Power Company #15 Review

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Reviewer: John Babos
Story Title: Batman vs. Manhunter

Written by: Kurt Busiek
Pencilled by: Gary Chaloner
Inked by: Gary Chaloner
Colored by: Ro & Bleyaert
Lettered by: Comicraft
Editor: Steve Wacker
Publisher: DC Comics

The long awaited confrontation between Power Company’s resident capitalist mercenary and the Dark Knight proved to be an action-packed adrenaline thrill ride.

Issue #15 finds Manhunter travelling to Gotham City, and wrapped up in the attempted assassination of an exiled African dignitary and the kidnapping of his granddaughter.

The best part and worst part of this issue was the bipolar writing of series co-creator Kurt Busiek. While the issue is very well plotted, the dialogue seems stiff, awkward, and out-of-place. I was glad that much of the Manhunter vs.Batman panels contained no dialogue, letting Chaloner’s art carry the action. Regardless of a writer’s dialoguing prowess, i.e. Alan Moore, or lack thereof, i.e. Kurt Busiek, any Manhunter vs. Batman battle panels should, for the most part, be dialogue-free so as not to take away from the action — kudos to the editorial team for realizing this.

Here’s an example of Busiek’s stiff dialogue. While it proves expository for the reader, it is awkward coming as Batman’s first words to Manhunter:

“Kirk dePaul, alias Manhunter. Clone of the late Paul Kirk, also alias Manhunter. Metahuman. Enhanced reflexes. Healing factor. Former mercenary, operating largely in East Africa. Currently posing as a super-hero, with the San Francisco firm The Power Company.”

This also shows that Busiek doesn’t understand the character of Batman, a hero of few words.

Guest artist Gary Chaloner’s moody, dark style was an appropriate choice for this issue, although fans will likely wonder why such a pivotal issue was not drawn by series co-creator, Tom Grummett. Chaloner’s pacing and panel layouts really add an element of drama to the action sequences. Chaloner can really tell a story, particularly fight scenes. I hope to see more of his work, but in books where his moody, dark style complements the story and title character — maybe Batman, Nightwing, a fill-in Green Arrow issue, or some Vertigo titles. His style isn’t as clean or rounded like Tom Grummett’s. So, although Chaloner’s art “fits” the story, this may be lost on some of Power Company’s loyal fans.

The coloring was appropriately dark, but the lettering seemed to rival Busiek’s dialoguing for awkwardness.

While the Power Company series will end with issue #18 in three months, Manhunter is likely the most marketable “core” character to come from the series. Now, I know what you’re thinking — Firestorm is the most marketable Power Company team member. Well, while I am aware that he will be getting his own ongoing series soon, Firestorm was a late addition to this book and not a “core” character from the series’ inception.

Some Power Company fans should be pleased as Kurt Busiek has stated: “Hopefully, this won’t be the end for the characters — there’s been some talk of doing a Manhunter-JSA mini, pitting them against their common foe, the Council.”

Hopefully we’ll see more of Manhunter after this series wraps. He’s got a lot of untapped potential.

Poor dialogue and awkward lettering didn’t overly obscure my enjoyment of Power Company #15. It’s worth a gander.

John is a long-time pop culture fan, comics historian, and blogger. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief at Comics Nexus. Prior to being EIC he has produced several column series including DEMYTHIFY, NEAR MINT MEMORIES and the ONE FAN'S TRIALS at the Nexus plus a stint at Bleeding Cool producing the COMICS REALISM column. As BabosScribe, John is active on his twitter account, his facebook page, his instagram feed and welcomes any and all feedback. Bring it on!