Justice Society of America: Kingdom Come Special: Superman

That's a pretty long title. Just figured I'd state that.

Overall- First of all, before I even begin to comment on this story, I just want to state right now, for the record that Alex Ross is THE most amazing artist I think I've ever seen in comic books. There are other great artists out there, but Alex's artwork is simply beautiful. There is no other word for what he does except beautiful. OK, with that out of the way, onto the story.

I... I'm not really sure what to say about this comic book... It was easily one of the best comics I've read this year, as well as being one of the best comics I've ever read, period. I'll try my best to detail the story, but there is no way my words can possibly do this comic justice.

Old Superman, the one with the JSA, is asked if he wanted to talk about the death of his world by JSA member Cyclone. Old Superman(I wish I had something else to call him...)is hesitant, but Cyclone tells him she would be honored to hear about his world as well as the friends he lost. Old Superman tells her the story, which basically is one of the meta human population getting out of control and the normal population destroying the entire planet in an attempt to rid themselves of the super powered menaces. Cyclone comments on how in a way, Old Superman's story reminded her of a story from the Book of Revelation. That reference causes Old Superman to remember a religious man from his world named Norman McCay, who basically foretold the destruction of Old Superman's world. With the help of Mister Terrific, Old Superman is able to locate the Norman McCay from this world in Chicago.

Before Old Superman can go to Chicago, he can hear trouble in Metropolis, and rushes to the Daily Planet building which is surrounded by an eerie green smoke. Old Superman rushes into the building, but only finds 4 armed goons. The goons reveal they set off a Kryptonite bomb in the building, and seemed shocked that Old Superman is able to stand in the Kryptonite gas(I believe that since Old Superman is from a different dimension, our world's Kryptonite has no effect on him, but I could be mistaken). Old Superman is pretty brutal in his handling the goons, and actually throws one goon through one of the walls of the Planet to the street below. He then collects the other 3 idiots, and brings them to the street below. When someone walks up behind Old Superman, he lays into them with a momentous punch. Upon turning around, he watches Superman sail away. Realizing what he had done, Old Superman rushes to Superman and apologizes profusely. Superman tells Old Superman that he saved the goon Old Superman tossed out of the Planet, and asks what Old Superman was thinking. Old Superman apologizes again, and leaves, saying he never should have gone to the Daily Planet building.

Old Superman next meets with Norman McCay, but Norman isn't able to really give Old Superman any help, which really is to be expected. Norman tries to lift Old Superman's mood and tells Old Superman that he should try to forgive himself for the events that destroyed his world.

Old Superman returns to JSA headquarters, but realizes that many of his teammates are concerned for him and some consider him to be a loose cannon, especially in light of his actions in Metropolis. Cyclone asks Old Superman how his meeting with Norman went, but before Old Superman could give any details, he leaves, hearing a familiar visitor arrive.

Old Superman waits in a room as Lois Lane walks in to meet him. Old Superman during the entire meeting can't bring himself to look at Lois. Lois tells Old Superman that Superman told her a lot about him and that she wanted to meet him. She then asks him to tell her how his Lois Lane died. Old Superman doesn't want to, but Lois tells him that if he doesn't tell her, who can he tell. She tells him that telling the story might be cathartic to him. Old Superman then reluctantly recounts the horrible tale.

The Joker of his world attacked the Daily Planet and filled the building with his deadly Joker gas. Everyone in the building was killed instantly, except for Lois Lane, who donned a gas mask she kept in her desk as a precaution. Lois tried to knock out the Joker with a fire extinguisher, but was unable to. The Joker on the other hand beat Lois so severely that her skull was brutally fractured before he made his escape. Old Superman rushed to the scene, and found Lois, still barely clinging to life. Old Superman realized that there was nothing he could do, because Lois' skull fracture was so bad that even moving her would kill her. Lois asked Old Superman not to kill Joker and to not lose Clark. She then died in Old Superman's arms.

Lois Lane is obviously shaken by Old Superman's story, and asks him what he though his Lois meant before she died. Old Superman says he didn't know. Lois asks Old Superman when was the last time he was Clark Kent, and he tells her the night his Lois died, Clark Kent died along with her, and Clark would never come back.

This was one of the best comic books I've ever read. To put that in some perspective, I've read well over 8,000 comic books, and own a collection of about 7,000 books. As Old Superman described Lois' death, my eyes actually began to water. This was a powerful comic book. Alex Ross wrote and illustrated it, and he did an amazing job. Between the spectacular visuals, and the wonderful story, I can't imagine why anybody who reads comic books wouldn't read this comic book. I really can't say enough good things about this comic book. I really could go on and on, but I'll just say, if you are reading this review, and you have the opportunity to buy this comic book, do your self a favor and buy it. For a score, I don't even think a 10 out of 10 does this comic justice. It was more like a 100 out of 10. This is one comic book that will stick in my mind for a long time to come. Simply amazing...