Kingdom Come is my favorite comic book of all time. I love it so much that I actually considered buying Mark Waid's World's Finest, even though I already know what happens in it!
Every time I read the parts where Batman talks down to the likes of Superman and Wonder Woman, I remember thinking to myself, *"Batman, even with an exoskeleton, how can you walk with balls that big?"*
So I was reading through Kingdom Come and I realized something! The visions that show an eagle fighting a bat are a red herring! Superman is not the eagle! Wonder Woman is! During the final battle, she wears eagle armor including her normal outfit and fights batman!
ComicPOP! Wow, never thought you'd see this comment. Let alone reply. Awesome. If you read through it, Superman has little resolve. He's still kind of broken. Wonder Woman is the one pushing everything even though she's his second.
This is the best show on the UA-cam. It's great to come back and watch an old episode from 7 years ago and see how much it has changed... Though its even better to see how much it hasn't
@25:00 Captain Marvel actually takes the image of Billy Batson’s father when he transforms so Billy could potentially grow up to look like Captain Marvel.
You seem to have missed this part in your analysis, but the "friend" that dies at the beginning is Wesley Dodds, who was the original Sandman, a Golden Age comic book hero that wore a gas mask and used a "truth" gas on people to investigate crimes, he also incidentally occasionally had prophetic visions in his sleep about said crimes, which is how he got included here. He's a c or d lister, so Im not suprised you missed him, but I like that they included him, especially because it ties in with the idea that he was a crime fighter in the late 30s and as such would be in his 90s by the time of this book. Im a big JSA fan, so I always like seeing nods to those characters.
I always assumed that Captain Marvel was just a big, buff, grown up version of Billy Batson. That was such a cool element of this novel. No one could tell whether or not he was Billy or Marvel. No one but Batman had the guts to find out.
i've rewatched this about 5 times and it's still my favorite episode of Back Issues... Basically i've bought around 4 copies of Kingdom Come for over 7 years and I have given 3 of them away to my closest friends just because I really feel I should spread this great superhero story to others... and we all really love it up to this day... thanks guys for this treat that i can watch over and over and over again... 😀😀😀
I like how after this came out Marvel went to Alex Ross and was like "Can you do one of those for us too but make it enormous and bat-shit crazy?" Man I loved all those books.
It was actually the other way around! While Alex Ross was working on “Marvels”, he wanted to create a similar story for DC and pitched the idea to them.
Funny thing is if the Joker were to set foot on the Marvel Multiverse he would be inmediatley murdered, Marvel characters don't have that cheesy superhero ethics code.
This is my favorite comic of all time, one of the first ones I ever bought myself -issue 4 at a newstand (my how times have changed) This made me a hardcore DC fanboy, an Alex Ross & Mark Waid fan and a Capt. Marvel fan! I have a few different versions of KC one is the deluxe numbered slipcase signed by Ross & Waid, but my favorite is the Absolute edition with the artwork oversized. Some of the stuff went over my 9 year old head at the time, but I remember Wizard magazine had an article that broke down all the references Ross put in, and that just made me love it even more and want to dig deeper into the DC universe. This was my gateway drug into comics! I still love Ross's art and was able to meet him at Midtown comics in NYC about 10 years ago and he signed my silver age justice league poster he painted that was given away as a freebie in Wizard mag (I miss that mag!)
This is my favorite superhero story of all time. This is the Holy grail of comics. So much action and emotion and best of all, it's a Superman/Batman/Wonder Woman story. Those are my three favorite heroes and I love how it hammers the lesson that might does not always make right. Actually, it doesn't make right.
I got all of my Kingdom Come issues signed by Ross and Waid and consider them my prized possessions. So glad you did this on Back Issues. Great episode as always. I happened to be browsing UA-cam while having lunch in my office at work, and noticed the Back Issues episode on Kingdom Come and let out a "woo!". Which caused a few people to look my way. I had to explain to them that it was a nerdgasm about something awesome.
hey guys. notice how this episode is 52 minutes long? yeah. that means sal doesn't hate the new 52. and the word "new" has 3 letters in it. and 5-2=3. sal ethan and ben make up a trinity. i think i've figured it out. tv little house is the official confirmation of half life 3
MysticalGreenBeanie OOOH, plus with the 18 second at the end, when you add up 1 + 8, it's 9. And 9 is 3 squared, and WE are three squares! And squares have 4 sides, so 3 x 4 = 12, and then you break apart 12 into 1 + 2, and it STILL EQUALS 3!!! ...I think we're here...to save the planet. *DUN DUN DUNNNNN*
3:54 You nailed it! This is arguably the greatest DC comic Book story of all time. Unlike the new crap DC is putting out, this was created by two people who have a lot of love and reverence for the material and the characters. Waid is the greatest. He signed my copy of Absolute Kingdom Come and was very vocal about his appreciation of his fans.
Didn't realize until after watching this episode of back issues that Kingdom Come was my first trade I bought. Hell of a way to get into DC. Thank you guys for what you do.
Just like Kingdom Come is a partial indictment of 90s superhero trends, I feel like the updated version would be more nihilistic, pointing out how resets/crises/mega-events mean less and less, merely resetting a cycle of violence and confuse the identity of the characters readers grew to love. Bought trade count since I started watching Back Issues: 22
Billy Batson and Shazam are the same person. The transformation is the same as with He-Man, they both say a magic incantation, "SHAZAM" is Billy's case. When Billy transforms he is hit with a magic bolt from the Rock of Ages and becomes what he predicives as the perfect human being, but it is still Billy. He is physicaly differant but has the same mind and personality.
