“Powers”, the term often used for superpowered individuals, have been deemed a federal matter by the President. Many police and detectives that dealt with Powers on the local level have been bumped up to federal agent status. Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming tell us the adventures of these officers tasked with regulating the Powers. Deena Pilgrim has a long and troubled past with Powers, but she’s one of the best at what she does. Joining her is Enki Sunrise and eventually the past partner to both women, Christian Walker. They must deal with people that can turn invisible, fly, or destroy a planet, and somehow make sure they follow the law.
Powers: Bureau
Agent Pilgrim is given a new partner as they investigate a Power who has been selling Power sperm on the black market. Through a series of flashbacks, we see how Pilgrim came to be a federal agent, and eventually we see her take down the Power in her current case. Some bodily fluids have been spilled and now all the agents involved have to be tested for the Powers Virus. It’s only in the last few pages that Pilgrim and Sunrise reunite with the man that was their first partner, the man that wrote the book on policing the Powers: Christian Walker.
Powers: Bureau
Bendis can be a bit wordy at times with his dialogue, and he manages to do this with in a few pages of this issue. For the most part, however, he lets the art carry the story. There are multiple pages with no words or just a few, scattered bits of text. He manages to use the flashbacks to bring new readers up to speed on the decade of backstory that Powers has, but never makes the old readers feel like they’re just being shown the same old thing. Bendis’ cop drama/superhero tale hits the write notes with this issue and starts its newest chapter in fine form.
Powers: Bureau
Oeming is given a lot of responsibility with this issue and has to let his art tell the story. His characters and backgrounds are wonderfully drawn and very expressive. They’re able to set the mood and help the reader follow along with what is happening, even on pages with minimal or no dialogue. Nick Filardi definitely deserves a mention for his great color work, which only helps to compliment Oeming’s art.
Powers: Bureau begins the next chapter in the story of Powers in fine style. Bendis and Oeming continue their crime serial/superhero story and continue to bring us the dark, shadowy, and ofter violent world in which it is set.
