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!
Batman and Robin: Futures End #1
Written by Ray Fawkes
Illustrated by Dustin Nguyen
Reviewed by Brian Salvatore
My biggest problem with all of the Bat-books in this series is that Bruce’s entire world has seemed to change/crumble in 5 years in ways that just seem a little extreme. Sure, a few serious battles could’ve really kicked him around physically, but here both he and Alfred seem 15 years older, not 5. Aside from that, admittedly minor, gripe, this issue actually does a lot of really interesting things. Duke, the kid from “Zero Year,” is now Robin, and Bruce is still struggling with the loss of Damian in ways more than just the wistful glance at a photograph in Wayne Manor. Damian’s loss, more so than even Jason’s, has totally defined who Bruce is, and has shaped his entire life.
Dustin Nguyen is always a welcome presence, and here, he does a great job at showing just how having a broken down body has changed how Bruce fights. The fight sequences are not fluid or graceful at all; instead they are desperate and gritty. There is a particularly great sequence where the panels per page jump from 4 to 9 to 12 to 15 before exploding into a full page panel. It is some of the most creative work of this entire month thus far, and really drives home the point of the sequence: now, and really forever, Batman needs a Robin.
Final Verdict: 7.7 – A strong tale of the symbiotic relationship between Batman and Robin
Is it better than the average issue of “Batman and Robin?” – The book has been up and down, but this feels pretty representative of the series as a whole.
Batman/Superman: Futures End #1
Written by Greg Pak
Illustrated by Cliff Richards, Jack Herbert and Vicente Cifuentes
Reviewed by Zach Wilkerson
The Batman books have been some of the strongest titles under the “Futures End” banner, showcasing a very interesting and dynamic shift for several bat-family characters. Batman/Superman acts as a sort of prequel, taking place immediately after the war and showcasing how we get to the broken man seen in last week’s “Batman.” True to the title’s name, Pak puts the focus on hue he relationship, or lack of one, between Bruce and Clark. Unfortunately, in spite of the strong work the writer has become known for, this issue comes across a little flat. There are some extremely powerful character moments, however, particularly the book’s closing sequence.
The book’s army of artist does a fair job, filling in for the previously solicited Howard Porter. The two sets of artists work well together, with reasonably complementing styles, although neither is terribly dynamic.
Final Verdict: 6.5 – One of the weaker Batman related tales of the month, but a very interesting bit of background for “Futures End” status quo.
Is it better than the average issue of “Batman/Superman?” – Not quite up to par with the book’s better issues.
Batwoman – Futures End #1
Written by Marc Andreyko
Illustrated by Jason Masters
Review by Vince Ostrowski
“Batwoman – Futures End” #1 is the kind of book that you fear when you hear about a month long gimmick or big event crossover. I can’t speak for the creators, but this particular issue didn’t feel like a concept that anyone was all that invested in. 5 years into the future, Kate Kane has become a full-on vampire, and patrols Gotham at night with a bevy of bats in tow. It’s up to her sister, and whatever remains of their old allies, to take Kate down. The problem is that the weight of the history of all of the principal characters isn’t really well defined or explored. Actually, an early moment where we see how the years have worn down Detective Maggie Sawyer (Kate’s old flame) was a strong one, showing the ramifications of the last 5 years. Beyond that, the issue becomes one big throwdown more than everything else, and kind of wastes this great Batwoman character and the compelling relationships that she’s formed over the years. The art is a little stiff, though it is technically solid. When it comes time to create some genuine emotion, it doesn’t come across. Especially in the issues’ final moments, which I won’t spoil, but you can see coming a mile away. The art doesn’t go far enough in dialing up the emotion.
Continued belowFinal Verdict: 4.0 – a shallow entry in a series that is normally much better.
Is this better than the average issue of “Batwoman”? No, “Batwoman” is a very solid book.
Green Lantern: New Guardians – Futures End #1
Written by Justin Jordan
Illustrated by Diogenes Neves
Review by Vince Ostrowski
Kyle Rayner has been on a very distinct path since ‘The New 52’ began. The very first issue of “Green Lantern: New Guardians” set him on it and, while there may have been background changes, you wouldn’t know it based on how focused his character development has felt these last few years. In fact, in all of ‘The New 52’, Kyle Rayner is faring as well as anyone else as far as having a clear and compelling arc that doesn’t feel like it’s been done to death. That’s precisely the strength behind its corresponding “Futures End” issue – it’s one possible and fascinating payoff to everything his story has been building up to, mostly regarding his role as “the White Lantern.”
Justin Jordan’s writing approach might be the biggest key here, as he looks at Kyle’s evolution through the eyes of someone else. Someone philosophically different, and yet similar enough to Rayner to feel relevant. Jordan delivers a rather economical script, especially when compared to the other “Futures End” books that have been dropping. There’s little exposition here. There’s nothing clumsy. His script is elegant, treats the reader as if they’re intelligent, and is written with a unique voice. In some ways, it’s driven by a variety of emotions more than anything else.
Diogenes Neves’ art is a very attractive style that we’ve been missing steady doses of since his run on “Demon Knights” ended. He soaks up the emotion of Jordan’s script and puts it there on the page. He takes a script that doesn’t rely on words to tell every bit of the story and fills it out. These gimmick or “fill-in” events sometimes feel like a rote exercise in putting something out on time, rather than a true collaborative creative effort. “Futures End” has been better about that, but far from immune. But Jordan and Neves actually do quite well with it, and produce an issue that feels like it has one vision coming from a handful of very creative and talented people.
