Powerless (comics)

Powerless

Cover of Powerless 1 (2004). Art by Alex Maleev.
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
Schedule Monthly
Format Mini-Series
Genre
    Publication date 2004
    Number of issues 6
    Main character(s) William Watts
    Peter Parker
    Logan
    Matt Murdock
    Frank Castle
    Bruce Banner
    Norman Osborn
    Wilson Fisk
    Gwen Stacy
    Creative team
    Writer(s) Matt Cherniss
    Peter Johnson
    Artist(s) Alex Maleev
    Penciller(s) Michael Gaydos
    Colorist(s) Lee Loughridge

    Powerless is a comic book series published by Marvel Comics. The series, which began in 2004, is written by Matt Cherniss and Peter Johnson and penciled by artist Michael Gaydos. It had a six issue run, all of which are now published together in a trade paperback collection.

    Plot summary

    The series begins with a psychologist, Dr. William Watts, waking suddenly in a hospital bed. According to his doctor, Dr. Susan Storm, he was suffering from a three day coma caused by falling on the sidewalk in front of his apartment. Dr. Watts remarks that he had incredibly vivid dreams of fantastical heroes and villains during his coma, so much so that he has trouble distinguishing which world is reality.

    Dream Universe

    Though the events in all six issues of Powerless occur in a version of Earth where superpowers do not exist, known in the Marvel universe as Earth-Powerless, there are occasional panels featuring characters from the "fantasy world" William Watts experienced while in his brief coma. These panels feature a wide variety of Marvel characters, many of which have a counterpart in Dr. Watts' actual life; however, many others only appear in these flashbacks. The events he experienced in this "dream universe" are very vague - however, the set of characters and costumes imply that it is most similar to the main Marvel universe, Earth-616.

    Cast

    Issues Characters Cameos Referenced but not seen
    #1–6 William Watts, Peter Parker, Logan, Matt Murdock, Frank Castle, Gwen Stacy, Norman Osborn, Wilson Fisk
    #1 Leland Owlsley, Aunt May, Foggy Nelson, Bruce Banner Susan Richards, Reed Richards, Emma Frost, Flash Thompson, Doctor Strange Brian Michael Bendis, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Charles Xavier
    #2 Charles Xavier, Aunt May, Karen Page, Tony Stark, Mystique
    #3 Foggy Nelson, Mystique Henry Pym
    #4 Foggy Nelson, Eric Magnus, Victor Creed, Tony Stark, Mortimer Toynbee, Electro, The Scorpion, Sandman, Doctor Octopus, Kraven, Mysterio, The Rhino, The Vulture Mystique, Charles Xavier
    #5 Victor Creed, Captain Stacy Curt Connors Charles Xavier, Matthew Senreich, Brian Michael Bendis
    #6 Bruce Banner, Eric Magnus

    Heroes' powers

    In Powerless none of the characters have any powers, although there are realistic substitutes; Logan possesses spring-loaded claws, Spider-Man's hands are atrophic, Bruce Banner does not transform into the Hulk but instead has a split personality disorder and looks astonishingly like Lou Ferrigno.

    Creators

    Collections

    Title Material collected Date Released ISBN
    Powerless (Spider-Man, Wolverine, Daredevil)[1] Powerless #1–6 January 19, 2005 ISBN 0-7851-1511-0

    References