Irredeemable, Vol. 2

Irredeemable #2

by Mark Waid, Peter Krause (Illustrator)

Writer Mark Waid takes superhero comics to the next level asking the question, "What if the world's greatest superhero decided to become the world's greatest super-villain?"

A "twilight of the superheros"-style story that examines super-villains.

In this volume readers learn more of the mystery of what made Tony the Plutonian snap. Was it being betrayed by a woman he loved? Was it one tragedy too many? Was it an ungrateful planet? Or was it something else? And who is holding out on the team?

Collects issues #5–8

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Fiction, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics, Fantasy

128 pages, Paperback

First published March 2, 2010

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

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volume 2 of Irredeemable is just as good as the 1st.



You get a little more backstory, and the reason things went wrong becomes a bit clearer.
Plutonian's descent into madness slowly unfolds, and while you never feel he is justified, you start to feel for him.
A little bit.
Sorta.



The other characters are just as interesting. None of them are particularly good or evil. I thought Waid did an excellent making these superheroes seem quite human.



Highly recommended!

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

In volume one, Mark Waid established that the Plutonian, a superhero with Superman level powers, had turned evil. In this collection, Waid starts to tell us why and muddies the "heroic" waters a bit.

It seems that even as a kid, Tony was walking on a thin line between reality and sanity, being bounced from foster home to foster home with, “He’s a great kid.” and the “buts” that went left unsaid. “…but he dropped a car on my husband’s head.” “…but he reduced our house to rubble with his heat vison.” “…but he used his sonic powers to vaporize the local bully.”

The incident as a grown-up hero that put him over the edge gets examined. It involves misappropriated alien tech and dead kids.

So how about the do-good Justice League stand-ins (the Paradigm), who are trying to stop the Plutonian? They’re mostly a bunch of lying, untrustworthy adulterers. Anyone with any redeeming qualities is either dead, lobotomized or worn to a frazzle.

A ray of hope? A hero who could be crazier than Mr. Plutonian, might be able to take him down.

My lone caveat is with the art. It gets tiresome playing, “Who’s on first” with the cast of characters

[Lono · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waid wastes no time kickin’ it up a notch in the second collection. This is where Irredeemable really starts to gain some depth. Mark starts to flesh out his characters and even manages to throw in a few surprises for this jaded comic geek. Loved the twist towards the end. Should’ve seen that one comin’.



Vol. 2 reveals which straw finally broke the camel’s back for the Plutonian. He really goes off the deep end in this one kids. As if annihilating cities was enough, he starts in with a psychological warfare campaign that speaks to just how shit-house rat crazy he’s become.



What’s left of Paradigm takes a field trip the Plutonian’s crib. Should have called him the Stalkenator. And if that’s not weird enough, how’s about a day-care of death too. It’s like the Fortress of Solitude on bath-salts. Freak.



Volt gets an origin story in this one. Pretty fun. You’re also gonna find out why he’s stuck manglin’ his midget with his right hand from here on out. No more “strangers” for him.



Peter Krause’s art is consistent. Again, not my favorite in terms of style or panache’, but certainly functional. It’s growing on me and it definitely hasn’t taken away from my overall enjoyment of the series so far.



Great 2nd volume. So far among the best stuff I’ve read by Mark Waid and absolutely worth checking out. For those of you that enjoyed the carnage of the first book. Plenty more to enjoy here. This collection adds in one dismemberment, a few more dead kids, and a fetish alert that’s probably gonna leave you one satisfied customer.

Get this review and more at:

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

What if Superman went crazy and just started murdering everyone?

The Plutonian's old team, the Paradigm, is trying to figure out how to stop him when they are exposed. Meanwhile, we start flashing back to what sent him over the edge. Great stuff!

[Sam Quixote · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Plutonian continues his nightmarish campaign of terror against those he was sworn to protect like a vengeful Old Testament God made real, his former teammates in Paradigm scramble to find Plutonian’s arch enemy Modeus in an effort to counteract his reign of terror. But to do so is to enter Plutonian’s Citadel, a dark and lonely place forged of blackest hate...

