Writer Mark Waid, coming from his popular work on Flash and Impulse, and artist Alex Ross, who broke new ground with the beautifully painted Marvels, join together for this explosive book that takes place in a dark alternate future of the DC Superhero Universe. Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and almost every other character from DC Comics must choose sides in what could be the final battle of them all.


From Publishers Weekly
In the 21st century, the Metropolis that once hailed Superman as its guardian has fallen into decay. The old superheroes?Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash and others of their generation?have given way to a horde of self-appointed metahumans with a wide variety of deadly powers and, for the most part, the ethics of gangbusters. Now an elderly minister, Norman McCay, who narrates the novel, embarks on a quest to bring help to a Kansas destroyed by an inhuman power, while Batman plays a deadly game with Lex Luthor for control of Billy Batson?the original but now amnesiac Captain Marvel. The novel is an expansion of a highly successful graphic series in DC's innovative Elseworlds universe, but it can be enjoyed without reference to the original. It can't be enjoyed, however, without the kind of suspension of disbelief that only fans of the DC universe are likely to muster. Even so, these and other readers will find the novel full of vivid characterizations of their favorite superbeings, gripping action scenes and notions of pure whimsy such as Planet Krypton theme restaurants. Maggin, a principal writer of Superman comics for many years, provides a model of how to turn comic books into fiction. Four-color and b&w illustrations by Alex Ross. Simultaneous Time Warner audio. Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From AudioFile
It's hard to imagine the comic book medium translated into audio. After listening to KINGDOM COME, I can hear why. The 1996 mini-series from DC Comics was poignant and well written, with fully painted artwork by Alex Ross. In contrast, this dramatization is often hokey and stilted. The story, set in the early years of the twenty-first century, tells of a world in which the classic super-heroes--Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, etc.--have all retired. In their absence, not-so-heroic "meta-humans" are wreaking havoc on the planet. The old heroes band together to set things right before it's too late. This dramatization is elaborately produced with a full cast and sound effects, but too many scenes have a hollow, echo-chamber feel, as though recorded in a fish bowl. S.E.S. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine


From Kirkus Reviews
Based on a popular 1996 DC Comics series by Mark Waid and Alex Ross, and now novelized by Maggin, author of two previous Superman novels: a sort of Twilight of the Superheroes, with the expected action painstakingly, and painfully, eked out with psychologizing, religion, and meaningless flourishes. In 21st-century Metropolis, Clark Kent and Lois Lane are dead, Superman has been missing for ten years, and the city streets are cluttered with young troublemaking ``metahumans,'' some with genuine superpowers, led by the superpowered Magog and his sidekick, Alloy (the result when the Metal Men were all melted together). The Spectre, here a sort of guardian angel, appears to the Rev. Norman McCay and takes him whirling through time and space to observe the state of the world; somehow, you see, the Spectre needs Rev. McCay to help avert doomsday. After a big battle, Magog nukes Kansas, so Wonder Woman persuades Superman to come out of retirement and re-form the Justice League of America. Batman, Green Arrow, and various others, however, have their own agenda and refuse to sign up. The bad hats, including Lex Luthor, Vandal Savage (``he was Cro-Magnon, not Homo sapiens,'' which is sad news for the rest of us), Catwoman, and the Riddler, prepare to rule the world once the superheroes blow each other away. . . . Do you really need to know more? A great sizzling turkey, unpalatably stuffed. Still, if it induces even a handful of readers to switch from comics to books with lots of words, it will have done its job. -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

It's the early years of the Twenty-First Century. Without the guidance and values long championed by the old guard - Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman - a younger generation of super heroes is ravaging the world. But when the Man of Steel returns from self-imposed exile, his very presence could be the catalyst that pushes us all into Armageddon. Seen through the eyes of Norman McCay, an aging minister who embarks on a disturbing odyssey of revelation with an angel known as the Spectre to guide him, Kingdom Come is the story of what defines a hero in a world spinning inexorably out of control...of the heroes who adapted to that changing world, and those who couldn't...of personal battles fought with inner demons, and the final war that would determine the fate of our planet.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

