The Power Company #18 Review

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Reviewer: John Babos
Story Title: Hostile Takeover Part 3: Poison Pill
Written by: Kurt Busiek
Penciled by: Tom Grummett
Inked by: Von Grawbadger
Colored by: Bleyaert
Lettered by: Comicraft
Editor: Steve Wacker
Publisher: DC Comics

The Power Company #18 marks the last issue of this ongoing title. The series’ swan song and status-quo shattering Hostile Takeover story arc began with “Taking Stock”, in issue #16, reviewed here at 411 by my colleague Mike Maillaro. I agree with him in that The Power Company (PoCo) was one of the new breed of “original” ongoing series whose team was not comprised of cookie-cutter super hero stereotypes. However, while most of the characters could be argued to be fresh and new, the concept behind a team of “Heroes for Hire” has been done before by DC’s “Marvelous” competition, and by DC itself when their Suicide Squad series was winding down in the 1990s. The challenge for DC was to make a team of relative unknowns marketable by taking the for-profit heroes concept in a different direction than expected.

While Kurt Busiek is one of the better writers out there today, there was no bold new direction or vision for this series. DC launched this series solely on the strength of Kurt Busiek’s fan-following and past creative successes, i.e. Astro City, etc. Even with the gorgeous and energetic pencils of Tom Grummett, whether this series would thrive or fail really was in the hands of Kurt Busiek.

It failed.

However, to be fair, Kurt Busiek did brilliantly incorporate The Haunted Tank mythos into this concluding arc, as a result of a successful fandom movement. For me, this has been the most interesting and entertaining bits of Hostile Takeover.

The penultimate chapter of the series’ concluding arc, “Mergers and Acquisitions”, in issue #17, reviewed here at 411 by my colleague Chris Delloiacono, continued the exercise of tying up plot threads. Again, the most satisfying parts of this issue was the new hi-tech Haunted Tank and the banter between The General and Lieutenant Jeb Stuart. In addition, making this concept more contemporary with a S.T.A.R. Labs designed new cyber-command assault vehicle (i.e. a 21rst century tank) to be piloted by Lieutenant Jennifer Stuart, Jeb’s granddaughter, was really well done.

I do agree with many of Chris’ views expressed in his review of issue #17 for 411 Comics. This series may have been more successful if more recognizable characters had been attached to it. There should have been a better balance between old and new characters. A lesson “seemingly” learned by DC with their recent relaunch of the Outsiders franchise. I also agree that while DC’s support for the series in the early going was solid, the early-going multiple one-shots that spotlighted team members was a promotional mistake and felt a like cash-grab.

Let me tell you, in all my years of comic collecting, I have learned that despite holo-foil covers, wraparound covers, multiple covers for the same issue, and other promotional gimmicks, the “gimmick” that has the best potential to sell a comic book is a good combination of writer and artist. However, I have also learned that there are no guarantees in this business either.

A brief aside on gimmicks: I fear that we are slowing marching back into the mess that was the 1990s. Marvel is bringing back the holo-foil cover for Fantastic Four #500, and DC is producing multiple covers for the same issue trying to make reprints collectible as well, i.e. The Loeb / Lee Batman and the new Teen Titans series. The industry needs to learn from the lessons of the past. Gouging readers will lead to bolder efforts by companies and will result in another slump in the industry – hell, we’re still in a slump! If the “Big Two” want to encourage readers to stop collecting comic books altogether or have their readers move to their high-quality competition, like CrossGen, they should continue their gouging ways! CrossGen has industry and fandom momentum because of their solid monthly offerings. CrossGen isn’t Valiant Comics. They’re here to stay. Why? For one thing, they are consumer friendly. They get it. Quality sells books. Not gimmicks. Rant over.

Now, my thoughts on the issue at hand, the finale of PoCo, issue #18. While Grummett’s pencils were excellent, and Busiek’s plot was high-octane and action-filled, the villains of this drama were disappointing. All plot threads seem to be tied up here, and, as I’ve said, the Haunted Tank subplot is really worth the price of admission, for fans like me.

Is this a worthy end for the PoCo? No, but that may be due more to editorial direction and a writer’s prerogative to tie up all dangling plot threads. While Hostile Takeover felt rushed, it is a concluding arc that is better written than many of the other titles that DC’s chopped off their block over the last year. However, Busiek is capable of more. Grummett on the other hand is producing his best pencils to date.

Without revealing details, while the PoCo series has come to an end, I feel we may see the PoCo team show up elsewhere. In addition, I understand that DC has plans in the works for Manhunter.

Issue #18 of the PoCo may actually be a flexible “see you soon” as opposed to a hard-stop “good bye, farewell” story. This concept, while not new, can be taken in different ways. Perhaps with a book / team name change, a team shakeup with a better mix of old and new, a refining of the “heroes for hire” concept, a new writer, and maybe a move to DC’s mature-readers’ Vertigo imprint, DC “may” have a winning formula. However, as stated, there are no guarantees in this business, and all creators can do is try to put their best collective foot forward, and see what happens.

Well, that’s the end of my PoCo obituary. Pick up all 3 parts of Hostile Takeover. They’re worth a read.

I’ll also echo my colleague Chris Delloiacono’s sentiments, about the PoCo series, from his review of the previous issue. “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!”

Well said Chris! Don’t worry; since I’m the last to leave, I’ll turn the lights out.

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!