I love Irredeemable’s story concept - Superman-type snaps after the pressure of years of being responsible for everyone becomes too much for him, and goes on an insane killing rampage taking out all of his frustration on the people of Earth. It’s brilliant because it’s a Superman-like story except where everything worked out for Big Blue, everything goes wrong for the Plutonian. Where Superman was raised by the kind and loving Jonathan and Martha Kent, Plutonian went through a string of foster parents, all terrified of this super-boy who manages to destroy their lives without meaning to and unable to give him the unconditional love he craves. It’s really sad and another brilliant touch to this doomed character.

The second book is as brilliant as the first with Mark Waid exploring how a god-like being goes from being the saviour of a planet to its destroyer. The episode where alien tech is given to a human scientist by the Plutonian and then going horribly wrong is particularly chilling. It works as a piece of horror as well as perfectly illustrating the flipside of the kind of incident that happens regularly in superhero comics like Fantastic Four and Superman.

Waid opens the story up by giving another character powers to combat Plutonian but still manages to create tension and excitement as he sends the less powerful superheroes to Plutonian’s hideout, giving them a glimpse into how far gone his mind has broken. That sequence was just amazing. Waid’s super-dark approach to superhero comics works so well, I can’t recommend this series enough. “Irredeemable” is sheer genius, both the first one and this second book - do yourself a favour and pick it up today!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars.

This volume was so good! We get a little bit more backstory as to why Tony turned into a villain and the reasons were so good! I don’t feel bad for him but I definitely understand why he cracked. The writing, the story and the art are all really good. The colours aren’t my favourite but that’s just a very minor thing. I’m excited to see what happens next! I would definitely recommend this.

[The Wintermute System · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so good, just an addictive read.

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 4 out of 5]

The retelling of the downfall of a superhero continues, and it only gets more distressing. This story unfolds like layers from an onion. We learn that as Plutonian destabilizes further, dark desires and obvious mental dysfunction is revealed. But the thing that makes this an even better read is that while each person is accountable for their actions, we can also see how others can harm and injure a person until they are closer to snapping and going to the dark side. And each of the members of the Paradigm have something to hide.

Plutonian is guilty of trusting the wrong people to do the right thing, and wanting a life that doesn't belong to him. This along with the untenable burden of being a savior for mankind from every thing designed to harm them (and the repercussion of his failures), has put too much strain on this once superhero.

This book is painful to read in some ways. I keep thinking, if only he hadn't done that, and someone hadn't hurt him that way, then maybe he wouldn't have become a mass murderer and a truly evil supervillain. But it's not that simple is it? We always have a choice. And as Peter Parker's sage uncle said, "With great powers comes great responsibility." So Plutonian as a man of such great power, had even more responsibility, even if he lacked the steadfast character to maintain as a paladin and protector of the world.

This graphic novel is far from light reading, and it undermines the golden image of superheroes in a way that is deeply affecting. But even while it's the way you never want to see superheroes, it's a powerful story and graphic novel in its own right. The artwork is gorgeous, and the storytelling excellent. It's like one of those mysteries where you start out with the dead body and the culprit, but you go back in time to see how everything happened in the first place.

I'm in this for the long run now.

[Subham · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the Paradigm on the run from tony, we see them go to his fortress to find more about him while he comes to their base to kill them but then there is some amazing fight that happens between Plutonian and Cary (one of the twins) and he wants his brothers revenge and their fight is so awesome, and we learn his real history and also about Plutonian and how he snapped, people making so many demands and him finally snapping and that incident in Jackson (place) and how that made his sidekick lose faith in him and so he snapped and that was the origin of him turning evil. And finally Paradigm come back to Cary and it seems like a big fight is gonna happen between them and Plutonian! Its an intriguing volume and fills in the hole between things that led to the downfall of Plutonian! The art was pretty good and the colors even better, I like how this story is becoming more and more tragic!

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yesssss. THIS IS WHY I REMEMBER THIS SERIES.

For volumes like this.

For the moment where the hero who is a crazy fucking killer finally gets a little taste of his own medicine.

This picks up right where volume 1 left off. Our heroes are being slaughtered and no one seems to be able to stop him. We try and try but honestly this guy is just playing games with us. Some neat twist, involving someone who has certain powers that could WRECK some shit come into play. Making this volume far more intriguing and fun to read.

Only thing I hated were some character moments that you're just like "WHY ARE YOU STOPPING!?" That just drive you nuts. Like come on bro, this dude is bad business, don't just let him recover.

Still, great volume, and very much worth checking out if you enjoyed volume 1.

