The End League

(Dark Horse, 2007-2008)
™ and © 2007 Rick Remender, Mat Broome

The Miraculous Astonishman was the defender of truth, justice and the American way. He reveled in his reputation as the earth’s preeminent hero. But his ego led him to become cynical and arrogant. He began to consider his judgment to be the final authority and didn’t bother to consult world leaders. In 1962 he was duped into believing that an undersea alien base established for altruistic purposes was a Communist nuclear facility. His rash destructive actions caused the Green Event, a catastrophic incident that killed 3 billion people. It is a secret he has never revealed.

The remainder of humanity experienced bizarre mutations and many of them became self-serving villains called the Magnificents. A handful joined Astonishman in his Squadron of Righteousness but the Magnificents killed most of them on the Day of Annihilation. The guilt-laden Astonishman now leads the few remaining who call themselves the End League and they struggle to help humanity survive.

This allegory is a dark story that writer Rick Remender uses to espouse his admittedly pessimistic view of human nature. The heroes are obvious doppelgangers for established archetypes, but it’s precursor, Alan Moore’s Watchmen, portrayed this type of super-hero deconstruction with much more intensity.

— George Haberberger

Jump to issue: