There are four possibilities.

One: You’ve been buying this series from the
start.

Two: You’re waiting for the trade paperbacks.

Three: You’re waiting for the hardcovers.

Four: You’re not old enough to buy MAX titles
yet.

Not buying this title just isn’t an option.

General Information

Title: Supreme Power
#1-6
Author:
J. Michael Straczynski
Illustrator(s): Gary
Frank
Original
Publication Date: Published from August 2003 to
January 2004. The
trade paperback collecting these issues (titled
Supreme Power
Vol. 1: The Hyperion Project) is due out in
March.

Premise

This is the Justice League of America, but with a
realistic response
from the rest of the world.

High Point

The end of issue six. Every issue has the potential
to lead in a
variety of interesting directions, but that last page
is the most
compelling of all of them.

Low Point

The rapid introduction of characters in issue two.
It was necessary
to introduce them all quickly, but it would have been
nice to have
that block spread more evenly throughout the issues.

The Scores

I’ll give it full credit for originality.
Yes, it’s a revamp
of a revamp of the JLA, but the only connections that
seem to be left
to the originals so far are the powers and the most
general aspects of
the origins of two or three of the characters. This
is a bigger
revamp than most of the Ultimate line, taking a
completely different
tone, and using a new line of continuity. 6 out of
6.

The artwork is excellent. Characters
designed by Gary Frank
always look great. Some of his drawings of real
people do seem a bit
off, though. I give it 5 out of 6.

The story is just getting started. This
feels like the first
chapter in a saga, but it’s very well written, and
sets up so much
potential that I’m always excited about the next
issue. This has
become the most anticipated title of my pull list,
and the first one I
read from any stack I take home. I’m in for the long
haul, and it’s
all because of the set-up. I give it 6 out of 6.

The characterization is probably the best
aspect of this
title. For most of his life, Hyperion believes he
really is one of a
kind, and the ramifications of that aren’t always as
positive as we
might think at first. The choices these characters
make will be
appropriate for the characters, and we get to tag
along for the ride.
Nighthawk, the Blur, and Dr. Spectrum have had
similar developments,
although they haven’t been revealed in the same
detail yet because
they’re not at center stage. I give it 6 out of 6.

The emotional response this produces is
excellent. I don’t
just react to what’s happening on the pages I read,
but I find myself
immediately running off on mental tangents into
places this title
could be going. I don’t think I’ve ever read another
comic that is
this engaging. Most entertainment media doesn’t work
as well as this
does. I give it 6 out of 6.

The flow is broken only in the introduction
of the characters
in the second issue, but there’s no good way around
that which I can
think of. I give it 5 out of 6.

Overall, it’s a title I recommend to anyone
and everyone who
is old enough to buy it. (It’s a MAX title.) The
next six issues
can’t get here fast enough. I give it 6 out of 6.

In total, Supreme Power #1-6 receive 40 out
of 42.