The DC3 decided to take on the Herculean task of covering DC’s weekly books! Our coverage will rotate between creator interviews, issue reviews and annotations, and long-form pieces on featured characters. This, friends, is the DC3kly!
All this month, the DC3 (with some help from our regular review crew) will be covering every single “Futures End” issue released, covering all of DC’s ongoings and recent cancellations.
Let’s get to it!
Batgirl: Futures End #1
Written by Gail Simone
Illustrated by Javier Garron
Reviewed by Brian Salvatore
A few of these “Futures End” issues mark the end of a creative team’s run on a title, and “Batgirl” is probably the highest profile of those issues. Here, Gail Simone manages to tie up Barbara’s story, further the Batgirl name, and bring a couple of fan favorites back under the cowl. In short, this is a really fun way for Simone to end her “Batgirl” run.
It starts with Barbara’s wedding being broken up by her brother James, who forces her new husband to sacrifice himself for her life. After that, we see Babs no longer calling herself Batgirl, but rather Bete Noire. As Noire, using her skills as an undercover agent, she manages to take down, by her estimates, 70% of Gotham’s crime. After that, she sprung the “League of Batgirls” – I won’t spoil their identities, but if you’re a longtime Bat-fan, you’ll be quite happy. Eventually, she must encounter her final large conquest, Bane, the man who, over two years, trained her and made her into the “monster” she has become.
The art here is pretty standard “Batgirl” fare, with nothing looking out of place, but nothing setting the world on fire, either. More than anything, Barbara’s physical transformation is jarring, and no artist could have drawn her in a way that wasn’t a shock, and that is purposeful. It is hard to see her bulked up in a Bane-style mask and not be taken aback a little.
However, the story is extraordinarily satisfying, and Garron does nice storytelling work, especially during the final fight sequence. This is a story that rewards the generations reading “Batgirl,” past, present, and future, and gives hopes for the fans of these other Batgirls that we, perhaps, haven’t seen the end of their time under that cowl.
Final Verdict: – 8.2 – a nice capper to a three year journey
Is this better than the average issue of “Batgirl?” – I would say yes, if only because of the sentimental attachment to the character(s), and Simone’s emotional sendoff to Babs.
Batman: Futures End #1
Written by Ray Fawkes
Illustrated by Aco
Reviewed by Brian Salvatore
There is a weird line being walked in a lot of these books, but “Batman” is the best example of this so far: this is a good comic, but it isn’t necessarily a good “Futures End” comic. This story feels far more than 5 years in the future – in fact, this probably feels closer in time-frame to “The Dark Knight Returns” than the main “Futures End” book. Part of that is due to Aco’s gritty style, but part of that is that Bruce just flat out looks like shit. And I know that is the point, but it doesn’t help make the book feel out of line with the rest of the 5 Years Later titles.
There is some nice Lex Luthor work here, too, and the Lex/Bats pairing has been proving to be a lot of fun lately, so I have no gripe with that. It also brings back one of the finest remnants of last year’s Villains Month, Bizarro, for a few minutes of fun.
Final Verdict: 7.1 – This was an engaging story, illustrated inventively and beautifully, that gave me a few moments of sheer comic-goodness. But it feels a little off from what this month is supposed to be.
Is this better than the average issue of “Batman?” – No, but it isn’t incredibly far off from that.
Continued below
Birds of Prey: Futures End #1
Written by Christy Marx
Illustrated by Robson Rocha
Reviewed by Brian Salvatore
“Birds of Prey” has gone the way of the dodo, but Marx and co. swoop in one last time to give a little hint of what might come for Black Canary and co. Well, really only for Black Canary. Sure, Barbara Gordon shows up, but that’s really just an ancillary appearance. While there is a fun premise at the heart of this (What if Black Canary took over as head of the League of Assassins?), Black Canary as a character isn’t really the person I’d expect to take out Ra’s al Ghul, nor is she so not the person I’d expect that it is interesting. This, more than anything, feels like a way to tie in Arrow, and since the comic isn’t called “Black Canary,” the tie-in will reach exactly 0 Arrow fans that aren’t already reading DC Comics.
