How To Be A Geek

POWERS BY BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS AND MICHAEL AVON OEMING

Since I never talked about The Walking Dead before they made it into a show, I figure I’ll let my less comics-savvy reader know about Powers since it is coming to a TV near you soon.  Powers is the story of Detective Christian Walker and his partner Deena Pilgrim in a fairly familiar procedural premise. What makes it different and totally cool is that they solve crimes that have to do with super powers.  It’s a bit like CSI meets the X-Men to pitch it to you.

The first storyline (which can be picked up in a trade paperback collection from a comic book store, a book store or *gasp!* the library) is “Who Killed Retro Girl?”  Walker and Pilgrim’s first case begins when a very popular junior hero, Retro Girl, is found killed. The introduction to this world and our main characters is a fast-paced, exciting one.

The comics’ art style by Michael Avon Oeming is deceptively cartoon-y, but the more you read, the more you will become immersed in this world and all its goings on.  Christian Walker is a good guy in that macho American way of leading men and Deena Pilgrim is a tough, wisecracking partner who takes no guff.  Brian Michael Bendis writes really good comics and as the Powers universe has expanded, I’ve been impressed at every step of the way with the storytelling prowess on display. 

So, if you want to get into the comics before the TV show comes along and has the audacity to change stuff for the small screen (comics readers love to freak the fuck out when this happens) then try the first couple collections of Powers.  I bet you keep coming back for more, but just be warned that once you’ve read all the trade paperback collections, you will be stuck waiting for the monthly (sometimes 2 or even 3 months go by without an issue) installment. These waits aren’t really that long and almost always worth it.