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Kingdom Come (Kingdom Come #1-4)

by Mark Waid, Alex Ross (Illustrator)

4.19 · rating details · 6,902 ratings · 326 reviews

Winner of five Eisner and Harvey Awards, KINGDOM COME is the best-selling graphic novel from acclaimed writer Mark Waid and superstar painter Alex Ross.

Set just after the dawn of the 21st Century, in a world spinning inexorably out of control, comes this grim tale of youth versus experience, a tradition versus change, while asking the timeless question: what de...more

Paperback, 232 pages

Published September 30th 2008 by DC Comics (first published 1996)

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Dec 31, 2010

Stephen rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: comics-graphic-novels

4.0 to 4.5 stars. Excellent graphic novel with incredible art by Alex Ross and a compelling storyline set in the near future of the DC universe in which the "old guard" super heroes (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern) retired from service and were replaced by a much more brash, violent and careless group of meta-humans who are not so easily distinguished from the bad guys they fight. The story involves Superman being lured out of retirement in order to help get the world ba...more

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Nov 28, 2008

Bonnie rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: comic-book, fiction, god, graphic-novel, morality, superhero, dystopia, sandman, cameos

I know that this was one of those epic comic storylines of the 90s. And on its face, it's a good story - war is about to break out between the generations of superhumans and everyone, super and regular, will suffer for it. Will the older generation of heroes like Superman and Wonder Woman abandon their morals to stop their children and grandchildren, who have little regard for human life? And on the other side, we have mortals like Batman (who is not aging well - but who ever expects Batman t...moreI know that this was one of those epic comic storylines of the 90s. And on its face, it's a good story - war is about to break out between the generations of superhumans and everyone, super and regular, will suffer for it. Will the older generation of heroes like Superman and Wonder Woman abandon their morals to stop their children and grandchildren, who have little regard for human life? And on the other side, we have mortals like Batman (who is not aging well - but who ever expects Batman to age well?) and Lex Luthor and his most unfortunately named organization, the Mankind Liberation Front, or MLF. I swear, I could not read that abbreviation without thinking "MILF" and wondering if that had not crossed Mark Waid's mind. Anyways, these men seek to protect humanity, though for very different reasons. And then there's Captain Marvel/Billy Batson, caught in the middle of it all.

So yes, it's a good end-of-the-world story. But it just didn't appeal to me. The artwork is incredible. That's probably the biggest selling point for this story. But I felt like I was reading a "Who's Who" of DC heroes and villains, which became so dizzying that I couldn't keep characters straight and I really didn't care. In the back of the compilation, there's a chart of 105 of the heroes/villains, and many of their names end with the numbers 2 or 3. Despite the plethora of characters, the focus is mainly on Superman, with supporting roles from Wonder Woman and Batman. Several of the heroes I recognized (which didn't feel like many... go go Wesley Dodds) looked like they'd have interesting stories to tell and opinions to contribute... but they hardly utter a word. Which brings me to my biggest gripe - Captain Marvel/Billy is the character that this whole story hinges on. He is both mortal and superhuman. His mental state is less than whole, and he's the only person capable of matching Superman's powers. But he gets so little attention for such a pivotal character! Plus, I have a little trouble getting invested in a scene where the key word is Shazam. I guess it's just a sign of the times.(less)

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Apr 06, 2007

Chris rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: comic-books

A previous review summed up my feelings on this - Alex Ross does kick-ass covers, but once you get over the fact that his panels look "really life like!" you realize that life-like isn't what you want out of a comic. Do you want Norman Rockwell drawing Bat-Man? Not really. The story is okay, a decent bit of alternative-future, everyonne-dies-but-it-doesn't-matter-as-its-not-cannon fluff.

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Dec 15, 2008

Amang Suramang rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novel

In order to understand this graphic novel, first above all, you must believe in superheroes. Put yourself as a person who believe them, whether they are aliens or human race heroes. After that you can continue to read this novel.

