The Definitive Irredeemable Vol. 1

Irredeemable #1-3

by Mark Waid, Peter Krause, Diego Barreto

Deluxe collection of the critically acclaimed series by legendary comic writer Mark (KINGDOM COME) Waid.

The first three volumes of the Eisner and Harvey nominated series collected together for the first time in one oversized edition in premium hardcover slipcase format. IRREDEEMABLE dares to ask the what if the world's greatest hero decided to become the world's greatest villain? A "twilight of the superheroes"- style story that examines super-villains from the writer of KINGDOM COME and EMPIRE!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels

304 pages, Hardcover

Published September 20, 2011

About the author

Mark Waid is an American comic book writer widely known for shaping modern superhero storytelling through influential runs on major characters at both DC Comics and Marvel Comics. Raised in Alabama, he developed an early fascination with comic books, particularly classic stories featuring the Legion of Super-Heroes, whose imaginative scope and sense of legacy would later inform his own writing. He first entered the comics industry during the mid 1980s as an editor and writer for the fan magazine Amazing Heroes, before publishing his first professional comic story in Action Comics. Soon afterward he joined DC Comics as an editor, contributing to numerous titles and helping shape projects across the company. After leaving editorial work to focus on writing, Waid gained widespread recognition with his long run on The Flash, where he expanded the mythology of the character and co-created the youthful speedster Impulse. His reputation grew further with the celebrated graphic novel Kingdom Come, created with artist Alex Ross, which imagined a future DC Universe shaped by generational conflict among superheroes. Over the years he has written many prominent series, including Captain America, Fantastic Four, Daredevil, and Superman: Birthright, bringing a balance of optimism, character depth, and respect for comic book history to each project. Waid has also collaborated with notable artists and writers on major ensemble titles such as Justice League and Avengers, while contributing ideas that helped clarify complex continuity within shared superhero universes. Beyond mainstream superhero work, he has supported creator owned projects and experimental publishing models, including the acclaimed series Irredeemable and Incorruptible, which explored moral ambiguity within the superhero genre. He later took on editorial leadership roles at Boom Studios, guiding creative direction while continuing to write extensively. In subsequent years he expanded his involvement in publishing and digital storytelling, helping launch online comics initiatives and advocating for new distribution methods for creators. His work has earned numerous industry awards, including Eisner and Harvey honors, reflecting both critical acclaim and enduring popularity among readers. Throughout his career Waid has remained a passionate student of comic book history, drawing on decades of storytelling tradition while continually encouraging innovation within the medium. His influence extends across generations of readers and creators, and his stories continue to shape the evolving language of superhero comics around the world today through enduring characters imaginative narratives and thoughtful reinventions of familiar myths within popular culture and modern graphic storytelling traditions.

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent story... can't wait for the 2nd volume to come out.

The world all loves their Superman... the guy is always at the right place at the right time... saving lives, stopping crime, preventing natural disasters. He's earned his world's love and trust by his words and his deeds...

So... what if Superman went bat-shit bonkers and decided the world didn't deserve him... not that he would leave mind you, he'd just assert his perceived place in the chain of things.

This is that story, a God simply loses it and decides that things are going to go his way from now on... don't like it? tough noogies mortals!

Obviously, some factions will try stopping him, after all there are other "heroes" in the world... let's just sic em on him. Yeah, that'll work... only thing is, with all their combined powers, they still don't come up to this guy's ankle.

Like I said...

Excellent story, can't wait for the 2nd volume to come out.

[Aram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Waid's Irredeemable is, perhaps, the comic-reader's comic book. Someone with no experience of the comic book world could pick up the series and enjoy it greatly. However, they wouldn't get the full experience of Waid's effort without some knowledge of the superhero genre.

If you know anything of Waid's previous work (say, Kingdom Come), you know that he delights in taking heroes to the end of their rope. Irredeemable is no different. It is a book about heroes and their humanity, or lack of.

It's impossible to properly tell you about the dark masterpiece that is this narrative without ruining it. Just understand that Waid will take the superhero story and dissect it in a way that few others have succeed in doing.

Read it all the way to the end. The conclusion to the story (not in this volume, but available in smaller collections) is one of the most satisfying I've ever read.

[Shibosan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Вопрос "А что, если бы Супермен, со всеми его силами, решил стать не бескорыстным защитником Земли, а Злым Властелином" уже неоднократно обыгрывался в комиксах, так или иначе. Из последнего можно вспомнить на удивление отличную серию Injustice, в которой Супермен устанавливает на Земле диктаторский Режим - исходя из самых благих побуждений, конечно. На Марк Уйэд в своей серии Irredeemable идет намного дальше.

В один несчастливый день Плутонец, самый могущественный и любимый всеми супергерой Земли, слетает с катушек и разрушает крупный мегаполис, уничтожая три с лишним миллиона его жителей, после чего начинает охоту на своих бывших друзей и соратников. Пока свихнувшийся сверхчеловек устраивает геноцид, а мировое правительство решает, как лучше ему пасть к ногам" разгневанного бога", члены Парадигмы, команды, частью которой был Плутонец, лихорадочно складывают кусочки паззла, пытаясь в найти в его прошлом ответы на вопросы: "что привело к такому исходу?" и "как остановить самого могущественного героя планеты, ставшего ее самым могущественным злодеем".