[Julio Bonilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover shows muscular, blonde superhero Plutonian getting ready to punch his opponent. His eyes are electric-red. The second volume of Irredeemable is about payback.

In the beginning of this book, Plutonian broadcasts his plans to Sky City. In the end, a blonde twin nearly takes him out by killing him with old memories.

[Jesse A · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is starting to heat up a bit.

[William Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

We've gone too far now to look back. Whether you would like to admit it or not, comic books are no longer a childish and immature fad read primarily by adolescent boys who worship violence and stare at rocket-breasted women in scantily clad outfits. Comic books are a very real and legitimate art form. Both in their aesthetic and in their writing. You can try very hard to argue the opposite, but, at the end of that argument, I don't see you winning the debate. There are too many instances of literary books lining the shelves these days that pack more punches in their plotting than the superheroes that are being written about.

Mark Waid is Irredeemable. Mark Waid is a powerhouse of writing these days. BOOM studios must be bathing in the moey he is single-handedly making for them with, what, 4 or 5 monthly titles he alone is writing?

Mark Waid surprised me a long time ago by writing Kingdom Come. I would have never expected that story out of him, after writing Flash and Captain America, I didn't think he had Kingdom Come in him. But Alex Ross helped to pull it out and it is one of the greatest books ever written, whether you know the DC comics mythos or not. Go read it. Now.

But then that was really it. That was all he seemed to have in him as far as pushing the limits of what these books could do. After he fizzled out in the mainstream, he moved on to CrossGen and created some books like Rune that were just godawful. And I didn't really care for his superhero books like Flash and Captain America. There was nothing to them. Nothing substantial I cared about.


And I know I'm late on this one. I know. I just didn't have a single ounce of faith in him or this book, not any of the new books for that matter. I couldn't bring myself to really care enough to spend four dollars on a single issue to check it out because Mark Waid failed to register with me a long time ago. But I saw them at the library in the trade volumes and took a chance. Now, I can't get over how good they are. I can't get past how consistent each issue in each volume has been. And it only got bwtter from the first to the second to the third, keeping a steady flow of surprises and twists with a consistent increase in intrigue and it's overall feel of doom. I thought it peaked in volume one and would taper off, having nothing but issues of falling action forever after. But no, it continues to press on and give the reader exactly what they need, even if it isn't what they want.

Mark Waid is making the same kind of statement with this book as he did with Kingdom Come. He is creating moral conundrums and asking more questions about power than he is answering. He is asking questions concerning power and responsibility. Not duty, but responsibility, and he differentiates the two through the show of power in each character and through their separate flashbacks, showing instances of their own regret, their own shame, their own secrets. He is creating a world where each individual hero has to take responsibility for their actions, or lack thereof, instead of a blind duty. And it is their power that creates this sense of responsibility, that we also see soon becoming vendetta and revenge in certain characters.

And that is the central question in this book, surrounded by secrets and lies- if you have all the power, what is to stop you from doing as you please and not what you should do out of your sense of responsibility? And he doesn't answer that question. Not yet. Maybe not ever. But while you're reading it, think about it. Think about power and respnsibility and what they mean at a very basic, moral level.

[Gavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volume 2 follows up from the great start made in volume 1; here we get a bit more background on the Plutonian, a few looks into things that were more than just slights, and we start to get a picture of the stresses that were taking more of a toll on him than anyone realized. We also see that he's not the only one who has been hiding things, as some of the heroes (his former partners on the team 'Paradigm') have some things to hide as well...including the fact that one of them might just be more powerful than the Plutonian himself!

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm among those who think that Mark Waid could pick up the pacing a little bit on the story telling side of things. A large plus in this volume is that we find out what drove the Plutonian over the edge has essentially made a superman the biggest mass murder and tyrant in the history of the world.

[Wing Kee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow yeah that's unexpected!

So yes it's a Superman gone bad story and it has the expected reasons behind it. But what makes this story great?

World: The art is good, it's real and dark and sets the tone well. However I'm a bit iffy about the character designs as I find them rather bland. The world building on the other hand is solid. It's effortless and Waid gives us just enough for the story and as a result the world flows well. There are no huge info dumps or pacing issues as a result.

Story: The tone and pacing is great, the story just flows so well. The beats are expected as we've heard this debate before and it's not new, but the quality of the writing makes it shine. The reveal and the fight at the end was earned and the emotions were earned. Good stuff. Waid is able to juggle the large cast wonderfully.

