Customer Reviews

Supreme Power: Hyperion

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Warning: Contains Spoilers

Supreme Power: Hyperion, J. Michael Straczynski's sequel of sorts to Supreme Power manages to accomplish a rare feat among graphic novels. It is simultaneously disappointing and yet also essential reading.

Part of the problem is that Straczynski's writing isn't as strong here as it was in the original Supreme Power series. For whatever reason, this storyline lacks the richly-detailed layers and contextual backdrops that were hallmarks of the best issues of that series. It also feels rushed like a movie sequel hurried into production with an incomplete script and inferior special effects budget in order to capitalize on the box office success of the original movie.

Furthermore, the superb artwork of Gary Frank, a key ingredient to Supreme Power, is also missed here. Though fill in artist Dan Jurgens is no slouch his pencil work here has a slapdash feel that doesn't do this story justice.

In that story, Mark Milton, aka Hyperion, after bailing on his government employers has gone into hiding at the Artic circle. The government dispatches a newly-recruited batch of superpowered operatives, the Shape, Arcanna, Nuke, and Dr. Emil Burbank to bring him back - dead or alive.

During the ensuing battle an energy blast transports the five to what seems to be a parallel earth whose despotic rulers look strangely familiar. They are the Squadron Supreme and they are led by that world's version of Hyperion.

While this is an interesting premise and rife with possibilities there's just no getting around the fact that this story just doesn't measure up to the high standards set by Supreme Power. Indeed some of the plot points aren't well thought out.

For example, at the close of Supreme Power, Hyperion feeling alone and betrayed sent the government a message by causing a 10.5 on the Richter Scale event at the North Pole. Considering this, does it really make sense that in this story the new recruits find him still hanging around at the North Pole? Wouldn't he have thought to make himself scarce?

However, if you missed this when it first appeared as a five issue mini-series earlier this year I must say that I do recommend it. This is because it serves as a key transitional story which bridges the gap between Straczynski's earlier Supreme Power and the new ongoing Squadron Supreme series which debuted five months ago.

It also points the way toward what could be future events in that series. So bottom line, though it doesn't reach the Olympian Heights of the earlier Supreme Power graphic novels, "Contact," "Powers and Principalities," and "High Command" if you want to follow the ongoing saga of Hyperion and his cohorts this is one to pick up.

Okay, I'll get to the point... SUPREME POWER: HYPERION is a bit drawn out, and it didn't have quite the payoff that I hoped it would, but that doesn't stop it from being an entertaining story. This miniseries ties in well to the regular Supreme Power series, moreso than the other SP minis, as it furthers the storyline from SP volume 3 where Hyperion is at odds with the US government. A new group of superpowered beings has have been enlisted to hunt him down, and their identities should ring a bell with fans of Mark Gruenwald's original Squadron Supreme. During their inevitable confrontation, both Hyperion and his opponents are accidentally transported to an alternate reality (or is it?) where the members of Supreme Power have taken control of the world. It's up to Hyperion and his pursuers, with a little help from that reality's Nighthawk, to avoid the evil Squadron long enough to get themselves home again.

This story is definitely a step in the right direction for the Supreme Power series. The best part is how it incorporates the plot of Mark Gruenwald's original Squadron Supreme into the new Supreme Power. While it's definitely a plus that J. Michael Straczynski wrote it, the story is not plotted quite as well as his other Supreme Power work. It tends to drag, and some parts are pretty confusing, such as the point of Amphibian's role in the story, and especially how it's not revealed that Hyperion was pulled into the alternate reality until almost halfway through the story. Regarding the art, I have read some complaints directed at Dan Jurgens' work on this story, but it's not that bad - just general, no-frills art that serves its purpose. So overall, SUPREME POWER: HYPERION should definitely be read in order to see where the Supreme Power series is going. Just don't expect too much.

Some people are moaning about the fact that this story isn't as layered as the regular series. Well, there is 2 reasons for that. The first is that this is a mini-series so it has to wrap up in 5 issues, also it is essentially just dealing with 1 major character, so it is not going to have the multi-layered feeling of the regular series. Another point to some is the artwork. Yes I love Gary Frank's work as well, but he can not draw a monthly comic as well as all the mini series that have come out. Dan Jurgens does a really good job with the art. If you read the Death of Superman storyline years back, you will remember Jurgen's art. It is not quite as detailed as Frank's, but the characters are all spot on in appearance. The art is solid. The storyline is a little more important than the Doctor Spectrum mini since it bridges the gap from Supreme Power to Squadron Supreme. It also has a nice little twist on the ending that will play an important role in future storytelling. Straczynski wrote this one himself so you know it will be important. This one is worth picking up if you are a fan of the series.

Babylon 5 creator and Amazing Spider-Man scribe J. Michael Straczynski's re-imagining of the Squadren Supreme was nothing short of brilliantly realized comic reading. This Supreme Power spin-off, written by Straczynski and focusing on Hyperion, doesn't feature the awe inspiring and innovative storytelling that had become a staple on the regular Supreme Power series, but it is nevertheless an important chapter in the Supreme Power saga. This TPB picks up with the government making one last attempt to bring Mark Milton AKA Hyperion back under their control by organizing a small group of super powered individuals (each of the five are based off of classic Squadren Supreme characters) who make their trek to the great white north to take Hyperion down. However, during the battle, Hyperion and the others find themselves transported to an alternate reality; a reality in which humanity is at the bottom of the ladder, and Hyperion and other familiar faces like Zarda and Doc Spectrum are bringing great misery to humankind. As the story progresses and the secrets are revealed down to the final twist, it becomes apparent that this is only a taste of things to come. Dan Jurgens, AKA the man that killed Superman way back when, provides the pencils here, and they just don't have that cinematic appeal that regular Supreme Power artist Gary Frank has. Despite that however, this is still essential reading in the Supreme Power saga, and if you want to read something truly exceptional, check out the other Supreme Power spin-off, Nighthawk, written by Daniel Way and illustrated by Preacher artist Steve Dillon.

Hyperion has told the government to basically take an unlikely anatomical excursion. When they don't listen, he puts on a display of power.

This frightens them so badly they recruit a team of other superhumans to try and stop him, including an evil genius type, and a quantum manipulator. Put those last two together, and hey, suddenly everyone is not in Kansas anymore.

If you loved the art in the Supreme Powers books, don't get this one. I was dissapointed that the artwork had changed and I wasn't a huge fan of the story.