The Highlight Reel: Happily Ever After

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of DC's Kingdom Come (1996). Set in a near-future version of the DC Universe, this four-issue opus by creators Alex Ross and Mark Waid was equal parts a cinematic spectacle and a surprisingly philosophical meditation on the responsibilities and dangers of power.

Although it ostensibly focused on the conflict between older, traditional heroes and a reckless, amoral generation of young vigilanties, I see much more to the tale...especially as I grow older. Whether or not it was intended by Ross and Waid, and despite its superhero trappings, Kingdom Come reflects the larger philosophical conflicts and clashes I see and experience in the world around me. For example, amidst yet another great political shift, Kingdom Come's warnings against the hubris of power and corrupted utopian visions is as timely as ever. 

Of course, being the Superman fan that I am, Kingdom Come's older version of Superman is not only my favorite character in the story, but a point of personal identification as well. No, I've never faced the temptation to level the United Nations with my super-strength (I don't have super-strength), but as an unapologetically conservative guy, I sometimes feel as anachronistic and estranged from the society around me as this morality play's conflicted central character.

This "stranger in a strange land" theme was driven home yet again in a recent (and pleasantly surprising) guest appearance of the Kingdom Come Superman in the pages of Justice Society of America. Cleverly set between Kingdom Come #3 and #4, the older Superman was drawn through a dimensional rift into an extended adventure with the JSA. 

Which brings us (at last) to my Highlight Reel clip. In the final chapter of Thy Kingdom Come (JSA #22), Superman was returned to his native dimension after defeating the messianic threat of Magog. After re-presenting a few of Kingdom Come's closing scenes (this time from different camera angles), the once-tragic tale of the Kingdom Come Superman and his world draws to a triumphant, transcendent end...as gloriously illustrated by Kingdom Come co-creator Alex Ross!

Note: Those of you who aren't familiar with Kingdom Come or DC Comics in general, I'll post some comments you might find helpful below each pair of pages (click on the pages for larger views).

Page 1: Superman has just finished burying the bodies of the superheroes destroyed by an atomic bomb. Wonder Woman's gift is, essentially, the restoration of Superman's Clark Kent personna...which he had abandoned during his self-imposed exile from human society (where we found him in Kingdom Come #1). For fellow fans of the story...compare this page to its corresponding scene in Kingdom Come #4. Ross' shift in camera angles is pretty cool.

Page 2: 10 years later, Clark and Diana are obviously "married with children", visited by a doting Bruce Wayne (in a full-body exoskeleton from his long Batman career). 20 years later, we witness the funeral of Batman, attended by a virtual who's-who of Kingdom Come cast members...including a grief-stricken Selina (Catwoman) Kyle in the foreground.

Page 3: 100 years later, an enigmatic glimpse of Earth's future as humanity (accompanied by what appear to be members of Clark and Diana's family) takes to the stars while the proud "First Couple" looks on. Note the sunburst shirt Clark is wearing matches the one worn by his father Jor-El in Silver Age Superman comics (left). 200 years later, a planet-wide disaster is grieved by Clark, Diana and (presumably) a small band of their family members. 500 years later, Superman leads the rebuilding of human society, using his powers and Kansas farmer know-how to bring life to dead soil. Sharp-eyed Superman fans will note how his flying pose echoes the famous cover pose of Superman #1 (1939).

Page 4: 1000 years later, as a humble old man makes his way through a futuristic utopia (note the glimpse of criss-crossing blue laces around his feet), the Legion of Superheroes soars overhead. Briefly glimpsed in a single panel of Kingdom Come, the appearance of the super-teens (including a Superboy and a Supergirl) bring the saga full circle, to the obvious joy of an aged Superman (still sporting his Clark Kent spectacles).

Comments

[Rick]

I like Kingdom Come and this post was great. I was hoping to see that Mr. Ross had put in the Monkeemen again but I didn't see them. I imagine they were somewhere in the crowd at Batman's funeral.

[Brian]

While I love this ending, I can't understand why they keep giving Superman this ability to live an extraordinarily long life when he's aged normally up until this point. He grew up with Lana and stayed consistent with Lois later on. It doesn't make sense that he would suddenly decide to slow down the aging process...unless it's one of those superpowers time forgot! :)

[Comic Coverage]

Well, I recall a mention somewhere in Kingdom Come that Superman was more powerful than ever due to a lifetime of absorbing solar radiation, so maybe his amped-up power steadily slows the aging process, to the point where 1000 years from now, he appears to have aged only about 30-40 years from his fifty-something appearance in Kingdom Come.

But even if the pseudo-science is a little shakey, I love the "mythic" quality of an ancient Superman living into the distant future.

[Diane]

I may be a little late on this comment, but the look on Superman's face in that last panel - the "peering over the glasses" thing - for some reason reminds me of George Reeves in the old Superman TV series. Am I the only one who sees that?

[David E Martin]

Gotta admit that this epilogue had me both laughing with delight and getting misty-eyed.
And looking at it again just now, the eyes misted up all over again.
Helluvan accomplishment, Alex.

[John]

Just perfect isn't it? I really loved Kingdom Come and this just was the icing on the cake. I wonder if we will see stories to those teasers.

Oh and I think it makes more sense him aging like this as opposed to getting old like a normal human,which he is not. He is at the pinnacle of his powers here. KC Supes is one of the best interpretations of Superman ever.