Future State Fridays: This is the end but not the end
By d. emerson eddy — This is the end.
Mostly. Kind of. Okay, not the end. The roll out of the Future State event kind of mirrors the stories themselves: there's an end, but it feels arbitrary. That is partially because we've still got the finale of one of the series to come later in March, but also because there are different aspects, most notably Future State: Gotham, that are continuing on past the event.
Future State Fridays: Life, It Seems, Will Fade Away
I've really quite enjoyed the Bat family aspect of Future State and think that overall this corner of the universe has really gelled together to create an interesting setting, a new seemingly monolithic group of antagonists in the Magistrate, and some pretty good, if not great, stories along the way. One of my absolute favourites is definitely Future State: Batman/Superman, with the second issue brought to us by Gene Luen Yang, Ben Oliver, Stephen Segovia, Scott McDaniel, Arif Prianto, and Tom Napolitano.
This story is set much closer to the present, so it's much more familiar compared to what we see later on in the Magistrate's reign. Superheroes are still relatively close to the present status quo and we're only seeing their reaction to the horrors that might lay ahead in the future. It gives this more of the feel of a cautionary tale and plants seeds of doubt as to where everything went wrong further. All wrapped up in the conclusion of a damn good story about the horrors of genetic experimentation and how easy it is to let the wolves inside the gates.
The art remains of incredibly high quality, even as Segovia and McDaniel―suggesting some time constraints to get this out on time―are added to Oliver and Prianto. To be honest, to look at it, there's not a huge difference between the pages done by Oliver and those done by Segovia, perhaps with Segovia adding more lines and shadows overall in his characters, particularly the faces, but the soft, blue, purple, green, and red hues that Prianto uses and the consistency in layouts and pacing from McDaniel, make the entire story feel like one work. I'm especially impressed by the creature designs, from the monstrous henchmen through the horrible eyed things that result from experimentation with Superman's powers.
But what really puts this over the top for me is Gene Luen Yang's narration (nicely presented by Napolitano through unique dialogue boxes). He seems to have the voices for both Superman and Batman completely nailed, beautifully conveying their divergent points of view in a way that doesn't seem nearly as extreme and combative as I've seen others present this. There's a level of easy, mutual respect and friendship that seems effortless in Yang's dialogue between the pair, even as Batman is forced to push Superman away. It gives me great excitement for what Yang's going to do when he takes over the regular Batman/Superman ongoing series.
Future State: Batman/Superman #2
Writer: Gene Luen Yang
Artists: Ben Oliver & Stephen Segovia
Breakdowns: Scott McDaniel
Colorist: Arif Prianto
Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Publisher: DC Comics
Superman has fallen deep into the Magistrate’s Kryptonite caverns, and now he’s at the mercy of a gruesomely transformed Professor Pyg! So what do animalistic body modification and caves of Kryptonite have to do with the Magistrate’s growing fascist state in Gotham City? That’s what Batman needs to find out as the race against time to save the Man of Steel nears its end! All we know for sure is that during this battle, something happened that drove a wedge between Bruce and Clark...Discover the answers in the conclusion that will rock the World’s Finest to their core!
Price: $3.99
Read It Digitally: Future State - Batman/Superman #2
Getting Lost Within Myself
Future State: Aquaman wasn't really a series I had any expectations going into. It wasn't something that was particularly on my radar. I found the first issue to be very good and I think that the second issue from Brandon Thomas, Daniel Sampere, Adriano Lucas, and Clayton Cowles manages to even top that to some degree. The first issue dealt with Jackson Hyde's perspective on the story and this second one gives us Andy Curry's. I think this series is my candidate for greatest surprise.
I really quite liked the pacing and structure of the first issue and that continues here, although in a different form. In the first issue, we had the story's present Jackson trying to escape his prison intercut with how he and Andy found the Confluence and travelled across worlds. This one picks up from where Jackson and Andy were separated, flows through pairs of flashbacks as Andy learns various lessons from Jackson and applies them to her current predicament, and then links back up with the first issues present to kick off the jailbreak. There's some wonderful humor and character development in this story, complete with a squad of glimmerfish that serve as some rightfully pissed off antagonists to Andy (who unwittingly stole one of their number for a reason you should read the book to find out).
