Power Lines #1

Power Lines, Issue #1 takes a little bit of time to make its point, but I think I have it figured out.  The Native Americans used "power lines" to defend themselves until the 19th century, when they lost the power lines.  Now, the power lines have come back again, and two seemingly unconnected people have access to their power.  Wilson is a wannabe' gangster in Richmond, California, who travels with his crew up to Benicia, California, to tag the neighborhood and unbeknownst to him, break into cars.  In Benicia, he is being chased by the police when he suddenly has the ability to fly.

Sarah Bellingham is a 48-year-old widow with two sons who becomes the victim of one of the gangsters when he breaks into her car and steals her purse.  She's a racist, only when she gets to Richmond, she has super powers.  The power lines have returned.  A black kid has powers in Benicia, and a white woman has powers in Richmond.  All of this takes place in the Bay Area of California, where the power lines were in the first place.  Meanwhile, two Native Americans know what's going on; one of them watches the two.

This is definitely a unique take on the superhero genre, and it's well constructed.  The characters don't have any idea why they have super powers, and the reader only has a vague idea of what causes the characters to be able to tap into the power lines.  The characterization is strong.  Sarah Bellingham goes off on black people, calling them the N-word.  Of course, it's easier to become racist when one is in extremis.  Remember, in American History X, Danny Vinyard only becomes extremely racist after his father is killed by a gangster.

Jimmie Robinson does all the work in this comic, not only writing and drawing it but coloring and lettering it as well.  All aspects of this comic are good.  The lettering is clear and readable, the coloring is consistent and complementary, and the artwork is vivid and imaginative.  There are really three settings in the book, Richmond, Benicia, and Briones Regional Park, where one of the Native Americans is hunting a rabbit.  The park is a nice contrast to the two suburban areas.  Richmond is obviously dirtier than Benicia, but the two areas are more alike than dissimilar.  I think this is done on purpose.