Rocha does good work here, aided by Scott McDaniel’s breakdowns, even if his Dinah is just a tad cheesecake-y. The story finds a compelling way for Dinah to “lead” the League without becoming a monster, but there isn’t too much meat on these bones.
Final Verdict: – 6.1 – This is an entertaining enough comic, but without a stronger hook or a dynamite script, it sort of falls short.
Is this better than the average issue of “Birds of Prey?” – I had dropped this title long ago, but from what I recall, it is, or it is damn close.
Constantine: Futures End #1
Written by Ray Fawkes
Illustrated by Juan Ferreyra
Reviewed by Zach Wilkerson
I’ve only dabbled in “Hellblazer,” so long time fans can feel free to call me on this, but this issue of “Constantine” feels perhaps the closest to the classic Vertigo incarnation than any of the character’s New 52 appearances thus far. From the word go, Jaun Ferreyra’s pencils feel eerily reminiscent of Simon Bisley’s work on the Peter Milligan run. The sinister B-plot, featuring normal folks getting caught up in a supernatural plight, feels like a page right out of Jamie Delano’s playbook. Even Contstantine’s personality feels a little more in line with his old self.
The issue’s biggest draw is undoubtedly Ferreyra’s spectacular art. While he’s lately been providing spectacular covers for “Constantine,” this issue shows that he’s ready to go all in. There are number of incredibly impressive pages in this issue that one could pour over, picking at the fantastic details and composition. Ferreyra’s use of setting, props, symbolism , and perspective are all extremely impressive. This is an artist everyone should be keeping an eye on.
Outside of the fantastic art and (questionable) ties to “Hellblazer,” “Constantine: Futures End” #1 stands as a particularly strong “Futures End” installment, one with very interesting implications for both the main series and the DCU as a whole.
Oh, and for you conspiracy theorists out there, put on your thinking caps and Google “Twilight of the Super Heroes.” Have fun!
Final Verdict: 8.8 – Gorgeous artwork and strong characterization make this one of the month’s biggest surprises.
Is this better than the average issue of “Constantine”? Yes, and if the book can keep this level of quality moving forward, it may become a must read.
Green Lantern Corps: Futures End #1
Written by Van Jensen
Illustrated by Igor Lima, Ruy Jose, Rodney Buchemi, and Geraldo Borges
Reviewed by Zach Wilkerson
The Green Lanterns have been conspicuously absent over in “Futures End” proper. So far, the Green Lantern Futures End one-shots are pairing a rather interesting, and decidedly standalone, future for the corps. This issue focuses on John Stewart, and the dark path that recent events have set him on. In this way, Jensen makes great use of the five year time jump, exploring the long term ramification of recent stories, without all the required baggage. However, while last week’s “Green Lantern” acted as a sort of love letter to Hal Jordan and his stories, this issue takes a more deconstructionist approach to John Stewart. Events from the early New 52 and prior are touched upon, creating a case (if slightly out of context) for a grimmer John Stewart.
Continued below“Green Lantern Corps” has a terrific supporting cast, and Jensen gets to make use of the cast in some very interesting ways here. One particular character takes a major turn, acting as the issue’s main antagonist. It will be very interesting to see how this revelation plays out in the current timeline.
Artistically, the issue is a bit haphazard. With four artists listed, and while none of the artists do a poor job on their own, the final product feels stylistically disjointed. Thankfully, regular colorist Marcelo Maiolo is on board to provide a strong sense of uniformity, along with his usual visual flair. As a side note, why do the Green Lanterns of the future where armor all of the sudden?
“Green Lantern Corps: Futures End” #1 can be a little groan inducing at times (Xanshi, again? Really?), but like the issue of “Green Lantern” that preceded it, it manages to tell an interesting story. Like “Green Lantern,” this issue’s cliffhanger leaves Stewart in a very interesting position, one I’d be very interested in following. If the next “Green Lantern” crossover were to continue these “five year later” stories, I would most certainly be on board.
