Thought-Provoking And Prescient: Reviewing ‘The Power Fantasy’ #6

There can be no way even writer Kieron Gillen could have predicted the omnipresence of Elon Musk at President Trump’s side, even if we did all see it coming. Even after the ridiculous recent press conference in which man-child Musk boasted of his son’s new gold chain (really?), while defending his attempts to shut down democracy one cut at a time, it still feels surreal. Like something out of a comic! And so when I read the opening pages of The Power Fantasy #6, it feels far too prescient. Y’know, a foreign-born citizen with grandeurs of power unelected but running the government. UK anarchist Jacky Magus is Making America Great Again and building up his power once more, while Heavy has shut himself off from the outside world with his followers, and fellow Atomic, Matsui, paints away on Tokyo wondering out loud whether she’s narcissistic or not. That and so much more inform this issue and kickstart the next story arc of this thought-provoking series.

As well as reconnecting with these characters and them reconnecting with each other, we also get some insight into Ray “Heavy” Harris with a flashback sequence chronicling the building of Haven and him becoming a father. It’s quite the packed issue. But then, a series dominated by carefully crafted dialogue, oft-times philosophical, each issue is a satisfying experience, even though we are left hanging at the end of this new issue with a rather shocking revelation. This is not your average comic book series because Gillen is a master of quiet but tense moments. The events that are discussed and dissected by the major players in between the pre-requisite battles. It is clear that Gillen finds the machinations, plotting and scheming that lead to such set pieces the most fascinating part of the narrative process. So, in this series in particular, he has purposefully created a ground of superpowers beings whose very reason deter is not to fight for the betterment of the world. 

As for the art, it too fuels the story. Caspar Wijngaard’s simplicity of line is deceiving. There is so much of the human existence in his art, and a strong eye for design too, and not just interesting choreography of the cast. He plays around with the form, colours and layout in original and evocative ways. For example, in a moment set in India, the colourings he uses reminded me of my own trips to India and the patchwork, washed-out colours of the country. Plus, he has a cool eye for fashion and populates his world with cool-looking characters. And with Ryan Hughes acting as the designer for this series, the whole book is oozing with flair.

A philosophical, highly original superhero series of a book that I, for one, welcome its return to the shelves. One of the most riveting and engaging books you can buy at the moment.

The Power Fantasy #6 is out now from Image Comics.