I stopped collecting comics when Marvel decided every issue of all four Spider-Man series had to continue into one another, forcing me to buy four issues a month. I stopped collecting comics when DC's Zero Hour mini-series confused the hell out of me. I stopped collecting comics when Image forgot what it meant to have a steady schedule. It's been a long time since I had a really good read. I turned to Japanese Manga, but I never really liked black and white comics. I'm adapting, but I miss the good old days of color.
DC's Kingdom Come has made realize that my interest in the U.S. comic industry is not dead. I have never wanted to read tales of Superman, Batman and the others so bad. Like a little kid again, I looked through the pages, anxiously reading the story and marveling at the fantastic images that told a better story than the words surrounding them. Suddenly, my love for comics has returned.
On May 8, 1996, DC comics released this wonderful, fully painted, mini series, written by Mark Waid with art by Alex Ross, who also came up with the original story concept. It is a book I have anticipated more than even the Death of Superman, which was a complete letdown if you ask me. It has been a few years, but I finally got a chance to read this fine work of sequential art, in the form of a graphic novel containing all four parts of the epic story. All I can say is damn! This is one of the best looking books I have seen since Marvel's Marvels.
Alex Ross does a fantastic job with the artwork. Fully painted and looking like a masterpiece that Michelangelo would have been jealous of, the characters jump up at you and make you believe they are alive. The words are suited for kids of all ages and some of the themes are rather complex, but fully understandable, quickly erasing my guilt in reading kiddie books.
This is an Elseworlds tale, meaning it is a story that doesn't take place in the current DC continuity. It could possibly happen in the future, but as of now, all is kosher in the DC world. The story takes place in the early years of the 21st Century and all of our old superhero friends are, well, old, and out of sight. Superman has given way to a new violent, vigilante hero, named Magog, who gains acceptance in Metropolis for killing the Joker when Superman never would. Magog is a rather cool looking superhero, who reminds me of a supped up version of Marvel's Loki character. It is Magog who does what no villain could do, and that is drive Superman away. The legend leaves Metropolis behind, realizing the guard has changed. Soon, without Superman's guidance, the other heroes fade into obscurity, remaining in their own areas and making little waves, if any. As this happens, a younger generation of superheroes follows the lead of Magog and end up ravaging the world they were supposed to protect. Heroes soon battle other heroes as gangs form, wrecking havoc on a planet, Superman once held dear to him.
The story itself starts through the eyes of Norman McCay, an aging minister who is warned of upcoming Armageddon, by the aged Sandman. An angel, who fans know as Spectre, takes this minister on a voyage through the DC Universe in an effort to discover who is to blame for all of this.
What transpires next is the accidental destruction of Kansas in a nuclear blast that wipes out surrounding farmlands in other states. Disaster strikes the Earth as fear explodes from the recent mishap. Superman is convinced back by Wonder Woman. Together they gather older members of the Justice League to clean up the mistakes that Superman feels responsible for.
Where is Batman in all of this? Well, he does not join his old comrades in this battle. Batman refuses to join Superman. He has been exposed as Bruce Wayne and over the years, he needs the help of some special apparatus to allow him to walk. He is human, and not a superhero, so he does not want a world controlled by superheroes, young or old. Instead, he ends up joining Lex Luthor's band of baddies looking to put humans back in control. Luthor has a superhero in his camp, as he has been brainwashing, Captain Marvel, a man who has equal strength to Superman. If he utters the word Shazam, a superhero war between him and his evenly matched opponent, could cause the destruction of the Earth.
This is it. The epic battle where everything is on the line. You have to read this book. Great action, wonderful dialogue, thought provoking questions and more. See Captain Marvel go at it with Superman. Witness Superman and Wonder Woman reminisce about old times. Experience the conflict that exists between Superman and Batman. Look at the artwork and you will be mesmerized. Kingdom Come has everything going for it. Comic book readers and people who long for the old days of a good read need to pick this up, if they haven't all ready.
Kingdom Come is a gripping tale, that uses superheroes to tell the tale, could be as true as any story we have read in the newspapers. With great power comes great responsibility. So many super powers think they can better care of the world, tempers flare and the innocent people get caught in the middle. Sound familiar? If so, so what? I promise you will love this series.
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