Power Up #1

Written by: Kate Leth
Illustrated by: Matt Cummings

Thank you.

That was my first thought after finishing the first issue of Power Up. It’s a fantastic new series about four unlikely and entirely different people who develop superpowers, but with a unique story built around the familiar premise. The first issue focuses primarily on Amie in what starts out like a typical day. She wakes up late, gets yelled at by her boss, but still spares a smile for strangers and concern for the animals in her store. The people Amie interacts with too, with the exception of her employer, are generally kind. Leth gives them charm and wit, proving that characters who are kind and compassionate don’t also have to be uninteresting or boring. Our heroes do certainly have their own personal challenges, but it is a refreshing change from the “everyone is out to get us” trope so frequently found in superhero origin stories.

The dialogue is clever, with a few laugh out loud moments. We don’t get to see much of our other heroes just yet, and most of what we do is is through their interactions with Amie. Still, there is enough in those limited moments to spark an interest in their lives.

Cummings is the perfect artist for this work. His characters have a wide appeal – being simple enough to be kid-friendly while also reflecting an incredibly impressive range of emotions. The diversity in the main cast, as well as the supporting characters, is also impressive. Certain background details, like the posters on Amie’s wall or the frowny-face in the cloud of sour milk, are enough to warrant a re-read to be sure you don’t miss any.

My only complaint is that the run is limited to six issues and it feels like there won’t be time to really get to know each character the way we got to know Amie. I am excited to see where the series goes, and am really hopeful that if successful, the run will be expanded.