Kingdom Come was no ordinary graphic novel. Why? This graphic novel give you an alternate future of the DC Comics universe. Even Kingdom Come was initially perceived as the direct antithesis of Marvels. Where the latter explored the naive, primary-colored ori...more

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Sep 02, 2008

Patrick rated it

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Recommends it for: Hardcore Comic Book Aficionados

Recommended to Patrick by: Jacob Schultz

Shelves: books-read-in-2008

This was an engaging graphic novel that was interesting and well-drawn, but not quite on par with the other graphic novels I've read (Watchmen and The Killing Joke), in part because, despite a novel concept, this story wasn't quite able to handle the broad scope of that idea.

This edition came with an introduction that explained the genesis for the story--what would happen if Superman was no longer relevant? The impetus behind this being, what if a desperate world called for a new bre...moreThis was an engaging graphic novel that was interesting and well-drawn, but not quite on par with the other graphic novels I've read (Watchmen and The Killing Joke), in part because, despite a novel concept, this story wasn't quite able to handle the broad scope of that idea.

This edition came with an introduction that explained the genesis for the story--what would happen if Superman was no longer relevant? The impetus behind this being, what if a desperate world called for a new breed of superhero who would be willing to cross the lines (e.g. cold-blooded murder of criminals) that Superman and his ilk simply cannot out of principle (Truth, Justice, The American Way, all that jazz). The comic itself then goes about illustrating a story wherein just such a world exists.

It's a great idea, and it's not handled poorly, per se. It's heavy-handed with it's message and metaphors, as these sorts of stories are wont to be (I mean, have you seen The Dark Knight or any of the Spiderman franchise? They may be great movies (excluding Spiderman 3, of course) but subtlety is not exactly their strongest virtue. For God's sake, The Dark Knight literally spells out the metaphor in the title of the film, then spends 2 and a half hours driving the point home, then, in the closing voiceover, literally spells out the film's obvious central metaphor in case you weren't paying attention...but I digress), but it is very cinematic and entertaining. However, things are a little clunky, and they never really smooth themselves out.

The biggest problem is the sheer plethora of characters. While no doubt a major treat for diehard comic book fans, it was a little overwhelming for someone like me, who merely dabbles in the trade. I knew the main superheroes and their powers, and I even knew a few of the less famous heroes (read: guys who haven't had their own movies...yet), such as Nightwing. However, there were a lot of heroes I just hadn't a clue about, and in the climax, when Captain Marvel becomes a major plot point, I literally had to go to Wikipedia to refresh myself on exactly why this guy was of any interest, much less able to put a hurt on Superman.

And that leads to my biggest gripe and also my greatest praise--it is, in the end, a Superman story, and Superman is, without a doubt, the most boring of all superheroes. It's what makes the idea for this graphic novel so great, and keeps it feeling fresh throughout, but in the end, there is simply nothing Superman can't do. Whatever power he needs, he's got it, and by this point they've even eliminated Kryptonite as a weakness. I admire the writers for coming up with a story that actually made the Man of Steel compelling, but in the end, he can still do almost whatever it is that needs doing--almost. That's what gives the dramatic ending a shot in the arm, that even Superman can't always save the day. Not exactly, anyway.

Some of it was still too corny for my tastes though. The religious symbolism was a bit much, and it's hard to take a character like Captain 'SHAZAM!' Marvel seriously, though they do put up a valiant effort. It's a good graphic novel, but I just don't think I'm quite the audience for it.(less)

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Aug 05, 2009

Andrew rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: yes-i-m-a-geek, book-club

To begin with, this book is best known for its art, and deservedly so. However Alex Ross is not my personal preference in comic art. His art is still an impressive feat, and I think my feelings towards it are in a small minority. I think it may be initially more accessible to the non-comic reader, though I would argue it can be harder to follow than a more traditional approach. His painted work is probably one of the most realistic looking styles out there... which may actually be why I skew...moreTo begin with, this book is best known for its art, and deservedly so. However Alex Ross is not my personal preference in comic art. His art is still an impressive feat, and I think my feelings towards it are in a small minority. I think it may be initially more accessible to the non-comic reader, though I would argue it can be harder to follow than a more traditional approach. His painted work is probably one of the most realistic looking styles out there... which may actually be why I skew away from it. It is certainly a sight to behold.

