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Supreme Power (Collected Editions) #1-2
Supreme Power, Volume 1
Collecting: Supreme Power 1-12, Avengers 85-86
352 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2005
124 people want to read
About the author
J. Michael Straczynski
1,352 books1,278 followersJoseph Michael Straczynski is an American filmmaker and comic book writer. He is the founder of Synthetic Worlds Ltd. and Studio JMS and is best known as the creator of the science fiction television series Babylon 5 (1993–1998) and its spinoff Crusade (1999), as well as the series Jeremiah (2002–2004) and Sense8 (2015–2018). He is the executor of the estate of Harlan Ellison.
Straczynski wrote the psychological drama film Changeling (2008) and was co-writer on the martial arts thriller Ninja Assassin (2009), was one of the key writers for (and had a cameo in) Marvel's Thor (2011), as well as the horror film Underworld: Awakening (2012), and the apocalyptic horror film World War Z (2013). From 2001 to 2007, Straczynski wrote Marvel Comics' The Amazing Spider-Man, followed by runs on Thor and Fantastic Four. He is the author of the Superman: Earth One trilogy of graphic novels, and he has written Superman, Wonder Woman, and Before Watchmen for DC Comics. Straczynski is the creator and writer of several original comic book series such as Rising Stars, Midnight Nation, Dream Police, and Ten Grand through Joe's Comics.
A prolific writer across a variety of media and former journalist, Straczynski is the author of the autobiography Becoming Superman (2019) for HarperVoyager, the novel Together We Will Go (2021) for Simon & Schuster, and Becoming a Writer, Staying a Writer (2021) for Benbella Books. In 2020 he was named Head of the Creative Council for the comics publishing company Artists, Writers and Artisans.
Straczynski is a long-time participant in Usenet and other early computer networks, interacting with fans through various online forums (including GEnie, CompuServe, and America Online) since 1984. He is credited as being the first TV producer to directly engage with fans on the Internet and to allow viewer viewpoints to influence the look and feel of his show. Two prominent areas where he had a presence were GEnie and the newsgroup rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated.
Straczynski wrote the psychological drama film Changeling (2008) and was co-writer on the martial arts thriller Ninja Assassin (2009), was one of the key writers for (and had a cameo in) Marvel's Thor (2011), as well as the horror film Underworld: Awakening (2012), and the apocalyptic horror film World War Z (2013). From 2001 to 2007, Straczynski wrote Marvel Comics' The Amazing Spider-Man, followed by runs on Thor and Fantastic Four. He is the author of the Superman: Earth One trilogy of graphic novels, and he has written Superman, Wonder Woman, and Before Watchmen for DC Comics. Straczynski is the creator and writer of several original comic book series such as Rising Stars, Midnight Nation, Dream Police, and Ten Grand through Joe's Comics.
A prolific writer across a variety of media and former journalist, Straczynski is the author of the autobiography Becoming Superman (2019) for HarperVoyager, the novel Together We Will Go (2021) for Simon & Schuster, and Becoming a Writer, Staying a Writer (2021) for Benbella Books. In 2020 he was named Head of the Creative Council for the comics publishing company Artists, Writers and Artisans.
Straczynski is a long-time participant in Usenet and other early computer networks, interacting with fans through various online forums (including GEnie, CompuServe, and America Online) since 1984. He is credited as being the first TV producer to directly engage with fans on the Internet and to allow viewer viewpoints to influence the look and feel of his show. Two prominent areas where he had a presence were GEnie and the newsgroup rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 29, 2015
Wow, so this different! Supreme power is an alternate version of Marvel's Hyperion(Their response to Superman), its his origin; as you read through it you'll catch the feeling of this being a dark/twisted parody of Superman's origin. This book they also introduce heroes who are parodies of other DC heroes: Nighthawk/Batman, Stargirl/Wonder Woman, Dr. Spectrum/Green Lantern etc... Overall this is quite a big read, a lot to take in, but very good!
