Not just another superhero origin.
Based on Image's solicitation of this issue, readers might go into Power Lines #1 expecting a racially charged comedy about a young black man who gains super-powers and battles crime and prejudice in a suburb full of affluent white families. But despite that solicitation, and despite Jimmie Robinson's work on the very raunchy and comedy-driven Bomb Queen, Power Lines is a surprisingly serious book with a lot on its mind. While the characterization in this first issue is a bit suspect, there are enough interesting ideas at work to warrant a look.
Robinson sets the larger than life tone for the series right away as the narration explores the history of race relations in America and the existence of mystical, strength-bestowing "power lines" surrounding a particular area in California. This material dovetails into a more grounded sort of conflict, as series protagonist D-Trick and his friends drive to the suburbs for a night of theft and graffiti tagging. This in turn puts D-Trick in conflict with a military veteran named Kevin, whose mother is none too happy about being robbed. Throw in some mystical tomfoolery and Native American prophecies and you have quite the odd little comic.
It's great to see Robinson taking such an ambitious approach to this series, one that doesn't shy away from tackling racism and classism at a particularly thorny time. This issue ostensibly qualifies as a superhero origin story, but it's clearly it's own beast in terms of tone and subject matter. The supernatural elements not only add flavor to the story, they inject it with a greater sense of weight and purpose.
Unfortunately, the book falls short when it comes to the cast of characters. Nearly everyone in this issue apart from D-Trick and Kevin come across as vague, bland caricatures of one extreme or the other. Kevin's mother is a particularly bad example, playing out as a stereotype of every angry, entitled, "I'm not racist, but..." character pop culture and real life have to offer. Even the two leads aren't especially compelling in this issue; they just have the benefit of showing some degree of depth and complexity.
Robinson wears many hats with this series, writing, drawing, coloring and even lettering this issue himself. There's a lot to be said for one creator controlling all aspects of the storytelling process. Robinson's angular, expressive character designs suit the unusual tone oft he story well. The page layouts are generally pretty straightforward, but Robinson's storytelling still shines, especially during the sequence where D-Trick and his friends embark on their crime spree while rap music forms a soundtrack. Robinson's coloring generally doesn't do justice to his pencils, however. The hazy, washed-out tones give the book a flat quality where another colorist might have been able to add more depth and vitality to the art.
The Verdict
If nothing else, Power Lines #1 shows plenty of potential. This isn't merely another addition to the ever-crowded superhero market, but a book that combines many disparate elements into one ambitious package. Unfortunately, Power Lines won't achieve its full potential without a more compelling and fully realized cast of characters to anchor the conflict.
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