Rating: Summary: An epic story Review: This is your usual epic story of global proportions including the JLA except it is much more than that. This story revolves around the key chracters of the JLA (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman) and how they have coped with the changing times...apparently not too well. Superman has exiled himself from the people of Earth and is holed up in the Fortress of Solitude literally in solitude, Wonder Woman has lost her royalty since she has failed in her duties as an ambassador. And Batman apparently had never recovered from the attack by Bane in Knightfall, he weares a metal exoskelton in order to move around, the Wayne Manor is destroyed. But despite all that, Batman has managed to build a fleet of bat-robots in order to keep Gotham City protected, apparently with much success. Also, all the old timers are gone and is replaced by Magog and his Gen X superhero cronies who have no regard for civilians or moral decency. This is only the first couple of pages. Enter Parasite and Captain Atom and Magog is Kansas, poof, Kansas is gone with millions dead. This brings Superman out of retirement and the rest of the former JLA follow suit and joins Superman in the good fight. Eveything seems perfect but his return after so long has taken a toll on the relationship b/w the metahumans and the humans. The UN is less than thrilled at seeing this resurfacing of superheroes whom they have come to see with a suspicious eye and also most of the gen. X heroes refuse to see the light and follow the examples of the league. Even Batman sees the return of the JLA as a curse. So, going on his merry ways Superman and the JLA imprison the new superheros who refuse to follow suit, Captain Marvel under brain control from Luthor release all the prisoners on the JLA and himself goes out to detroy Superman. And if all this wasn't enough, the UN afraid that the fighting b/w the metahumans will spread and destroy Earth (like Kansas) decides to deploy three nukes onto the battaling metahumans. With a loud boom and flash and a mushroom cloud the battle is over and nearly half the metahumans (good and bad) are dead. Although this is the severe oversimplification of the entire plot, this is the basic premise. More happens at the end but writing that down here will serve as a spoiler and shortchange the readers of an enjoyable reading experience. As I have said before the plot is epic and involves nearly every conceivable character to ever appear under the DC Universe banner (from Superman to Orion to Mr. Miracle to even a cameo by Dead Man). The battle is epic and decides the fate of the entire planet. This is just me describing the plot, now the art....visually stunning. The art by Alx Ross is truly a feast for the eyes, his interpretations of the character is very vivid and realistic as if they could and do exist. From his drawing as an aging Superman (who seems to be getting a little pudgy around the waist) to his aging Batman (complete w/ a comb-over), Alex Ross manages to bring age to the familiar superheroes in a very realistic manner...no matter how powerful, no one can escape the weight of time. After saying all that, I would say that the art is flawless and Mark Waid does an excellent job of tying together the entire JLA for one final time for their greatest adventure.
Rating: Summary: All Plot, No Characters Review: Maybe I'm the wrong audience for this book. I consider myself not a fan of comics, after all, but a fan of literature in whatever form it presents itself. Watchmen? Dark Knight Returns? Both brilliant stories, drawn with style, and told in a way that welcomes both the fanboy and the neophyte. Kingdom Come, however? Blech. Though its artwork is fantastic, beyond all reproach, its story boils down ultimately to a superhero name-dropper's wet dream, a procession of DC cameos and self-references. I felt like an idiot every time a Darkseid got mentioned, a Spectre got revealed, a John Constantine fluttered by without an explanation. This book might be heaven for the Comic Book Guy on the Simpsons. To the casual reader, though, Norman McKay seems to be merely preaching to the choir.
Rating: Summary: One of the best comic books ever made Review: With a story by the fabulous Mark Waid and incredible art by painter Alex Ross, "Kingdom Come" spins a version of the Book of Revelations as a war between metahumans. Set years in the future from today, Superman has become an exile of humanity. Batman no longer defends Gotham City himself; he uses an army of robots. Captain Marvel, Shazam, has disappeared. Green Lantern has built a huge city over the Earth, with a purpose akin to that of the Justice League's Watchtower. Wonder Woman still wanders the Earth, one of the only heroes aware of a war brewing between metahumans. Norman McCay is a priest, the P.O.V. of the story, and he is shielded to be invisible by the Spectre, who takes him on a journey to watch the war unfold. With breathtaking art and an entertaining story, Waid and Ross truly deliver with this incredible graphic novel.