As for the story, it grew on me. Both in the time between my first read and my second read, and also during my second reading. My little experience with Mark Waid has been good, though I don't think he is the one chiefly responsible for the story. I think it was Ross' dream that they brought in Waid to refine and then script. But I do not know that for certain.

If you don't know DC characters much, you are going to get overwhelmed. You may still get overwhelmed, as there are new looks and offspring, etc. Whether or not this detracts from the book will depend on your personal inclinations.

This read through, I had a slightly better grasp on DC Golden Age characters, so it was interesting to see a better definition to the schism between characters that appears in the book. I also feel I need to trace the characters that were the original Watchmen characters, because I realized that the character Doctor Manhattan was based on is the initial cause of the event that puts everything into motion. I am thinking this was likely intentional...

Okay, yeah, (to indicate a quick bit of research) the Charlton comic Action Heroes, who Moore based most of his Watchmen characters off of, were all part of the "new" group of heroes who create the initial conflict, minus Blue Beetle (Nite Owl in Watchmen).

So the new "heroes" that we decided we wanted are put in contrast with the old ideal of a hero. It is an interesting response to the movement of comics.

Additional note: I just read something about the ushering in of the Modern Age of comics potentially starting with Alan Moore re-envisioning the character Marvelman/Miracleman who was originally a blatant rip-off of Captain Marvel. I am not sure if Captain Marvel's usage in Kingdom Come was a purposeful connection with Marvelman, a perfectly fitting and realized coincidence, or me just looking to make connections where they don't belong. I found it interesting.(less)

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Jan 15, 2008

Matt rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: comics fans, particulary alex ross and mark waid fans

it had been about twenty years since i'd read a comic book before recently haven't my interest in the genre piqued with the release of buffy season #8. after some research, discussions in online forums, and the advice of some trusted friends, i came away with one clear-cut comic to persue: anything painted by alex ross. since it's nearly impossible to just jump in and start recollecting (it's tough to pick things up already in progress), i decided to go the graphic novel route. 1) they're a lot ...moreit had been about twenty years since i'd read a comic book before recently haven't my interest in the genre piqued with the release of buffy season #8. after some research, discussions in online forums, and the advice of some trusted friends, i came away with one clear-cut comic to persue: anything painted by alex ross. since it's nearly impossible to just jump in and start recollecting (it's tough to pick things up already in progress), i decided to go the graphic novel route. 1) they're a lot cheaper than buying individual issues; and 2)you don't have to wait months or years to get an entire story or arc.

'kingdom come' was the first such graphic novel i've read. and i have to say, i really enjoyed it. as so many others have commented, alex ross' art is really beyong appropriate description. it's just something you really need to see for yourself. he's a throwback, for sure, not all that different from say, norman rockwell. his panels are simply beautiful. the colors are bright and vibrant, but never look fresh out of the tube. his superheroes are traditional in the sense that they're exaggerated (what exactly IS in captain marvel's pants, anyway???), but not in a cartoonish way. in fact, if superman, capt marvel, and wonder woman were real people (and who's to say they aren't?), i imagine they would be a bit exaggerated. after all, the superheroes. i especially loved the way ross painted the spectre. the use of light to counter spectre's black robes was really terrific and gave the spectre an eerie, yet intriguing, appearance. my favorite panel was wonder woman and batman hoving above a cloud while beneath our heroes battle the second generation. beautiful stuff.

mark waid's script is often times very, very interesting. as a newbie to the DC universe i was clueless to some of the subplots, but waid does a nice job of letting his characters fill in some the blanks with their expository dialogue. it's an interesting story of how superheroes ended up at odds with the governing mortals and how the second generation of superheroes lacks the same 'moral compass' and direction their predecessors did. all of this, of course, is told through the eyes of one norman mckay, who the spectre takes on aa 'a christmas carol' type journey/adventure. it's neat to see wonder woman take superman to task about his lack of desire to get involved again; batman's exo-skeleton; to see the former aquaman refuse the superheroes desire to build a gulag underwater (and who can blame him?)

