Kingdom Come(DC,1996): Long back in Elseworld

I picked up a mini paperback of a DC book recently and realized it’s the opening part of Kingdom Come(the 4 parts are Never-Ending Battle, Up in the Sky, Truth and Justice & Strange Visitor). Taking it as a healthy omen, I went on to read the graphic novel. I could recognize the unique art by Alex Ross from Marvels and Daredevil/Spider Man. Mark Waid is the writer here, I remember him from DC’s JLA Tower of Babel & 52. Now for the style, termed as Gouache is definitely an eye-catcher and may influence your decision to pick up the book or not. I personally don’t mind it much (as much as complex visual styles of may be a Sandman or Arkham Asylum, which can tend to ‘distract’ the reader in a good way) and after some time into it, you start acknowledging its achievements. In KC, it was the spectacular shots, angular views of characters’ pov, and the overall grandeur it attributes to the events.



Norman McCay, the narrator, is a pastor fearing the apocalypse, thanks to the visions he has been having off late. McCay’s journey of the world as it fights with a global threat, superheroes vs the UN is what kicks the story off. Then there is Lex Luthor’s Man Liberation Front and its efforts to get Captain Marvel on board. The tone is uniquely mythological at once, and gripping whatwith the multiple character face-offs and arcs.



Like any other re-imagining, this one gives a clear priority to characterization, but the overriding themes here are superheroes as gods vs humanity, legitimization of superheroes, global crisis, political conferences, and religion for certain providing a certain mythological air to it all.
I must say I was a little disappointed towards the final part as there was certainly great potential in the way the book looks at Superman and Wonder Woman in their flesh and blood conversations, chemistry and relationship. So much is so beautifully unsaid that it feels a waste to divert your attention to the routine action finale.
Batman is a little less than a glorified prop and his legion looks unconvincing to ay the least.
On the whole, an essential comic book, but certainly flawed.
Character Origins from Kingdom Come
Kingdom Come Critical Analysis

FIFTY TWO(DC, 2006): Lessons in Continuity

This was a tough ask, 52 volumes representing 52 weeks of the year. A huge project ably managed by Dan Didio(with the vision of Grant Morrison supporting him), quite a roller-coaster comic book event. In a nutshell, the Holy Trinity of Super Man, Batman & Wonder Woman is missing, and a whole lot of young blood fills in their shoes. There are 5-6 parallel story-arcs(Booster Gold/Rip Hunter/Skeets/time-travel, Ralph Dibny/Elongated Man/Sorcery/helmet/Doctor Fate, Black Adam’s revenge track, Lex Luthor & the Everyman Project, The Question/Renee Montoya/Nanda Parbat spiritual track, Politics/Bialya/personal vs political revenge/JSA track etc.), and there is significant amount of science fiction rolled up into tremendous amount of time spent on action.



On the whole, the series is worth the effort. I loved the tongue-in-cheek tone and frequent in-jokes about ‘fifty two’. The series does well to entertain within the multiverse theme, offering a variety of well-written characters, like Lobo(space-cowboy), Booster Gold, Black Adam, Steel, Metal Men, Martian Manhunter, Question etc. and is concept-heavy yet provides great comic fun through its world-weary themes of capitalist paranoia, spiritual awakening and political sabotage. There are groups abound(JSA, Suicide Squad, Infinity, Inc., Teen Titans, GL Corps, Birds of Prey), all of which come in focus together towards the conclusive ‘World War III’ with Black Adam. This is specifically the part where the series pulls its efforts together brilliantly, the action is well-executed and the complexity just goes higher and higher. This was one of my favorite moments from the series, others being ‘skyfall’, Lobo’s space adventures and wry one-liners, Booster’s self-aware commentary/relationship with Skeets, and some mind-mending sci-fi sequences I only wish my mind could process at the speed of Flash.



A word about the WWIII Saga, this is essentially 2 books, but is broken down in 5 parts. The story focuses extensively on Martial Manhunter pulling his forces together against the havoc declared by Black Adam and is done by a different team than the previous parts (Keith Champagne/John Ostrander/Pat Oliffe/Drew Geraci/Andy Smith). Though the team is new, the WWIII arc concludes the series brilliantly, a little tough to approach but well rewarding.

I am aware that there are Fifty-Two companions, pre-reads and after-reads(aftermath) and will be approaching them in due time.



DC crossover/crisis events Timeline

Next on my multiverse wishlist(in no particular order):
Final Crisis
Crisis on Infinite Earths
The New 52