April 16, 2015
I'm a big fan of Straczynski, and love his imagining of an alternate Marvel universe! A Superman raised by government agents and groomed to be used for whatever purpose the government decides upon is a much darker, more conflicted, and frankly more interesting character than the Superman of popular culture who was raised by good-hearted, practical Kansas folk (as much as I appreciate those values and what is truly wonderful about my home state). The artwork is stunning, and I particularly loved the Ominous Tidings Expressed as Four-Part Harmony, a brilliant blend of art and text!
Finally, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't rolling my eyes at the even more dramatically sexed up version of Wonder Woman. (I know, I know, outrageous boobies are a cornerstone of the superhero world, but before you say the men are just as impossibly muscled and sexified, check out this, and this, and this. How about a little equality? Sex up some of the chicks if you must, but if you do, sex up some of the dudes in the same way in equal measure so there's a little something for everyone.) Anyway, at least she's a freaky Greek goddess who's been asleep in a mausoleum for millennia. Her anachronistic behavior and utter disregard for humanity makes her a character both fascinating and frightening.
Finally, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't rolling my eyes at the even more dramatically sexed up version of Wonder Woman. (I know, I know, outrageous boobies are a cornerstone of the superhero world, but before you say the men are just as impossibly muscled and sexified, check out this, and this, and this. How about a little equality? Sex up some of the chicks if you must, but if you do, sex up some of the dudes in the same way in equal measure so there's a little something for everyone.) Anyway, at least she's a freaky Greek goddess who's been asleep in a mausoleum for millennia. Her anachronistic behavior and utter disregard for humanity makes her a character both fascinating and frightening.
June 5, 2010
Excellent book. This has all of the things I loved from Straczynski's "Rising Stars" series, with none of its flaws. This is a brilliant book from start to finish. Just ask yourself: baring the fantasy of super-powers/aliens, what would really happen with Superman's origin, or Batman, or Wonder Woman...etc. That's what this book is. And it goes from there. If you like smart and gritty super stories, then read this book. The art is amazing and the writing is a brilliant comic writer at his best. Nuff said.
July 8, 2013
I was initially annoyed at how closely it aped the Justice League members' powers and origins, but once I got past that, the story itself was awesome. If DC were honest with themselves, I think this is more of what they wanted to do in the new 52 than what they put out, which was a rushed re-telling of the stories we already knew. Even though Marvel used a lot of the same ingredients in Supreme Power, the difference in execution shows just how much better stories can be when you're not shackled by fan expectations.
May 20, 2008
A stunning book and easily Straczynski's best work to date. Not only does he take a classic set of characters (whose first appearance in the Avengers #85-86 is included in the back) and update them, he also shows what makes Marvel stand apart from DC (not that I don;t love DC). These characters are the Justice League, but the Justice League in a uniquely Marvel way: flawed, angry, sad, hated, loved, steeped in death and life and exceedingly real. A must read.
August 8, 2014
Great start. Some interesting characterizations. Solid artwork by Gary Frank. But ultimately doomed by pisspoor execution and a mean-spirited emptiness that prevents this creative team from equalling Gruenwald's proto-Astro City accomplishment. Standard faux-gritty 2000s fare, ya know? Whatever.
March 14, 2007
Just look at the average rating here folks! Oh, you mean I'm the only one who has read and ranked it? Well Dammit, you should too!
September 13, 2017
Supreme Power is the retelling of the Squadron Supreme.
Take Superman with all the duty and drive and strong moral compass, but remove Superman's respect for freedom and limited interference in ordinary life of humanity. In such a person, you might find a harsh and unyielding benevolent absolute dictator. You might find Hyperion.
This is a reboot of how Hyperion came to be. Strange powerful alien from the stars, raised by the United States government to be a soldier, and a conviction that he can make life better for all, if we'd just give up that pesky freedom and self-determination. Joining him are Dr. Spectrum (a soldier imbued with great power from an alien crystal in his hand), Princess Zarda (a female of the same species as Hyperion), Blur (a speedster) and Nighthawk (an unpowered wealthy human).
If this sounds familiar, it is. It's like a Star Trek mirror universe episode. It's nice, the writing is good, the characterizations are believable and the plot is solid. But, generally I prefer my super beings as heroes.
