Reviewer: Tim Stevens
Story Title: Collateral Damage
Written by: J. Michael Straczynski
Pencilled by: Gary Frank
Inked by: Jon Sibal
Colored by: Chris Sotomayor
Lettered by: Virtual Calligraphy’s Dave Sharpe
Editor: Axel Alonso
Publisher: Marvel Comics/ Max Comics
This is a truly chilling issue start to finish. For one, much of the focus falls on the serial killer that the fledging Squad (although they are no where near using that name yet) brought to justice last issue. For another, we are seeing more and more evidence of how this comic’s title, Supreme Power, might be playing into the axiom of “power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely”.
Redstone’s story is a sick, fascinating one. If there was still a doubt in anyone’s mind that this was not a replica of the original Squadron Supreme stories, this little ditty should clear that up. The Squadron Supreme Redstone wore a red costume with pink accents, was a villain but joined up with Nighthawk’s team to overthrow the Squad, and I always thought of him as a Solomon Grundy representation (well, he was big and strong and…there must have been one more reason. Anyway, Grundy’s the only one I could think of when I first read Squadron that fit the description. I admit it seems a bit flawed right now). This Redstone has no particular use for any costume of all, is certainly no friend of Nighthawk’s as he had a whole lot more interest in murdering indiscriminately then protecting anyone’s free will, and is, even by my very weak definition, obviously not a Solomon Grundy figure. The true hook of the Redstone/General Alexander tête-à-tête is its resolution, which, without saying too much, proves that sometimes the government has a little more on its mind than putting away the criminals it catches.]
However, as disturbing as Redstone is, his fate is less disconcerting than what is happening now that Hyperion understands the meaning of the old “Where does a five hundred pound gorilla sit?” joke. Suffice to say that if he continues to indulge in its punchline, the Supremeverse is facing some very dark times ahead.
Joe Ledger, Doctor Spectrum to his adoring fans, also puts in an appearance as well as he returns to the Aquaman analog (who just happens to be a lady) on a mission from the military. Once more, his scenes with the newly christened Kingsley Rice bring an unexpected warmth to the character. Not only does he bring her that aforementioned name, but he does not toe the military line so thoroughly with her it seems. He does not, as the General suggest, simply go on a monster hunt, but instead asks her to explain how and why certain events took place. For an always by the book company man, this vacillating in the face of orders indicates a future path that should prove interesting.
On the flipside of the uncompromising jerk coin, Nighthawk remains as gloriously (and brutally) honest as ever, calling Hyperion “snowflake” and implying that Blur is a bit of an Uncle Tom (can I say that?). I have to admit, that while I wish that give him another personal characteristic besides constant righteous indignation, JMS writes him so well in that mode that every scene with him and another character has a great crackling baseline of tension.