My ideas about Shazam and Billy definitely came from other comics, and I know that I have some things backwards from different sources muddying the waters.
I personally think the Kingdom Come depiction of Flash is the better than in any other form. Don't get me wrong. Many of Ross's designs are absolutely timeless. However, the design of Flash is marvelous. Not only his physical appearance but the idea that he's become so fast that he can never stop moving. So good.
This is one of my favorite episodes and it just so happens to be my favorite book. I've been a subscriber for some time now and I always go back to the classics. Thanks for the content
You guys are amazing. Its so nice to watch something like this after reading the book. its like I get to a parallel universe where i have friends which are also interested in comic books :D
"Comics are meant to be read and played with[...]" You totally get it, man. I already love you guys but with this episode and the above quote you have moved from fun channel to one of my very favorites. Gun to my head I would call Kingdom Come the greatest superhero story ever written and I love the way you break it down here. Pulling out my issues to re read right now. Keep doing what you're doing. Also, fuck Alan Moore. lol
This episode was absolutely fantastic episode guys ! Mark Waid is such an amazing writer and Alex Ross is a fantastic writer, they need to team up for another book ASAP !
Happy 4th Birthday, Back Issues!!! I came back watching this again for the Nth time. It was my introductory episode to Back Issues and Comic Pop, so watching this again is my way of celebrating our 4yo baby Back Issues... And by the great Caesar's ghost, I'm still loving this episode, still my favorite UA-cam video of all time. It's like bacon, it doesn't get old for my taste... 😊😊😊
I honestly love your channel i'm new to comics and have taken many of your suggestions and haven't regret a single one is has lead me astray. Keep it up you guys Sal Ben And Ethan. I'm currently reading Hush and loving it so far.
Alexander Beltzer-Sweny I've seen them they're excellent aswell but sal ben and ethan are hilarious together it's like i'm hanging out with old friends.
+MakiPcr in book two there's a sequence where Superman goes into a bar and recruits the younger rowdier metahumans to his cause. In the first page's second panel you can see Rorschach in the background doing his "finger breaking" torture thing.
I remember reading this at my hometown's public library many a year ago. Such a great graphic novel, I got sucked in, sat there and read the whole thing. One of the best DC graphic novels out there IMO
I got half way through this episode and decided I need to read this myself before I get the ending spoiled. So glad I did, easily one of the greatest superhero comics I've ever read and I'm not even a fan of DC. If it weren't for ComicPOP I wouldn't have ever read it, so thanks so much for this :D
Kingdom Come! YES! Real talk: you should have more episodes about books you actually like, Sal. This is probably your best Back Issues yet. Very fun discussion. Seems like Ethan really enjoyed it. And Ben is still the worst for not watching Game of Thrones. Thanks for this. Love you guys. (The new intro is killer, by the way.)
This was probably one of my favorite Back Issues so far. I am so glad that you guys do this, I look forward to it all week! Also you guys ended on a really nice note. I always struggle between wanting to collect graphic novels and just wanting to enjoy good stories. Thanks for keeping it real. P.S. I don't think anyone that watches the show has problems with them being longer. I'm all for it.
Awesome episode! I love Kingdom Come! Also I remember around 97 I read a interview in Wizard with Mark Waid and there was a question about the inspiration about the "replacement" heroes in Kingdom come and his answer was that he was inspired by the comics that were coming from Image, the Rob Liefield creations and the antiheroes that comics companies were coming out around that time.
I think in that interview from that issue of Wizard Mark Waid said that his idea for Magog was a combination of Cable, Punisher and the John Paul Valley character. If I remember correctly it was the Wizard 97 annual issue. Great interview that takes up around 8-10 pages of that issue.
Awesome! This is the comic that make me read comics, is awesome, the art is amazing and Waid is Waid. I have to accept I cried at the end. Really cool book and video
Hey guys, this is a great episode! I read Kingdom Come and came back to watch this episode and man...it's just such a good story. And the fact it ends on genuinely happy note is perhaps my favorite thing in comic books. All these characters we love come to realize how much they love people and each other and they grow. They actually grow and it's amazing. Also it gave me a new love for Captain Marvel, who is clearly Alex Ross's favorite.
The grand daddy of Elseworld stories is finally complete! You guys can stop now! But in all seriousness Kingdom Come is amazing and keep these videos coming, they're great.
i love this episode. i heard other synopses of this story from other youtubers... and none of them really captures the emotional weight of the story. something that you guys do in general even when the story is terrible
im going to get this trade and death of superman in 2 weeks cant wait to read both,both are gonna be quite a load to read their big trades so im watching your awsome review you guys got a great channel
Alex Ross was originally going to make a prequel to this called The Kingdom it would explain the rise of Magog and his mentor GOG and a whole lot of other stuff but the prequel comic was cancelled 😶🐇
I sort of agree with wonder woman being willing to take out the new super powered people IF they don’t play along. One thing with Batman and Superman is that they for the most part will capture these murderers who eventually escape their prisons to go and kill more people. Now on a storytelling aspect it makes sense, if Batman or Superman killed their villains then after a handful of issues their biggest and most popular villains would be gone. Though as far as this story goes she is right, it’s just a Merry-go-round of villains getting captured only to break out, the only way to stop the cycle is to kill them or let them just kill whoever they want without repercussion.
So I'm not a huge DC fan, but wow. I clearly need to pick this one up. It sounded fantastic. The idea of Captain Marvel shocking the hell out of Superman is worth the cover price alone. Great one!