And the artwork is drop dead gorgeous. I think, for the most part, the Future State event has set a high bar of quality when it comes to the art in the various series. Even in the series I didn't particularly care for, the artwork has been solid. In the ones that I have liked, there's been a wonderful synergy between the creators that elevates the story as a whole. That happens here with some incredible work from Sampere, Lucas, and Cowles. For starters, Lucas' colors are amazing. Unlike much of the rest of the event, the colors here are bright and beautiful. We aren't trapped in a dark, oppressive world, but a landscape of possibilities in the Confluence. While things aren't easy, the landscape is still islands and a universal ocean. Sampere populates this world with some interesting designs for frog pirates, normal sea creatures, and the glimmerfish. Which are then enhanced further as Cowles' takes a unique approach to the dialogue and headings for the different characters, including a rather interesting blue collective balloon for the school of glimmerfish.
Thomas, Sampere, Lucas, and Cowles do a great job with Future State: Aquaman and I'd really like to see this creative team pop up again somewhere in the Infinite Frontier. They made me care about a pair of characters, one who we only just met as a baby in the ongoing series and another I didn't really have an opinion of, in the span of two issues. We haven't seen an Aquaman announcement yet, so it would be welcome to be there, but, seriously, I'd follow this group just about anywhere they turn up. Great stuff.
Future State: Aquaman #2
Writer: Brandon Thomas
Artist: Daniel Sampere
Colorist: Adriano Lucas
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Publisher: DC Comics
Andy Curry, daughter of Arthur and Mera, has had a pretty terrible month. Jackson Hyde, a.k.a. Aquaman, won’t stop calling her Aqualass when she’s told him a thousand times it’s Aquawoman. She’s manifested a new power that scares the absolute hell out of her. Oh, and she and Jackson just got ripped apart in the midst of a cosmic space ocean and she can’t find him anywhere! For the first time in her 14 years, Andy’s all alone-and it’s gonna take her wits, her will, and every single lesson Jackson ever taught her to survive. Don’t Miss this very exciting continuation of the Future State - Aquman story!
Price: $3.99
Read It Digitally: Future State Aquaman #2
Nothing Matters, No One Else
Future State: Superman – House of El #1 is a dark horse one-shot, coming from out of nowhere to be one of the best stories of the whole damned event. Brought to us by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Scott Godlewski, Gabe Eltaeb, and Troy Peteri, this one's kind of a science fantasy as the House of El, stationed on the Moon, prepare for a final battle against the Red King and his forces from Apokolips and beyond.
Johnson taps into some of the same epic storytelling and narration that he's used for The Last God and I find it works really well here. Though the situation is dire and horror is coming at the heroes of El, the tension only adds to the excitement of the story. It would have been nice to spend more time with the characters, develop them further along with their backstories, but it's still entertaining. This just further cements to me that Johnson is a great pick for the ongoing Superman and Action Comics titles, showing versatility here with an entirely different type of story, but still spotlighting the core values of Superman and Clark Kent, as in Future State: Superman – Worlds of War.
So too is the artwork from Scott Godlewski and Gabe Eltaeb. They'll be joining Johnson on Superman in the second month into Infinite Frontier and I really like what they've done here. Godlewski has a style that's roughly in the Stuart Immonen-influenced wheelhouse and it works very well for both Superman and the science fantasy tone of the story. There are some really great double-page spreads of the forces in action and the character designs are wonderful. When you add the bright, primary colors from Eltaeb this is just a really good looking book. Enhanced further with Troy Peteri's approach to the lettering that mixes both a futuristic feel and the fantasy storytelling.
Future State: Superman – House of El #1 is a great one-shot. Even if you've not been reading any of the other Future State event books, this is a good standalone story and a good sign for what's to come in the ongoing Superman titles.
Future State: Superman - House of El #1
Writer: Phillip Kennedy Johnson
Artist: Scott Godlewski
Colorist: Gabe Eltaeb
Letterer: ALW's Troy Peteri
Publisher: DC Comics
Centuries into the future, the bloodline of Kal-El, the hero we know as Clark Kent, continues. Meet a new generation of Kryptonian heroes as they stand against one of the greatest threats they’ve ever faced: a diabolical foe called the Red King. Get ready for the unexpected debuts of the twins known as Rowan and Ronan Kent, descendants of Jonathan Kent. Rowan is the new Superman of Earth, while his sister is a Blue Lantern. Also on board are Theand’r Ban-El, whose mother was Tamaranean, and other heroes-all led by the original Man of Steel himself! Plus, don’t miss an appearance by the Black Racer!
See how the future of the Superman Family comes together in this wild, extra-size special!
