Rating: 
Summary: One of the best graphic novels yet written
Review: Kingdom Come works on several levels. It is, very loosely, a piece of religious fiction, making use of the Biblical prophecies of the Apocalypse. It can also be viewed as a rebuttal to Alan Moore's scathing condemnation of the shallow cliches of the superhero genre, "Watchmen," published a decade earlier. But I think the most important way to view KC is as an indictment of the nihilistic, ultraviolent comics of the late 80's and 90's. KC depicts the noble superheroes of old having slipped out the limelight and been replaced by an amoral, bloodthirsty younger generation. The aged heroes must come out of retirement to stop the corruption and violence of their successors (and this was indeed the purpose of KC itself, to end the bloodbath that the superhero genre had become). But of course, fighting violence with violence cannot be the answer, especially when both sides are so vastly powerful. Their conflict threatens to engulf the world and turn--literally--into the Biblical Armageddon.I recall reading once that the initial idea for KC came about as a discussion, "What if the Image Comics characters invaded the Marvel Universe?"--contrasting the amoral killers that 1990's comics held up as heroes with the more staid and virtuous characters of yesteryear. Ultimately, Kingdom Come was made with the DC characters--which, no offense to Marvel, was the right choice for this story; nobody does the "true blue, upstanding hero" bit as well as DC's old guard characters. Meanwhile, Magog is a dead ringer for the gun-toting 1990's Marvel character Cable, and most of the murderous younger generation looks as if it could have stepped out of any Image comic of the day. The religious frame device shows that, in contrast to the nihilism of the comics of that era, life and morality really do mean something--that there is a God, and it is possible for ordinary people to do good, even in a world as far gone as this one. The Biblical symbolism, while impressive and even inspiring, is not at all in-depth; but considering how annoyed I've become recently with works of popular fiction claiming to offer definitive interpretations of the most cryptic passages in Scripture, I think it's for the best that this story knows not to take itself too seriously in that regard (the original comic issues were published in 1996, the same year the Left Behind merchandizing machine started churning, but I doubt that LB directly influenced KC; a lot of Apocalyptic fiction was produced in the years leading up to 2000). So while this does function as a parable of sorts, absolutely don't read this expecting Pilgrim's Progress, or even the Chronicles of Narnia. KC does not purport to be a serious religious allegory. It's hard for me to judge just how familiar a reader needs to be with DC's comic book characters to understand this story, since of course I know them very well. But at a guess, I would say: not much. Superman is among the five most widely recognized fictional characters on Earth (the others being Sherlock Holmes, Tarzan, Robin Hood, and Mickey Mouse), while Batman, Wonder Woman, and Lex Luthor are not far behind. Of the remaining characters, and there are a slew of them, I think most are given a clear enough introduction that the reader will know everything he needs to in order to understand the story (to be honest, many are really just there for background window dressing, anyway). One possible exception is Captain Marvel: America's most popular superhero in the 1940's, he's a bit obscure these days. (For anybody who doesn't know: 10-year old Billy Batson was chosen by the aged Eyptian wizard Shazam as his successor to combat the evils of the world. Whenever Billy says the wizard's name, "Shazam!" he is struck by a bolt of magic lightning and transformed into fully-grown and cape-clad hero Captain Marvel. Captain Marvel's powers are pretty much the same as Superman's, which eventually led to a lawsuit between their respective publishers, relegating Billy to obscurity for years afterward. Consequently Superman and Captain Marvel are often portrayed as rivals, even though they are both good guys through and through.) On the other hand, readers who do know these characters are in for a treat: every character's personality is pegged perfectly, and the background of virtually every panel is full of references to old stories and adventures that a reader can spend hours picking through (especially the scenes in the superhero memorabilia restaurant, the Planet Krypton). I'll go on record saying that Alex Ross is the best comic book artist who has ever lived. KC would be worth reading for the art alone. Every page is painted, not drawn, in gorgeous watercolor. Ross uses live models for all his characters, so every face is unique, even cameos. Most amazingly, the characters look as they did in the old comics, but now solid and three-dimensional. Captain Marvel looks like C.C. Beck's drawings of Captain Marvel, complete with the rounded cheeks and distinctive thick eyebrows, but he looks like a real person now, with structure and weight and solidity. It's an incredible achievement. And then there's Ross's incomparable staging, lighting and posing. As the old movie slogan goes, "You will believe a man can fly." I have often wondered whether I would think less highly of the story if the art supporting it were not so glorious, and I have to admit I don't know. What style is to prose, artwork is to comics. One might as well ask whether Shakespeare would be less enjoyable if the same plots were written in grade school-level English. Read this. It's good for you, and you'll enjoy it. Then read Alan Moore's "Watchmen," Neil Gaiman's "Sandman," Jason Lutes's "Berlin," and Will Eisner's graphic novels about old Jewish New York. Top it off with Kurt Busiek's "Astro City: Confession." Oh---and as for the question that's always raised in comics about whether or not it's appropriate for kids. Um... I'd say KC is a PG rated story, maybe PG-13. Certainly not an R like Watchmen or Sandman.
