Image Comics’ The Power Fantasy is one of the strongest first issues from 2024.
The Power Fantasy #1
Clayton Cowles (letterer), Kieron Gillen (writer), Rian Hughes (designer), Caspar Wijngaard (artist)
Image Comics
August 7 2024
Created by writer Kieron Gillen, artist Caspar Wijngaard, letterer Clayton Cowles, and designer Rian Hughes, The Power Fantasy is about six super-powered individuals on Earth who can never come into conflict, otherwise, it would be catastrophic.
With the prominence of superheroes across media, satires and inversions of the genre have become commonplace. It takes a lot for said satire to feel fresh and bring something new to that conversation. The Power Fantasy does just this.
Gillen is no stranger to super-powered individuals. Some titles under his belt include Eternals, Young Avengers, and Immortal X-Men. With that experience, the bar is high for The Power Fantasy and what it says about superpowers. That bar is exceeded, and it will especially appeal to fans of the political machinations of Immortal X-Men, as well as the godly anti-heroes in The Wicked + The Divine.
So much of The Power Fantasy reads as a philosophical debate. The lead character, Etienne, is trying to find the most ethical way for him and the other super-powered individuals called “Atomics” to co-exist amongst humanity. However, their presence alone poses a nuclear-level threat to the world, and that means there will always be a price to pay to maintain balance.
At least, that is Etienne’s perspective, one that is in direct contrast to what the other Atomics believe in The Power Fantasy. Valentina, for instance, is the idealist of the group, coming off as a traditional superhero and role model. Then there is Heavy, who is Etienne’s foil. He sees themselves as godlike beings who are above humanity. Therefore, co-existence with the rest of humanity is not his priority. His priority is his people and their ability to exist freely.
At the moment, Etienne and Heavy’s differing viewpoints are the most interesting, setting up an almost Magneto and Xavier-like dynamic. The Power Fantasy does not hold back from showing the cast’s virtues and flaws. This is not a black-and-white narrative. It is a comic that will make you think, and it uses “superheroes and villains” as a means to explore complicated themes regarding human nature, the abuse of power, and our political systems.
The Power Fantasy is also not black and white in a literal sense. Wijngaard’s art has a neon, bright vibrancy to it. This is par for the course for him, as seen in Home Sick Pilots and All Against All. The saturation is often cranked up for the super-powered people and down for humanity, connecting directly with the notion that these super-powered people are separate — or above — the common man
Also, with most of The Power Fantasy being a philosophical debate, there is not much action. However, when an Atomic does flex their abilities, they go big. Once the gloves are off, Wijingaard depicts some of these characters as truly godlike, whether with their physicality or with how they use their powers. Wijingaard’s imagery sticks with readers of The Power Fantasy. It also solidifies in just a handful of demonstrations that these beings are as dangerous as the premise promises. Wijingaard illustrates a gorgeous, colorful comic that is a visual pleasure. Unlike some superhero critiques that lean into the dark and gritty, The Power Fantasy is vivid and memorable.
Meanwhile, Gillen delivers yet another stand-out comic that uses a popular genre – in this case, superheroes – to deliver a conversation that readers will want to be a part of. The Power Fantasy has a lot to say without feeling like a slog. It’s engaging and doesn’t pull back from asking difficult questions with complicated characters.
Whether a long-term superhero fan or someone more critical of the genre, this is a must-read comic. As a first issue, it stands tall on its own. As the beginning of a larger narrative, The Power Fantasy could be the super-powered series of the year.