Price: $5.99
Read It Digitally: Future State - Superman - House of El #1
Need the End to Set Me Free
Future State: Superman vs. Imperious Lex #2 continues to be one of the best to come out of this entire event. What Mark Russell, Steve Pugh, Romulo Fajardo, Jr. and Carlos M. Mangual are doing here is a mix of that ages old enmity between Superman and Luthor, but told through some very impressive, rather funny, political satire in a tale that's kind of unlike anything else in the entire Future State body. I mean, in some ways this reminds me more of some of the classic Elseworlds tales or the old school “Imaginary Stories” than the future worlds shown elsewhere. Which I'm more than fine with.
Luthor's attempt to make Lexor a part of the United Planets continues here as Lois and Superman travel to the planet to assess what it can offer to the collective and what the planet needs in terms of resources, debt, etc. It's interesting to see how Luthor has basically bamboozled the indigenous population of Lexor and how they continue to fight for the “Benefactor”. Things get upended further when Lois' United Planets survey team finds natural resources on the planet.
The artwork from Steve Pugh and Romulo Fajardo, Jr. remains top notch. There's a wholesomeness and comfort in how Pugh portrays both Superman and Lois, but when you look at Luthor's robots or Luthor himself with his false face and hands, it feels like there's something sinister just waiting under the surface. This is mirrored by the bright colors that Fajardo uses for Superman and Lois when they're on their own in contrast to more washed out palettes on Lexor itself.
Given how some of the Future State books abruptly end, this could well have been the finale. I'm glad that it isn't, because Russell, Pugh, Fajardo, and Mangual are doing a phenomenal job here and I want to see what twist they have in store for the actual end.
Future State: Superman vs. Imperious Lex #2
Writer: Mark Russell
Artist: Steve Pugh
Colorist: Romulo Fajardo, Jr.
Letterer: Carlos M. Mangual
Publisher: DC Comics
It’s really happening: Lexor has joined the United Planets! While surveying, Lois Lane and Superman discover that the planet is rich in minerals, causing Lex Luthor to try and exit the federation to make a pretty penny! Realizing he can’t leave without agreement from Earth, he imprisons Lois Lane, then whips up the propaganda machine against Superman. Now the power couple must work together to break free and stop Luthor’s plans! But how can they fight a whole planet that’s designed to hate them?
Price: $3.99
Read It Digitally: Future State - Superman vs. Imperious Lex #2
Things Not What They Used to Be
I think that Future State: Legion of Super-Heroes ultimately falls into my “it's okay” category. In the second issue, the creative team of Brian Michael Bendis, Riley Rossmo, Ivan Plascencia, and Dave Sharpe, give us the Legionnaires out for revenge on Jan Arrah for basically destroying the universe—somehow I guess, that's still kind of iffy—and finding out that the truth is much, much worse.
I'm actually kind of indifferent to this story. I don't think it's bad, though I do question turning one of the major races into baddies. And I'm not particularly moved towards overly liking it either, it's just kind of...there. I do love the artwork from Riley Rossmo and Ivan Plascencia. The playfulness of the layouts and the character designs continues here, including an actual reason and purpose for that skull thing on Saturn Girl's head. Rossmo is great at designing interesting and strange looking futuristic stuff, matched by the bright pinks and purples of Plascencia's color palette that's splashed across an otherwise dark universe.
I suppose that some purists could consider this story character assassination, but I...don't really care. That's kind of the disappointing bit of the story, given the vague idea of what happened to the universe and the rather quick resolution for it, there's really not a lot of emotional depth here to truly care about anything going on.
I think that we still haven't seen an announcement for a resumption of the ongoing Legion of Super-Heroes series or a new creative team for a reboot. If this is the end, this era of the Legion has kind of gone out with a whimper.
Future State: Legion of Super-Heroes #2
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Riley Rossmo
Colorist: Ivan Plascencia
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Publisher: DC Comics
The unthinkable has happened: one of the Legionnaires has betrayed the entire galaxy! The United Planets is in ruins, the team has been scattered across the cosmos, and madness reigns on multiple worlds! Now the surviving Legionnaires are just discovering the real truth behind what has happened to their dream of a new age of heroes. Don’t miss this shocking twist 1,000 years in the making from the team of writer Brian Michael Bendis and visionary artist Riley Rossmo.