Final Verdict: 7.5 – Jensen and company explore some slightly different ground for John Stewart, making for a heavy handed but interesting one-shot.
Is this better than the average issue of “Green Lantern Corps”? Not quite, if only because of the lack of Bernard Chang.
Infinity Man and the Forever People: Futures End #1
Written by Dan DiDio and Keith Giffen
Illustrated by Philip Tan
Review by Vince Ostrowski
One of the strengths of DiDio’s contribution to any comic script is the levity. Give credit where credit is due, when DiDio and Giffen combine they evoke some classic aspects of comics gone by – chiefly a sense of plucky adventure and good humor. Whether it was to match their artist, or to match the future timeline as they see it, they chose to write “Infinity Man and the Forever People: Futures End” significantly darker and more melodramatic than the regular series. Not only does the tone feel off, but we’ve not invested enough in these characters yet to weather a storm like this. Make no mistake, the rest of the “Futures End” month lineup has been pretty light and imaginative for a potentially dystopic future. “Infinity Man” chooses to go in the opposite direction, which is certainly a valid interpretation of the circumstances of “Futures End”, but maybe not for this particular title.
Philip Tan’s art suffers from the same problems that we saw early and often in the ‘New 52’ series “Savage Hawkman.” There are times where the art looks absolutely painterly and gorgeous, like a super-future piece of science fiction art you would want to hang on your wall. Other times, the anatomy and the character placement looks so wonky and illogical that you have to wonder what happened. The impossibility of some of the mind-bending environments in this issue actually work to great effect to make it feel otherworldly and futuristic, but the same techniques don’t work for the characters themselves in relation to one another. The darker tone and the sleeker designs actually work surprisingly well as an update of Jack Kirby’s sensibilities, but the technical aspects of the art are a weakpoint.
Final Verdict: 4.5 – This future installment feels disconnected and dour when compared to the ongoing series that shares its name.
Is this better than the average issue of “Infinity Man and the Forever People”? No. “Infinity Man and the Forever People” hasn’t reached the heights of “O.M.A.C.” but has been a decent read month in and month out, if not snails-pace slow. This issue doesn’t resemble the stronger aspects of the regular ongoing series.
Justice League United: Futures End #1
Written by Jeff Lemire
Illustrated by Jed Dougherty
Review by Vince Ostrowski
“Justice League United” bucks the trends of ‘Futures End’ by not really feeling all that different from its ongoing series or having any big plot “twists” to speak of. Being 5 years in the future, it’s very much a “putting the band back together” issue, which works remarkably well considering the band hasn’t even split up or changed rosters at all in the regular series yet. It feels like a homecoming for all of the characters involved, even though none of them have changed much. Well, Green Arrow aside. If you’ve been following “New 52 Futures End”, then you know what I mean by that. This issue of “Justice League United” has all the stuff that makes the regular series charming: a mismatched team with charming banter, Martian Manhunter being a boss, and Canada. By the end of the issue, it even fits the “Futures End” requirement of bringing cancelled ‘New 52’ characters back into the loop in a fresh and interesting way.
Continued belowJed Dougherty’s art is clean and workmanlike. There’s nothing wrong with it, but it’s not particularly eye-catching or dynamic. Dougherty sells the humor of the piece and definitely fits right alongside the regular cast of “Futures End” weekly artists. In fact, if they get in a pinch for some reason, Dougherty would be a fine choice to pick up the slack for a week or so. Dougherty and colorist Gabe Eltaeb stay true to both “Futures End” and “Justice League United” by depicting the future of the DCU as colorful and tonally varied. This issue is a “Futures End” entry that won’t blow anyone away or earn new readers, but will fit right in with readers who have been following Lemire’s ragtag team to this point.
