When I explored the idea of using comics in an Ethics class I’m putting together for high schoolers, The Power Fantasy was one of the most-recommended titles. It’s easy to see why, as the whole series is one big thought experiment on whether people with extreme superpowers can exist ethically (notice I said exist, not behave). It’s also got a clear thematic lineage with Watchmen, taking the superhero deconstruction presented by Moore in directions that feel much more 2025. Ultimately, I don’t think it’s quite straightforward enough for me to want to use as a whole-class read with high schoolers, it’s great for anyone looking for something to chew on.
Elevator Pitch:
In this version of earth, Atomics (people with superpowers) began appearing in the 1940s with a woman gave birth to a literal angel. While most Atomics have minor powers, there are six Superpowers currently alive; the book defines a Superpower as “an individual with the destructive capacity of the nuclear arsenal of a major world power.” These six characters form the core of the main cast. There’s a psychic and moral philosopher, the idealistic angel reminiscent of Superman, a gravity manipulator who hosts a floating commune, a girl who transforms into a kaiju when angry, a woman with deep connections to Hell, and a man whose technology borders on magic. They don’t all get along, and each has their own idea about what a good and just world looks like.
Read if Looking For: ensemble cast of morally dubious supers, cigars that defy gravity, non-sequential storytelling
Avoid if Looking For: authors who hold your hand, heroes vs villains storylines, dramatic fight scenes
Marked for Plot 