I'm more a fan of European and Japanese comic books but since starting to watch this show I've been interested in picking up more American comic books, decided to read this one before I saw your back issues on it, when I read it I noticed a lot of subtle references to Japanese media, saw an interview with Alex Ross before he mentioned he was a big fan of the Gatchaman, and it was hard to not notice the similarity Red Robin had to them, it's a pretty cool visual reference when you consider Yoshitaka Amano the designer of the Gatchaman based their appearance of American comic book heroes Batman in particular, also the little montage where they fight all over the world had a picture of astroboy on one of the billboard in the background and depicts superman flying in and out of a robot to destroy it, not unlike how astroboy took out robots (astroboy likewise was based on superman), it was subtle but I appreciated it, one of the robots at the start of the book bore a striking resemblance to a z'gok from Mobile Suit Gundam too but that might've just been a coincidence or me just looking for them at that point, hard to miss those chun-li and xenomorph characters though think he didn't do well to incorporate them subtly lol. Still it's so cool to see an artist who wears his influences on his sleeve like that, I was worried Alex Ross' art would look static because of it's empahsis on "realism" but that guy knows how to layout a panel, and conveys so much action using a single image, not to mention his values really made the pages come alive and feel dynamic it was a real pleasure to read, thanks for coaxing me into buying it.
+ManlySlothMan So you like European and Japanese over American? you mean like Heavy Metal Magazine and Akira? Since your an anime fan, what do you think of Yoshiaka Kawajari's stuff?
Yeah dude Kawajiri is the man! Ninja scroll is a great time despite it's more questionable content (which is it's biggest hurdle for some people) it feels like a true realization of gekiga chanbara manga like lone wolf and cub in animated form without any intellectual posturing makes for a fun cheesy action movie with great experimental visuals, he's a solid director even his stuff I'm not particularly fond of I can at least appreciate for atmosphere and visual flair like that short he did for neo tokyo, never much cared for it but the craftsmanship of the piece is hard not to admire. You see that deadshot short he did for the gotham knight compilation? it's one of the standouts of that collection and a nice little crossroads of american superhero comics and japanese animation since we're talkin' about both here. Besides all that in terms of influence Kawajiri brought up some real good talent through madhouse like Takeshi Koike if you ever want to see 2d animation at it's peak I implore you to watch some of Koike's work just so happens he produced a short piece on an american superhero too, just type in Iron Man anime pilot into youtube and thank me later.
Oh yeah I love heavy metal man got a bunch of moebius books about the house one of these days I'm gonna get of my ass and learn some french just so I can justify having them, another series I've only really started but nonetheless am enjoying is corto maltese that shit is just beautiful Hugo Pratt truly had a master's touch.
ManlySlothMan What do you think of Vampire Hunter D Bloodlust and Wicked City? and what about Akira, Ghost in the Shell, Fist of the north star etc.? other fantastic mangas. I dig HM Magazine and Akira as well as those are other comics in the 80s that made comics not just kids stuff besides Alan Moore and Frank Miller's stuff and some of the dark age comics of the 90s took the wrong lessons from them all especially HM and Akira. Akira was a success in Japan in 1982 and in the US when it hit comics from Marvel-Epic in 1988 as it earned acclaimed as it made Manga hot and hip for Americans as it sold tons of copies. Do you like Alan Moore and Frank "pre 2001 insanity" Miller as well?
Have Vampire hunter D bloodlust sitting around the house somewhere bought it a while ago haven't had the opportunity to sit down with some friends and watch it like we all planned, like wise I have the first volume of akira but I don't have the funds to buy the rest at the moment, love the movie to bits especially them tasty multiplane backgrounds and also just the tour de force of animation on display. Not sure about wicked city if it's any good I may have to check it out. Ghost in the shell is amazing I don't normally go out of my way to collect things but I've got pretty much every entry in the franchise bar the new arise series and some of the sequel manga, did a big write up on it for a project a year back the way it explores existentialism is a bit heavy handed but with clever imagery and interesting characters it never grates the nerves like other series with such lofty ambitions of exploring humanity. Fist of the north star is distilled greatness I read halfway through the series up until "I have no regrets in my life!" and one of the single greatest antagonist deaths of all time I was so satisfied with it I didn't even feel like I had to read on, but I will someday, also Heart of Madness, I Kill the Fight and Ai wo Torimodose are my jams. I don't know much about Alan Moore and Frank Miller compared to a lot of their fans, I've honestly only read watchmen, dark knight and the first volume of sin city a friend loaned me, I enjoyed them immensely I loved Miller's use of negative space and the fact that he wears his influences so proudly on his sleeves. I'm really curious about stuff like halo jones, ronin and frank's collaborations with Geoff Darrow but I'm not in much of a comic (or manga) reading mood these days got too much work to keep up with. To be honest I don't lament most of the stuff that went on in the 90s, I mean I've never really read much, but I can't imagine many of the creators of those works actually detested what they were doing, or did it to capitalize on the market, in fact they probably enjoyed it a great deal making unhinged characters they would love to read about when they were fourteen or letting go of the shackles of censorship groups, shifting standards I could imagine the liberation that came with that not to mention the distribution of comics became more wide spread with specialist store and they were all being influenced by all the rad shit they seen being imported every which way they all made a lot of money and they all made a bunch of terrible business decisions, I understand it's an era that many people are embarrassed by but it was necessary for growth and great stuff was released then even if it was a criticism of the era like Kingdom Come.
