Need Another Hero — Reviewing ‘Absolute Power: Task Force VII’ #7

Amanda Waller’s massive grab for power, stripping heroes and villains of their actual powers, has moved to a global level. No longer contained by the borders of the United States, the Amazos are seeking and hunting what metahumans remain.

With Absolute Power: Task Force VII #7, the final issue of the anthology, we’re given a glimpse of that worldly battle and its outcome. Thanks to Dan Watters, Fran Galan, and Dave Sharpe.

Right away, I found myself just a bit lost. While there were some familiar characters here, the global hero situation is basically an unknown for me when it comes to DC Comics. It’s not like there are a lot of books that deal with this, being a very US-centric publisher, telling very US-centered stories.

Trust in Watters though, as a writer. Because while a bit lost, that confusion quickly turned to interest as these fleshed out characters bounced off one another, the Amazo, and the world situation. There’s a ton of back and forth that really colors what these characters have gone through, together but also alone. Within these standard number of pages Watters took characters new and old and made it seem like they had been in the spotlight for years.

I’m not very familiar with Galan’s artwork, but it lends itself to heroes in many ways. There is an almost watercolor-like quality to the whole thing, bridging between fantastical and grounded. Going with plenty of depth in some panels but in others eschewing all that to really highlight and focus on the characters, action, or overall moment. A real fluidity to the whole affair as things bounces between panels and spread through the pages.

All the colors have a muted effect to them at times, that is pulled back greatly in other spaces. Letting the more vibrant colors take the lead in the big hero beats. Creating something that is fun and unique in many respects. These styles that are about the aesthetic more than trying to replicate reality are honestly some of my favorite.

All that banter and explanation about the characters is handled by Sharpe on the lettering side. Getting voices to ring through the pages, giving a boost of energy to everything on the page. Making sure we feel and know who the people are completely as we flip through all the pages.

All in all, I would not be opposed to reading more about these characters and their space in the DC Universe, at least on a recurring basis. There might be some nuggets left to uncover here.

Absolute Power: Task Force VII #7 is now available from DC Comics.