If you like smart crime stories this is worth reading. The dialog is fantastic! It reminds me of a good Mamet script. While the artwork took a bit to get used to, I really came to love it by the end of the book.

Detective Christian Walker, has a new parter, Deena Pilgrim. They also have a tough job, enforcing and investigating super powered crime, and in particular, homicide.

When one of the most popular heroines of all time is murdered, the investigation leads to Walker's secret past, and some of his old colleagues.

With all the superheroes flying around, one has to wonder if the police department has a specialized unit that deals with specific crimes committed by any individual with superpowes. Enter Powers, a crime comic written by master scribe, Brian Michael Bendis (Ultimate Spider-Man, Daredevil) that details just that. Detective Christian Walker and his new partner, Detective Deena Pilgrim, are investigating the murder of well known and loved super heroine, Retro-Girl. But this case is unlike any other that Walker has been on. There's something personal about this. There's an apparent connection between Detective Walker and Retro-Girl that is unkown to his new partner (and it's not what you're probably thinking). This book is a magnificent noir detective story that doesn't pull any punches.

The artwork by Oeming is very cartoony and reminds me a lot of the character designs for the DC realted animated series (such as Batman and Justice League) but with some of the best lighting effects and shadowing I've ever seen in a comic book.

All in all, Powers is simply one of my favorite titles out there. A rich and detailed noir atmosphere that doesn't disappoint on any level.

As a side note: check out TORSO, my favorite of Bendis' adventures into crime-drama.

~nico~

"Who Killed Retro Girl" is a good. The story, of two "normal" detectives that are assigned to investigate the death of a superhero, is interesting and generally well told, although the plot could have had more depth. The art goes very well with the writing style and is great. I'd recommend it, and look forward to reading the other books in the series, but do hope they live up to the full potential this idea has.

Seeing the name Brian Michael Bendis on a graphic novel is a pretty good indicator of quality. This maxim recently led me to the Powers series, and once again, it paid off.

The story takes place in a city filled with costumed superheroes and villains, but the stars of this book are homicide detectives Christian Walker and Deena Pilgrim. The lines between flashy supertheatrics and flatfoot investigating blur when popular heroine Retro Girl is found dead in an alley.

Coupled with art by Michael Avon Oeming, the story flows in a blocky, noirish style that is dark, angular and atmospheric. Monochromatic washes over some panels add to the mood.

The series won the Eisner Award for best new series in 2001 for material collected here, and it's easy to see why. In a market glutted with the flash of superheroics, this title is invigorating.

by Tom Knapp, Rambles.(n e t) editor