100 Greatest Superhero Stories Ever
By Steve Lam
Image Courtesy of DC Comics
#6. Kingdom Come
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
May 1996–August 1996
Credits
Writers: Mark Waid, Alex Ross
Artist: Alex Ross
Leterrer: Todd Klein
The Reason It’s Great
When Alex Ross was working on Marvels (another one of our greatest superhero stories), he kept a notebook on what he wanted to do if he was given the same chance from DC. Soon after, Ross was able to pitch his idea to writer Mark Waid, and the two started work on Kingdom Come.
In an Elseworlds future, the Justice League come back together after being disbanded for a number of years due to the rise of Magog—a superhero that the public preferred. Batman forms his own team known as the Outsiders, and would later oppose the Justice League.
Captain Marvel, under the mind control of Lex Luthor, is used to fight against Superman while the United Nations deploys three nuclear warheads augmented to work against metahumans. After Captain Marvel breaks free from Luthor’s control, he sacrifices himself to stop the warheads. However, the resulting explosion is still devasting enough to have a high casualty count.
In the end, the heroes reintegrate into society and find other ways to serve the world. Batman rebuilds his mansion as a hospital, and Wonder Woman becomes an ambassador for superhumans.
Mark Waid writes a compelling story that offers somethine unique and special, but still adheres to the familiar characterizations of our beloved heroes. However, it’s Alex Ross’s stunning and iconic art that make Kingdcom Come one of the greatest superhero stories.