Absolute Kingdom Come
Comic-book publishers have grown expert at collecting individual issues of a title as graphic novels and later re-releasing those collections with hitherto unpublished sequences, further artwork, and other "bonus" material to entice buffs to purchase the same book twice and thrice. DC Comics brings the game to a new level with the Absolute series of oversized, slipcased, hardcover volumes of landmark titles. Set 20 years into the future of the DC Universe,Kingdom Come(1996) saw old-school heroes like Superman and Wonder Woman confronting violent, irresponsible superhero newcomers who are as dangerous as the villains they oppose, while Batman led a third camp attempting to head off a disastrous superhuman war. The main attraction is Alex Ross' lush, ultrarealistic, painted artwork. Marking the story's tenth anniversary, its Absolute treatment includes excerpts from Ross' sketchbook and other artwork from trading cards, T-shirts, and other tie-in products.Gordon FlaggCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved