During the run of Irredeemable I’ve written several reviews about about it. And if you’ve had the bad luck to stumble through one you’ll know that I’ve been very high on it. I’ve praised the ability of writer Mark Waid repeatedly. And The clever art of Diego Barreto has been a perfect fit for the series. Barreto is an artist that gives impact to the panels and truly brings Waids words to life.
For those who are unfamiliar with this series, it’s about what happens if a super being like Superman goes rogue. Now this is not an original idea. What is different is Waid’s ability to look at it through an eye of more realistic interpretation. The situations and reactions of the people in a story penned by Waid just seem more realistic. You will seldom find if ever characters acting in a manner simply to progress the story.
All this praise aside I found myself slightly conflicted with issue 37, the last in the series of Irredeemable. I was sad that the series was over for one. But like all great things, nothing lasts. These run’s while painful when they end make them gems and keep us searching for the next best thing. While the series has been great the last issue seemed a bit rushed to me. Now that might just be my perception. Or I might be thinking its nothing more than a result of Waid’s departure from Boom Studios. In that regrades I have to tip my hat to the explanations given by Mr. Waid that it is just time to move on.
The events that we had been following through the series seem to be crammed into a closing. The final solution for the Plutonian too seems all to convenient. While It is smart and clever I felt it was again a little to rushed. Now I do understand that my problems with the ending might just be my pouting like a six year old because I don’t want it to end.
All this said I have to say the second ending in the book made it all acceptable in the end. While if I mention any of the details of it I’ll ruin it. What I can say in the abstract is this. It delves into the very mythology of our industry. It ties it all together into a package that I have often handed over to others that do not turn the pages of comics and fail to understand our passion for this industry.
My mother once said that she attributed my moral set and desire to be a better person to comics. When I first heard this I paid no attention to. I was more interested in seeing Daredevil cream a brightly colored villain. When I got older and especially after I became a father of my own, I began to realize the wisdom of my Mother. In the pages of comics we find the pursuit of truth, justice and the American way. The hero’s in comic’s understand that with great power comes great responsibility. Hero’s battle against the injustices of the world and impossible odds. Hero’s do all this for nothing more than it’s the right things to do. I feel deep down that this is one of the key reasons that Superhero stories work. The fight for right against impossible odds is a formula that everyone can relate with.
If you have missed this series don’t fret. I do recommend that you go out and pick up the back issues or grab the graphic novels when you can. If your store is out then order them. Take it from one comic fan to another. If you like superhero stories you will love this series.
