Kingdom Come - Review
★★★★½
The first film in the DCU, Superman, is now available to watch at home digitally and on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4k Ultra HD. The film draws inspiration from many elements of Superman’s 87-year history, from his countless comic appearances to the iconic 1978 film starring Christopher Reeve. One of its more overt influences is Superman’s divisive “new” logo, ripped straight from the pages of the 1996 comic miniseries Kingdom Come.
Written by Mark Waid and meticulously watercolour-painted by artist Alex Ross, Kingdom Come remains one of the most highly-regarded DC comics among fans. The story explores an alternate future of the DC universe, in which a new generation of super-powered beings are running amuck and battling each other in heavily-populated areas. After a devastating incident kills millions of innocents, Superman is called out of retirement to try and bring order to this new world.
Fairly light on action, the story follows the clashing ideologies of the big three: Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. The conversations between them are fascinating, and form some of the most engaging scenes in a book filled with excellent sequences and gorgeous art to boot. The discussion around superhero ideology and its links to fascism are absorbing and still relevant almost 30 years later.
The characters feel like authentic versions of their Silver Age counterparts, just aged-up and world-weary. I think this is a particularly effective choice as it raises the question: are these ideologies held by classic superheroes outdated? Should the world bend to better suit the optimistic ideals of the Silver Age, or should the heroes themselves change and adapt to the times? Kingdom Come is a testament to the enduring power of these characters and why audiences have been drawn to superheroes for nearly a century as they are updated and recontextualised through the decades.
The world-building is very impressive for a miniseries that is only four issues long. The fates of beloved DC heroes like Green Lantern and the Flash are both realistic and appropriately dark for the tone of the book. We are introduced to the world through the eyes of a priest, a deeply compelling perspective as we explore a world where God-like beings clash on huge scales almost daily. This point-of-view character brings a human element, contrasting with the superheroes as their humanity is questioned or lost.
Overall, Kingdom Come is an essential piece of superhero literature and showcases why comics are still important and relevant today. The blend of compelling writing and stunning art deliver a powerful story of heroes and what makes them timeless.
Rating: 4.5/5