First Month, Second Coming

Happy New Year and welcome to the first month of the last year of the 90's. As we approach the new millennium we can't help but think about computer bugs and how everybody thinks that when the ball drops next year, everything's going to totally blackout making way for Armageddon. Are you following my lead here? This was just an elaborate ruse to lead up to Kingdom Come. Kingdom Come was/is arguably one of the best Elseworld tales ever told. Like it's biggest competitor for top billing in this category, "The Dark Knight Returns," this also takes place in a futuristic, bleak, dark and gloomy time. If The Dark Knight Returns was so popular with just a couple heroes, than imagine a story of the same like, with a whole world of superheroes. Well, that's just what writer Mark Waid did, with the help of the artist Alex Ross, when they envisioned Kingdom Come. So with Kingdom #1 now on the stands, let's do a recap.

BOOK #1

Featuring a wrap around cover of the Spectre and introducing the reader at first glance at the so-called-superheroes of this era. Inside the book, one is quickly introduced to this new and harsh world. Within the first few pages humanities hopelessness and despair is felt, through the eyes of Norman McCay--an old priest of the era. The Spectre introduces himself to Norman and like the "Ghost of Christmas Present" takes him on a journey throughout the world, showing Norman current predicaments as they unfold, leading towards Judgement Day. He's taken to see Superman working in solitaire in a holographic farm as Wonder Woman pleads for him to come back to the real world to distill hope for humanity. Here, we learn about Kansas being obliterated. We also learn of a new so-called-hero, Magog, who is held accountable for this travesty. We are reintroduced to the future Flash, Hawkman, Green Lantern, and Batman. We learn that after all this time Batman finally has Gotham under control with the help of his robot bats. At the very end of this book, Superman realizes that he is needed and comes back to the real world.

BOOK #2

The wrap-around cover here depicts Norman McCay and Superman with his refurbished JLA. While inside we find Superman and his JLA addressing the United Nations stating that they're back to do a little trash clean-up. Then after, Superman goes to enlist the help of Batman, but to no avail. Moving on we find Lex Luthor playing a new hand with a secret weapon of Captain Marvel up his sleeve. Superman then goes to this bleak world's underbelly to straighten out those so-called-heroes. Shortly after, Green Arrow (Ollie Queen) appears after Supes takes leave, to preach Batman's take on things. Wonder Woman then takes Superman to Atlantis to speak to Aquaman about making a penile colony below the waves. Being a wise king, Arthur forbids it. For the King has to watch over the Atlantians, and the surface world's vermin could very well pose a threat to them. Here, in this issue, we also witness Superman confront Magog who we now find out to be tortured by the devastation of Kansas and grovels at Superman's feet, exclaiming to be haunted by a million ghosts. While at the very end of the book we witness a shocking alliance between Bruce Wayne and Lex Luthor.

BOOK #3

This wrap-around cover features Captain Marvel, Batman and his league. In this book we see the Gulag, the place where Supes' JLA put the bad heroes for reform. We also learn that Captain Marvel is brainwashed by Lex who uses some sort of worm, discovered by Sivana, that crawls into the ear. We see Bruce and Lex beefing up their Robat army for the battle yet to come, and for the first time Norman McCay has been found out by the Flash who pulls the onlooker out of his plane of existence into the now puzzled JLA's. Although not a big dramatic part here, it's a pivotal one. If Superman hadn't met Norman here, he might not listen to his word of wisdom in Book #4. Also, Bruce double-crosses Lex and spoils his plans but Captain Marvel gets away. Meanwhile, the Gulag full of reforming heroes goes ballistic and starts to break out. Supes goes back to the Batcave and barks at Batman for help and when Bruce tells him about Captain Marvel Supes pulls a Bat-trick on Bats and disappears when the Dark Knight isn't looking. Here at the end, following form with another cliffhanger, Superman thinks that he's the only hope, he skyrockets to the Gulag, but just before he arrives he's gets knocked out of the sky by Captain Marvel.

BOOK #4

We open with a smoldering Superman on the wrap-around cover. I don't know why this was a wrap-around cover though, 'cause on the back was just smoldering. I guess Alex got tired on covers 1 through 3. Anyway, inside we jump right into action as we witness a battle of epic proportions. It's the superheroes vs. the so-called-superheroes. It's Armageddon and the rest of the world is sure to feel its wrath unless... the United Nations makes the call. The Blackhawks get sent out armed with nukes. Meanwhile down at the forefront of the battle some relief comes for Superman's JLA as Batman's league swoops in. Batman witness Wonder Woman slay an enemy in battle with her sword and condemns her for it. Her amazon anger gets the best of her as she grabs Bats and carries him high above the clouds. As the two are locked in battle they bare witness to the coming of the Blackhawk planes. They realize that they must work together again to stop them, but they're too late. A bomb gets released and the Spectre exclaims, "Judgement has come." Captain Marvel, while still holding Superman at bay, explodes the nuke before anyone can stop it from falling. Then we bare witness to the carnage of thousands of heroes and so-called-heroes. Superman thinks that there are no survivors and heads out to unleash his fury on the U.N. But, Norman MaCay subdues Clark's anger by appealing to his human side. At the end, this time no cliffhanger, Superman and the remaining heroes and so-called-heroes realize that they all must walk among humans and work things out together.

That about sums up the story, but there is more Kingdom to Come. Next month I'll continue from here to talk more about how the Kingdom has grown and now has a Second Coming.

-Wallace "Wally" Frost
Happy New Year

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