in the end it's a classic comic tale: the good guys come out on top, but sometimes the good guys don't really want to come out on top. and with the way the good guys sometimes get treated, how can we really blame them. sure, it's a little bit didactic, but can you really expect anything else?

if you've been collecting comics for awhile, chances are you've already read this. if you're new to them or just getting back into them, 'kingdom come' is a great adventure with lots of action, lots of heart, interesting moral dilemmas, and an ending that poses a HUGE 'what happens next?' (less)

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Dec 05, 2007

Nick rated it

· review of another edition

Possibly the best comic ever written. The artwork alone makes this a joy to look at but the story goes into just what really makes a hero.

Kingdom Come takes place in an alternate future. Superman, and most of the Golden Age heroes, have retired or gone underground. Other heroes, new heroes, who were willing to seek street justice were chosen by the masses. Why keep locking up criminals who later escape when a metahuman (person with super powers) could kill the bad guy and solve the p...morePossibly the best comic ever written. The artwork alone makes this a joy to look at but the story goes into just what really makes a hero.

Kingdom Come takes place in an alternate future. Superman, and most of the Golden Age heroes, have retired or gone underground. Other heroes, new heroes, who were willing to seek street justice were chosen by the masses. Why keep locking up criminals who later escape when a metahuman (person with super powers) could kill the bad guy and solve the problem permanently. It all comes to a head when a meta named Agog kills the Joker, who gassed the Daily Planet and thusly killed Lois Lane and the rest of the Planet staff. The people of Metropolis see Agog as the new and necessary hero for modern times. As such, these wreckless new metas wreak havoc upon the land. By some standards, they're just kids with guns running amok and causing more harm than good. And then the unthinkable happens. Agog and a few other metas chase after The Parasite, an old enemy of Superman's. They chase him to Kansas and one of the heroes, Captain Atom, gets his containment suit damaged which essentially nukes Kansas and a good portion of America's heartland. 6 million people die and the agricultural lands are in ruin, bringing the question of how the nation, as well as the rest of the world, will battle hunger. At this point, Superman and the rest had been out of sight for fifteen years.

Upon hearing the news, Wonder Woman seeks out Superman at his Fotress of Solitude and begs him to return and make the world right again. Sure, other heroes exist, but none carry the sway that Superman does. And so, like angels do the old heroes descend from the heavens to right wrongs and bring the new breed of heroes to heel. The Justice League reforms and Superman's crew goes out trying to turn the new breed into joining the league or being detained. A jail of sorts is built in the ruins of Kansas to house those metas who will not change. Unfortunately, Lex Luthor and co. are still around and seek the destruction of all metas. It is apparent that humans no longer control their own destiny as metas do what they wish. He forms an unlikely alliance with Bruce Wayne (Batman) and they seek to stop the Justice League. But even with all their weapons and trickery, how can they defeat Superman? It turns out that Luthor's personal assistant is none other than Billy Batson, the young man who can turn in to Captain Marvel, who is the only metahuman/demigod that could rival Superman's own abilities. It all comes down to a huge battle in Kansas as the fate of mankind is decided in bloody combat. (less)

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Dec 22, 2008

Partha rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: plane-reading-and-provoking

some read harry potter, lord of the rings, twilight, etc...I still love comic books. considering I just read "Call Me Ted", it was nice to read a graphic novel of different sort of 'heroes.' Most definitely would recommend this to comic book lovers: story told from the perspective of our favorite heroes aged. It's weird seeing superman, batman, wonder woman all old.

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Jul 31, 2008

ninus rated it

· review of another edition

This graphic novel is an artistically beautiful art-work. It's waterpainted and the result is magnificent. The strokes, the lighting, and the glow of it, are amazing. Though the story itself failed short to indulge my inner hunger of the great human questions (as Watchmen did to me), it's still interesting, especially when one can only wonder what's the matter with Americans and their obsessions of becoming (?) superheroes...

