Kingdom: Promised Land

Kingdom #1

by Dan Abnett, Richard Elson

Out in the wilderness they trek, led by the Urgings from their Masters, charged with keeping Them off his lawn. The pack, led by Gene the Hackman, are strong experienced soldiers - they don't know exactly what Them are, but they have their orders and Them are to be scrapped at every opportunity. The Masters must be obeyed.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published December 4, 2008

Reviews

[Stergios · Rating 3 out of 5]

A hack and slash comic set in a post-apocalyptic world. Humanity has gone into hibernation in the face of total extinction by an insect like enemy. We follow a group of genetically mutated dog-troops as they scout the land. The protagonist is Gene the Hackman a Conan-like character.
A quick and straightforward action comic with many more plot point to reveal yet in the coming trades. I didn't like the colouring that much.
Overall it's an entertaining story but one that you won't read a second time.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

KINGDOM is a recent addition to the 2000 AD stable that is the first new strip to really kick me in the head since the short-lived, late, lamented and hilarious BIG DAVE back in 1993. Written by Dan Abnett and beautifully illustrated by Richard Elson, KINGDOM's a simple and virtually all-action series about survival and savage fighting whose simplicity is wholly appropos since it chronicles the post-apocalyptic adventures of a hero who's the result of genetic engineering program that sought to create super-soldiers from dogs. Canine-derived soldier Gene the Hackman leads his pack through a future wilderness, following the programmed orders of the unseen "Masters," and their task is to keep the Masters' "lawn" — meaning the entire landscape — free from the marauding hordes of "Them," a ravenous and implacable horde of advanced insectoid life forms. Highly trained and super-tough, Gene and his pack kick ass like nobody's business, but as the team is whittled down by their encounters with Them, an internal struggle for power splits what remains of the pack and more tragic deaths add up to leave poor Gene on his own, but still urged on by the telepathic urgings of his Masters. Upon locating the home of the Masters, Gene makes a discovery that fills in himself and the readers on exactly what happened to the world and humankind, as well as setting Gene on a path that leads him to the Amish-like community known as the Promised Land. There he meets Leezee Sower, a young girl whose beloved dog has recently died, and the ages-old bond between man and Man's Best Friend sparks between the two, only with a bizarre sci-fi edge to it. This is excellent stuff that hooked me from the first panel, and this volume is the perfect way to jump into the series before its upcoming return to the weekly pages of 2000 AD. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Follows a man-dog-beast called Gene Hackman (it's a dumb joke, but I liked it) in an apocalyptic feature. Uses limited language poetically and smashes up stuff real good. It's great to see my favourite childhood comic artist (Sonic the Comic!) has only got better with time and they even turn that dumb joke into a beautiful moment.

[Timo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was total awesomeness. Beautiful language that almost made me cry, gorgeus art that made gasp, gripping story that made this a page turner. Brilliant, sheer brilliance.
You must go and buy and read this, like, yesterday.

[Hillingdon Libraries]

Find this book at Hillingdon Libraries

[Dean Simons · Rating 4 out of 5]

As fun as I remembered it.