CBR: Pop! - Sep 24, 2010

[CBR News]

George Khoury examines the impact of Alex Ross and Mark Waid's "Kingdom Come" limited series on the mid-'90s comic industry, the story's genesis and Ross' original intent.


Full article here.

[SuperCooper]

I really need to this series, I've read Watchmen, which was good, but I guess this really is one of the pinnacles of greatness the Big Two have produced. I assume they still print it?

[DannyWetts]

I really need to this series, I've read Watchmen, which was good, but I guess this really is one of the pinnacles of greatness the Big Two have produced. I assume they still print it?

Yeah man, it's vital. I put it up there with Watchmen and DKR and all of that stuff. It's cinematic, and a deep, deep dip into DC's past and alternate future. And, of course, Ross is doing what he does best.

I still remember the exhilaration I felt reading that series, particularly when Supes finally gets involved. It felt like the Supes I had idolized as a kid, here to save our asses.

Supercoop: You can get it anywhere...borrow it from a friend, fall in love with it, and then put your money towards the Absolute edition!!

[SuperCooper]

Yeah man, it's vital. I put it up there with Watchmen and DKR and all of that stuff. It's cinematic, and a deep, deep dip into DC's past and alternate future. And, of course, Ross is doing what he does best.

I still remember the exhilaration I felt reading that series, particularly when Supes finally gets involved. It felt like the Supes I had idolized as a kid, here to save our asses.

Supercoop: You can get it anywhere...borrow it from a friend, fall in love with it, and then put your money towards the Absolute edition!!

Alright, sounds awesome. I'm definitely going to be checking my LCS for this, I've always loved stories of older heroes, 'past their prime' sort of stuff. I should probably check out Dark Knight, too. So much catching up to do!!

[CKdoubleU]

This is one of those great stories that I'd love to see turned into an animated movie. There was an 'audio play' done back in 1998 that was pretty good, but I'd like to see the visuals.

[Scott Iskow]

I think Kingdom Come is an important chapter in the "maturation" of superhero storytelling, which began with Watchmen and the like. But where most people read Watchmen and Dark Knight Returns and took comics down the wrong path creatively, Kingdom Come attempts to set us back on the right track.

Perhaps All Star Superman is the next chapter?

[Free-Man]

I think Kingdom Come is an important chapter in the "maturation" of superhero storytelling, which began with Watchmen and the like. But where most people read Watchmen and Dark Knight Returns and took comics down the wrong path creatively, Kingdom Come attempts to set us back on the right track.

Perhaps All Star Superman is the next chapter?

I would say it's interesting to look at. KC is a good (if a tad dated) story that had a huge impact on comics. But the interesting thing is that while it is a strong condemnation of 90's superhero comics (I think Cable and a lot of Liefeld-type creations get a kick in the balls here), it seems like a lot of the lessons of Kingdom Come have been ignored in much the same way that the actual characterization and storytelling in Watchmen was ignored.

We've certainly returned to a more "classic" status quo (Barry Allen and Hal Jordan are once again the Flash and GL respectively, many of the heroes of the 90's and 2000's have been killed off or limbofied), but many writers still feel the need to employ the sort of gorey and sensationalistic writng style that Ross and Waid took shots at in Kingdom Come.

Like was the X-Force or Youngblood anymore immature or needlessly dark than say, raping Sue Dibney, crushing Red Arrow's daughter to death, and having Wonder Dog devour Wendy and Martin?

[Seven_Ride]

I think Kingdom Come is an important chapter in the "maturation" of superhero storytelling, which began with Watchmen and the like. But where most people read Watchmen and Dark Knight Returns and took comics down the wrong path creatively, Kingdom Come attempts to set us back on the right track.

Perhaps All Star Superman is the next chapter?

I'd point to DC The New Frontier as the next important superhero project after Kingdom Come. Though All-Star would be next on my list too.

It's interesting that all the great superhero stories are either reimagined origin stories, or future endings. Basically, 1st acts or 3rd acts. Whereas the ongoing monthlies are all 2nd act.

[missferris]

Ew, Kingdom Come.

[SuperCooper]

I like DC but have always been a Marvel fan, is there anything they've printed that would be on par with Kingdom Come? Or even Watchmen? From what I understand Marvel has produced less of these 'Elseworlds' type stories, but still have some great graphic novels and series. Suggestions?

[Free-Man]

I like DC but have always been a Marvel fan, is there anything they've printed that would be on par with Kingdom Come? Or even Watchmen? From what I understand Marvel has produced less of these 'Elseworlds' type stories, but still have some great graphic novels and series. Suggestions?

Marvels. Warren Ellis' Nextwave is also really great if you can find some of the collections. The Death of Captain Marvel is another good one.

[Kiryu]

I like DC but have always been a Marvel fan, is there anything they've printed that would be on par with Kingdom Come? Or even Watchmen? From what I understand Marvel has produced less of these 'Elseworlds' type stories, but still have some great graphic novels and series. Suggestions?

Earth X is probably the closest comparison to a Marvel-style Kingdom Come. I wouldn't say its as great as Kingdom Come was but its in the same vein as Kingdom Come. I really enjoyed the first part but the others kinda fell apart.

[SuperCooper]

Marvels. Warren Ellis' Nextwave is also really great if you can find some of the collections. The Death of Captain Marvel is another good one.

Earth X is probably the closest comparison to a Marvel-style Kingdom Come. I wouldn't say its as great as Kingdom Come was but its in the same vein as Kingdom Come. I really enjoyed the first part but the others kinda fell apart.

Thanks guys, i'll definitely check these series out.

[ImmortalIronFist]

Kingdom Come was the first comic I ever read, getting the collected version when it came out when I was about 10. It completely blew me away, and while I'm a Marvel guy through and through, Kingdom Come is still the most powerful story I've read in comics.

[thepenguin]

How ironic, this was being discussed on the Superman boards just the other day and I agree this book is one of the best , if not the best Superman story ever. I think ASS can't hold a candle to it. It is interesting it is the type of story to make people who normally don't get Superman really get him. It remains and will remain relevant cause its themes are timeless and no one is inherently all evil and everyone had a pov. Much like the real world.