***Contains Spoilers***
When I first delved into DC’s Armageddon 2001 crossover, I had low expectations since it received negative reviews upon its release. However, I found myself quite entertained by this ambitious story. The dystopian future ruled by the Monarch was a fascinating concept, adding an intriguing layer of depth to the overall narrative.
One of the unexpected elements of Armageddon 2001 was the character development of Matthew Ryder in the first issue. I was immediately drawn into his story because of the Orwellian themes. How his family, especially his daughter, bought into the Monarch’s rule and turned against Ryder was both chilling and captivating. As someone who previously didn’t find the Waverider character particularly interesting in Zero Hour, I now feel compelled to revisit that event with this newfound background.
While I didn’t have the chance to read all the tie-ins, I appreciated the concept of exploring potential futures for various characters. It was a cool concept, even though none of these futures actually came to pass. It added an extra layer of enjoyment.
The second issue of Armageddon 2001 placed a significant focus on Captain Atom, and I found his journey quite engaging. The conclusion of the issue, with Captain Atom being lost in time after his narrow defeat of the Monarch, left me eager to see how his story would unfold.
However, I agree with fans that the last-minute switch from Captain Atom to Hawk as the Monarch fell short. It felt like a sudden change that didn’t have the same impact or build-up as the rest of the story. While I appreciate the element of surprise, it felt somewhat forced and lacked the same level of excitement and satisfaction that I had experienced throughout the rest of the crossover.
In summary, while Armageddon 2001 may have received negative reviews upon its initial release, I found it entertaining. The dystopian future ruled by the Monarch was an intriguing concept, and the character development of Matthew Ryder added depth to the story. Exploring potential futures for various characters was fun, and the focus on Captain Atom provided an engaging narrative thread. However, the sudden switch to Hawk as the Monarch was a disappointment and felt out of place within the overall story. Despite this misstep, Armageddon 2001 remains an enjoyable crossover that offers readers an interesting glimpse into potential futures for the DC universe and deserves 2-stars.
Feature Armageddon 2001 #1 cover art by Dan Jurgens