I have loved this story for 20 years since i was 14, i did grew up in the 80s and 90s as i have been a comic fan for 30 years thanks to watching Superman 1 & 2 on video with Swamp Thing on cable as i collected Swamp Thing and Superman comics even Judge Dredd, Watchmen, Batman Year One, X-Men and others. I read this story as i thought it was brilliant and the 90's answer to Watchmen, i knew this story was mocking the extreme grim/gritty antihero stuff of Rob Liefled in the 90's thanks to Wizard magazine and how this story moved me like Watchmen did. I'm sure Alan Moore and pre-2001 Frank Miller enjoyed this story and do you think some 90's comics took the wrong lessons from Frank Miller, Alan Moore, Heavy Metal Magazine aka Richard Corben and Katushiro Otomo's Akira? although the 90s wasnt all a disaster as there is some gems you know like this one.
I always thought that the Shazam power turned you in a perfect version of yourself. I think that Luthor was able to get his hands on Billy when he was still a kid and just raised him to look near identical in terms of physique.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Buy Kingdom Come here: amzn.to/2elSXQv
I’M GONNA BUY THIS YOU ARISTOCRATIC BASTARD!
Huh, this is four months new. Sweet!
Great story
Kingdom Come is my favorite comic book of all time. I love it so much that I actually considered buying Mark Waid's World's Finest, even though I already know what happens in it!
Fun Fact: Norman's friend was actually Westly Dodds the Sandman.
Every time I read the parts where Batman talks down to the likes of Superman and Wonder Woman, I remember thinking to myself, *"Batman, even with an exoskeleton, how can you walk with balls that big?"*
Just Some Guy with a Mustache he has the exoskeleton just to support the weight of them lol
Best comment
Obvious answer: “Because I’m BATMAN!”
So I was reading through Kingdom Come and I realized something! The visions that show an eagle fighting a bat are a red herring! Superman is not the eagle! Wonder Woman is! During the final battle, she wears eagle armor including her normal outfit and fights batman!
Allen Babylon That is an amazing observation! Nice!
ComicPOP! Wow, never thought you'd see this comment. Let alone reply. Awesome. If you read through it, Superman has little resolve. He's still kind of broken. Wonder Woman is the one pushing everything even though she's his second.
Allen Babylon that's not a red herring. it was clear WW was supposed to be "the eagle".
Robert Redway It is if you know that Superman's symbol is an eagle.
Superman's symbol has never been an eagle. Ever.
Norm McRae's friend wasn't just some guy. It was Wesley Dodds aka The Sandman. That's why he was having the dreams
+Allan Sconza I am so surprised they didn't point out that he was the golden age Sandman.
Thank you!! DDUUHH!! I can't believe they read this book & didn't get that. I used to know Alex Ross back then too.
I just noticed that!!!
Sal probably forgotten
@@jakevader93
Cut for time?
This is the best show on the UA-cam. It's great to come back and watch an old episode from 7 years ago and see how much it has changed... Though its even better to see how much it hasn't
@25:00 Captain Marvel actually takes the image of Billy Batson’s father when he transforms so Billy could potentially grow up to look like Captain Marvel.
You seem to have missed this part in your analysis, but the "friend" that dies at the beginning is Wesley Dodds, who was the original Sandman, a Golden Age comic book hero that wore a gas mask and used a "truth" gas on people to investigate crimes, he also incidentally occasionally had prophetic visions in his sleep about said crimes, which is how he got included here. He's a c or d lister, so Im not suprised you missed him, but I like that they included him, especially because it ties in with the idea that he was a crime fighter in the late 30s and as such would be in his 90s by the time of this book. Im a big JSA fan, so I always like seeing nods to those characters.
I always assumed that Captain Marvel was just a big, buff, grown up version of Billy Batson. That was such a cool element of this novel. No one could tell whether or not he was Billy or Marvel. No one but Batman had the guts to find out.
i've rewatched this about 5 times and it's still my favorite episode of Back Issues...
Basically i've bought around 4 copies of Kingdom Come for over 7 years and I have given 3 of them away to my closest friends just because I really feel I should spread this great superhero story to others... and we all really love it up to this day...
thanks guys for this treat that i can watch over and over and over again... 😀😀😀
DC should do a Kingdom Come animated movie.
nah, they would fuck it up
A 3D animation movie, that would be just awesome
This is a DC animated film, not a marvel one
no no no no no
+Martin Aguilar dc is terrible at live action movies but they are amazing at animated ones
I like how after this came out Marvel went to Alex Ross and was like "Can you do one of those for us too but make it enormous and bat-shit crazy?" Man I loved all those books.
It was actually the other way around! While Alex Ross was working on “Marvels”, he wanted to create a similar story for DC and pitched the idea to them.
I think killing the Joker is actually a pretty reasonable thing to do, although everytime someone does it the universe goes to crap.
maybe because humanity has an inherent need for chaos?
Patrick Aizpurua Agreed. Eff Joker.
Kevin Pereyra Humanity IS chaos!
Funny thing is if the Joker were to set foot on the Marvel Multiverse he would be inmediatley murdered, Marvel characters don't have that cheesy superhero ethics code.
I think he would be intimidated by Deadpool's insanity and then he would be murdered by Castle
Love that endnote about comic books being things to read and enjoy and not hermetically seal on and keep in a box.
This is my favorite comic of all time, one of the first ones I ever bought myself -issue 4 at a newstand (my how times have changed) This made me a hardcore DC fanboy, an Alex Ross & Mark Waid fan and a Capt. Marvel fan! I have a few different versions of KC one is the deluxe numbered slipcase signed by Ross & Waid, but my favorite is the Absolute edition with the artwork oversized.
