The Complete Irredeemable TP Comic Review
Summary: What happens when the world's most powerful superhero goes bad? Can they be stopped... at what cost?
4.9
Hero Horror
The Plutonian, the world’s greatest super hero, has snapped and turned against all those he previously protected… only his former team mates have a chance at stopping him but can they do so before it’s too late? Many of us have probably wondered what it would be like to have super powers and what that might actually do to us mentally (personally I liked the idea of a play in which Superman is seeing a psychiatrist to deal with the constant sense of needing to help people and always being able to hear the innumerable calls for help and not being able to reach everyone). Mark Waid takes that idea and pushes it to a dark place. What if being able to hear every negative comment, every critique of your every action slowly wears you down to a point where you can take it no more?
Writing
It’s an interesting concept and Mark Waid does a great job of tackling it in a way that almost draws sympathy for the Plutonian despite all the horrors he unleashes upon the world. The sense of danger for his former team mates, despite many of which having powers of their own, who now feel hunted and under threat almost everywhere they go is quite ominous. But the real strength I think comes from being able to see both sides of the story… both the Plutonian’s and his former team mates… seeing what lead to this point and where things go from here. It tackles some pretty big issues but without feeling overly bogged down or too technical.
Artwork
The line work here is pleasingly crisp and clear… which, given the action taking place in some of the panels is absolutely essential for keeping track of what’s going on. Even when the colour scheme is limited (various shades of firey red for example) each element of the scene remains clear. Action sequences feel suitably epic and you can almost feel the frantic motion contained within. But it’s not all heat blasts and mighty punches… the emotions of the characters come through clearly as well and in this story that is just as important as all the action.
Final Thoughts
Irredeemable is a fantastic story and this is an excellent way to grab it… with the entire story in one collection. If you’ve wanted to see what would happen if a super hero turns bad… definitely grab a copy!
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Writer: Mark Waid,
Artist: Peter Krause, Diego Barreto, Paul Azaceta, Emma Rios, Howard Chaykin, Marcio Takara, Damian Couceiro
Colourist: Andrew Dalhouse, Nolan Woodard, Zac Atkinson, Archie Van Buren
Cover Artist: John Cassaday, Laura Martin
Genre: Superhero
Format: 976 pgs, FC, TPB
Release Date: July 11th, 2023
About the Author
Chris O'Connor Father of four, husband of one and all round oddity. Gaming at home since about 1982 with a Sinclair ZX Spectrum. Moving on to the more traditional PC genre in the years that followed with the classic Jump Joe and Alley Cat. CGA, EGA, VGA and beyond PC's have been central to my gaming but I've also enjoyed consoles and hand helds along the way (who remembers the Atari Lynx?). Would have been actor/film maker, jack of many trades master of none.
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