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Jan 09, 2012

Paul Darcy rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novels

by Mark Waid and Alex Ross, published in 1996.

This is my second attempt at reading through a graphic novel. Kingdom Come is an Elseworlds tale set ten years after Superman has decided to buy the farm (literally) and hang up his cape.

New Metahumans rule the day and dish out their new style of justice which often includes harming innocents and causing a lot of wholesale destruction. A lot of Supervillians have been killed also, including the Joker, and Wonder Woman comes to Sup...more

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Aug 28, 2011

Jason rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Fans of Christian Theology

Recommended to Jason by: Randall Scott Frederick

The Question Addressed
Does reliance upon God lead to human irresponsibility? Yes, says the Mankind Liberation Front, a humanistic enterprise supported by the U.N., headed by Lex Luthor, and populated with the likes of familiar DC villains like Catwoman, Riddler, and Captain Marvel. Superman has given up his role as a god—his role as a purveyor of justice and truth—and his great influence has trickled down, leaving humanity in the clutches of injustice, at the mercy of the meta-humans.
...more

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Jul 19, 2011

Seamus Thompson rated it

· review of another edition

Superman has been eclipsed by other, darker superheroes in recent years (Spiderman and Batman, especially) and there has been much talk in Hollywood about finding a way to make the Man of Steel relevant for audiences that like darker, edgier heroes. They need look no further than Kingdom Come. By portraying Superman as a father figure whose commitment to values like truth and justice (and never using lethal force) now seem corny and out-dated, Kingdom Come makes Superman current while stayi...more

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May 04, 2011

Orren Merton rated it

· review of another edition

I'll admit, after seeing the gorgeous art of Alex Ross, I'm sort of tracing his steps and reading through all the graphic novels he's worked on. I think his style of painting rather than penciling and inking art is fabulous. And so it is my love of his art that brought me to Kingdom Come, written by Mark Waid. Waid's writing is every bit the equal of Ross's outstanding art.

The story takes us to a time in which the superheroes of Justice League fame are in their twilight years, and havi...more

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Dec 31, 2010

Kristopher rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: comics, fiction, re-read

After skimming my Goodreads list and seeing that I'd read Marvels toward the end of last year, I decided to finish this year by re-reading Kingdom Come, it's spiritual sequel.

Like Marvels, it's a comic about comic books, in this case, the conflict between traditional "legacy" heroes and the grimmer, gritter characters that began springing up in the 90s. (Part of my apathy for this book might stem from hating both extremes.) I haven't read Kingdom Come since it originally cam...more

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Sep 03, 2010

Alex rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novels

It's rare in a comic that the artwork is so profoundly beautiful that it doesn't even matter how good the writing is, but Alex Ross's art is something truly special whether you happen to love or loathe the content of this grandiose -perhaps pompus and trumped up - future world story.

On the surface it's an epic struggle between the Justice World superheroes of the past and a new, more callous breed of future heroes, but really essentially an extended souped up moral dilemma for Supes....more

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Aug 11, 2009

D.M. rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: superhero geeks, graphic art snob-wannabes

The handful of times I've read this book always bring to mind the real weakness of Alex Ross, the sole reason I even read this: he's a talented, if static, comic artist who is rarely given a legitimately good book to illustrate.
First off, I have to say I remain a sucker for Ross' art. I think it's lovely to look at, if utterly impersonal and largely lacking in any actual Style. When he hit the comics scene back in the 1990s, it was just nice to see such handsome work in superhero books, so...more

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Aug 13, 2011

Hayden rated it

Shelves: comics-graphic-novels

Kingdom Come shows us an older Justice League, far beyond their prime, in a world of younger shoot-first-ask-questions-later generation of superheroes. They feel out of touch and lonely in a world far too advanced for their black and white conservative values. After the realization begins to dawn on them that civilization, both human and superhuman, as they know it is being driven into the ground by these irresponsible new demigods.