Уэйд, писавший для Marvel и DC Comics берет затертый штамп про "с большой силой приходит большая ответственность" и показывает, насколько большим может быть это психологическое давление, если сила - больше некуда. День за днем ты творишь чудеса, спасая эту планету и ее обитателей от сотен невзгод, получая вместо слов благодарности лишь "еще, еще, помоги мне еще", а твой суперслух постоянно доносит до тебя их жалобы, критику, дурацкие шуточки в твой адрес. Капля за каплей они разъедают тебя изнутри, переплавляя любовь к людям в чувства совсем другого рода. А ведь ты просто хотел, чтобы они тебя любили. Откровенно говоря, человечество нередко ведет себя так, что в нем несложно разочароваться. А когда в людях разочаровывается божество, это обычно приводит к Великим потопам. И в один не слишком удачный день небольшая случайность может послужить тем камешком, что срывает лавину, оставляющую за собой миллионы трупов.

Походя Марк Уйэд переворачивает с ног на голову привычные штампы комиксов о Супермене, показывая насколько сложно может быть приемным родителям растить ребенка с безграничными сверхсилами и какие эмоциональные шрамы может оставить в этом ребенке то, что он с детства ощущает себя изгоем и причиной плохо скрываемого страха окружающих. Или насколько creepy может выглядеть Супермен, притворяющийся Кларком Кентом и работающий бок о бок с ничего не подозревающей Лоис Лейн. Да и о природе отношений Плутонца с его заклятым врагом Уэйд высказывается задолго до того, как на эту тему отшутились в Lego Batman.

Члены Парадигмы, которые в основном, как и Плутонец, являются довольно узнаваемыми отсылками к супергероям "большой двойки", тоже не выглядят ангелами в белых одеждах - ложь и секреты, измены, недоверие друг к другу, жестокость и властолюбие. Ну а правительство США пытаясь обуздать Плутонца и вовсе готово действовать методами, далеко за пределами допустимого. На войне, как на войне, но пытаясь победить одно зло другим злом, рискуешь лишь умножить его количество.

Уэйду удается не снимать ногу с педали газа всю почти всю дорогу, вводя все новые сюжетные повороты и заставляя проглатывать главу за главой. Есть у серии и спин-офф под названием Incorruptible, про злодея Макса Дэмеджа, который, глядя на падение Плутонца, решает перековаться и встать на путь добра и супергеройства, но она куда менее интересна.

Оригинал: https://t.me/woozletales/303

[Ben Zimmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had been getting pretty tired of Western super hero comics lately. This helped remind me they can be interesting gripping reads. It didn't blow my mind, but it had good pacing and it was smarter than a lot of other comics out there.

I feel like this was another reminder that most of the best superhero stuff has to come from outside Marvel and DC. I've read plenty of stories where Superman turns on the world, but this was able to do a lot that would have upset DC fans. Good stuff. I'll probably read more of it later.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not entirely sure what I think of this series. It was certainly unique and held my attention, but not something I would go out of my way to read again.

[Cyril · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

[Bernardo Lima · Rating 3 out of 5]

Com um óbvio paralelo à DC, mostrando um grupo de super-heróis que é basicamente a Liga da Justiça e um protagonista que é basicamente o Superman, temos Irredeemable. A HQ conta a história de Plutonian, um paralelo do Superman. Plutonian é o que acontece quando alguém que não tem as morais de aço do Homem de Aço tem os poderes do mesmo, ficando louco com o poder e decimando a Terra num reino de terror. Os elementos de insanidade de Plutonian e como um poder enorme pode tão facilmente corromper uma pessoa são muito bem explorados. Também acho que os personagens coadjuvantes principais da HQ são bem interessantes, com temas um pouco mais sombrios que a Liga da Justiça.
Mesmo estabelecendo seu universo muito bem e tendo conflitos e arcos muito interessantes, Irredeemable peca muito no seu final que não chegou nem perto do padrão de qualidade que estabeleceu no caminho até ele. Com isso, embora Irredeemable tenha sido muito interessante de ler como um quadrinho fora das gigantes Marvel e DC, não foi uma experiência tão fantástica assim.

[Derek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was going to give this 4 stars, but I realized that was really only because I have to wait for the next installment to see how it ends.

The story is amazing, and Mark Waid's writing is top-notch. I found myself wanting to know how the next segment turned out, so I read a lot of it in one sitting. I'm eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series.

[Mya Matteo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool premise: world's best superhero suddenly snaps under the pressure and loses his mind. Then, he turns into the world's worst villain. The art is okay but the writing and action and story make up for it. Will definitely continue to keep reading.

[Relstuart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting idea. Definitely want to see what happens next. This is vol 1 and the story is not complete here.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool premise. Looking forward to volume 2.