Price: $3.99
Read It Digitally: Future State - Legion of Super-Heroes #2
Deathly Lost, This Can't Be Real
I still kind of think that the pairing of stories in Future State: Suicide Squad is a bit weird, though I wouldn't be surprised if the reasoning to put “Black Adam” in this book was to ensure that the nihilistic death romp was drawn out across every week. Because you can't possibly skip a week without your allotment of death, destruction, and soul-crushing betrayal.
But let's get to that after the “Suicide Squad” lead from Robbie Thompson, Javier Fernandez, Alex Sinclair, and Wes Abbott. We get Peacemaker's Task Force X faces off against Waller's Justice Squad and, well, it's kind of a nihilistic death romp on its own. This one feels like the end payoff of whatever Robbie Thompson and Eduardo Pansica have in store for the new Suicide Squad series that launches next month. Playing with alternate worlds and locking off Earth-3 for reasons I think I may have missed. All setting up a new status quo for Conner Kent that we may or may not ever see again.
It's not bad, propelled largely by some great action-packed artwork from Javier Fernandez and Alex Sinclair. It's dark, explosive, and bloody, but that's kind of what you'd expect from a Suicide Squad story.
And then there's the “Black Adam” co-feature from Jeremy Adams, Fernando Pasarin, Oclair Albert, Jeromy Cox, and Wes Abbott. Like many of the other Future State stories, I feel like this one is unfinished, coming to a fairly abrupt end without necessarily resolving anything. In the 853rd Century, the Unkindness and her retinue are destroying everything, but a rag tag band of superheroes, magic users, and Black Adam are all that stand their way. Kind of, since apparently the goal is just to let the Unkindness run her course, then reboot all of reality. Yeah, bummer.
Of all of this narrative thread across the Future State event, I think this one was the best, but that's kind of like judging the best crap sandwich. “This one has marshmallows”. Even absolutely stunning art from Pasarin, Albert, and Cox can't really save this one. There's more betrayal, more death, some rather annoying dialogue from Gold Beetle, and one hell of a non-ending that doesn't even quite make that much sense, but seems to be setting up that this is going to continue into the Infinite Frontier books. I'm not looking forward to that.
Future State: Suicide Squad #2
“Suicide Squad”
Writer: Robbie Thompson
Artist: Javier Fernandez
Colorist: Alex Sinclair
Letterer: Wes Abbott
Peacemaker attacks! Assigned to bring Amanda Waller back to Earth-1 at all costs, the Suicide Squad battles Waller’s private Justice League on Earth-3. As lives are lost and blood is spilled, the fate of the Multiverse will be decided by Superman!
“Black Adam”
Writer: Jeremy Adams
Penciller: Fernando Pasarin
Inker: Oclair Albert
Colorist: Jeromy Cox
Letterer: Wes Abbott
Publisher: DC Comics
Also in this issue, the 853rd Century is burning, and only Black Adam can save reality from the onslaught of murderous rage from a new threat spawned from a former hero.
Price: $5.99
Read It Digitally: Future State - Suicide Squad #2
Growing Darkness Taking Dawn
Between the two “main” Batman series through Future State, I think that Dark Detective tipped the scales in its favor. Though I still enjoyed The Next Batman, particularly the back-ups and the Fox family bits in the lead story, I think Future State: Dark Detective has been a stronger all around package with both the lead and the “Grifters” and “Red Hood” co-features. I think the lead story in Future State: Dark Detective #4 does stumble a bit, but not enough to sour the overall quality of the story and the series as a whole.
That lead story being the titular “Dark Detective” tale by Mariko Tamaki, Dan Mora, Jordie Bellaire, and Aditya Bidikar. It's still really good, as Bruce works to protect the family of his landlord from repercussions of the Magistrate. My only issue with it is the ending. I won't spoil it, but it's another one that kind of shifts the goal to a more immediate threat and then it's just over. It feels like there should be a lot more story to come, as if this is chapter four of a twelve-part series.
The art, however, remains some of the absolute best of the entire Future State event. Mora, Bellaire, and Bidikar seem to absolutely revel in the retro future style of the setting and it's just a joy to look at and follow.
The “Red Hood” co-feature by Joshua Williamson, Giannis Milonogiannis, Jordie Bellaire, and Troy Peteri remains top notch, giving a satisfying conclusion to the story at hand, while still leaving it open for the forthcoming Future State: Gotham series. There's some great humor here as Ravager makes a realization of just how much money is on Red Hood's head and he ghosts. There's a good deal of development here of how the Magistrate has more or less been playing all sides (similar to the False Face Serum program in Batman/Superman) to further their goals for more power.
