Power Company # 17 Review

Archive

Reviewer: Chris Delloiacono
Story Title: Hostile Takeover Part 2: Mergers and Acquisitions

Written by: Kurt Busiek
Penciled by: Tom Grummett
Inked by: Prentis Rollins
Colored by: A. Bleyaert
Lettered by: Comicraft
Editor: Stephen Wacker
Publisher: DC Comics

I’m glad I got a chance to review this book before it meets the hangman’s noose next month. I’ve read the title since it launched including the preview in JLA, and the seven one shots. Busiek has taken a classic approach to the series that should have appealed to the Silver Age fans out there, but I think the biggest mistake he made, was not attaching any established characters to the title. Couple a new team of characters introduced in the aforementioned one-shots and you had a big time gaff, the book never recovered sales wise.

Of all the recent titles that had a cast of new faces, I think PoCo was the strongest. Busiek, largely helped by the one-shots, developed each character far more than most books can in less than two years. It’s a shame that most of these characters will disappear and probably never see the light of day again.

Oddly this is the second review in as many weeks that I’m covering, which is the second to last issue of a series. It almost feels like I’m writing an obituary. Alas, my reading habits have always been on the end that saw a lot of cancellations so I rarely get upset anymore. It’s what I do with comics, and it’s what they do to me. Hopefully there won’t be many more of these types of reviews in the near future.

Like most comics that are coming to an end, Busiek is trying to cram as much into the final issues as possible. All the threads that have been hanging out since the preview in JLA are finally being dealt with. A lot of what Busiek was doing with the series, mainly with old time Wonder Woman villain Dr. Cyber, had to be altered drastically when the sales dropped rapidly. At least Busiek has finally integrated this and all the other slow developing dangling threads into this the “going-out” party for POWER COMPANY.

The way Busiek has integrated the Haunted Tank into the final stories is well done, but I really wish DC didn’t bother with the “vote for who you want to see in PoCo gimmick”. The voting was really nothing more than a sham, as you could vote as many times as you like, and it sure didn’t help keep the book afloat. While it’s cool to see the final resolution of a classic comic story, the final issues of Power Company really shouldn’t have been the place.

Tom Grummett’s art is amazing as always. As co-creator he’s just as responsible for this fine book as Kurt Busiek. One of the biggest downers about PoCo ending is not seeing Tom’s art on a monthly basis. I’m sure he’ll latch onto another book, if he hasn’t already, and hopefully I’ll be there to enjoy it.

The issue is enjoyable, but it’s a little rushed and not easy to savor. I won’t waste time talking about the plot developments, if you’re a fan of the book you should read it. I mean why wouldn’t you read it, if you’ve read the series all along? If you’re not reading the book, then head out to your local shop, or a comic show and grab the issues. You don’t have any nearby? Try the Internet! Ebay is a good source, and you can probably get the books for next to nothing!