There are a lot of comics out there, but some just stand out head and shoulders above the pack. With “Don’t Miss This” we want to spotlight those series we think need to be on your pull list. This week, we’re taking a look at John Ridley and Nick Derington’s seminal “Future State: The Next Batman.” There’s a new Batman in Gotham City and this all-star creative team has a fascinating vision for Gotham’s new caped crusader. Today I’m here with a couple of reasons why you can’t miss Batman’s violent encounter with the Magistrate in the deadly distant future of Gotham.
Who Is This By?
“Future State: The Next Batman” is written by screenwriter John Ridley with art from Nick Derington. Ridley wrote the incredible film “12 Year a Slave.” Ridley came back to DC recently and got off to a great new start at the publisher with the incredible debut of “The Other History of the DC Universe.” Artist Nick Derington is a relatively new DC creator. In all of his new projects at DC Derington has brought a beautiful page composition and amazing body language on his figures. To put it simply; these are two of DC’s best creators that haven’t yet reached the peak of their comics work yet. Teaming the creators up for the publisher’s premiere DC title at the heart of the mini ‘Future State’ event is a huge creative achievement for DC.
What’s It All About?
“Future State: The Next Batman” takes place in the distant future where a group called the Magistrate has taken over Gotham City. Batman is presumed dead and Tim Fox resurfaces as the titular Next Batman. The Batman family is particularly fractured around this time in Gotham allowing for Tim to take up the mantle of Batman. This bleak interpretation of Gotham sees the Magistrate hunting down masked vigilantes and the group has a particular focus on getting rid of Batman. In the first issue, Ridley teases the return of an old Batman villain who seems particularly daunting in this new setting. We don’t just see Fox pursuing crime in this title either, he’s trying to help his environment and make sure the kids on the streets of this newer, more violent Gotham are not left behind. On top of everything mentioned above, Fox is even battling the demons of his personal life. Fox’s extracurricular activities as Batman doesn’t give him a lot of time to socialize. Fox’s family hasn’t taken well to his sudden absence in their lives.
What Makes It So Great?
It is always refreshing to read comic books where it seems like you are entering in the middle of the narrative. “Future State: The Next Batman” immediately kicks the story off with a fascinating action sequence that is depicted incredibly well by Derington. Ridley’s script is meant to make you ask questions. Ridley slowly reveals the identity of Batman and introduces you to the personal life of the Fox family very quickly. In just a few pages Ridley seeds a host of different plot threads that start becoming more clear as the title progresses. The new heroes and villains of Gotham have not yet emerged but Ridley’s script has started to tease where they could potentially be coming from.
In just a few pages Ridley is able to show how real the threat of the Magistrate is. Fox is always terrified of the Magistrate interrupting his crime scenes or time as Batman. The level of fear the Magistrate brings to the story is a huge component of what makes this title stick out so early into its run. Ridley has already hinted at a few Batman villains but there’s no time to come to battle them with them as the impending threat of the Magistrate is always on the horizon. There’s another threat Ridley has begun to seed with gang violence on the streets of Gotham. This is an incredibly gritty series that has some interesting technology as well thanks to the distant future setting and wealth of the Fox family.
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Derington’s art in the first issue captures the gritty tone shockingly well. With Derington’s recent artistic contributions on bright titles like “Doom Patrol,” you may think that his art could not accommodate a gritty Batman title. Fortunately, Derington is up to the task. Derington continues his streak of making characters with solid body language and lots of emotion. Derington pays a lot of attention to the actual choreography of his figures. This allows for the fight scenes in the comic to have an impressive level of detail.
Issue #2 has contributions from Derington as breakdowns with interior art from Laura Braga. Braga’s art is good but does not match tonally with Derington. I was also disappointed to see the art in this series shift so quickly. Derington’s work is so specific that no artist would be able to do a carbon copy of his line art. Braga’s art is solid and enhanced with Derington’s breakdowns. Braga brings out that gritty feeling of “Future State: The Next Batman” really well. It is refreshing to know that the title is in good artistic hands no matter who is drawing the series this far.
How Can You Read It?
“Future State: The Next Batman” is available in the direct market through comic book stores. The first two issues are on sale now and the first collection is slated for a June 15, 2021 release date. When “Future State” wraps Fox’s story will continue in “The Next Batman: Second Son” from DC in April. At this point, I think it safe to say that The Next Batman is here to stay. It’s time to jump aboard this new spin on the Batman concept on the ground floor. Don’t be the one person who missed “Future State: The Next Batman.”
