Powers: Psychotic - Brandon Pedersen

1. This is a story of rising action. Technically there is a beginning and an ending, but really they're brief waypoints fitted into a larger story arc. Following up on a powers related slaying, a power being the victim, Detective Walker and his partner Deena Pilgrim are put through their paces as they unravel the mystery behind this murder and the subsequent killings that happen throughout the book. Really, though, it is about Walker secretly training a young girl he once rescued (which didn't happen in this book) to be the next Retro Girl while Deena, struggling with developing powers of her own (which didn't happen in this book) takes matters into her own hands when her abuse ex-boyfriend refuses to let her be. The consequences of these actions are never dealt with, I assume they are in a later book, and the inciting incidents that led to Walker and Pilgrim behaving they way they are didn't occur in this volume. Interesting as the story is, its just rising action, culminating in a later book when Walker's relationship to Calista and her new identity as a Retro Girl and Deena's power and handling of her ex come to light.

2. Definitely a hard R on this book, despite strong pervasive language (meaning obscenities throughout), there are also quite a few instances of male and female frontal nudity, most notably at the beginning of the story (sorry, the pages aren't numbered) during a medical examination and towards the end where the villain behind the slayings is "exposed," shall we say.

3. Most impressive was the realistic dialogue, most notably the correct application (or at least the appearance of correct) police procedural language. The way Walker and Deena swept a scene, interrogated suspects, continually rehashed the events of the crimes they investigated with each other, all has that ring of authenticity. Having a police officer in the family one begins to notice they have a certain way with language, sentences are short, terse, and efficient, containing as much information with as a few words as possible. When on the job Walker and Deena talk with each other and to victims and suspects in this way.

4. Finally, an application portion of my response that doesn’t exist in the realm of vague adherence to implied knowledge, but an opportunity to actually apply researched knowledge from the graphic novel. Bendis's use of police procedural language is something my story needs. There will be several interactions with the police in my story and making sure they speak realistically, using the words and phrases police officers actually use, will help sell potential viewers on the authenticity of my story.