Irredeemable Premier Vol. 5

Irredeemable #9-10

by Mark Waid

When the world’s greatest hero becomes its most feared villain—how does the world survive on the brink of destruction?

Once the world’s most beloved superhero and now the world’s most terrifying supervillain, The Plutonian’s unstoppable rampage concludes here!

New York Times bestselling and Eisner award winning author Mark Waid ( Kingdom Come ) joins forces with Diego Baretto ( Escape from New York ), and more in this definitive collection of the Eisner Award-nominated series.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction

208 pages, Hardcover

Published March 20, 2018

About the author

Mark Waid is an American comic book writer widely known for shaping modern superhero storytelling through influential runs on major characters at both DC Comics and Marvel Comics. Raised in Alabama, he developed an early fascination with comic books, particularly classic stories featuring the Legion of Super-Heroes, whose imaginative scope and sense of legacy would later inform his own writing. He first entered the comics industry during the mid 1980s as an editor and writer for the fan magazine Amazing Heroes, before publishing his first professional comic story in Action Comics. Soon afterward he joined DC Comics as an editor, contributing to numerous titles and helping shape projects across the company. After leaving editorial work to focus on writing, Waid gained widespread recognition with his long run on The Flash, where he expanded the mythology of the character and co-created the youthful speedster Impulse. His reputation grew further with the celebrated graphic novel Kingdom Come, created with artist Alex Ross, which imagined a future DC Universe shaped by generational conflict among superheroes. Over the years he has written many prominent series, including Captain America, Fantastic Four, Daredevil, and Superman: Birthright, bringing a balance of optimism, character depth, and respect for comic book history to each project. Waid has also collaborated with notable artists and writers on major ensemble titles such as Justice League and Avengers, while contributing ideas that helped clarify complex continuity within shared superhero universes. Beyond mainstream superhero work, he has supported creator owned projects and experimental publishing models, including the acclaimed series Irredeemable and Incorruptible, which explored moral ambiguity within the superhero genre. He later took on editorial leadership roles at Boom Studios, guiding creative direction while continuing to write extensively. In subsequent years he expanded his involvement in publishing and digital storytelling, helping launch online comics initiatives and advocating for new distribution methods for creators. His work has earned numerous industry awards, including Eisner and Harvey honors, reflecting both critical acclaim and enduring popularity among readers. Throughout his career Waid has remained a passionate student of comic book history, drawing on decades of storytelling tradition while continually encouraging innovation within the medium. His influence extends across generations of readers and creators, and his stories continue to shape the evolving language of superhero comics around the world today through enduring characters imaginative narratives and thoughtful reinventions of familiar myths within popular culture and modern graphic storytelling traditions.

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even with such an interesting premise such as an omega powered Superman-like The Plutonium running wild and mass murdering humans on a global scale, the final volumes of this series just don't really satisfy on that level. Although it's not particularly bad, it just hasn't got that much innovation for a creator-led series. 7 out of 12, Three Stars from me.

2023 and 2012 read

[Cheese · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful homage to superman gone wrong.

An unforgettable series with unpredictable twists and turns and a great ending.

A truly horrifying tale with an endless candy store of characters to enjoy.

[Ronny Trøjborg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent ending, to an incredible series.

[Rod Brown · Rating 1 out of 5]

I started reading the comic book issues of this series over a decade ago, but had to set them aside and have been living in a mild state of FOMO ever since. Turns out I needn't have fretted because this series is pretty worthless.

The first half of the book is a too-little, too-late attempt at giving secret origins for the Plutonian and Max Damage. It seems awful late in the series to try to make your paper-thin main characters more dimensional.

The second half of the book is full of sound and fury, and Waid clumsily tries to make it signify something by tying this dreadful mess to one of the seminal moments in the history of comic book publishing. It's aiming for tribute, I think, but comes off as sort of insulting at best.

I'm stunned by how little I liked this series and it's spin-off, Incorruptible. I usually like Mark Waid's stuff, but this dreck is unforgivable.

[Shaun Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Irredeemable Premier Vol 5 collects issues 32-37 and Incorruptible 25-26 written by Mark Waid with art by Diego Barreto and Damien Couceiro.

The final volume in the series that follows Plutonian and his transition from the world's greatest hero to world's biggest super villain. This volume crosses over with Incorruptible and gives us Max and Plutonian's origins.

