So, I think my standards of awesome are just higher than everyone else’s. I mean, I would recommend Irredeemable because it’s interesting, not because it’s awesome. Let’s get to that, shall we?
The very first thing I want to mention is that it’s five issues in right now. The first four issues are out in a small trade paper back priced at $9.99 (US) and the fifth issue is only $0.99 (US), so you can catch up on the series for a whopping twelve bucks and some change. That’s pretty nice, in my opinion.
Drawn by Peter Krause and colored by Andrew Dalhouse, the book looks just fine. The art is respectable, the colors are acceptable. Nothing out of the ordinary going on in the book, however - it’s pretty status quo visually.
It’s written by Mark Waid. Now, I think he’s going a credible job telling the story of a Superman-like character who’s gone complely off his rocker. I’m just not sure I like how the comic starts with him completely off his rocker. I feel like the story would have been seriously cooler if we’d have say, twelve to twenty issues to get to know The Plutonian as a hero before he starts in with the villainy. That would have required, of course, a longer contract and, possibly, a steadier fanbase. At least with a miniseries you’ve got a set number of issues that are very likely to see full publication, so I don’t really think I can blame anyone for picking this style of publication.
The characters are supposed to be remenescent of characters from the big-name ‘verses, and they do an okay job at that. But the story only carries real weight when you are actively super-imposing the real characters on top of Waid’s - again because we haven’t gotten to know them. I’d be interested to know if this was something Waid planned on the audience doing or not.
There are a lot of great snippets of dialogue in the book, and Waid also manages to point out some serious issues with Superman’s abilities and storyline. For example The Plutonian can hear everyone in the world (just like Superman), but he ends up dwelling on the nasty things that are being said about him rather than the good things.
My favorite part of issue five is when The Plutonian does a world-wide broadcast about his “fan-mail,” which is really just all of the things he’s overheard.
The Plutonian: And, finally, Caleb Albright of Vancouver, BC– And, by the way, Caleb, yes, it is cancer– wrote in his journal, “Who does he think he is?” Funny you should ask. You know what they used to say about the gods of myth. That they would disguise themselves and walk among you as ordinary men. I confess, I do that. It’s enlightening. But… Who am I? That guy down at the end of the bar? The new recruit? The foreigner who just moved in upstairs? I know what you’re thinking. That at least in this moment, I can’t be standing next to you. There is that. But I should add one thing. This has been a pre-recorded message. Sleep tight.
Waid really manages to capture the sheer creep-factor in a super-villain who can overhear anything you say. And I have to admit, it makes me look forward to the future issues. But I still can’t shake the wish that the series as a whole could have come out of a long-standing title.
It’s too bad DC won’t ever let anyone do that to Superman in the canon storyline, right?
Worth a Pick Up? Yes. Definitely.