Some of the stuff went over my 9 year old head at the time, but I remember Wizard magazine had an article that broke down all the references Ross put in, and that just made me love it even more and want to dig deeper into the DC universe. This was my gateway drug into comics! I still love Ross's art and was able to meet him at Midtown comics in NYC about 10 years ago and he signed my silver age justice league poster he painted that was given away as a freebie in Wizard mag (I miss that mag!)
you really like that book, huh? :D
An hour long kingdom come back issues...
I can't even handle this much awesomeness.
Mago. D Snowman Hope you made it!
TV Little House Comics I did.
and enjoyed every second of it
ComicPOP!
I love the Hobbes toy!
This is my favorite superhero story of all time. This is the Holy grail of comics. So much action and emotion and best of all, it's a Superman/Batman/Wonder Woman story. Those are my three favorite heroes and I love how it hammers the lesson that might does not always make right. Actually, it doesn't make right.
Absolutely agree!
I got all of my Kingdom Come issues signed by Ross and Waid and consider them my prized possessions. So glad you did this on Back Issues. Great episode as always.
I happened to be browsing UA-cam while having lunch in my office at work, and noticed the Back Issues episode on Kingdom Come and let out a "woo!". Which caused a few people to look my way. I had to explain to them that it was a nerdgasm about something awesome.
Completely agree Sal, the end part in the restaurant is my favourite part in comics. its just sublime
hey guys. notice how this episode is 52 minutes long? yeah. that means sal doesn't hate the new 52. and the word "new" has 3 letters in it. and 5-2=3. sal ethan and ben make up a trinity. i think i've figured it out.
tv little house is the official confirmation of half life 3
I have been to Valve before. Coincidence or planning meeting?
i don't believe in "coincidence"
MysticalGreenBeanie OOOH, plus with the 18 second at the end, when you add up 1 + 8, it's 9. And 9 is 3 squared, and WE are three squares! And squares have 4 sides, so 3 x 4 = 12, and then you break apart 12 into 1 + 2, and it STILL EQUALS 3!!!
...I think we're here...to save the planet. *DUN DUN DUNNNNN*
3:54 You nailed it! This is arguably the greatest DC comic Book story of all time.
Unlike the new crap DC is putting out, this was created by two people who have a lot of love and reverence for the material and the characters. Waid is the greatest. He signed my copy of Absolute Kingdom Come and was very vocal about his appreciation of his fans.
Didn't realize until after watching this episode of back issues that Kingdom Come was my first trade I bought. Hell of a way to get into DC. Thank you guys for what you do.
Nolan's Batman uses the line that batman uses in kingdom come so that's what that feels like
Just like Kingdom Come is a partial indictment of 90s superhero trends, I feel like the updated version would be more nihilistic, pointing out how resets/crises/mega-events mean less and less, merely resetting a cycle of violence and confuse the identity of the characters readers grew to love.
Bought trade count since I started watching Back Issues: 22
Interesting to come back and see the "Magog killed Joker" commentary in light of the recent ComicLine.
The Magog V Superman part of this reminds me of the DCAU movie Superman V The Elite with Manchester Black being the Magog of that story...
Billy Batson and Shazam are the same person. The transformation is the same as with He-Man, they both say a magic incantation, "SHAZAM" is Billy's case. When Billy transforms he is hit with a magic bolt from the Rock of Ages and becomes what he predicives as the perfect human being, but it is still Billy. He is physicaly differant but has the same mind and personality.
jay charles jackson Yeah, Frank Miller and Jeff Smith have some ideas that contradict it. Either way, it's a great portrayal.
TV Little House Comics In The Dark Knight Strikes Again! Captain Marvel is clearly defined as separate people in the one body.
My ideas about Shazam and Billy definitely came from other comics, and I know that I have some things backwards from different sources muddying the waters.
It varies from era to era.
I personally think the Kingdom Come depiction of Flash is the better than in any other form.
Don't get me wrong. Many of Ross's designs are absolutely timeless. However, the design of Flash is marvelous. Not only his physical appearance but the idea that he's become so fast that he can never stop moving.
So good.
It's written by mark waid, mark waid loves his wally
Agreed, the design is just amazing
FINALLY! Kingdom Come is my favorite DC story.
Caleb Velazquez Woohoo!
It's not Ra's Al Ghul's son its Batman and Talia's son, but he's not called Damian
This is one of my favorite episodes and it just so happens to be my favorite book. I've been a subscriber for some time now and I always go back to the classics. Thanks for the content
You guys are amazing. Its so nice to watch something like this after reading the book. its like I get to a parallel universe where i have friends which are also interested in comic books :D
Wait, if Batman looks like Gregory Peck, does that make him Batticus Finch?
winner!
Holy shit! I didn't realized of the obvious metaphor of Magog representing the false Golden Idol. This book is brilliant!
This is my favorite Back Issues (because it's about my favorite graphic novel). I've watched it several times. Love hearing you guys talk about it!
+CheezewithaZ Thanks dude! This was interesting because 2/3 read the book, but I think it works anyway. This gives me an idea...
This and Spider-Man Blue are the two videos I always find myself returning to. You guys are gold
Can’t wait for Brandon Routh’s Kingdom Come’s Superman!
I'm only 14 minutes in... this shit is GOLD!!!!
Thanks!
The heir to Ras' al Ghul on Luthor's time is an early alternate version of Damian Wayne.
The friend of the preacher... was Wesley Dodds... The Golden Age Sandman, from the JSA.