The last two pages are such a fantastic ending to the series and brought a huge smile to my face. The whole series is worth reading just for that moment. I have to imagine that was one of Waid's first ideas for this series. There are a lot of books out there right of heroes gone bad but I believe this is one of the better. Give this one a read guys!

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first half of this final premier volume of Irredeemable might be the best story arc in the whole series as it brings together both Irredeemable and it's sister series Incorruptible in fascinating, surprising, and necessary ways as we focus more on the origins of both the Plutonian and Max Damage. This arc is much more effective if you've been reading both of the series in tandem.

The final arc is a bit more convoluted but still extremely enjoyable and concludes in ways that are undeniably surprising. And the final moment is a wonderful cherry-on-top of a great series!

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series started so strong and really offered a different take on the super hero genre. 5 volumes in however and I was left feeling a little bit disappointed. I think a major part of this book's appeal was the mystery around the Plutonian, his origins and what he might due once he became unhinged. Unfortunately for me, the answers to these questions were not 100% satisfying.

I enjoyed the overall series more when there was more going on between the heroes attempting to stop Plutonian, the loss of many cast members by this point, while understandable weakened the overall narrative. Despite these shortcomings, Waid does an excellent job of unpacking what it means to be a superhero and the true prejudices of unchecked power.

[Adam Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best conclusions to superhero series are the ones that are built on the constantly evolving mythos, but which also could stand on their own, without anyone having read however many previous volumes exist. The final volume of Irredeemable absolutely delivers this way.

It even rewards you more if you've read Incorruptible, as it contains the origins for both protagonists before pushing them towards their final plot points.

It certainly doesn't end the way I imagined it would. however you imagined it, it's probably better, almost definitely more inventive.

I would recommend it to anyone who likes solid superhero stories, fans of surprising endings that make narrative sense, and meta-philes.

[Eastham Erik · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute perfect conclusion to this epic!!

Volume 5 has everything it should. The Origin of the Plutonian, an expanded back story of why the Plutonian cracked and truly became Irredeemable, the overall consequence of truly being irredeemable, and finally, the perfect nod to this oh so familiar "bizzaro" character.

Volume 5 truly shows regret for actions one simply cannot take back or reverse through true epiphany/enlightenment, but realistically concludes with regret, sorrow, and efforts of redemption simply not being enough for the true irredeemable.

Note: there is a misprint with this volume. Chapter 34 page 13 is printed twice. I'm not sure if this means page 14 was never printed (pages aren't numbered and the story constantly skips between 3 story lines).

[John Mendiola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long journey but satisfying conclusion

The premise of "superman gone bad" has lasted for quite a bit of issues. A part of me feels like there's a lot thst could have been cut but, ultimately, there's a lot of characters and twists that needed the payoff. Some were more satisfying than others but this is a complete story. It feels like every part of the world was wrapped up and completed. The heartache and torture that everyone has gone through is over.

The very end feels very frenetic but the journey at the beginning of book 5 was wonderful. Tony realizing certain things about himself is a powerful set of moments.

That All-Star Superman and Red Son have similar endings to this but Irredeemable is done really well. A very unique take on a similar premise.

[Remxo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know it's not a popular opinion but I'm not a fan of this series. Got real tired real fast of the antagonist, basically a superhero who is angry throughout all five volumes and has zero sense of humor. My main issues, besides the sometimes excruciatingly mediocre art: the story dragged on way too long; I felt no sympathy for any of the characters; the theme is heavy-handed, but the execution is superficial. The ending though is sheer perfection and made up for a lot. This was A
a quick read.

[Ethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loses its way a little- maybe a lot- but the ending, the last few panels, are so much better than I could have hoped for. This series definitely overstretched itself and probably should have been half as long, most of the last two volumes are essentially inconsequential and the highs of the first volumes are never even close to matched, but an outstanding series nonetheless.

[Mauricio Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fitting conclusion to a very contemplative premise, which takes interesting questions about superheroes and the comic book industry standard, and answers them with a compelling protagonist and a fun story. The very last couple of pages are way too cheesy, but it's an unimportant faux pas.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

We get an ending to a story that certainly was not how I thought it would end.

[Christopher Wolbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic end!

[Paxton Holley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally finished this series. It gets bonkers towards the end. It has an...interesting...ending. I’m interested in checking out the spin-off series, Incorruptible.

[Revi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining series that started really well but didn't quite stick the landing

[William Hawthorne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just a horrible ending

[Lucas O · Rating 3 out of 5]

7.9