I think I went into this with my expectations too hi...more

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Dec 03, 2010

Lyric rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: comics

Wonderful book. The messaging is wonderful, the artwork is stunning (though the action sequences were a little hard to follow at times), the character depth and arcs are brilliant. This story is very powerful and it should be read by all fanboys and fangirls.
I have taken away one star because I feel that there was a lot of room to use Green Lantern in this story, but they treat him more as a side-note. The Justice League never gives Green Lantern the recognition that he deserves. Sam...more

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Jul 23, 2010

Giovanni Gelati rated it

· review of another edition

The entire DC Comics gang is included in this one; mall, large it doesn’t matter. If they are a considered a metahuman , they are included in this epic battle. I am just starting to get caught up in the DC world and am enjoying the writing and artwork. The twists and turns of the big three ( Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman) were very surprising to me.
The quality of the writing and the depth of the plotline were what kept me totally enthralled with this graphic novel. The questions of right ...more

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Feb 27, 2010

William Johnson rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2010, since-joining-goodreads

When deciding how to rate this book I had to consider one major factor: I know nothing about DC comics besides the big names. And a book that features so many faces unknown to me could be a little intimidating. But as I read the book I realized that not knowing a lot of the continuity and past of many of the characters made the book stronger for me.

By seeing the work as a simple story (no confusion and that-is-wrong-because-of-this-and-this nerdery) I was able to grasp what it was tr...moreWhen deciding how to rate this book I had to consider one major factor: I know nothing about DC comics besides the big names. And a book that features so many faces unknown to me could be a little intimidating. But as I read the book I realized that not knowing a lot of the continuity and past of many of the characters made the book stronger for me.

By seeing the work as a simple story (no confusion and that-is-wrong-because-of-this-and-this nerdery) I was able to grasp what it was trying to say. The story, in the end, actually lends itself to an ambiguity; that not necessarily knowing who is right and who is wrong makes the narrative more successful (believe it or not).

I definitely admired the effort that went into the book, for starters. Alex Ross is a favorite artist of mine and Mark Waid, though I haven’t read much, is someone I’ve heard good things about. I have no issues with the how. . .but perhaps the why.

Kingdom Come is about a world where, as one characters puts it towards the end, the super was emphasized more then the man. The world has been abandoned by the traditional heroes (Superman, Wonder Woman, etc) and an environment of hatred and violence has spread as the next generation of ’superheroes’ has embraced their powers in all the wrong ways.

Superman eventually returns and has to become a de facto dictator to bring peace to the slowly decaying earth. One major catastrophe has already occurred and without fast action, another is due. But what Superman learns is that perhaps his existence is what will usher in the new disaster. Is the world worth saving or is a world without superhumans, or Gods, better?

The moral dilemnas are intriguing, and much better written here then in the Marvel series that blatantly ripped this off, Civil War, but the whole thing goes on a bit too long. The book, at the least, could have used more imagery and suggestion then endless dialogue blatantly spelling everything out for the reader. The talents are too good to be preachy.

And that’s why I can rate the book an A+ for effort but a C for story. It shows so much but over-delivers (which is better then under, I guess). But my lack of knowledge in DC mythos, something I already said was a benefit, also comes with drawbacks. Sometimes not knowing who is bad in a world where bad is hard to define is good but some scenes lacked the power they would have with someone who knows Wonder Woman and Superman’s history together. So I can’t fault the book for my issues. But to it’s core, the book can be blamed for over-reaching.

I’ve recently read the other Elseworlds book Red Son and found that one a little better in terms of presenting itself (the plots are somewhat similar) but Kingdom Come, which came before Red Son, has the stronger writer and stronger artist. Neither books are one to miss but if you were, unlikely as it seems, to pick between the two, I’d go with Red Son first.

