Supreme Power Vol. 1: Contact [Paperback]

J. Michael Straczynski (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2004 | Series: Supreme Power (Book 1)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Marvel Comics (July 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785112243
• ISBN-13: 978-0785112242
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #967,041 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

101 of 105 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Turning the super-hero icons on their heads, May 11, 2004

By 

Christopher Griffen "Commitment to mediocrity!" (Pleasanton, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Supreme Power Vol. 1: Contact (Paperback)

The original Squadron Supreme, invented by Avengers writer Roy Thomas in the 60's, was intended to be a pastiche of the Justice League of America. Each character in Marvel Comics' Squadron Supreme was an analog of DC Comics' Justice League characters. Hyperion is the analog of Superman, Nighthawk of Batman, Power Princess of Wonder Woman, etc. The main point of the exercise was to enable Marvel's greatest team to do battle with DC's without flouting any copyright laws and to have a little fun with the fans.

J. Michael Straczynski's Supreme Power is also a look at the super-hero icons of DC but through a different colored glass. Supreme Power examines how events might really unfold were DC's heroes to have appeared in our world. An alien infant lands on Earth, exhibiting extraordinary powers. Military and political officials fear him, so they seek to control him. A youth sees his parents slain before his eyes and so becomes a vigilante, stalking the streets at night hunting criminals. Another man develops the ability to travel as super speed and so on.

The story starts from the point of view of protagonist, Mark Milton (a.k.a., Hyperion), an alien who crashes on Earth as an infant and whose power the military establishment both fears and hopes to exploit. They fill his head with American propaganda in the hope that they'll brainwash him into the Great American Hero: truth, justice and the American way. But when he matures, he becomes wary of their control and suspicious of their motives. As the story branches out, we're introduced to the other cast members, each of them with their own reasons for becoming a "hero" and many of them not so pure.

In DC's somewhat utopian world, these heroes are revered and honored for the most part. But a more cynical view would be that it wouldn't quite be that simple. We have a tendency to revere and revile our heroes at the same time. While we admire and honor them, we also seek to tear them down and destroy them out of fear, jealousy and other base emotions. The story is as old as time. Just ask Julius Caesar how we treat our honored heroes. Look at the heroes of Ancient Greece and the rather unseemly way so many of them fell from grace.

Supreme Power is an exciting, page-turning look at heroism and just what the world at large really thinks about having someone who could save your life one day or vaporize you with a glance in the next. In the tradition of DC's Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns, Supreme Power takes a smart and decidedly adult look at hero and super-hero.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Supremely Well Done!, June 23, 2004

By 

B. Bukowski (Montana USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Supreme Power Vol. 1: Contact (Paperback)

In Straczynski's new reworking of the classic Squadron Supreme characters, he achieves a higher level of quality than the original series ever had in one of Marvel's best new series.

This serious, grounded tale tells the story of serval extraordinary individuals as they realize that they are different from everyone else and how they attempt to use their new abilities. Straczynski really acheives some of his finest work in comics here (in addition to "Rising Stars") in a very dark and grounded story without some of the cornball dialogue found in his "Amazing Spider-Man." The pacing of the story is very slow, but is ultimately neccessary for establishing the setting and characters; some characters are only hinted at in these pages and allude to the next story arc.

Just as strong--if not stronger than--the writing is Gary Frank's superb artwork and Chris Sotomayor's great color work. Frank's pencils are very realistic and lifelike for portraying the many characters as well as the real-life figures of former presidents. Sotomayor's colors are very good for conveying the mature theme of the story by using a dark palette as well as using very vibrant colors for other scenes.

Marvel and Straczynski have created one of the best new superhero series in awhile. Now it will be interesting to see if the creators can acheive the same level of quality on subsequent story arcs as they have on this great one.

NOTE: Please keep in mind that this is a Marvel Max book and is suggested for older readers due to violence and language (the comic book equivalent of an R-rated or PG-13 movie).

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this book...., May 30, 2005

By 

R. SHARIFF "rayhans1282" (Jamaica, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Supreme Power Vol. 1: Contact (Paperback)

This trade collects the first six issues. I have never been a big Marvel fan but for some unknown reason, I picked up this volume and since then I have been hooked.

The basic plot is that the author, J. Michael Straczynski (JMS) taken familiar heroes and their origins and totally twists them around to fit in the real world and in the process create something truly innovative. The main character in Mark Milton aka Hyperion who has crashed landed on Earth and have been found by a couple, that's Superman's origin, right? Yes but the similarities end there. Hyperion is quickly taken into custody by the US Military who sees his potential as the world's most effective weapon. The military hires agents to pose as Hyperion's parents, they monitor all his movements and raises him to be the perfect American citizen. JMS really fleshes out the armies intentions and methods, for example, Mark gets a dog for his birthday. The dog is chosen after searching through 47 breeds and then is named "Spot" in order to give it simplicity. Implicit throughout the story, you get a sense of impending doom that this charade is not going to last. We also see how the different presidents deal with Hyperion during his 20 years of surrogation under the military, starting with Carter, followed by Bush Sr. and Clinton.

There are other chracters, i.e. Stanley Stewart aka The Blur, he is gifted with speed, then there is Amphibian whose mother committed suicide when she was born and her father went insane. Next you have Nighthawk who saw his parents gunned down by Red necks and in turn became a rascist superhero. And finally you have Doctor Spectrum. Doctor Spectrum is the perfect soldier, who follows any and all orders. Doc Spectrum becomes empowered by the energy crystal from Hyperion's ship and can use the power to give his thought tangibility. He is the first line of defense against Hyperion.

Despite the long review, there are lots of more stuff that JMS managed to pack into the story. The plot is dense and over six issues, JMS only begins characterizing the characters in the story. This is not for readers who want quick action with flash and bangs. This is a book best read slowly and enjoyed for the dialogues and characterizations. JMS is creating his little universe here and so far he has done a hell of a job.

Ever since The Watchmen came out people have been searching for the next big Watchmen type story. I am gonna tell you that this book is as close as it has gotten to Watchmen status in a long time. If you can only read or buy one comics this year, buy this one. I guarantee that you will not be disappointed.

One word of advice, this is from the MAX line from Marvel and therefore contains colorful language and nudity so, put the kids to bed for this one.