Rating:
Summary: Meta-Genes In The Near Future
Review: Kingdom Come is a four-issue addition to the Elseworlds line and all four issues are collected in this volume. This may not even truly qualify as Elseworlds. It is set in the not-too-distant future after the current heroes of the DC universe have had a chance to have children. The premise involves what happens if the cornerstone of heroism is removed. In this case that means Superman. Superman upholds the law and all it represents. After a particularly nasty episode with the Joker running loose, Superman apprehends him and brings him to trial. A new hero, Magog, kills the Joker for all of his crimes. The public speaks out and are in favor of this form of justice. Superman then flies off and goes into seclusion. Things go from bad to worse as supercriminals are put to death and the new heroes run rampant. The heroes are now almost as big a danger as the criminals had been. Something needs to be done. Superman comes out of retirement and tries to beat the new heroes into shape. Another faction led by Lex Luthor tries to stop him. In the background the Spectre is trying to decide the fate of the world. Will humanity or super-people be allowed to inherit the earth. And what about the wildcard Captain Marvel? Well plotted with a good ending this is an Elseworlds tale worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: So come what may
Review: Kingdom Come is Mark Waid and Alex Ross's gift to the DC universe. After exiling himself to make room for a newer, more violent generation of superheroes, Superman is reluctantly called back into duty by Wonder Woman to set things right. As he begins to covert all the superheroes back to their proper roots of truth and justice, he begins to question what being a superhero means, and what rights 'gods' have to rule over the mortal population. As an avid Batman reader, I've occasionally come across stories that transcend the stereotyped boundaries of the comic book medium and exist as true literature in their own right. 'The Killing Joke' and 'Batman: Year One' are examples of this. Kingdom come could certainly qualify as another, with one exception. The cast of characters in this graphic novel is huge, spanning the entire DC Comics universe. While the bulk of them are only cameos, there are still a few of them that are apt to cause confusion to casual fans. Everyone knows who Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman are. Has everyone heard of Green Arrow and Captain Marvel? Maybe. Blue Beetle and Orion? Probably not. The Spectre, who leads the reader's POV character on his journey, is still a mystery to me. Do you have to be versed in the DC Universe to enjoy Kingdom Come? No. Does it add layers to the story to know who everyone is and where they're coming from? Yes. And if you're a less-than-casual fan (meaning you don't even watch the animated shows like BTAS and Justice League), Kingdom Come might be a little intimidating to read. For those who are brave enough or well versed enough to try though, Kingdom Come is a brilliant work of fiction. The great writing and excellent art come together for a superhero tale that is more than just a comic book tale. Just get a primer in DC history before you dive in.
Rating:
Summary: great
Review: i've read this book already twice and i'm on my third time.i didn't find it that hard to understand if u knew the basics of the dc charcters.alex ross's art is fantastic and the story was great.i have to give the 2 props for the outstanding job they did .if u haven't read this book yet i highly recommend it to fans of the 2 guys or if you're just looking for something to read that has great fight sceens.
Rating:
Summary: A First Rate Graphic Novel
Review: I've always liked comics. I was never really into DC until one evening when I strolled into a comic book store, I picked up a copy of "Kingdom Come" and started looking through it. After spending only two minutes, I bought the book. Kingdom Come is a GREAT story. Alex Ross' artwork is fantastic. Mark Waid carefully weaves several subplots together and leads you to an explosive (and tragic) climax. Even if you're not into comics, Kingdom Come is a great read. Buy this book. Make it a part of your collection.
Rating:
Summary: A true classic
Review: A genre-defining magnum opus. A compelling storyline made more powerful by Alex Ross' highly-detailed art. The only nit I have with this work is you must be a long-time DC fan to appreciate all the backstories, in-jokes and cameos. Still, it is accessible to a reader with passing knowledge of DC's characters. Otherwise, it's a real must have.
Rating:
Summary: A real change in graphical storytelling
Review: My initial reaction to this book was modest - I enjoyed it, especially the artwork, but felt it was a little overrated. After some reflection though, I realize that the problem was my perspective. This is a story that is told by its pictures as much as by its words. I had initially read this as a comic book - a series of interesting pictures interspersed with word balloons. But this really is something more. There is an unprecedented amount of detail in each panel, and they let you step out of the story once in a while, to get a much clearer view of the world around you. A novel can't do this, since reading is too linear, and no comic book before had the time (or budget?) to draft such artwork. This really creates a whole new form of storytelling, and I hope that it's a new trend for future projects.
