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The multiverse has been saved from the brink of destruction! With victory comes new possibilities, as the triumph of our heroes shakes loose the very fabric of time and space. From the ashes of Death Metal comes new life for the multiverse — and a glimpse into the unwritten worlds of tomorrow…

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Future State: Batman/Superman #2
Publisher: DC
Writers: Gene Luen Yang
Artist: Scott McDaniel, Ben Oliver
Inks: Stephen Segovia
Colorist: Arif Prianto
Letters: Tom Napolitano
Cover: David Marquez and Alejandro Sanchez

Usually, the best part of any Batman/Superman story is the examination of the different methods of each character and their mutual respect for each other’s methods. Yang succeeds in portraying that dynamic while pushing it even farther toward the end of this issue by examining why sometimes one partner’s methods aren’t applicable in every situation. Combining Yang’s exploration of the relationship between Batman and Superman with the spectacular visuals by McDaniel, Oliver, and Segovia, as well as the lush coloring by Prianto make this one of the best of the Future State offerings this week. 4/5 – MT 

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Future State: Aquaman #2
Publisher: DC
Writer: Brandon Thomas
Artist: Daniel Sampere
Inks: Daniel Sampere
Colors: Adriano Lucas
Letters: Clayton Cowles
Cover: Daniel Sampere and Adriano Lucas

The Aquaman two-issue series has been much darker in tone than most of the other Future State titles, but that tone works well in establishing the new normal for the two heirs of Aquaman. While the last issue focused on Andy’s training by Jackson Hyde, with both characters being involved equally, this second issue is much more focused on Andy. After a gruesome attack at the end of last issue that severed her leg, Andy was left for dead. The second issue focuses on Andy’s recovery and her growing power as she heals herself in a very unique way, much to the dismay of some surrounding oceanic life, and then begins the quest to reunite with Jackson by traversing the Confluence, a network of oceans that spans across the multiverse. The Confluence itself is a great addition to both Aquaman and DC Multiverse lore, and the concept deserves to be expanded upon in post-Future State stories. 5/5 – MT

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Future State: Superman vs Imperious Lex #2
Publisher: DC
Writer: Mark Russell
Artist: Steve Pugh
Inks: Steve Pugh
Colorist: Romulo Fajardo, Jr.
Letters: Carlos M. Mangual
Cover: Yanick Paquette

Steve Pugh’s art is the main attraction to this fun, almost goofy (in a Silver Age way) story featuring Lex at almost comical levels of maniacal dreams of world domination. The verbal sparring between Lois Lane and Lex is great, and it’s always enjoyable to see Lois depicted as a strong and capable character in her own right as opposed to just a vehicle for Superman to rescue. With the over-the-top characterizations, though, and the way this issue ends, it’s difficult to imagine that a third issue of this story is necessary.  3/5 – MT

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Future State: Suicide Squad #2
Publisher: DC
Writers: Robbie Thompson, Jeremy Adams
Artist: Javier Fernandez, Fernando Pasarin
Inks: Oclair Albert
Colorist: Alex Sinclair, Jeromy Cox
Letters: Wes Abbott
Cover: Javier Fernandez and Marcelo Maiolo

The main Suicide Squad story has a lot of potential, involving two different squads operating on Earth-3 (revealed last issue) and the juxtaposition of all the different personalities involved. However, a cast of characters that big, most of them in disguise and/or acting as different people, does make the story difficult to follow, and forcing the entire story into a short 2-issue arc doesn’t help matters. It’s good to see Peacemaker getting some love at DC, but it’s unknown how this story will impact the ongoing Suicide Squad title in the post-Future State world. 3/5 – MT

The Black Adam story fares better, given its focus on making Adam into a more three-dimensional character who shows care and thought for other people besides himself. The best part of the story is the Gold Beetle character, clearly a futuristic mix of Booster Gold and Blue Beetle, who speaks in long, fast, unbroken sentences, much to the annoyance of those around her. What hurst this story, though, is its reliance on having read the Teen Titans and Shazam Future State stories, which are all tied together, but not in a very cohesive manner. 3/5 – MT

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Future State: Dark Detective#4
Publisher: DC
Writers: Mariko Tamaki, Joshua Williamson
Artist: Dan Mora, Giannis Milongiannis
Inks: Dan Mora, Giannis Milongiannis
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letters: Akitya Bikidar, Troy Peteri
Cover: Dan Mora

The last chapter of this 4-issue series comes to a close, and the extra issues (double that of the standard Future State title) help keep this intriguing detective noir story from feeling too rushed. Given the expanded space in which to work, Tamaki is able to develop the story of future Bruce Wayne and his battle against the Magistrate while also developing his relationship with two new intriguing characters: Noah, his landlord/roommate, and Noah’s daughter, Hannah, whose ties to the Magistrate have always been shrouded in mystery. While I might have liked a longer reveal for Hannah’s role in the story (it’s the one part of this story that does feel a bit rushed), the overall pacing and characterization creates a compelling detective story. 4/5 – MT

The second story featuring Jason Todd is perhaps less successful overall, but still one of the better Jason Todd stories in recent history. Jason is shown to be a bit playful in his banter with his partner, Ravager, but also still has an ingrained sense of morality and loyalty that often gets overlooked by writers who turn Todd into a jerk with a constant chip on his shoulder. 4/5 – MT

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Future State: Legion of Super-Heroes #2
Publisher: DC
Writers: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Riley Rossmo
Inks: Riley Rossmo
Colorist: Ivan Plascencia
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Cover: Riley Rossmo

Once again, as with many Future State titles, an interesting story suffers due to the short two-issue format. The entire cast of the Legion shows up, many to only have one or two panels, forcing their characterization into mere caricatures of their most exaggerated mannerisms. Saturn Girl ends up taking the lead role for the majority of the story, which is a little too convenient; Bendis uses her psychic abilities as a stand-in to narrate, in typical Bendis fashion, what is happening. Rossmo’s stylistic art is a highlight, but perhaps not necessarily suited to panel after panel of Saturn Girl having a psychic conversation with her mother. 3/5 – MT

For more Crisis of Infinite Reviews click here!

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Martin Thomas
martin@comicattack.net