Take Superman with all the duty and drive and strong moral compass, but remove Superman's respect for freedom and limited interference in ordinary life of humanity. In such a person, you might find a harsh and unyielding benevolent absolute dictator. You might find Hyperion.
This is a reboot of how Hyperion came to be. Strange powerful alien from the stars, raised by the United States government to be a soldier, and a conviction that he can make life better for all, if we'd just give up that pesky freedom and self-determination. Joining him are Dr. Spectrum (a soldier imbued with great power from an alien crystal in his hand), Princess Zarda (a female of the same species as Hyperion), Blur (a speedster) and Nighthawk (an unpowered wealthy human).
If this sounds familiar, it is. It's like a Star Trek mirror universe episode. It's nice, the writing is good, the characterizations are believable and the plot is solid. But, generally I prefer my super beings as heroes.
November 15, 2023
very good story and art
4 stars
4 stars
November 5, 2012
JMS takes marvel's knock off version of the Justice League and sucks every bit of fun, interest and likability out of them in the name of realism.
Four super heroes show up in the real world and nothing happens for about six issues.
The characters are flat and unlikable, the drama is forced and anything that approaches cool, interesting or an actual story is quickly buried under grim and gritty and overly dramatic dialogue.
The ideas here are interesting, but JMS takes so long that by the time anything actually happens you realize you really don't care, as the characters never really progress past the points of being types.
and then I found out that each of the four leads each got a mini-series to tell their origin and give them a chance in the spotlight, something that should have happened in the actual series.
With a stronger writer and with a lot of the deadweight scraped off, this could have been a great read. Instead it feels like a huge wasted effort by someone who is trying way too hard.
Four super heroes show up in the real world and nothing happens for about six issues.
The characters are flat and unlikable, the drama is forced and anything that approaches cool, interesting or an actual story is quickly buried under grim and gritty and overly dramatic dialogue.
The ideas here are interesting, but JMS takes so long that by the time anything actually happens you realize you really don't care, as the characters never really progress past the points of being types.
and then I found out that each of the four leads each got a mini-series to tell their origin and give them a chance in the spotlight, something that should have happened in the actual series.
With a stronger writer and with a lot of the deadweight scraped off, this could have been a great read. Instead it feels like a huge wasted effort by someone who is trying way too hard.
August 22, 2018
I liked this, but it was probably a mistake. Squadron Supreme (Gruenwald) was about taking the Justice League as far as it could go.
Everything else is just going to be an extravagance. Here, Straczynski has put together a whole universe and if this were a from-scratch, say, Valiant or Wildstorm or whatever idea, it wouldn't be ad. As it stands, it seems like the avoidance of a Big Bad means it's really a conscience of the heroes story. Which doesn't seem like it can lead to anything other than some are good and some aren't.
Again, it's executed well and a kind of obvious idea, but they should have let it lie.
* * *
On reread, I did not think this was CONCEPTUALLY flawed at all. Instead, I was bothered the whole time by the nagging feeling that I had read it before and the art. I can't tell you exactly what's wrong with the art (for me), but it feels a little like all the characters are made of clay, maybe? Like their ridges are too well defined?
Everything else is just going to be an extravagance. Here, Straczynski has put together a whole universe and if this were a from-scratch, say, Valiant or Wildstorm or whatever idea, it wouldn't be ad. As it stands, it seems like the avoidance of a Big Bad means it's really a conscience of the heroes story. Which doesn't seem like it can lead to anything other than some are good and some aren't.
Again, it's executed well and a kind of obvious idea, but they should have let it lie.
* * *
On reread, I did not think this was CONCEPTUALLY flawed at all. Instead, I was bothered the whole time by the nagging feeling that I had read it before and the art. I can't tell you exactly what's wrong with the art (for me), but it feels a little like all the characters are made of clay, maybe? Like their ridges are too well defined?
March 22, 2011
The concept of the U.S. secretly raising a
superhero was intriguing, but some areas
of the story didn't flow well. The artwork is
fantastic!
superhero was intriguing, but some areas
of the story didn't flow well. The artwork is
fantastic!
Read
October 4, 2014I bought this comic at EpiCon, just because of 2 pages I saw. Liked it so much I finished it the same evening :D
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews