Multiversity has long stood by Mark Waid’s anti-superhero epic. In fact, it was one of the first books to ever be reviewed on this site to end up with a pull quote, back when this site was little more than a hobby with no ambition. It’s a book I personally loved when I first picked up the initial issue, and it’s all over now.
So what else is left to say? A lot. A whole massively spoiler-filled lot. If you haven’t read the issue, look away now. If you have, read on.
Written by Mark Waid
Illustrated by Diego BarretoTHE FINAL ISSUE OF MARK WAID’S SEMINAL SUPERHERO SERIES! Can the Plutonian, seemingly IRREDEEMABLE, find his salvation? What is the true definition of a hero? And can a world, ravaged by loss and carnage, ever believe in such an idea again? The stunning, breathtaking conclusion to Mark Waid’s Eisner and Harvey Award-nominated superhero saga. DO NOT MISS THIS FINAL ISSUE OF A MASTER WRITER’S TOUR DE FORCE!
On a certain level, the most important element about the “Irredeemable” finale is: did it answer the inherent question of the book? Did it show that this character the Plutonian, a raging anti-Superman archetype, could in fact be redeemed for his excessive swath of insanity and death across the globe? Can someone with no humanity and no true remorse atone for his sins and become “human”? That’s always, at a certain level, been the underlying point of this 37-issue morality play; it all comes down to one character and that one character’s ability to represent what he’s supposed to after embodying the exact opposite.
The answer, in so many words, is yes — but not to the extent that you’d imagine. There is no great send-off for this hero, or great revelation for him other than the people he knows are kind of shit. The Plutonian sacrifices himself for us, yes, but it’s truthfully for him, and he’s only actually defeated through treachery of Qubit, who figures out how to rid that world of the Plutonian forever. The way he does this is the big trick of the series: through Plutonian’s actions, Qubit is able to scatter Plutonian — or rather, the idea of who the Plutonian was supposed to be — throughout universes with the hopes that one universe could “get it right.”
There in lies the rub of the issue. The final scene is perhaps the very definition of polarizing, as it turns the entire tables around in a meta scenario. Where the Plutonian was always the dark shadow of Superman, it is now asserted that they are truly one and the same and that, in fact, the Plutonian is the inspiration of Superman. It’s odd, it’s a bit shocking in its own way, and it is arguably one of the most obtuse endings a series like this could’ve come up with.
I’ve had some time to personally think about the ending for a little while now, and I’ve ultimately come down with two possible opinions to hold, though I’m not sure which to stand by:
1. The ending was good, and it gets Mark Waid’s point across. “Irredeemable” is a story that took an idea someone else had, a very inspirational idea, and it used it for a new purpose. That is one of the greatest gifts that Superman and in turn the superhero archetype he, Siegel and Shuster started has ever given us. There have been an infinite number of Superman’s and Superman-esque characters throughout the years, but they all tie back to that one version. They will always be Clark Kent, whether that’s overt or not, and Waid has never really been too subtle about the relationship between Plutonian and Superman. The parallels were always there; now the subtext has just been made incredibly overt and we can all let out a few knowing “oohs” and “ahhs.”
However, the positive element of this immediately leads to the negative, which is:
2. The ending was bad, and at worst makes Mark Waid seem fairly vain. Oh, sure, Waid has proven his love of both the apocalyptic superhero romp in the past (with “Irredeemable” being part of a thematic trilogy that started with “Kingdom Come”) and he certainly loves Superman as anyone who has read “Birthright” will tell you. Yet, at a certain level the finale feels overdone; it’s a rather boisterous claim to throw in the back of your book, that a fictional time-loop caused by your creation inspired a fictional version of real life people who inspired you. It’s supposed to be a heartfelt moment, and while on a certain level it is (when you stop and think about it, as I did), the knee-jerk reaction is more of a “Really?” response.
Continued belowI don’t think you’re going to start seeing “Mark Waid Is Vain” t-shirts and promo images anytime soon and the solicit certainly doesn’t do anything to make the sentiment seem ostensibly wrong, but never the less. Man, the balls on Waid, etc.
It is tough for a book like this to come out of the shadow of its true origin, but “Irredeemable” had quickly made its own way in the world. The initial issues were full of “oh, yeah, this is evil Superman” moments, but Waid managed to develop the universe to such a place where it could easily stand on its own. With its sister book “Incorruptible,” the universe was self-sustaining and had long since moved away from simple character archetypes being pushed to extremes in an epic soap opera. To tie it all back around isn’t a fool’s errand, but it certainly isn’t played out in any other way.
Then again, there is one ultimately redeeming factor about the book: Diego Barreto and his work with colorist Nolan Woodard. Barreto manages to lightly make callbacks to original “Irredeemable” artist Peter Krause’s highly recognizable style while still making the entire look of the book very much his own, and Woodard brings that t life beautifully. It’s a big finale in terms of the setting and action, but the duo manage to pull it off to a magnificently large extent. Despite the heavy-handed written element, Barreto and Woodard carry the book along at a fast pace in a wonderfully clean style that is the high point of the final issue.
Truthfully, “Irredeemable” had three options: it could go with the ending everyone expected (Tony sacrifices himself, is proven redeemable), it could end on an Empire Strikes Back down-note (Tony says fuck you to the world, lets it burn), or it could just do something outlandish and hope it can stick the landing. Waid clearly chose the third option, but stick the landing it did not. The “point” is made, and oh, we “get it”, but in an effort to seem poignant the finale has wound up disappointing and ultimately droll.
Or maybe I didn’t really get it. That’s highly possible too.
Final Verdict: 3.0 – But hey, Diego Barreto is still pretty awesome.