The art from Milonogiannis and Bellaire remains an absolute treat. Milonogiannis' manga influences continue to be on high display here and it's just wonderful. The pacing, action, and facial expressions, while minimal, are just perfectly executed for the story. This is one that I'm very happy to see will be continuing further.
Future State: Dark Detective #4
“Dark Detective”
Writer: Mariko Tamaki
Artist: Dan Mora
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Aditya Bidikar
Bruce Wayne may be a dead man in the eyes of the villainous Magistrate, but this dark detective isn’t through yet! In this pulse-pounding finale, Bruce makes his final move and comes face to face with the man at the top of Gotham’s oppressive regime, Peacekeeper One! With bombs planted and the trap waiting to be sprung, this final battle will decide the fate of Gotham City once and for all...
“Red Hood”
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Giannis Milonogiannis
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: ALW's Troy Peteri
Publisher: DC Comics
And after the events of the last “Red Hood” chapter, Jason Todd is a wanted man. He got too close to the mystery of the new Red Hood Gang, and that forced the Magistrate to take extreme measures-because no one can know the truth. Hurt and alone, Jason must turn to some unlikely allies if he’s going to survive!
Price: $5.99
Read It Digitally: Future State - Dark Detective #4
I Was Me, But Now He's Gone
I'd consider both of these following stories as kind of a bonus, outside of the Future State event itself, but thought they might be of interest to people who want to see what's already starting to spill out of this corner of the DCU. If you're interested in getting more tales of Jace Fox, this week also offers you the first chapter of the Digital First series, The Next Batman: Second Son, by John Ridley, Tony Akins, Mark Morales, Ryan Benjamin, Rex Lokus, and Deron Bennett, as well as an 8-pager, “The Cavalry”, in Batman: Black & White #3, by Ridley, Olivier Coipel, and Bennett.
The big one is probably the launch of the Second Son mini-series. The solicitations for it offer up an insight into what made Jace Fox into the man he is today (rather than tomorrow it seems, this is well before he put on the cowl) and what I think will be more Fox family drama. This first issue only kind of touches on anything, instead setting up an operation that goes south in Vietnam and ending on a cliffhanger that may drag Jace back to the family. It's mostly action, and a little bit of intrigue, giving Benjamin, Akins, and Morales a bit to shine, while only hinting at a something underneath. There's the mystery of who set Jace up and what the goal of his operations really had been, but we don't get into it deep. Likewise, the family aspect is only really first broached with the cliffhanger. We'll have to see where it goes in future chapters.
Overall, it's not bad, but it is a bit of a tease. Granted, that's kind of true of a lot of the Digital First series, leaning a bit harder into the serial nature of the storytelling than we necessarily see in the stories designed to be in physical print in the first place. Still, I like what Ridley's given us so far with the character and will love to see him fleshed out more.
More directly keyed in to the Future State event is “The Cavalry” short story in Batman: Black & White #3. Personally, I think this one is great. Batman takes on a group of Penguin's ex-henchmen, gets beaten for his trouble, and is then helped by his own sidekick.
The art from Olivier Coipel is phenomenal, brilliant pacing, gorgeous layouts, and a real depth to his shading tones. It's just beautiful. It also takes the Next Batman in a different direction as we learn about who he has as his back up, his “cavalry”. It looks like he's starting up his own family business, just as Bruce Wayne's family grew up around him and took on masks of their own. I don't know where or when we're going to see more of the future version of Jace Fox, but this was a nice taste.
The Next Batman: Second Son #1
Writer: John Ridley
Penciller: Tony Akins
Inker: Mark Morales
Breakdowns: Ryan Benjamin
Colorist: Rex Lokus
Letterer: Deron Bennett
Publisher: DC Comics - Digital First
Meet Tim “Jace” Fox, estranged son of billionaire Lucius Fox and man of mystery…what has the eldest son of one Gotham’s premiere families been up to for these ‘missing’ years and how does he find himself getting shot at in the jungles of Vietnam? Learn these answers and many more as the story of the SECOND SON begins!
Price: $0.99
Read It Digitally: The Next Batman Second Son #1
Batman: Black & White #3
“The Cavalry”
Writer: John Ridley
Artist: Olivier Coipel
Letterer: Deron Bennett
Plus 4 Other Stories & Pin-Ups
Publisher: DC Comics
The mythology of Batman continues to expand in this issue of Batman Black and White as we explore alternate takes and possible futures for the Caped Crusader from the minds of comics’ most innovative and creative thinkers!
