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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
Tussen twee andere boeken door dacht ik: ik herlees nog eens een comic die ik voor veel te veel geld op papier gekocht heb, jaren geleden.
Een klassieker, ergens bovenaan het pantheon van comics die een mens absoluut moet gelezen hebben, zo zat het in mijn hoofd. Helemaal bovenaan staan kleppers genre Sandman en dergelijke, maar dit stond er toch in de buurt van, zo ongeveer op dezelfde hoogte als The Killing Joke.
Wellll…
De tekeningen / schilderijen van Alex Ross blijven absoluut overeind, maar het scenario kon mij niet helemaal meer overtuigen.
De situatie is dat we een jaar of tien na de zelfopgelegde pensionering van Superman zijn. Zijn regel (en die van Batman en anderen), dat ze geen mensen doden, werd meer en meer onhoudbaar. En dan heeft een superheld een supervillain gedood en was Superman het daar niet mee eens. Het is natuurlijk ergens wel logisch: waarom zouden die slechteriken maar mogen blijven slachtoffers maken? Waarom mensen blijven opsluiten in Arkham Asylum als ze toch ontsnappen?
Superman was het daar niet mee eens, en de maatschappij was het niet eens met Superman. Waarop hij zich dan maar heeft teruggetrokken.
En, vreemd genoeg, mét hem een resem ‘klassieke’ superhelden, onder meer Wonder Woman en Batman en Power Girl en een stapel anderen.
Gevolg daarvan was dat een nieuwe generatie superhelden allerlei slechteriken uitschakelen, en dan maar met elkaar beginnen vechten, en zich in het algemeen gedragen als absolutely corrupted mensen met absolute power. Waarop een onvermijdelijk Groot Ongeluk gebeurt, waarbij miljoenen onschuldige mensen het leven laten, en de oude helden alsnog terugkeren om orde op zaken te proberen stellen.
⁂
Ik bedenk nu trouwens net dat ik weet waarom het mij niet helemaal meer overtuigt: wat dit boek zo vernieuwend maakte bijna dertig jaar geleden, is nu zowat canon, en gebeurt voortdurend — van Civil War bij Marvel tot The Boys, en passant par alle donkere DC-films.
Meer nostalgie dan what the hell was that?, dus, maar toch de moeite waard. Het zou even stom zijn om dit als clichématig opzij te zetten als Lord of the Rings afgezaagde fantasytropes te noemen.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've been meaning to read this for years and now that I've got the chance... I don't really know what to think about it to be honest. Admittedly this might be partly due to the fact I'm a filthy casual when it comes to DC Comics, but also I feel like in the wake of The New 52, several ideas bought up in Kingdom Come were expanded upon in several books for better or (usually) worse.
What I liked:
What I liked:
- The art is absolutely breathtaking and mostly holds up to this day (Wonder Woman's questionable outfit and a few other background characters' outfits aside). Characters are appropriately expressive and the artist does a superb job of making characters with all manner of designs feel like a coherent part of a universe.
- The scale of the tragedy at the very beginning is done with an appropriate level of terror and sombreness that doesn't veer into melodrama - something that would be very easy to do considering how wacky some superheroes and their stories can get.
What I didn't like:
- Not being a religious person myself, I think the Christian aspects are a bit heavy handed at times. I can see why one would want to compare the Christian God to superheroes - particularly in their way of passing judgment through superhuman feats that normal humans are incapable of - but all it really amounted to was "look at these gods among men and despair as they fail the next generation of heroes!"
What is up with making Superman build a gulag? If anything I thought it would be Batman to be the one to do such a thing, not the guy that's supposed to be an allegory for immigrants coming to seek the American Dream whilst fixing problems within the system. I understand he was doing it to try and reform anti-heroes that caused more harm than good, but it still rubs me the wrong way Superman would be the one to do it. In hindsight, I'm kind of baffled why Lex Luthor would have let Batman roam freely among his cronies without suspecting something would be up. I definitely didn't see Batman's double crossing coming, but you would have thought if Luthor was so intent on keeping Shazam under his mind control, he would take steps to prevent Batman from getting too close?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Violence, War
adventurous
dark
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Beautiful art, story not as deep as I’d like. Superman builds a gulag? I don’t think so. But I enjoyed the alternate dystopian future represented.
This has the misfortune to be an attempt to sequel/prequel the amazing Kingdom Come. The art is ok but not awful. I like the look into the next generation of heroes, but the main part is kind of lackluster.
A great combination of gritty themes and beautiful artwork. These paintings are full of Easter eggs I'll never get. The themes are ahead of their time. I can see influences on Marvel's Civil War and DC's Doomsday Clock. My first time reading and I think it holds up.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this graphic novel as part of a course I’m taking on the Bible and literature, and it certainly delivered on that level, being full of Biblical references and compelling theological questions and issues. The art is detailed and visually attractive and it is a brisk and compelling read. I enjoyed the “Apocrypha” (another Biblical nod) section at the end, where the artist goes in depth on the character design and development, which really added to my understanding of the story. It’s cool to get a peek into the creative process. However, throughout the novel I was consistently reminded of “Watchmen”, both in the themes of apocalypse and the role of superheroes in society, as well as the character’s internal conflicts (Waid’s characterization Superman reminded me a lot of Jon). Watchmen goes far more in-depth on the same themes, has better developed characters, and a more layered and nuanced plot. Often, this novel came across to me as a pale imitation. However, it’s an easy and enjoyable read, even for a reader like me who isn’t a comic book fan.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don't typically read comics or graphic novels but this impressed me. The political commentary that was written in 1996 is still poignant today.