The War Has Begun

The dawn of the 21st century has led to a world in total disorder. A new generation of evil superheroes has taken over, destroying everything in sight and causing harm to humanity.

It is now up to the vintage superheroes – the aging Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and their peers, to fight back in what turns out to be the final war against each other, determining the future of the planet itself.

“Kingdom Come,” written by Mark Waid [Empire, The Kingdom] does an intriguing job of writing a creative story that keeps readers guessing and the interest flowing with every turn of the page. Waid’s witty storytelling brings the reader right into the action and creates a world where imagination is an ecstatic medicine- a distraction from the real world, where concentration is an option that is desired for nothing, but the book itself.

Alex Ross [Shazam!: Power of Hope, Batman: War on Crime] is known for the art work in this book, which is out of this world. A pure treat for the established comic book reader, Ross’s art work is incredibly realistic, making the characters appear as if they are actually alive on the page. He does a fantastic job with background scenery as well, making the reader believe that the world inside the book itself is actually real.

A true eccentric, Ross is the Leonardo Da Vinci of graphic novels.

Yes, he is that good.

A particularly interesting story is the showdown between Superman and Shazam. The fact that Superman has an opponent who gives him a real challenge makes the book all that much more exciting, creating a constant battle that is an ultimate delight for the comic fan.

The original superheroes in this novel have definitely aged, though are no less effective on the battlefield, which goes to show how little age matters in the grand scheme of the DC Universe – as long as you’re a superhero. While for the rest, time does take its weary toll, but the Big Three and other beloved favorites have no problem cleaning up shop and going about their business, lifting heavy items like pesky candy wrappers.

With that all said, “Kingdom Come” is a definite read – a book that will be talked about for decades and as the classic it is today. If you enjoy a smart script and art work that is so realistic that you’ll think you’re hallucinating, you’ll fall in love with this book.

The war has begun.