Final Verdict: 7.0 – Solid, if unspectacular
Is this better than the average issue of “Justice League United”? It’s about as good as the average issue of “Justice League United” if you pretend this is just a fill-in art month between Mike McKone and the next ongoing artist.
The New 52: Futures End #19
Written by Brian Azzarello, Jeff Lemire, Dan Jurgens, and Keith Giffen
Illustrated by Scot Eaton
Review by Vince Ostrowski
At the halfway point of this issue, one of Lois Lane’s colleagues says something along the lines of “you’ve been holding off on this Red Robin story for how long now?” In a way, this feels like an unintended commentary for “New 52: Futures End”, and it’s ability to draw certain plot points out to the point of absurdity. In an otherwise very good weekly series, that could be one legitimate complaint to be leveled against the book. Mercifully, this issue of “Futures End” also spends precious little time with the weakest, most directionless plot in the series: the exploits of Grifter.
That makes this feel like an “up” issue of “Futures End”, where last week’s was kind of a “down” issue. And thankfully, the myriad plots do a little significant advancing here, to boot. Batman Beyond shows his hand in a very good payoff to the espionage action surrounding his investigation of Terrifi-Tech, and over on the Stormwatch side of things, Ray Palmer receives an offer he wishes he could refuse in the strongest scene of the week.
Scot Eaton pulls art duties and continues to show growth in his ability to depict a world-spanning, space-faring epic. He doesn’t sell the big moments of the issue as well as Patrick Zircher does (or Jason Fabok does over on “Batman Eternal”), but his approach is one of the stronger versions of what DC Comics seems to want their books to look like. The Stormwatch scenes are the strongest, visually, as Eaton applies the proper grandeur to them. The rest of the book is what you’ve come to expect, if you’ve been following along.
Final Verdict: 7.8 – A strong issue that is perhaps overshadowed a bit by the event month surrounding it.
Is this better than the average issue of “The New 52: Futures End”? Yes. Just enough happens to move the plot forward, and these happenings involve some of the book’s more compelling characters.
New Suicide Squad: Futures End #1
Written by Sean Ryan
Illustrated by Andre Coelho
Reviewed by Brian Salvatore
This is the antithesis of what these 5 Years Later issues should be doing. This is as formulaic, lazy, and expected as any “Futures End” title thus far. This reads like the dumbest pitch of all time:
“So, Deadshot, the world’s most deadly assassin can’t shoot anymore. Why? BECAUSE HE HAS NO ARM!
Black Manta is a deadly killer, right? What if they tried to make him MORE DEADLY and it instead made him DUMB and CRAVE FISHSTICKS?
Harley Quinn’s brain is, like, totally messed up, right? What if we gave her a body TO MATCH?”
Turn slowly and walk away from the shitty comic.
Final Verdict: 3.8 – All of the positives in this comic come from the art, which is fine from a draftsman’s perspective, even if there is very little creativity in much of the work.
Continued belowIs this better than the average issue of “New Suicide Squad?” – Worse – they usually don’t openly beat the shit out of children in that comic.
Superboy: Futures End #1
Written by Frank J. Barbiere
Illustrated by Ben Caldwell
Reviewed by Zach Wilkerson
Rumor has it this particular creative team is set to launch a new “Superboy and Gen 13” book. While the inclusion of Gen 13 Freefall certainly hints at this conclusion, the issue is more about capping off Aaron Kuder’s short but sweet run on the title. A fun little one and done, the story sees a scruffy faced and slightly dour Superboy facing off against a few of his deranged multiversal counterparts. The plot moves somewhat spastically and at breakneck pace, but is enjoyable in spite of its unevenness. The “get by with a little help from my friends” mentality saves the gritty first have, rounding out to a fun and grin worthy finally.
Artist Ben Caldwell delivers some highly kinetic cartooning, making for an action packed sequential jam session. His work is an acquired taste, with backgrounds that are lacking in detail and perspective/anatomy that feels very abstract. However, there’s something about his style that fits in line with the classic DC animated universe, which adds to the fun of the issue. Overall, this is a fun send of for the “Superboy” title, and a hopeful glimpse of things to come.
