Spotlight: Mark Waid, Kingdom Come, & 52

Spotlight: Mark Waid

Of the four writers who worked on 52, Mark Waid was the most traditional comic writer. He's well-known for his eight-year run on The Flash, and these days works as the head of Boom Studios. Like Geoff Johns, Waid is known for his knowledge of the DC universe and lore. He seemed a perfect choice for a series that has at it's center Silver Age characters such as Ralph Dibney and Booster Gold.

Last night I was reading a fantastic exit interview for 52 by Mark Waid. In the interview he comes off as enthusiastic and energetic. He never doubted that they could pull off a weekly series. This is amazing considering he had been a part of the Action Comics Weekly experiment which was infamously unsuccessful. In working on 52 he clearly understood that in order for the series to work it needed a great story. Waid goes on to detail his excitement at working with Morrison, Rucka, and Johns, who each bring their unique storytelling abilities to the table.

For me Waid will always be known as the architect of the fantastic series Kingdom Come. This is an Elseworlds story that is set some twenty years into the future. It deals with a growing conflict between "traditional" superheroes, such as Superman, Wonder Woman, and the Justice League, and a growing population of largely amoral and dangerously irresponsible new vigilantes. Between these two groups is Batman and his assembled team, who attempt to contain the escalating disaster, foil the machinations of Lex Luthor, and prevent a world-ending superhuman war. Waid, with amazing art from Alex Ross, brings superheroics to a biblical level.

The first half of Kingdom Come focuses particularly on a world that has become tarnished by the fact that our main superheroes are gone. The scenario that plays out in Kingdom Come is definitely more apocalyptic than 52 ever attempts. In this Elseworlds tale Waid is bent on more epic storytelling like they had seen in Crisis 11 years before. Like Millar's Superman Red Son, Waid can explore specific archetypal characters like Superman and not have to bother with current continuity. Whereas 52 lives inside the DC universe, the Elseworlds line was a great place for storytelling that bends the genre. In my opinion this is Waid's best work and you are missing out having not read it.

Now this is very speculative but I'm gonna guess that Waid's touch can be found in the following storylines/characters in 52:
-Ralph Dibny
-Steel and Infinity Inc.
-Booster Gold (with Geoff Johns)
-JLA stuff
-Clark Kent
-Mad Scientists

Have a great week! Book Slave.