side of the world, Wonder Woman’s sometime boyfriend Steve Trevor is in Waller’s prison. But he’s not in a cell.

Writer Pornsak Pichetshote does a terrific job of giving any new readers – Voodoo’s fan likely rushed to buy this one – enough information to jump into the story. We get brief sketches of the main players through the eyes of Failsafe, which equates to the brain of Batman. Telling bits of characterisation such as the loneliness Miss Martian feels now she’s bereft of telepathy, and the Ray’s feelings of uselessness, add interest. There’s also an intriguing assessment of Tim in relation to the other Robins, with Failsafe seeing something as a weakness that could as easily be a strength.

Good as the story is, the biggest impression it leaves is that panel of Elongated Man Ralph Disney, brutalised, possibly dead. It’s likely a story beat dictated by Editorial rather than the whim of Pichetshote, but please God, Elongated Man fans have suffered enough.

The most puzzling aspect of the story is the inclusion of Voodoo, a Wildstorm character who had a shortlived series in the New 52 period. I’ve not spotted her in a DC comic since then, what the heck is she doing here? I love seeing obscure characters, and I’m curious as to whether this is a random one-off ‘comeback or whether she has a bigger role to play.

Claire Roe’s art has an enjoyably chunky line, and her storytelling is good, the narrative clearly conveyed. Mind, her Miss Martian, in natural white form, is a little unnerving, with four arms – I’ve seen that look only once, when she wasn’t in control – but everyone else looks fine. The visuals benefit from the colours of the always excellent Lee Loughridge, while Dave Sharpe’s letters are subtly effective.

Pete Woods provides a decent enough cover, though it’s a shame Voodoo isn’t recognisable. Then again, I barely recalled her inside the comic, with her name beside her, she looks like a low-rent Elektra/washerwoman.

I liked this comic. But leave Ralph alone. Eh?