This was the fourteenth book I read in my own personal Quest for 100 Book Challenge (read 100 books in 2010).
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Nov 30, 2011

Maree ♫ Light's Shadow ♪ rated it

· review of another edition

Reading the introduction by the author was interesting and I think it made me read the novel in a different way. I wasn't sure what to expect (it's another boyfriend book) but it wasn't bad. I guess I like the concept behind it in that the children of superheroes are running slightly wild and how Superman tries to bring them to heed, and I guess it's cool to see all the superheroes talking and interacting with one another. I'm sure I'd like it a lot better if I actually could recognize more t...more

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May 06, 2010

Mario rated it

· review of another edition

This was the book that changed my views on DC comics forever! Prior to reading this book, I was anti-DC and a Marvel zombie. I thought DC Superheroes will never do anything that will make them humane,Superman was too perfect, and nothing bad will happened to him, and DC heroes will always win, regardless-I was a very naive kid. During my freshman year, I visited my next-door neighbor's dorm room, and I saw Kingdom Come sitting on his desk. I asked if I can read it, then he said yes. Midway throu...more

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Jun 07, 2011

Anne rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: comics, graphic-novels, read-in-2011

Three words: Alex Ross' artwork. Wow! The detail in this is beautiful, and the way he aged these iconic heroes without making them appear creepy was amazing! (Which begs the question, "Why do so many artists equate aging with disfigurement?". Ahem. *steps down from soap box*)

Mark Waid really does a good job at telling this what-if tale. It's not perfect, but it definitely has it's moments.(view spoiler)...more

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Jul 19, 2007

Sean rated it

· review of another edition

I don't know, maybe I'm just not capable of getting into super heros anymore, or maybe Ross's retro superheros-as-good-guys thing is just not for me. Give me a Batman who isn't just crabby, but sociopathic, and I might be interested. But good old fashion good guys? Boring.

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May 14, 2011

Bevans rated it

· review of another edition

Another great "what if" story, featuring dozens of DC's great characters. And the artwork is spectacular - the artist has a near-photographic quality to his work, and the best lighting work I've ever seen. And it's amazing that this whole thing was painted, in gouache no less.

It can be kinda hard to keep up with all the characters (there are at least 60 in this 4-issue series) and it's hard to tell which are classic characters you should know, which are classic characters wit...more

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Aug 04, 2011

Esther added it · review of another edition

Je n'ai jamais adoré l'univers des comics américains, et je ne pense pas que cette BD va me faire changer de sentiment. Par contre, j'ai été époustouflée par les desseins extraordinaires de cette version futuriste (déjà un classique) des bien connus Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash et autres superhéros et demi-dieux. On a ici la preuve que le 7e art est bel et bien un art. Les raccourcis narratifs fonctionnent bien, et vont sans doute exciter l'imagination des fans purs et du...more

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Jan 15, 2012

Sunil rated it

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Shelves: own

My friend had described this book as "the one where Superman is Jesus," and although the story does use a lot of Biblical imagery—especially the Book of Revelation—that's not really what it's about. In fact, what it's about is what it's about, since it felt more like a thought experiment than a comic at first: what would happen if the superheroes turned their backs on humanity? I found it very hard to follow since I'm not well versed in the DCU, but it eventually got more interesting a...more

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Mar 22, 2009

Robert Jazo rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: comics, distopian-future, superheroes

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

· see review

Jul 29, 2011

Jamie Sigal rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novels

This is quite simply the greatest Superman story ever told, and probably the greatest superhero story ever told. Set ten years after Superman disappears from the scene, the world is under siege from a new breed of heroes who are careless with their powers and revel in the chaos that comes with them. After a devastating incident in Kansas, the world wonders what ever happened to the greatest of them all, the famed Man of Tomorrow. But the duplicitous villains are at work behind the scenes and thi...more

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Comics > Superheroes

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Dc Comics > Batman

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About Mark Waid

Mark Waid (born March 21, 1962 in Hueytown, Alabama) is an American comic book writer. He is best known for his eight-year run as writer of the DC Comics' title The Flash, as well as his scripting of the limited series Kingdom Come and Superman: Birthright, and his work on Marvel Comics' Captain America.

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Kingdom Come #1 "Strange Visitor" (Kingdom Come, Volume one of Four)

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500 Essential Graphic Novels

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title link	preview: Kingdom Come
avg rating	preview: Kingdom Come Goodreads rating: 4.19 (6902 ratings)
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Kingdom Come (Kingdom Come #1-4)

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