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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
I don’t normally read graphic novels, but this one was recommended to me, because it creatively uses quotations and themes from the Book of Revelation to tell an exciting story about superheroes, so I decided to give it a shot. I enjoyed all the biblical allusions, and the artwork is incredible.
Aging superheroes adjusting to a changing world. What's not to love?
The art is stunning; I enjoy the realism of it and the beautiful shading and coloring. But I wasn't too impressed with the story - which makes me sad because I thought I'd love it going in. There's just a lot of characterization issues I have. In many ways it echoes DC's version of Marvel's Civil War (understanding Kingdom Come came first, of course), but I'm just not sure I buy it. All the older people leaving the younger generations to run rampant like that to the boiling point it gets with Magog and Kansas? I feel like they would have stepped in sooner, rather than simply shutting themselves away (or at least, a few of them like Clark and Oliver Queen - Batman of course hides). In fact, to me, this felt like a Red Son Superman (when he emerges again), rather than classic Superman. And I honestly hated Billy/Shazam being at the center of it all. But then, I'm not generally a fan of his at any point.
All that said, it was a well-written story so if you agree with the characterization choices, then you should love this book.
All that said, it was a well-written story so if you agree with the characterization choices, then you should love this book.
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I know this is going to be sacrilege for hard-core comic book fans, but I liked “Injustice: Gods Among Us” better. I know "Kingdom Come" came way before "Injustice", but I read "Injustice" first and got into that book more. It seemed to take more chances with the characters than this one did. I kept reading "Kingdom Come" thinking the story was going to break wide open at any moment... that Superman (or Wonder Woman) was going to snap and take control away from the governments. But no, they just hung out in Green Lantern's satellite and hoped everybody would calm down on their own. Then there was one cool action scene and it was over. I scrolled through the remaining 200-ish pages of my copy of the book to see if there was more story, but it was just collector's stuff (which I appreciated for what it was).
Also the biblical underpinnings were meant to make the story more profound, but I think it brought it down. We only got to see the story unfold from a third person's (a preacher) POV. I would have preferred to get the thoughts and feelings of Superman, or better yet Wonder Woman, as they were actively participating in the action. As it stands, we were just getting the "and then this happened" narrative. It didn't draw me into the struggle. I was just unemotionally flipping through pages.
Lastly, I really didn't care for the art style (photo-realism) in "Kingdom Come" either. I know it sounds like I'm just bagging on this book and that is a bit unfair of me. It was not bad at all. I really enjoyed parts of it and did appreciate the different tone that it offers. I was just expecting this book to be one of the best comics I'd ever read (it has certainly been hyped up and talked about often in that vein). But when I finally got a copy and read it, I was disappointed. It's fine but not anything I'll be thinking about in a couple of days. I pointed out "Injustice" earlier because the stories are similar, but I had the exact opposite expectation going in. I thought that one was going to be fun but trash. It was created to create a story for a video game you play on your cell phone. How good could it possibly be? And yet I ended up liking it quite a bit.
I would recommend "Kingdom Come" to a friend if they hadn't read many comics and wanted a good place to start. But if you are like me, and have started reading comics later in life with this one just not being on your radar yet... I'd say you can skip it.
Also the biblical underpinnings were meant to make the story more profound, but I think it brought it down. We only got to see the story unfold from a third person's (a preacher) POV. I would have preferred to get the thoughts and feelings of Superman, or better yet Wonder Woman, as they were actively participating in the action. As it stands, we were just getting the "and then this happened" narrative. It didn't draw me into the struggle. I was just unemotionally flipping through pages.
Lastly, I really didn't care for the art style (photo-realism) in "Kingdom Come" either. I know it sounds like I'm just bagging on this book and that is a bit unfair of me. It was not bad at all. I really enjoyed parts of it and did appreciate the different tone that it offers. I was just expecting this book to be one of the best comics I'd ever read (it has certainly been hyped up and talked about often in that vein). But when I finally got a copy and read it, I was disappointed. It's fine but not anything I'll be thinking about in a couple of days. I pointed out "Injustice" earlier because the stories are similar, but I had the exact opposite expectation going in. I thought that one was going to be fun but trash. It was created to create a story for a video game you play on your cell phone. How good could it possibly be? And yet I ended up liking it quite a bit.
I would recommend "Kingdom Come" to a friend if they hadn't read many comics and wanted a good place to start. But if you are like me, and have started reading comics later in life with this one just not being on your radar yet... I'd say you can skip it.
No aprendo: no importa cuantas veces me diga que lo deje, que definitivamente el género de superhéroes (el más clásico, al menos) no es para mí, siempre aparece el niño que alucinaba con las historias de Batmas y Spiderman a pedir que les de otra oportunidad.
No he podido con el tono grandilocuente de la historia ni con el mesianismo alrededor de Superman, reforzado todo por un hilo conductor que se apoya en referencias bíblicas y que para mí es totalmente prescindible.
Para mí solo se salva Wonder Woman y algún toque de Batman, aunque posiblemente sea porque aún sigue siendo mi preferido.
No he podido con el tono grandilocuente de la historia ni con el mesianismo alrededor de Superman, reforzado todo por un hilo conductor que se apoya en referencias bíblicas y que para mí es totalmente prescindible.
Para mí solo se salva Wonder Woman y algún toque de Batman, aunque posiblemente sea porque aún sigue siendo mi preferido.