Characters: Deep and complex. As I've said, the argument that Tony has is not new, it's expected but what makes it work is the emotions behind it. It's informed by the art and great pacing. The rest of the cast is also developed well, they are full of character and personality, that are not what you expect, Tony is the only expected constant. Good stuff!

This story is good because it's so well written, this is what peak Waid is.

Onward to the next book!

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

You had me at "Ultrasonic lifeform" Mark Waid. Then you took it to the next level and dropped "sonic plague" on my lap. Wow. You're a cheeky fellow. This story is some of the darkest humor I've read. That's really the only way for me to compute a story about an invisible acoustic plague caused by the Plutonian as the result of a sonic blast, and ... well I have to stop there so as not to 'spoil' anything for a potential reader. But the art gave Waid's story an almost 'Twilight Zone' feel. Very creepy. I like the exploration into the limits of power, and how maddening and paranoid it can turn anybody. The Plutonian is like a Superman who just couldn't turn the sound down.

[Joe Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Waid - writer
Peter Krause - artist

5/5 stars

In Volume 2 we see the events that led The Plutonion to turn his back on humanity, secrets from the Paradigm's past threaten to shatter the fragile group, and a surprising turn of events seems to signal a slim hope for an embattled world. More excellent stuff from Waid & Krause. Highly recommended.

[Matty Dub · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really appreciate how Waid takes the time to show us how the Plutonian goes from good to bad. It creates a weird contrast to the atrocities he commits, it’s very well done. That’s really the star of the show, it’s been done a few times but I think Waid really nails the psychology aspect of it better than anyone.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 5 out of 5]

A strong continuation. It adds depth to the original with backstory and mysteries explained.

[Little Timmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story and very good art. Mark Waid always takes an idea and makes you look at it from a different angle.

[Corey Thibodeaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

They are really going for it here. As dark as you can imagine a world with a Superman-esque hero gone bad, hoo boy.

Even if you think humans deserve this kind of fate, the Plutonian really needs some therapy.

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this collection, Mark Waid gives us a few more pieces of the puzzle surrounding the Plutonian and his becoming Evil, but as is often the way of things, the answers we get only bring about MORE questions.

There only being 4 issues collected in this book naturally makes this a quick read, and I think the book's pacing is also a bit faster this time around. Since there's a bit more happening, I was more interested to seek out subsequent volumes than I was at the end of Irredeemable, Volume 1. Still, I don't think I'll be spending money on this series...

[Adam M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is the best kind of nuts. It ratchets up from the first volume, as any good story should.

Plutonian's old team is trying to find a way to stop him and spare humanity is unpredictable wrath. That is all the more I am going to say without spoiling anything that happens here. It's emotionally dense and has a couple of fulfilling twists.

I really recommend this story for anyone who's looking for a comic that confounds stereotypes or expectations. It's prime time Mark Waid writing and story telling.

I'm 100% investing in this now.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh damn, Plutonian only got crazier.

Waid picks up steam in vol 2 with some great character introductions (can I say, I already love Volt?!), strong character development, and some more explanation on the crazy (if no real justification).

Every character is already so human and flawed. Waid is such a great writer! Expect more than a typical "what if" superhero story from this series!

[Sonic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reminiscent of Alan Moore's "Miracle Man/Marvel Man" and Straczynski's "Squadron Supreme" and also Mark Millar's "Wanted," and yet this is it's own thing and it is a good story that is fun to read.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting ideas, but rather incoherent presentation.

[Paxton Holley · Rating 4 out of 5]

What if Superman went bad? This was a very good, dark version of Superman.

[Althea J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great series!

[Gbolahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this is where we knew a little bit more of the Paradigm. The anger there, the fears, the prejudice (against stereotypes, Bolt was just funny, LOL).
i still have major issues with powers not being explained though, seems there was a time Plutonian time-traveled...or I just have no idea what was going on there at all...the writers didn't even bother to explain. Stuff like that get me a bit miffed. I mean, they take time to explain some back-stories but ignore the powers? Please.
But, enough nit-picking. While not trying to justify his evil, the pressure on Plutonian was well represented. It felt real. Honestly just makes you realize that God-like superheroes may not do well on good ol' earth IRL. Only probably in fiction.
The pervading eeriness continues.