Rating: 
Summary: A clever combination of the sacred and the secular!
Review: "Incredible" is the best word to describe "Kingdom Come", a deft blend of DC mythology and Christianity. While fundamentalists might scoff at the inclusion of Biblical text in what is essentially a "comic book", Mark Waid's story line doesn't rely heavily on the text; it just serves as a background for the events that unfold within the book's pages. Ross's artwork is exemplary, actually surpassing anything from the "Golden Era of Comics". Unlike another reviewer, I found Superman, Wonder Woman, and Bruce Wayne to be well-developed characters, showing new sides of their respective personalities while exhibiting the traits that fans have come to expect from them. The major players in the history of DC Comics appear in some form or fashion in this beautifully illustrated work. Because so many make "cameos", the book becomes a bit crowded, at times coming across like a "Where's Waldo?" as one searches for the recognizable. Thus, it loses a star on account of overkill.
Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful art, but look elsewhere for great stories
Review: I had been urged to read this by friends and books alike. I was disappointed. Maybe I shouldn't have been. I wasn't too impressed with Marvels as well. Overall, I think the story lacks strong characterization. Superman has perhaps the best -- it's really his story -- but even then his character doesn't get realized until the last part of the story. What you have are great looking renderings of characters that are essentially blank. Wonder Woman has become a "hawk" because she was spurned by her fellow Amazons; Batman is older, but hardly aged -- he's more of a realist (as he always was) than the metahumans, but having to wear cyber-exoskeleton all your life makes you a grumpy man -- so he deals with the war on crime his own way. As usual. Waid's writing attempts to give the characters a sense of reality (notice the scene where Wonder Woman and Supes skip stones in space) -- but these characters were never meant for reality. Some could say the same of Miller's treatment of the Dark Knight, but in the Dark Knight you don't have reality -- you have satire. What Waid does right -- and I admire his work for this -- is visualing this alternative DC reality. The bat-drones, GL's emerald city, etc. He has a knack for cool quips. Vandal Savage says, "I never dreamed they'd return. Not in a _million years_." Ba-dum-dum. Nice play on the character. Waid's ideas are realized by Alex Ross' painstaking art. It's definitely beautiful, but I would recommend someone to pick up the 4 oversized books he did like "Shazam: Power of Hope." In the final analysis, Ross is a great artist but he's not a great comic book storyteller. His images are too static. Looking at a work where he's fully illustrated like Kingdom Come, you feel like you're rushing through an art gallery to look at all of the canvases out there. The story ultimately gets in the way of the visual enjoyment. I doubt I'll ever go back and read the stories, but I might look at the art from time to time. For those who love Ross' art, I would recommend the book not to read, but to merely pick up and turn from page to page. It's a beautiful book, but I don't think Kingdom Come will rock your world.
Rating:
Summary: SUPER ANSWER to Alan Moore's PM Despair!
Review: For years Alan Moore's perversely anti-heroic THE WATCHMEN has been granted preeminence among epics of graphic novel mythology. His works (even startlingly clever satire on pre-modern superheroes, incarnated The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) reek of masochism and despair. WATCHMEN pushes PM cynicism to the bitter max. Like Nietzsche at his most psychotic, Moore glorifies Anti-Christ."Will to Power"-driven, Dr.Ozymandius (WATCHMEN's blond-haired BEAST who imagines himself Alexander the Great) treacherously kills brother ubermenschen then "judges" earth in Wrath of plague,"alien" invasion;and incineration of millions by nuclear holocaust.Then,in god-like self-apotheosis, he proclaims: I AM the One...I DID IT! [Purpose of this darkest KILLING JOKE by Moore is Deconstruction of Western Heroism and mythology of the Sacrificial Hero.] KINGDOM COME...assisted by magnificent ICONIC artwork of genuine, Alexander the Great,ALEX ROSS...answers Moore's revelations in despair with RETURN OF THE KING-like epic. The real SUPERMAN is summoned to confront glamour of evil in raw power of masonic oligarchies (incarnated by Lex Luther and his Mankind Liberation Front); flacid amorality of fey metrosexuality, and anarchy-bred violence of youth. WONDER WOMAN, BATMAN and legendary heroes of time when men were men;women,women;and heroes,heroes rally in NEVER-ENDING BATTLE, to war with legionaries of PC lies, injustice and Three-Faces of Eve Fascism with mythologically (Captain)Marvelous answers reaffirming courage and sacredness of Life. Alan Moore's ultra hip nihilism celebrates Culture of Death. Mark Waid and Alex Ross have constructed an exciting, spectacularly illustrated, SUPERMEN saga to challenge him and nay sayers. KINGDOM COME is dazzling candle that illumines darkness-visible,and resounds with seven thunders over against lost Gollum's curse and PM princes self-worshiping acolytes.(7 stars)
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