Rating: Summary: Great story ! Truly amazing artwork! Review: The awesome artwork by Alex Ross in this graphic novel is worth the price of the book alone. Added to that is a thought provoking, action packed story that is one of the best ever put to paper.A must read.
Rating: Summary: Kingdom Come. Review: The first I read Kingdom Come I was amazed by how much something based on Superheroes can be so great.This Classic Graphic Novel is something amazing,Mark Waid and Alex Ross do a great job in writting something like this.This story has great superheroes like Batman,Superman,Wonder Woman and Green Lantern.If your a comic book fan you have to buy this,you won't regret it at all trust me.
Rating: Summary: You'll like this even if you don't like "Underoos" comics Review: I've been an avid reader since I was twelve, but I only started reading comics and graphic novels about a year ago, around the time I turned thirty. As an insatiable reader, I've developed a great appreciation for a well told story, but since I don't have much experience with comics, I can't say I have a full grasp on the aesthetics that go along with them . I'd like to think that I can still recognize what's good and what's not so good, though. KINGDOM COME is certainly good. Actually, it's one of the best comics I've read in the last year. Mark Waid's story concerning a generational clash between the original DC superheroes and their latterday offspring packs a surprisingly emotional and spiritual left-right punch. KAPOW and WAZZAMM!!! Alex Ross's watercolor illustrations are beautiful works of art in their own right, but coupled with the text, they contribute to a really stunning multi-media experience. My only complaint with the artwork was that I felt Ross relied a little too much on a certain contemplative facial expression, especially when drawing his elderly protagonist. At times I felt like I had seen the same panel many times before. But that's really a small nitpick in the face of the obvious care for story and attention to detail that went into this pretty amazing comic. Even if you're not really a fan of Superman, Wonder Woman, and all of the rest of the tights-wearing superheroes, you should check out KINGDOM COME. You might be surprised by its maturity and emotional resonance.
Rating: Summary: Epic for fans Review: The DC universe gets a cast of old and new characters. Can anyone knock this series? Captured in book fom, the series has a nice eight page graphic novel ending that fans will love. All Ross; less Waid. Lots of inside comic book stuff in the art, too. Hand this one to a lost fanboy and they'll love ya!
Rating: Summary: DC again proves unworthy of its writers Review: This book was decent and nothing else, not that I intended to order a novel based on a comic. I assumed that the hardcover edition refered to a hardcover comic book, though this was not the place. So I ended up with a book by Elliot S. Magin, its not terrible. The writing is interesting though does little to capture the grandure and splendor of the Kingdom Come comic book. DC knocked a novel spin-off, another comic book spin-off (with atrocious art) from one of the greatest graphic novels that I have ever read. merely proving again that the DC title does not deserve the writers and wonderful artists that they have. I would suggest the Kingdom Come graphic novel not the book or other comic, Mark Waid is a genious. Also the 'original prints' contaiuned only in this book are merely plays on prexisting prints, though the Spectre print is neat the six or seven prints are nothign to get excited about.
Rating: Summary: Remarkable Artwork, Derivative Story Review: [Review applies to the Graphic Novel edition] I think readers who have not already read Mark Gruenwald's mid-80s SQUADRON SUPREME series might enjoy this story a lot more than I did. .... But the Alex Ross artwork really makes KINGDOM worth reading. The photorealistic painting gives the story a unique vivacity. I've seen fully-painted comics before, but the Norman Rockwell-esque detail and realism here is very impressive, not to mention the attention to light sources. It's possible to mistake some of the pictures for still photographs of costumed, flying people. Since each of the several hundred panels in this story looks like it took a week to draw, you wonder how Ross had time to do anything else in his life.
Rating: Summary: I chose to read this than watch the Superbowl... Review: I bought this a few years ago on Superbowl Sunday and read it cover to cover rather than watching the big game. This book is simply beautiful. The art is what gets people on this book. Painted by Alex Ross, each page (not just covers like in alot of comics). The story is great and the ending is priceless. My brother would envy Superman for what he got to do.
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