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THE POWER COMPANY WITCHFIRE #1
"I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight"
Recommended (7/10)
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DC Comics
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Pencils: Matt Haley
Inks: Karl Kesel
Colors: Gloria Vasquez
Letters: Comicraft
Editor: Peter Tomasi
Price: $2.50 US/$4.25 CAN |
As with Josiah Power and Striker Z, what makes Witchfire succeed are the story elements
that are different from the norm, while the standard super-hero stuff becomes a
bit of an anchor on an otherwise very interesting character. At any rate,
though, Busiek, Haley and Kesel team up to deliver a character who I like very
much, from her visuals to her unusual powers and motivations, and though I
thought the inclusion of Wonder Woman was forced, whenever the story was
focusing on who Witchfire was and what she did, I was, if you'll pardon the pun,
spellbound.
When I see Witchfire,
particularly in the first part of this issue, I'm reminded of a cross between
Dazzler and Ghost Rider, which is certainly an odd combination. Her love for
stardom and her daredevil attitude mark her as quite different from most
spellcasters, as Busiek notes in his character sketch in the back, but what
really interests me is her role as a performer. Though she has some altruism in
her motivations thanks to a rough childhood, her main motivation is to get
attention and thrills, and that's an unusual, if not unique, choice for a
heroine.
Matt Haley and Karl Kesel
match this unusual heroine with some really terrific artwork. I was especially
pleased with the way they made Witchfire sexy but not sleazy, a tough balancing
act that many comic-book artists can't match, and they gave a sense of the flash
and style to her powers which matches her own style.
I also enjoy the way her
powers work, which requires a little less gobbledygook than many spellcaster
archetypes. Though there are made-up words in her chants, I like that her power
activation abilities are mostly english words that clearly identify her powers
for the reader. Like Striker Z, she has a fair bit of flexibility in her
abilities as well, and Busiek should have a pretty easy time using the
characters of The Power Company in various situations.
Where the book falters for me
is the same place the other two did, and that's the use of other DC characters
to introduce these new characters. Even if I were a bigger Wonder Woman fan, I
would have found the sudden switch from star behavior to super-hero battles a
bit jarring, and the slugfest at the end is terribly mundane when compared to
the rest of the issue. These one-shots are clearly introductory pieces for each
character, and I'm left wondering if a less action-oriented style and a more
bald admittance that these are basically extended "Who's Who" entries wouldn't
have served up stronger overall stories.
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