Kingdom Come (Graphic Novel)

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Summary: exciting, fascinating, and insightful book
Review: This is an excellent book! Not only for the fantastic artwork but for the thrilling and insightful plot. I was blown away by both! it not only tells of a future where Earth is in chaos, but it also hints to what our own future may be unless the human race changes its ways. I definately recommend this book for anyone who loves a great story.

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Summary: "It's the end of the world as we know it.........."
Review: An absolutely fatastic read. Mark Waid's story, even if it is about a superhuman conflict, has some very interesting applications to today's world. Alex Ross' artwork could hardly be better. And the parralels to the book of Revelation are sufficently eerie. Bottom Line:If you have ever ead a comic, read this.

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Summary: This Is AWESOME!!!
Review: I first read the comic book, it was awe inspiring. Then I read the novel, it did the comics justice. Then I listened to the audio book (if you can call it that). It almost seems like the story is unfolding in front of you. The cast did an awesome job. This is a definate must have.

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Summary: "Kingdom Come" is "The Watchmen" of the '90s--Revolutionary.
Review: "Kingdom Come" is a brilliant hybrid of top-notch writing from Mark Waid and unparalleled art work by Alex Ross. "Kingdom Come" is to comic books in the 1990s as "The Watchmen" and "The Dark Knight Returns" were to comics in the 1980s. The story focuses on how "old-school" heroes such as Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman handle the problem of a new, more violent breed of super-heroes. The main story of "Kingdom Come" is an ages old struggle between generations that improves on the theme in several ways, but what really makes "Kingdom Come" stand out is the intricate details and subplots that Waid and Ross weave into the story and art. The creators of "Kingdom Come" give the readers many startling and imaginative insights into what has happened to our favorite heroes after several years in the trenches. Batman, for instance, lives with a battle-ravaged body that has suffered from fight after fight with his enemies. His body is supported, now, by an exo-skeleton. Superman and Wonder Woman have a brilliant conversation in the middle of the book during which they discuss their differing ideologies concerning the use of violence to control the violent new breed of heroes. It's as well written and important as any dialogue you might find in a "normal" book. Waid and Ross even throw in a older, drunkard version of "Marvin" from the old Super Friends cartoon and a Planet Hollywood type of restaurant whose servers all dress up as super-heroes. Perhaps the greatest moment in "Kingdom Come," and maybe all of comics, is the fight between Superman and Captain Marvel (Shazam) toward the end of the story. Check out the smile on Captain Marvel's face as he is about to lay a beating on Superman and the way the text describes Superman as Superman should truly be written. Comic books have routinely taken a beating in terms of their place as "literature." "Kingdom Come" is an amazing story, well-written with brilliantly defined characters that just happens to be accompanied by unbelievable paintings. Readers who want read something different, but still want to read something with high-quality writing, should not be so quick to dismiss the comic book form and what it can contribute to the world of literature. Any reading is good reading despite what some people would have you believe. It helps you establish what you like from what you don't. "Kingdom Come" does have pictures. It also has deeper characterization than most books today, fantastic settings, and a strong thematic structure woven throughout. "Kingdom Come" gets the highest possible recommendation.

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Summary: A Powerful Commentary on Current Generational Relationships
Review: I picked up Maggin's book on a whim and wasn't disappointed. This look at DC's pantheon of superheroes placed in a not-so-distant 21st century setting is really a telling social commentary on our own times--and its a commentary that is probably lost on all the 20 somethings who read only the comic book version. In the book a new generation of metahumans has arisn, and they serve as a metaphor for todays teenagers. They are wildly tatooed, wear obnoxious body piercings, and sport spiked hair. They lack a moral center and have no respect for the traditions of their elders. They live only to "rumble" and have no desire to advance basic "human achievement." Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the older generation of heroes serve as a metaphor for the aging World War II generation, while the former Teen Titans (Robin, Speedy, et. al.) serve as a metaphor for the above 40 Vietnam generation. The two older generations come out of retirement to teach the younger generation a sense of responsibility and restore morality to the world. Disaster ensues when, like today's youth, they refuse to listen to the wisdom of learned experience.

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Summary: A Great comic story
Review: Kingdom Come is most likely the best comic of the decade. It is great storytelling of a "biblical" scale. I highly recommend this book.

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Summary: Most realistic interpretation of the DC Universe ever.
Review: Kingdom Come is, second to Watchmen, the greatest piece of comic book material I have ever read. This is such a great story because it uses the iconic characters to such a great degree. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Captain Marvel are all portrayed with passion and intellegence. Mark Waid did a truly magnificent job and the atrwork by Ross took my breath away. I have been a fan of Captain Marvel for many years and have always been irked that most writers depict him as naive, finally Waid got the right bead on him. Though Superman is long thought to be most powerful character in the DC Universe, I have always thought that Captain Marvel could mop the floor with him. Batman and Wonder Woman stay true to their characters even so far into the future. I can't wait to read the Kingdom Come two shot coming out in January. Until Captain Marvel kicks Superman's tail again, this will be one iof my favorites.

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Summary: A wonderful adaption of the most powerful story in comics
Review: The best comic book miniseries in history has now become probably the best comics-based novel in history, as Elliot S! Maggin's "Kingdom Come" hits the mark (waid). An adaption of the Mark Waid-Alex Ross collaborative effort that took the comics world by storm in 1996, Maggin does something few writers in the science-fiction and fantasy realm could do: He does justice to "Kingdom Come."

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Summary: Refreshing
Review: A wonderous story and phenomenal artwork

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Summary: A fantastic book that makes you think.
Review: When I was I reading the book, I couldn't put it down! Besides the breathtaking artwork and the exquisite detail, the story line makes you think about how we see our superheroes, and how we can relate to them. As you read the book you will see how even our beloved superheroes can go through drastic changes. It's a good one for all comic book lovers.