I love that Sal thought that Ibn al Xu'ffasch (AKA Damien Wayne) was Ra’s al Ghul’s son at this point
I picked up the original 4 issues in 1996 on a whim because I loved Alex Ross. I never knew it would become the iconic story that it is today.
I love re watching these older videos. You guys have come so far.
I think i've watched this episode of back issues about five times now. Never gets old.
Kingdom come needs to be a movie.
"Comics are meant to be read and played with[...]" You totally get it, man. I already love you guys but with this episode and the above quote you have moved from fun channel to one of my very favorites. Gun to my head I would call Kingdom Come the greatest superhero story ever written and I love the way you break it down here. Pulling out my issues to re read right now. Keep doing what you're doing.
Also, fuck Alan Moore. lol
Thank you so much, Maxximus. So, so glad you subscribe to the same ideology about comics, man ;)
that look on wonder womans face is absolutely priceless. you didnt lie hahah. this is one of the greatst stories ive read
23:40 aw I wanted to hear the Alan Moore tangent lol
This episode was absolutely fantastic episode guys ! Mark Waid is such an amazing writer and Alex Ross is a fantastic writer, they need to team up for another book ASAP !
Crimsonknight700 I really want them to. No sequel, tho! New stuff!
Absolutely, New Stuff all the way. We don't want another, The Dark Knight Strikes again on our hands.
Mark Waid is doing World’s Finest, so I could see Alex Ross doing an arc in that book.
Happy 4th Birthday, Back Issues!!!
I came back watching this again for the Nth time. It was my introductory episode to Back Issues and Comic Pop, so watching this again is my way of celebrating our 4yo baby Back Issues...
And by the great Caesar's ghost, I'm still loving this episode, still my favorite UA-cam video of all time. It's like bacon, it doesn't get old for my taste... 😊😊😊
I think the thing I love most about Kingdom Come is the audiobook recording that exists on UA-cam. Seriously, it's amazing.
Thankyou so much for doing this! J have waited forever to find out what this was! I love your channel
I honestly love your channel i'm new to comics and have taken many of your suggestions and haven't regret a single one is has lead me astray. Keep it up you guys Sal Ben And Ethan. I'm currently reading Hush and loving it so far.
Look up marvel explained and comicstorian.
Alexander Beltzer-Sweny I've seen them they're excellent aswell but sal ben and ethan are hilarious together it's like i'm hanging out with old friends.
Renzo Pareja Thanks, we like that kind of atmosphere!
You're very welcome good sir! Again you guys are creating great content keep up the amazing work!
P.s *cough*World War Hulk*cough*
If you look really closely in one scene in the comic, you can see Rorschach from watchmen.
+Daniel He's breaking someone's finger, I believe. Some poor schmuck in the back of the bar.
+Just Some Guy with a Mustache 3:01 he's in the bottom panel.
+MakiPcr and Uncle Sam makes a cameo in that scene too.
+MakiPcr in book two there's a sequence where Superman goes into a bar and recruits the younger rowdier metahumans to his cause. In the first page's second panel you can see Rorschach in the background doing his "finger breaking" torture thing.
Daniel Diaz where?
I remember reading this at my hometown's public library many a year ago. Such a great graphic novel, I got sucked in, sat there and read the whole thing. One of the best DC graphic novels out there IMO
My favorite part from the book is the small part with Martian manhunter broken
Where was that part?
Thank you so much for making this video and for hearing me out!!
Hector Navarro No prob! It was on our list, too ;)
And now the elseworld antithesis of this book. All Star Batman and Robin
*shudder*
Oh God.... What fucking crack was Frank Miller on when he wrote that?!?!?!?
This is my favorite comic ever, I'm so glad you guys did it
Mark Waid nails Batman: He just doesn't want to have anyone have to see people die in violence.
I got half way through this episode and decided I need to read this myself before I get the ending spoiled. So glad I did, easily one of the greatest superhero comics I've ever read and I'm not even a fan of DC. If it weren't for ComicPOP I wouldn't have ever read it, so thanks so much for this :D
+Ylatch
You a Marvel fan?
Yeah
Ylatch
I've always been DC for 30 years since i was 4 but i still dig Marvel but DC makes better stories you know.
That's nice
Kingdom Come! YES!
Real talk: you should have more episodes about books you actually like, Sal. This is probably your best Back Issues yet. Very fun discussion. Seems like Ethan really enjoyed it. And Ben is still the worst for not watching Game of Thrones.
Thanks for this. Love you guys. (The new intro is killer, by the way.)
This was probably one of my favorite Back Issues so far. I am so glad that you guys do this, I look forward to it all week! Also you guys ended on a really nice note. I always struggle between wanting to collect graphic novels and just wanting to enjoy good stories. Thanks for keeping it real.
P.S. I don't think anyone that watches the show has problems with them being longer. I'm all for it.
Andrew Van Ness Thank you, Andrew! I wanna try to make it work for everybody, but I think we can indulge once in awhile... ;)
Awesome episode! I love Kingdom Come! Also I remember around 97 I read a interview in Wizard with Mark Waid and there was a question about the inspiration about the "replacement" heroes in Kingdom come and his answer was that he was inspired by the comics that were coming from Image, the Rob Liefield creations and the antiheroes that comics companies were coming out around that time.
Great minds!
I think in that interview from that issue of Wizard Mark Waid said that his idea for Magog was a combination of Cable, Punisher and the John Paul Valley character. If I remember correctly it was the Wizard 97 annual issue. Great interview that takes up around 8-10 pages of that issue.