In the 21st century, the Metropolis that once hailed Superman as its guardian has fallen into decay. The old superheroesSuperman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash and others of their generationhave given way to a horde of self-appointed metahumans with a wide variety of deadly powers and, for the most part, the ethics of gangbusters. Now an elderly minister, Norman McCay, who narrates the novel, embarks on a quest to bring help to a Kansas destroyed by an inhuman power, while Batman plays a deadly game with Lex Luthor for control of Billy Batsonthe original but now amnesiac Captain Marvel. The novel is an expansion of a highly successful graphic series in DC's innovative Elseworlds universe, but it can be enjoyed without reference to the original. It can't be enjoyed, however, without the kind of suspension of disbelief that only fans of the DC universe are likely to muster. Even so, these and other readers will find the novel full of vivid characterizations of their favorite superbeings, gripping action scenes and notions of pure whimsy such as Planet Krypton theme restaurants. Maggin, a principal writer of Superman comics for many years, provides a model of how to turn comic books into fiction. Four-color and b&w illustrations by Alex Ross. Simultaneous Time Warner audio. (Mar.)

VOYA - Elaine McGuire

After losing in court trying to convict the metahuman, Magog, who killed the Joker who killed Lois Lane, a disillusioned Superman goes into self-imposed exile. In his absence the world goes to pot with Magog and his kind, the new superpowered not-so-heroes, taking over both crime and crime-fighting with very blurry dividing lines. The new crew finally goes too far when, during a "rumble" in the Heartland, Captain Atom's atom is split and Kansas is obliterated. Wonder Woman fetches a reluctant Superman from his Antarctic farm, and the battle of the old super-guard and the new super-punks begins. Added complications are the presence of God and gods (including Zeus and Shazam) who send a Spectre to guide and follow a chosen human/visionary through the higher meaning of all this, and a nasty collection of classic and nouveau bad guys including Lex Luthor, and, gasp, Batman. Kingdom Come, the novel, is an expansion of the graphic novel of the same name by Mark Waid and Alex Ross (DC Comics, 1998). Both demand the full attention of the reader. Without any background in graphic novels and the modern happenings of Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman, a persistent reader will enjoy this book but remain a bit confused. Without the graphic novel, many characters are difficult to picture, so their descriptions are elaborately odd. Without this book, the gaps between the art and dialogue in the graphic novel and the story's big themes are too huge. Together, though, both books form an entertaining, unique read. The creators succeed in commenting on modern society, proving that good versus evil is not so clear cut as we (and Superman) want it to be. Graphic novel fans knew this book was coming and have already read it. Readers attracted by the great cover will be pleasantly perplexed and will come back to the library hoping for the graphic novels to fill in the superhero histories.

Kirkus Reviews

Based on a popular 1996 DC Comics series by Mark Waid and Alex Ross, and now novelized by Maggin, author of two previous Superman novels: a sort of Twilight of the Superheroes, with the expected action painstakingly, and painfully, eked out with psychologizing, religion, and meaningless flourishes. In 21st-century Metropolis, Clark Kent and Lois Lane are dead, Superman has been missing for ten years, and the city streets are cluttered with young troublemaking "metahumans," some with genuine superpowers, led by the superpowered Magog and his sidekick, Alloy (the result when the Metal Men were all melted together). The Spectre, here a sort of guardian angel, appears to the Rev. Norman McCay and takes him whirling through time and space to observe the state of the world; somehow, you see, the Spectre needs Rev. McCay to help avert doomsday. After a big battle, Magog nukes Kansas, so Wonder Woman persuades Superman to come out of retirement and re-form the Justice League of America. Batman, Green Arrow, and various others, however, have their own agenda and refuse to sign up. The bad hats, including Lex Luthor, Vandal Savage ("he was Cro-Magnon, not Homo sapiens," which is sad news for the rest of us), Catwoman, and the Riddler, prepare to rule the world once the superheroes blow each other away. Do you really need to know more? A great sizzling turkey, unpalatably stuffed. Still, if it induces even a handful of readers to switch from comics to books with lots of words, it will have done its job.