“Tried to tell you about no control
But now I really don’t know
And then you told me how bad you had to suffer
Is that really all you have to offer?”- Bad Religion “21st Century (Digital Boy)”
The fragile alliances of the Superpowers stand even more on the brink as Heavy’s secret plan unfolds. With the future reveal of Kid Ignition as a secret seventh superpower to the world, the potential doomsday quickly draws closer and threatens the safeguards Lux placed. Mixed with Magus directly arming the United States as the new Secretary of Magic, the remaining Superpowers need to tread lightly before it quickly goes up pear-shaped. If the beginning of the world started in a big bang, then the potential end arrived from another one in Kieron Gillen and Caspar Wijngaard’s The Power Fantasy #6.
Teased as the “teenage Limp Bizkit fan who could destroy the world,” Kid Ignition embodies not only the typical bravado of a seventeen-year-old concerned with sex, horror movies, and skateboarding mixed with the destructive power of an atomic bomb thanks to Gillen’s writing and Wijngaard’s art. The combination of youthful relatability with potentially destroying the world adds to the darker layers of the character. He has some concept of normalcy but cannot be genuinely normal due to his status as a Superpower. He cannot be a regular kid. If the adult Superpowers can barely keep it together, then a teenage version could do it even less successfully.
We also get three aspects of attempting control and holding power with Heavy, Lux, and Magus. Because of Kid Ignition, Heavy has an ace up his sleeve, and if anyone tried to attack him or Haven, then his son’s threat of retaliation prevented it. Lux, through Tonya, gains information about Heavy’s plans to keep the various alliances in check. Then comes Magus, hoping to transform the military into an extension of his pyramid to gain more power to combat the others. They all believe they know what’s best for the world and want to jockey for control over each other. As they get closer to the brink, all that matters will be who pulls the trigger.
The Power Fantasy #6 also reinforces its meditations on the fears of the future with Heavy and Kid Ignition. Prophesied by an atomic that his son would be a Superpower, Heavy founded Haven to hide his future child and raise him. Stating his desire to raise Kid Ignition to protect him, the line blurs between parental and political due to Heavy viewing him as a chess piece on the board. Especially with not having the choice of being a superpower but existing due to Heavy’s wishes, Kid Ignition is akin to a weapon instead of a person. Even being trapped in the orb on Haven, away from any outside prying eyes, robs him of a potential childhood and only knowledge of the world around the Family. Heavy will do whatever it takes to protect Atomics’ future and use his child to secure it.
Wijngaard’s linework, paneling, and coloring, combined with Clayton Cowles’s lettering, make it another exquisite and striking issue. Wijngaard knows how to build tension through body language, timing, and emotion. Nothing is truly wasted in the art department. The Power Fantasy #6 begins the new arc and accelerates the potential end of the world thanks in part to a hormonally charged teenager.
Story: Kieron Gillen Art/Colors: Caspar Wijngaard Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Read
Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle
Discover more from Graphic Policy
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Source: Graphic Policy