Final Verdict: 7.0 – Slightly uneven and goofy, but pure comic book fun nonetheless.
Is this better than the average issue of “Superboy”?: While not quite on par with Kuder’s recent work, it’s a huge step up from the series’ dark beginnings.
Worlds’ Finest: Futures End #1
Written by Paul Levitz
Illustrated by Yildiray Cinar
Reviewed by Brian Salvatore
I really want to know why Keith Giffen (listed here as advisor) thinks Fifty Sue is such a funny/compelling/good character. I just don’t get it – this issue is trucking along just about as well as could be expected, and then she shows up and mucks up everything up. The best part about this issue is what may turn out to be the final DC work (for awhile) from Yildiray Cinar. His crisp action and masterful character work elevate this book in a way that I wasn’t expecting.
We also get a little more of the “new” Power Girl introduced recently in “Worlds’ Finest,” and I am truly interested to see what Levitz has up his sleeve for her. Outside of that, this is one of the one-shots that has stayed closest to the main “Futures End” title, and that is part of the problem. Because Giffen is advising here, Levitz has no room to try anything too out there, and so this feels like a dull interlude from the weekly.
Final Verdict: 5.7 – This isn’t a bad comic, but it is a dull one, and given the free reign of a hypothetical issue, that is almost a graver sin.
Is this better than the average issue of “Worlds’ Finest?” – No, as at least the typical issues don’t take place on Cadmus Island.
Vince’s Thoughts: I think it’s fair to say that this was a weaker week for “Futures End Month.” I still think the concept of the month has been a lot more productive than “Zero Month” or “Villains Month”, and that these titles have been a lot less beholden to the core concept than those previous events. But this week the art was a little weaker all around, consisting of a lot of the common fill-in names we’ve seen throughout the years since the ‘New 52’ started. I also think that this particular batch of creators weren’t as ambitious or had as much fun with the concept as they did last week. Perhaps this was by accident, or perhaps DC put some of their more winning concepts right up front on purpose? Whatever the case, I’d say the highlights were the Bat-related books this time around. That sounds like a broken record.
I guess for this week, that would be my take-home point. While last week had a strong batch of creators all around to choose from, this week you were safer sticking with the already high-quality Bat-family titles and the main weekly “Futures End” maxiseries. Whether DC Comics wants to admit it or not, this is very clearly still a month to try to grab whatever readers they can get to go all-in on the event and give their regular stable of artists time to catch up a little. It just so happens that this time around the concept is producing more stories that feel new or are of value.
Continued belowBrian’s Thoughts: I’m not going to sugarcoat this, folks: this was a much lesser week than last. Last week felt freewheeling and fun in a way that DC hasn’t quite managed to nail over the past three years. This week feels like more of the same, with a few pleasant surprises tossed in. I feel like the default setting for DC in the New 52 has been “the Bat books are solid, and the rest lack focus,” and that is almost exactly my review of this week. Certain books (“Superboy,” “Constantine”) did fun things, and others at lest tried to pique interest and raise mysteries (“Justice League United”), but overall these books felt sloppy and uneventful.
As I said in the “Worlds’ Finest” review, to play it safe in a month where so much more can happen, and happen without real consequence, is a real pussy move. And a number of these books did just that. Let’s hope this is the sophomore slump that will lead into a much more fulfilling week 3.
Zach’s Thoughts: I don’t have much more to add over last week. I’m still woefully behind on catching up on the deluge of issues (I hope to catch over the weekend, fingers crossed). That said, I agree with Vince that, while this week is a little softer than the last, “Futures End” month is doing a much better job of telling interesting and worthwhile stories. Part of that definitely has to do with the less constrictive nature of a future story, but a lot of credit goes to the creators for taking bold and interesting chances. Venomized Barbara Gordon? I wasn’t expecting that at all.
