Supreme Power, Vol. 1 [Hardcover]

J. Michael Straczynski (Author), Gary Frank (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 27, 2005 | Series: Max

Babylon 5 creator and Amazing Spider-Man writer J. Michael Straczynski presents a new vision of a world about to give birth to its first generation of super-heroes! Follow the origins of these new heroes and anti-heroes - from their birth through adulthood - and examine how their lives and abilities change and shape the world around them. The god-like Hyperion discovers his whole life has actually been an elaborate government-made lie, and his reaction could mean the end of the Earth! Do the world's other super-powered beings have any chance at stopping Hyperion if the truth sends him over the edge?

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Marvel Comics (April 27, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078511369X
• ISBN-13: 978-0785113690
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 7.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #916,339 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, July 9, 2005

By 

N. Durham "Big Evil" (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Supreme Power, Vol. 1 (Hardcover)

Babylon 5 creator and Rising Stars scribe and current Amazing Spider-Man scribe J. Michael Stracyznski's re-imagining of Marvel's Squadren Supreme characters is an absolute sight to behold for comic fans, and this handsome hardcover collects the first 12 issues of Marvel's MAX title Supreme Power. Beginning with the mysterious arrival of a child not of this world, which thanks to the brainwashing of the US government is raised to become Hyperion: a being who looks human but has incredible super powers. Raised to believe in truth, justice, and most of all, the American way, Hyperion, AKA Mark Milton, finds himself at a cross roads, which leads to an inevitable confrontation between him and government superiors. But there are others like him as well, including a young man who can run at incredible speed, a soldier who has bonded with a crystal that arrived with Hyperion's ship which has made him into a living weapon, the racially motivated grim millionaire vigilante Nighthawk, a female humanoid that lives in the ocean, and a mysterious woman calling herself Zarda who has incredible power similar to Hyperion, and shares something else with him as well, and may possibly hold the key to his destiny. Strikingly mature in it's tone (not just because it's bloody and has it's share of cursing and nudity), J. Michael Stracyznski has really crafted something special here, and the art of penciler Gary Frank gives Supreme Power a unique and realistic look. By the time you reach the last page, it appears that a squadren is forming, and a super powered serial killer is on the loose, and by the time you've reached said page, you'll be salivating for more.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Somebody will really look for help in these guys?, January 2, 2006

By 

JoseGDiaz (Chile) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Supreme Power, Vol. 1 (Hardcover)

This is a decontruction of DC JLA for mature readers: there are explicit lenguage, nude bodies and murder. However, the central issue is the conflict between power and freedom, or in Marvel terms, between power and responsabilities. The characters are far from perfect: they are real. Hyperion (Superman) has doubts and he does not act as a boy scout. Nighthawk (Batman) is a violent vigilante victim of racism and a racist himself. Ledger (Green Lantern) is a military subordinated. The Princess (Wonder Woman) is beatiful but totally mad. Only the Blur (Flash) is apparently a honest person. Please, pay attention to the excellent dialogue between Hyperion y Blur in the sixth chapter (number).

Gary Frank nicely draws the story where the writer use a good trick: as in the real life, we never know what are thinking the characters. Therefore, we have to take a guess on the moral convictions of the characters.

I only hope three things (pay attention Marvel editors!):

(1)a second Hardcover collecting the numbers 13-18 plus the miniseries Hyperion, Nighthawk and Doctor Spectrum

(2)mature quality remains, due to this story will continue in the Marvel Knights collections as Squadron Supreme

(3)a planned ending: a good story needs an end. Although everybody knows that Planetary will finish sooner o later, the story is followed for the fans. In addition, the mythical power of Watchmen is its limited format

Did you enjoy The Authority? Then pick up this book right now.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Supreme Power, July 7, 2005

By 

Omagus (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Supreme Power, Vol. 1 (Hardcover)

I'd heard nothing but good things about this title so I decided to go out and get it. I am glad that I did.

Most comic book fans are familiar with the origin stories of iconic characters like Superman and Batman. Now imagine if those origins had occured in Marvel instead of DC. That's the basic premise for SUPREME POWER.

For people who would wonder what would be the big difference, what it comes down to is that Marvel tends to approach things more realistically (as realistically as super-hero stories can go). Superman, for example, is loved and adored by the public in the DC continuity, while in Marvel someone like Spider-Man is often seen through suspicious eyes and often considered by the general public to be the same as the criminals that he tries to apprehend.

SUPREME POWER is scripted by J. Michael Straczynski, who is more than a capable writer. I became a fan of his through his RISING STARS series, which is a completely new look at super-powered people. That series got off to an amazing start but towards the end of the run was bogged down by lackluster art. Art wasn't the issue on the next thing I read by JMS, MIDNIGHT NATION. I'm not as high on that series, but a lot of that may have to do with the fact that much of it still goes over my head. The art on that series was gorgeously penciled by Gary Frank.

Mr. Frank reunites with JMS on SUPREME POWER. I've been a fan of Frank since I first saw his work on INCREDIBLE HULK in the mid 90s. Since then, I've loved his work on SUPERGIRL, GEN 13 and BIRDS OF PREY. However, I think he's doing the best work of his career with this current title. His art brings to life the world that JMS has in his mind.

For all intents and purposes, SUPREME POWER is an Ultimate title, meaning characters who existed in the normal Marvel Universe are given a completely fresh start in a brand new world. However, it is published under the MAX line for two very important reasons: 1) it allows JMS to create a world from scratch without pre-existing super powered beings, similar to what he was able to do with RISING STARS and; 2) it allows for a far wider range of creativity than that which is normally found in comic books. Be warned, the content found titles in the MAX line are usually akin to what you would find in an R-rated movie.

SUPREME POWER is a great title and the creative team may very well be putting out the best comic book on the market today.