Best Superman story :D
this is my first watch of any of your videos and i instantly noticed Hobbes in the background. best. thing. ever.
And this is why people love Billy Batson - because Captain Marvel is awesome
So that's what the famous Kingdom Come story is. I'm an amateur reader and somehow I missed it. Now I definately want to get it!!! Thank you
Man, you guys are so awesome, especially you Sal you know so much!
One of the best comic stories ever, great video!
Awesome! This is the comic that make me read comics, is awesome, the art is amazing and Waid is Waid. I have to accept I cried at the end. Really cool book and video
Kevin Bravo Thanks!
Hey guys, this is a great episode! I read Kingdom Come and came back to watch this episode and man...it's just such a good story. And the fact it ends on genuinely happy note is perhaps my favorite thing in comic books. All these characters we love come to realize how much they love people and each other and they grow. They actually grow and it's amazing. Also it gave me a new love for Captain Marvel, who is clearly Alex Ross's favorite.
What is TV Little House?
"And batman's like, (Sal face) fuck."
christopher freire lol You mean that quote epitomizes us? ...Yeah, I guess so!
The grand daddy of Elseworld stories is finally complete! You guys can stop now! But in all seriousness Kingdom Come is amazing and keep these videos coming, they're great.
Shutty Thanks, Shutty! Will do ;)
This was my first episode of back issues
I could’ve SWORN y’all had the tv in the background but upon revisiting it y’all did not
Love the new intro and love this episode never a dull moment.
If I was able to, I'd turn those epic covers for kingdom come into massive posters a stick them to my wall.
I remember the SHAZAM LIGHTING DEATH STRIKE THINGY from the Justice League cartoon.
Are you talking about when Billy Batson yells shazam and a lightning bolt strikes him and turns him into Captain Marvel.
Chase Wimbish yeah
+It's Over 9000 Productions JLU Season 2 Episode 7 "Clash"
the captain marvel persona was modelled after Billy's Dad so it made sense
i love this episode. i heard other synopses of this story from other youtubers... and none of them really captures the emotional weight of the story.
something that you guys do in general even when the story is terrible
One of the best Back Issues!!!
Kudos!
Br. Nicholas of Carmel Thank you, Nicholas!
+TV Little House Comics You all are welcome
im going to get this trade and death of superman in 2 weeks cant wait to read both,both are gonna be quite a load to read their big trades so im watching your awsome review you guys got a great channel
Alex Ross was originally going to make a prequel to this called The Kingdom it would explain the rise of Magog and his mentor GOG and a whole lot of other stuff but the prequel comic was cancelled 😶🐇
I actually always assumed that Cpt Marvel was the adult version of Billy Batson, and the two were interchangeable .
Yes! one of my favorite books. Thank you so much for this.
TerminalNoob Anytime!
Fun Watchmen Easter egg, on pg. 17 the book "Under The Hood" by Hollis Mason is in the window casing the preacher walks by.
If I was to rank it, I’d put Kingdom Come at #1 comic book/ graphic novel of all time! Everything about it is just so good.
Awesome episode guys well done!! :-D
This Is Super Music Thanks, Supes!
I sort of agree with wonder woman being willing to take out the new super powered people IF they don’t play along. One thing with Batman and Superman is that they for the most part will capture these murderers who eventually escape their prisons to go and kill more people. Now on a storytelling aspect it makes sense, if Batman or Superman killed their villains then after a handful of issues their biggest and most popular villains would be gone. Though as far as this story goes she is right, it’s just a Merry-go-round of villains getting captured only to break out, the only way to stop the cycle is to kill them or let them just kill whoever they want without repercussion.
So I'm not a huge DC fan, but wow. I clearly need to pick this one up. It sounded fantastic. The idea of Captain Marvel shocking the hell out of Superman is worth the cover price alone. Great one!
Highroller J I hear ya, man!
I love that series of panels, they're epic!
+Highroller J
You a marvel fan?
I'm a good story fan. Lol
Highroller J
What comics you liked?
I'm more a fan of European and Japanese comic books but since starting to watch this show I've been interested in picking up more American comic books, decided to read this one before I saw your back issues on it, when I read it I noticed a lot of subtle references to Japanese media, saw an interview with Alex Ross before he mentioned he was a big fan of the Gatchaman, and it was hard to not notice the similarity Red Robin had to them, it's a pretty cool visual reference when you consider Yoshitaka Amano the designer of the Gatchaman based their appearance of American comic book heroes Batman in particular, also the little montage where they fight all over the world had a picture of astroboy on one of the billboard in the background and depicts superman flying in and out of a robot to destroy it, not unlike how astroboy took out robots (astroboy likewise was based on superman), it was subtle but I appreciated it, one of the robots at the start of the book bore a striking resemblance to a z'gok from Mobile Suit Gundam too but that might've just been a coincidence or me just looking for them at that point, hard to miss those chun-li and xenomorph characters though think he didn't do well to incorporate them subtly lol.
Still it's so cool to see an artist who wears his influences on his sleeve like that, I was worried Alex Ross' art would look static because of it's empahsis on "realism" but that guy knows how to layout a panel, and conveys so much action using a single image, not to mention his values really made the pages come alive and feel dynamic it was a real pleasure to read, thanks for coaxing me into buying it.
+ManlySlothMan
So you like European and Japanese over American? you mean like Heavy Metal Magazine and Akira?
Since your an anime fan, what do you think of Yoshiaka Kawajari's stuff?
