Kingdom Come
Volume 1: “A Strange Visitor”
Original editor: DC Comics
publication date: 1996
pencil: Alex Ross
story: Mark Waid
The story is set in the future of Golden Age DC, where Superman has retired from life as a superhero after a traumatic event.
Shepherd Norman McCay assists his friend Wesley Dodds, aka Madman, in his final moments of life.
Madman tells him about apocalyptic visions, which are about to come true.
After his death the Shepherd begins to have the same visions, until he receives a visit from the Ghost.
The Specter transports him through time to witness the imminent Armageddon, as he will have to help him pass judgment.
The first stop on their journey is at Superman's hideout, who now lives as a farmer.
Kal-El receives a visit from Wonder Woman, who tries to convince him to act against the new generation of heroes, who are too violent and careless about the health of human beings.
In one of these clashes Magog, Superman's heir, caused a nuclear disaster in Kansas, killing millions of people.
The Specter leads McCay to the other Justice League members.
Flash defends Keystone City by moving at incredible speed, never stopping.
Hawkman has become an eco-terrorist, ready to attack anyone who harms nature.
Green Lantern has settled in orbit, to defend the planet from alien threats that do not arrive.
Batman still defends Gotham City, using giant robots in his likeness.
After yet another clash between the young super-heroes, Superman returns to action.
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Kingdom Come
Volume 2: “Truth and Justice”
Original editor: DC Comics
publication date: 1996
pencil: Alex Ross
story: Mark Waid
Superman inspires his old friends, re-establishing the Justice League.
At his side are Wonder Woman, Hawkman, Green Lantern, Flash, Robin, Power Woman and El Raggio II.
Bruce Wayne refuses to cooperate with Superman, already imagining what will go wrong in his plan.
Lex Luthor allies himself with other criminals in the Front for the Liberation of Humanity, with the intention of opposing all super-heroes.
Superman's intentions convince some young heroes to join them, but many others rebel and fight.
Magog isolated himself in Kansas after the accident.
When Superman reaches him, they together remember the events that led to the old hero's retirement.
Joker had attacked the Daily Planet, killing ninety people, including Lois Lane.
Before Superman could intervene, Magog executes Joker.
During the trial, public opinion sides with Magog, convincing Superman to retire.
Now Magog understands his mistake, after the massacre he caused, surrendering to the Justice League.
Not knowing where to lock up the captured heroes, Superman begins building a large prison in Kansas.
The Human Liberation Front teams up with Bruce Wayne to thwart the supers.
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Kingdom Come
Volume 3: “Up in the Sky”
Original editor: DC Comics
publication date: 1996
pencil: Alex Ross
story: Mark Waid
The situation in Superman's gulag quickly becomes tense, as the young superheroes reject Kal-El's teachings.
Lex Luthor prepares to use his secret weapon, Billy Baxton.
Captain Marvel has become an adult, but has ended up under the mind control of the dangerous criminal.
The Specter and the Shepherd also encounter the great cosmic entities (the Wizard Shazam, Ganthet of Oa, the Phantom Stranger, the Highfather of the New Gods and Zeus), who refuse to intervene in earthly affairs.
Bruce Wayne begins building an army of Bat-Robots, with Luthor's help, to take on Superman.
When a riot breaks out in the gulag, Wonder Woman leads the rest of the League to stop them, while Superman hesitates.
When Batman discovers that Captain Marvel is under the control of Lex Luthor, he betrays the Human Liberation Front and arrests them, but Luthor has time to activate his weapon.
Superman asks Batman for help, who alerts him to Captain Marvel's involvement.
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Kingdom Come
Volume 4: “The Endless Battle”
Original editor: DC Comics
publication date: 1996
pencil: Alex Ross
story: Mark Waid
Superman faces Captain Marvel outside the gulag, while the Justice League battles the escaped heroes.
Batman and his allies also intervene in the clash, alongside the League.
Meanwhile at the UN they decide to launch a nuclear attack against Kansas, to eliminate all the supers.
Captain Marvel comes to his senses just in time to hit the bomb and detonate it before it hits the ground.
Many super-heroes die anyway, but some manage to save themselves.
Sheperd Norman McCay manages to convince Superman not to destroy the UN building.
Peace finally returns, as the heroes heal their wounds and begin rebuilding.
A year later Wonder Woman and Superman meet Batman, informing him that they are expecting a child.
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In the final part of the volume there is a long gallery of images, taken from the preparatory sketches made by Alex Ross and from the advertising posters, which accompanied the publication of the various editions.
This miniseries is one of the many masterpieces created by Alex Ross over the years, in his unmistakable pictorial style.
Mark Waid celebrates the Golden Age of DC comics with this story, without considering at all the evolutions of the characters that occurred in the following years.
An alternative reality, therefore, but extremely well developed, which convinced DC to also make a sequel. |
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