Show notes
his week on Collecting Issues, we're opening the archives to bring you our classic deep dive into Kingdom Come, the legendary 1996 DC Elseworlds series by Mark Waid and Alex Ross. Originally recorded in March 2021, this episode is as relevant as ever.Join Mick and Ben as they explore how Kingdom Come served as a powerful critique of the '90s comic book "dark age"—an era defined by pouches, excessive violence, and gritty anti-heroes like Cable and Deadpool. We dissect the clash between a new, reckless generation of superhumans, led by the aggressive Magog, and the return of DC's classic icons like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, who come out of retirement to restore order and meaning to the word "hero."In This Episode, We Discuss:The Twilight of the Hero: What was happening in '90s comics that prompted Waid and Ross to create Kingdom Come?The Art of Gods: An analysis of Alex Ross's iconic, painted art style. Is it timeless iconography, or has its realism dated?Clash of the Titans: We break down some of the most memorable moments, including the legendary battle between a world-weary Superman and a brainwashed Shazam (Captain Marvel).A Controversial Take: Was Wonder Woman done dirty? We examine her characterisation as a ruthless warmonger and the villain of the piece.Enduring Legacy: How Kingdom Come drew inspiration from stories like Watchmen and Squadron Supreme and went on to influence comics like Civil War and video games like Injustice.Time Stamps:00:00 Introduction to the Episode00:43 Overview of Kingdom Come02:17 The Dark Ages of 90s Comics05:08 Alex Ross and the Realistic Consequences of Superheroes05:59 The Distinction Between Marvel and DC07:03 Norman McKay and the Framing Narrative09:16 The Twilight of the Classic Heroes09:53 The Rise of the New Anti-Heroes15:17 The Big Superhero Showdown19:16 The Aftermath and Conclusion20:38 Nonstop Motion: The Hero's Relentless Journey21:19 Wonder Woman's Controversial Portrayal24:40 The Art of Alex Ross28:48 Influences and ComparisonsFollow the Podcast:Join the Discord and read alongRead Our SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TiktokWatch us on Youtube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
