Review: ‘The Power Fantasy’ #4
Kieron Gillen and Caspar Wijngaard are back this week with The Power Fantasy #4, which shifts the focus to Masumi, a depressed artists who is 1 of the 3 powerful Atomics alongside Etienne & Heavy. We haven’t seen much of Masumi so far but we learned in the last issue that she was responsible for the catastrophic 1982 “Tokyo event.”
More than anything, this issue was tragic. Masumi is the poster child for destructive mental illness. She’s not in control of her emotions, or the effect of those emotions, & is a constant threat to herself, those she loves, & ultimately, thanks to her status as an Atomic, the entire world. Many readers won’t need this book to relate to the dangers and emotional pain mental illness causes to those who suffer from it and/or their friends & family. Gillen presents the macro threat Masumi poses as someone so narcissistic she could end humanity just because her artwork receives negative critical reviews. A scary proposition for sure, but one that I know I’ve personally dealt with on a much more micro scale many times with people near & dear in my life. It made me feel entirely empathetic to Masumi, even though she likely doesn’t deserve it.
The Power Fantasy is shaping up to be Wijngaard’s best work to date. Every issue has been breathtakingly beautiful, but he raises his game even higher this issue. He uses ingenious paneling designs to visually complement Gillen’s writing. You can tell how much Gillen trusts Wijngaard as he allows the artist to tell so much of the story through art. The entire art gallery scene is a perfect example of a “show don’t tell” approach that yielded a far more ominous and foreboding reading experience that text simply couldn’t provide.
That dynamic is why I love this series so much. Gillen & Wijngaard are building intrigue without telling us every single detail about the world they’re building, especially as it relates to what these godlike characters are capable of. We’re getting clues along the way, whether it’s Gillen’s sharp dialogue or Wijngaard’s evocative visuals, to inform us that we’re always on the precipice of global Armageddon.
Rating: 9.5/10
