8 Times Good Comic Book Creators Went Bad!

7. Mark Waid - The Kingdom

Stan Lee Batman
DC Comics

Kingdom Come was a love letter to the golden age of comic book heroes created during the gritty '90s when vigilantes and hyper-violence was the order of the day. Renowned painter Alex Ross wanted to prove that "Truth, justice and the American way" was just as relevant in the era of "Big !*$%, big pecks and big guns" as it ever was. The book is regarded by many as a masterpiece.

Mark Waid was not only the man handpicked by Ross to co-write Kingdom Come but is also one of the most consistent and respected creators in the medium. If fans could trust anyone to write a follow-up, it was surely the man who invented the Speed Force of Flash lore.

The book got off to a bad start when Ross refused to take part. Things got worse when the promised sequel became a "continuation" of the original story and some background to connect the regular continuity to the events of Kingdom Come. The final product was a bloated, rushed mess that consisted of a slew of miniseries with poorly received artwork, each requiring knowledge of the original story, an in-depth understanding of the DC Universe and "Hypertime" to boot.

Ross would later publicly deride the title, and DC has all but retconned the events within.

Alternative Recommendation: JSA Thy Kingdom Come

Contributor
Contributor

Kevin McHugh is a code-monkey by day and a purveyor of the unpleasant by night. Having had several comics published by Future Quake Press he is now moving into prose. An avid fan of punk rock, cheap horror movies and even cheaper fast-food Kevin can be found pontificating either on Twitter or over at WhatCulture Comics where he is a regular contributor. He lives in Edinburgh with his wife and two daughters.