“Last night I had the strangest dream

I ever dreamed before

I dreamed the world had all agreed

To put an end to war” 

Right when the United States tested the atomic bomb, Santa Valentina was born to the world. The beginning of potential death and destruction signaled an angelic being arriving on Earth. Wanting to protect the music of the future, Valentina did what she believed would bring and maintain peace on Earth. She desired an end to all wars that would backfire horrifically and scar the Earth. With the fragile alliance of Atomics constantly tested, Kieron Gillen and Caspar Wijngaard peel back more layers of history and Valentina’s life in The Power Fantasy #3.

“I dreamed I saw a mighty room

The room was filled with men

And the paper they were signing said

They’d never fight again”

Going back millennia, angels were presented as having a terrifying presence that humans could not comprehend until recently when the notion of an angel refers to a human with wings. Gillen and Wijngaard refer to the older interpretation where Valentina appears human until she reveals her angelic presence to a select few. Although we never get confirmation of divine beings or even what the afterlife is, the presence of both her and Eliza refers to some potential heaven and hell. But they are not presented as opposites, i.e. purely good and evil, but along a similar spectrum or quadrant. Gillen is not interested in strictly binary alignments where, despite being considered “good,” Valentina’s actions still create destruction.

“And when the papers all were signed

And a million copies made

They all joined hands and bowed their heads

And grateful prayers were prayed”

A vital moment of the issue lies in Jackie laying out the difference between Valentina and Lux: “I think you’re good. You’re moral. He’s ethical. That doesn’t mean you’re on the same side.” Although a bit on the nose, Valentina and Lux have been playing on the same team to keep Earth intact for different reasons. Lux firmly believes in the ethical notion of the planet’s survival, while she thinks she has a divine and moral duty to protect humanity. The series’ struggle lies in what the Atomics believe would be the best course of action for the planet. Valentina destroying all of the nukes might be moral but it would result in the mass deaths of innocent lives by the United States trying to kill her in 1969. Despite being blamed for their actions, she still desires to protect humanity and its future.

“And the people in the streets below

Were dancing round and round

And guns and swords and uniforms

Were scattered on the ground”

The concept of “the music of the future” is referenced a lot throughout the issue. Not surprisingly, like his past work, Gillen’s engagement and fascination with music and the concepts surrounding it play a significant role in this story. This notion refers to a pamphlet written by Richard Wagner, but also in a more metaphorical sense, protecting the world for the future to arrive and for humanity to grow, learn, and move on from the past. The record that inspires Valentina with its music is “Telstar” by The Tornadoes, which refers to the satellite of the same name launched into space in 1962. Indeed, sounding alien and from a future generation compared to similar music of that period signals a change in the direction of where music and the world might go. An angel originally from the heavens being inspired by a sci-fi rock song aside from the standard heavenly harp. 

“Last night I had the strangest dream

I ever dreamed before

I dreamed the world had all agreed

To put an end to war”- Ed McCurdy “Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream”

I am still amazed by Wigngaard’s art and colors as he travels through various periods in this issue. Each moment has a distinct visual look and style that calls to mind and makes them almost snapshots reminiscent of the memories that Valentina holds onto. Clayton Cowles’s impeccable lettering conveys the necessary emotions and tones that occur in the issue. Overall, The Power Fantasy #3 provides essential insight into the character of Valentina while further developing the immersive and fascinating world-building.

Story: Kieron Gillen Art/Colors: Caspar Wijngaard Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Story: 8.5 Art: 9 Overall: 8.75 Recommendation: Read

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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