Justice Society of America: Kingdom Come Special - Superman #1 - DC

This was one of the best cross-overs I've seen so far. Alex Ross wrote it and illustrated it, so . . . you just knew it was going to be excellent. This is a chapter of the Kingdom Come story that's been running through the Justice Society book. I have to say, I really enjoy this version of Superman. He's older, and wiser, and . . I'd like to say less impetuous, but . . when it comes to certain things . . he's just as hot-headed as our version. That's what happens when he sees an attack on the Daily Planet. Right away it takes him back to the attack that happened on his world. The Joker has set off a gas bomb at his Daily Planet. Pretty much everyone died, except Lois, his wife. She fought back, but in the end the Joker caved in her skull with a paper weight. That's what happened when he sees an attack occurring at our Planet. He goes rushing in, but this time it's an attack by that government group that's been trying to kill Superman. He goes rushing in, and one of the soldiers starts screaming at him . . "Man, you've got some pair, coming right in here. Wow, you really made this easy on us. Didn't you see the Kryptonite gas cloud from a million miles away?" To which Superman responds, "Kryptonite?". And as he crushes his guns, he tells them "Wrong Superman!" But it wasn't just the action that made this book good. In the beginning Superman is sitting at the Mansion and he's talking to Cyclone. The dialogue between the 2 was perfect. Then, later on, he goes looking for a man . . a man that he talked to on his world just before he got whisked away . . Reverend Norman McCay. Of course this is a different version so he doesn't remember talking to him previously. But he does give him a little bit to think about, "I apologize for questioning your story, but are you sure your world is gone? . . . It shouldn't have to haunt you that the words in the Bible correspond with your experience. There is much more in there to inspire and point us away from despair. I realize that you may think the book of Revelation defined how your world ended, but . . you are also choosing to believe that. Consider that your opportunity to come here is a blessing . . . where you are given another chance to right wrongs . . . not to be fatalistic. You, I imagine, have a greater burden to bear than most, and I fear speaking so simplistically to you . . but you seem like a man who needs to forgive himself. God be with you Superman." And then he has a conversation with Lois Lane. That one was probably the most heart felt. In it he tells her what happened to his wife. Her final words to him were, "Don't lose . . Clark." Lois asks him what he thinks she meant, and how long it's been since he's been Clark. "Clark Kent died the day she died . . and he will never return." To me, those conversations were the crux of the book. It really shows how he defines himself as a man . . a mentor, a student, and a grieving spouse. Like I said, I thought this was a fantastic issue. And, we have 2 more specials . . Magog #1, and the Kingdom #1 . . before we move on to our next chapter in Justice Society. Geoff Johns and Alex Ross are really doing a phenomenal job with this storyline. I think it's great to see some reference to the Kingdom Come storyline . . that was such an incredible book. This almost feels like a sequel.