Absolute Power: Task Force VII #4 – Pornsak Pichetshote, Writer; Claire Roe, Artist; Lee Loughridge, Colorist
Ray – 9.5/10
Ray: One of the most impressive things about DC as of late is just how many talented indie creators it’s gotten to commit to writing for them. Pornsak Pichetshote, one of Image’s most acclaimed writers and a top-rising Asian talent, is a huge get and he shows off his chops right away with the latest installment of this anthology series – this one focusing on the Bat-family. While most of the threats in this mini have been new Amazos, this one is all too similar – Failsafe, the deadly robot created by Batman to hunt him, now working for Waller after being repaired. Failsafe has been sent back into Gotham to hunt the resistance – led by Nightwing and Tim Drake’s Robin, and joined by some unlikely figures – a powerless Ray Terrill, M’gann M’orrz (stuck in a white martian form she’s deeply uncomfortable with) and Voodoo, with the obscure Wildstorm heroine making a surprising comeback.
Much like the previous issues, this one is partially from the perspective of the robot hunting the heroes. But Pichetshote manages to infuse his Failsafe with something truly terrifying – the perspective of a cold-blooded killer analyzing exactly what will weaken his target. The closed-quarters combat in Gotham, taking part partially in the lair of the Court of Owls, is far more intimate and intense than we’ve seen before. There are some genuinely creepy moments here, especially in the way Failsafe analyzes M’gann’s psychology and how to weaken her. While the previous three issues were big-scale superhero action, this one feels more like a horror movie – pitting some non-powered heroes against something truly implacable. I’m hoping that this is just the start of Pichetshote showing off what he can do at DC, because this is a fantastic start for someone we already knew was pretty much a guaranteed hitmaker.
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GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