Yeah dude Kawajiri is the man! Ninja scroll is a great time despite it's more questionable content (which is it's biggest hurdle for some people) it feels like a true realization of gekiga chanbara manga like lone wolf and cub in animated form without any intellectual posturing makes for a fun cheesy action movie with great experimental visuals, he's a solid director even his stuff I'm not particularly fond of I can at least appreciate for atmosphere and visual flair like that short he did for neo tokyo, never much cared for it but the craftsmanship of the piece is hard not to admire.
You see that deadshot short he did for the gotham knight compilation? it's one of the standouts of that collection and a nice little crossroads of american superhero comics and japanese animation since we're talkin' about both here. Besides all that in terms of influence Kawajiri brought up some real good talent through madhouse like Takeshi Koike if you ever want to see 2d animation at it's peak I implore you to watch some of Koike's work just so happens he produced a short piece on an american superhero too, just type in Iron Man anime pilot into youtube and thank me later.
Oh yeah I love heavy metal man got a bunch of moebius books about the house one of these days I'm gonna get of my ass and learn some french just so I can justify having them, another series I've only really started but nonetheless am enjoying is corto maltese that shit is just beautiful Hugo Pratt truly had a master's touch.
ManlySlothMan
What do you think of Vampire Hunter D Bloodlust and Wicked City? and what about Akira, Ghost in the Shell, Fist of the north star etc.? other fantastic mangas.
I dig HM Magazine and Akira as well as those are other comics in the 80s that made comics not just kids stuff besides Alan Moore and Frank Miller's stuff and some of the dark age comics of the 90s took the wrong lessons from them all especially HM and Akira. Akira was a success in Japan in 1982 and in the US when it hit comics from Marvel-Epic in 1988 as it earned acclaimed as it made Manga hot and hip for Americans as it sold tons of copies.
Do you like Alan Moore and Frank "pre 2001 insanity" Miller as well?
Have Vampire hunter D bloodlust sitting around the house somewhere bought it a while ago haven't had the opportunity to sit down with some friends and watch it like we all planned, like wise I have the first volume of akira but I don't have the funds to buy the rest at the moment, love the movie to bits especially them tasty multiplane backgrounds and also just the tour de force of animation on display. Not sure about wicked city if it's any good I may have to check it out.
Ghost in the shell is amazing I don't normally go out of my way to collect things but I've got pretty much every entry in the franchise bar the new arise series and some of the sequel manga, did a big write up on it for a project a year back the way it explores existentialism is a bit heavy handed but with clever imagery and interesting characters it never grates the nerves like other series with such lofty ambitions of exploring humanity.
Fist of the north star is distilled greatness I read halfway through the series up until "I have no regrets in my life!" and one of the single greatest antagonist deaths of all time I was so satisfied with it I didn't even feel like I had to read on, but I will someday, also Heart of Madness, I Kill the Fight and Ai wo Torimodose are my jams.
I don't know much about Alan Moore and Frank Miller compared to a lot of their fans, I've honestly only read watchmen, dark knight and the first volume of sin city a friend loaned me, I enjoyed them immensely I loved Miller's use of negative space and the fact that he wears his influences so proudly on his sleeves. I'm really curious about stuff like halo jones, ronin and frank's collaborations with Geoff Darrow but I'm not in much of a comic (or manga) reading mood these days got too much work to keep up with.
To be honest I don't lament most of the stuff that went on in the 90s, I mean I've never really read much, but I can't imagine many of the creators of those works actually detested what they were doing, or did it to capitalize on the market, in fact they probably enjoyed it a great deal making unhinged characters they would love to read about when they were fourteen or letting go of the shackles of censorship groups, shifting standards I could imagine the liberation that came with that not to mention the distribution of comics became more wide spread with specialist store and they were all being influenced by all the rad shit they seen being imported every which way they all made a lot of money and they all made a bunch of terrible business decisions, I understand it's an era that many people are embarrassed by but it was necessary for growth and great stuff was released then even if it was a criticism of the era like Kingdom Come.
I have loved this story for 20 years since i was 14, i did grew up in the 80s and 90s as i have been a comic fan for 30 years thanks to watching Superman 1 & 2 on video with Swamp Thing on cable as i collected Swamp Thing and Superman comics even Judge Dredd, Watchmen, Batman Year One, X-Men and others. I read this story as i thought it was brilliant and the 90's answer to Watchmen, i knew this story was mocking the extreme grim/gritty antihero stuff of Rob Liefled in the 90's thanks to Wizard magazine and how this story moved me like Watchmen did.
I'm sure Alan Moore and pre-2001 Frank Miller enjoyed this story and do you think some 90's comics took the wrong lessons from Frank Miller, Alan Moore, Heavy Metal Magazine aka Richard Corben and Katushiro Otomo's Akira? although the 90s wasnt all a disaster as there is some gems you know like this one.
what a great story! thanks guys!
You guys should do Squadron Supreme from 1985. It's pretty good!
Yes do more Alex Ross please. You guys rock
You guys should do a back issues on blackest night/brightest day story arch.
If they ever make a DCUO 2 it needs to be based off this.
So good. Nice job guys.
Brian Ward Thanks, Brian!
One of my all time favorite stories ever!
***** Same here!
TV Little House Comics You guys should do Marvels too. It's like Marvel's Kingdom Come. Instead of going to the future, we see the past!
Finally someone else recommends marvels.
I always thought that the Shazam power turned you in a perfect version of yourself. I think that Luthor was able to get his hands on Billy when he was still a kid and just raised him to look near identical in terms of physique.
I love it... I love this story too much