Academy Award-winning writer John Ridley and iconic Thor and Avengers artist Olivier Coipel reteam to dip into the world of Future State and expand the legend of the next Batman and introduce us to his new-well, she’s not exactly Robin!
Price: $5.99
Read It Digitally: Batman Black and White #3
Yesterday Seems As Though It Never Existed
Then there's Generations Forged #1, the conclusion to the story that began in Generations Shattered #1 at the beginning of last month. This is not officially part of the Future State event, but I believe it came out of the same aborted Generations/5G initiative that was going to run last year. Where exactly it fits in the overall scheme of DC's future plans, I don't know, but it's an entertaining enough story on its own that would probably be well enjoyed by fans of older DC comics.
Unlike Future State, this one takes an array of heroes and villains from out of existing DC Universe time periods, ultimately to try to stop Dominus. I feel as though I've read numerous variations on this type of story in DC's history, including Crisis on Infinite Earths, Zero Hour, and Countdown to Infinite Crisis, but it's that familiarity to previous DC events that kind of makes the story work over all. It's largely trading on nostalgia and if you're into that sort of thing, it's probably worth it. Especially when you look at the sheer quality of talent involved.
The one thing that really stands out in this story is the introduction of something new for how time works in the DC Universe, the concept of the Linearverse. Basically, it sounds like a way for them to explain how the various characters can have such a long history, yet still be relatively youthful. How this is going to work in practice, or even if it will be adopted universally across the regular DCU, I don't know, but it's interesting.
Generations Forged #1
Writers: Dan Jurgens, Robert Venditti & Andy Schmidt
Artists: Mike Perkins, Marco Santucci, Paul Pelletier & Norm Rapmund, Bernard Chang, Joe Prado, Colleen Doran, Bryan Hitch & Andrew Currie, Dan Jurgens & Kevin Nowlan
Colorist: Hi-Fi
Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Publisher: DC Comics
Dispersed through time by the villain Dominus, our ragtag team of generational heroes-featuring 1939 Batman, Kamandi, Superboy, Steel, Starfire, Sinestro, Booster Gold, and Dr. Light-must find a way to restore the timeline…and what they ultimately discover is something far, far greater. You’ll have to read it to believe it as time dies…and generations rise!
Price: $9.99
Read It Digitally: Generations Forged #1
Death Greets Me Warm, Now I Will Just Say Goodbye
So there you have it, the final run down for the last week of Future State.
Overall, I think this has been one of the better events that DC has run, with what I feel has been a better overall quality than similar initiatives like Convergence, Future's End, and even The New 52. I think that my only complaint about the event as a whole is that there could have been a bit better management. While the Bat family books look like they ran the tightest ship, I think as a whole the event needed more cohesion.
By that, I don't mean a mini-series or framing story to tie everything together, I don't think that Future State really needed something like that. But rather greater clarity overall for when the stories were happening in regards to one another. If you only follow one or two titles, this wouldn't matter much, but altogether it got a bit jumbled. Even just editorial notes could have gone a long way to allay any problems (the timeline in the free preview book helped a bit, but it still wasn't flawless).
As to what I'd recommend out of this, I can easily point to Swamp Thing, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Superman vs. Imperious Lex, and Superman/Wonder Woman as some of the cream of the crop. They can also be read pretty much independently of everything else. That said, all of the Bat family and Superman family books are strong and well worth a look. And Justice League.
The only are that I'd steer clear from is the nihilistic, soul-crushing, mean-spirited dystopia that ran through The Flash, Teen Titans, Shazam! and the “Black Adam” back-up in Suicide Squad. If you like your futures grim dark, go right ahead, but to me it was a depressing mess, told out of order, and building to nothing. I'm not looking forward to seeing any of it in Infinite Frontier and it soured my expectations for Teen Titans Academy, The Flash, and I'm kind of reticent about the new Suicide Squad since it looks like there's going to be some intermingling with the Titans book.
Thank you to everyone who has followed along with these ramblings on the Future State event. Now on to infinity and beyond!
Read past installments of Future State Fridays!
d. emerson eddy is a student and writer of things. He fell in love with comics during Moore, Bissette, & Totleben's run on Swamp Thing and it has been a torrid affair ever since. His madness typically manifests itself on Twitter @93418.