Final Verdict: 8.2 – a “Futures End” story that feels futuristic and appropriately speculative
Is this better than the average issue of “Green Lantern: New Guardians”? It’s definitely something different, and a little better for it.
Justice League: Futures End #1
Written by Jeff Lemire
Illustrated by Jed Dougherty
Reviewed by Brian Salvatore
This is the second part of the story started in “Justice League United” last week – same exact creative team, same story. So, a bit of a disclaimer – if you dug last week’s, you’ll like this. If not, well, you’re probably best looking elsewhere for your fix this week.
This issue, for me, falls into two traps I was hoping it would avoid with Captain Atom: making him more like Dr. Manhattan, and keeping his stupid mohawk. Now, I don’t need a lecture on how Dr. Manhattan is based on Captain Atom _ I know that, and I get that. However, that doesn’t mean that the trope is any less tired or that it makes it ok to do a purely derivative story, but that is what Atom’s part of this story is – just a “Watchmen” re-tread.
And that is a shame, because the constitution of the team is really interesting – we get two characters from the 31st century (Dawnstar and Wildfire), two founding members of the New 52 League (Cyborg and the Flash), two new creations (Equinox and Stormguard), an Atlantean (Vostok), and an alien (Martian Manhunter). This is, by far, the most creative and interesting iteration of the team we’ve seen, especially in the proper JL title. The story, if you can get past the “Watchmen”-ness of it, is a pretty classic Justice League scenario (“only they can stop this huge evil threat!”), and the art by Dougherty adds to that classic vibe. His work is a little uneven, but overall he captures the essence of each character, and does a nice job with the storytelling of the fake-out conclusion, which could have come off as confusing or unclear in lesser hands.
Continued belowFinal Verdict: 7.2- I wish the team had more to do than just retread old ground, but I still enjoyed it.
Is it better than the average issue of “Justice League?” – Lately, no, but pre-“Justice Lex,” I would say it is about on point.
The New 52: Futures End #20
Written by Brian Azzarello, Dan Jurgens, Keith Giffen, and Jeff Lemire
Illustrated by Aaron Lopresti
Review by Vince Ostrowski
A couple of the plots in “Futures End” get some interesting revelations, such as the goings on at Terrifitech, both 5 and 35 years into the future, both of which involve Bruce Wayne in a legitimately surprising fashion. Tim Drake’s story finally hits on a long-telegraphed plot point, which hopefully means that his story will pick up steam from here. Still, the way that the writing quartet is playing with something of a “groundswell” of superheroes popping back up “post-war” or operating in the background continues to garner genuine interest. Beyond that, the story of Grifter and the gang on Cadmus Island continues to be something of an albatross around the series’ neck. The story here drags, whether its regurgitating information that we already know, or telling seemingly endless strings of lame jokes and hokey banter.
I still can’t help but think that “Futures End” has been a lot of fun, and the moments that drag are soon forgotten in favor of the better aspects of the series. Dragging plotlines seems to be a common weakness of weekly stories, but at the same time, there’s an inherent feeling of a faster pace that comes with reading 4 installments of a story in the same amount of time that we usually only get 1 installment. That’s a conflicting pair of ideas, I know, but that’s what it feels like to read “Futures End” – and it’s not bad.
The same is true of Aaron Lopresti’s art, which has been workmanlike for the duration of “Futures End”, but easy to digest and befitting of the type of comic book we expect to be getting. Except that this time around, he gets a very big moment of his own and he pulls it off quite well. Moments like those are not coming at a rapid pace, but they do happen often enough to keep reading “Futures End” if you’re already on board.
Final Verdict: 6.9 – A couple of really strong moments keep the issue afloat.
Is this better than the average issue of “The New 52 – Futures End”? It is precisely an average issue of “Futures End.”
Red Hood and the Outlaws: Futures End #1
Written by Scott Lobdell
Illustrated by Scott Kolins
Reviewed by Zach Wilkerson
Aside from a few minor tweaks to the status quo, this issue of “Red Hood” feels like it could just as well be taking place in the present day DCU. While Lobdell certainly fails to take advantage of the 5 year later concept, he does manage to tell a thoroughly succinct and moderately enjoyable one shot that wraps up modern Jason Todd in a nut shell. There’s a lot of grey moralization, brooding, and reflecting over the intricacies of being resurrected by supernatural means. Lobdell makes Todd feel distinct from other ex-Robins, and even makes you sympathize for the black sheep of the family. Scott Kolin’s art continues to grow more chaotic and hectic with time, but is just as enjoyable as it was all those years ago on “The Flash.” This isn’t a groundbreaking addition to the “Futures End” world, nor is it the most enjoyable, but it’s hardly the most offensive either.
Final Verdict: 6.0 – A by the books take on Jason Todd, spruced up by some nice artwork.
Is it better than the average issue of “Red Hood and the Outlaws?” – About the same.
Supergirl – Futures End #1
Written by Tony Bedard
Illustrated by Emanuela Lupacchino
Review by Vince Ostrowski
5 years into the future of “Supergirl”, we find her story crossing paths with Cyborg Superman – a concept that has been used early and often in ‘The New 52’. What we end up getting is a logical, albeit pretty rote exploration of the role that Cyborg Superman could play in the future of the DC Universe – especially if he gets a more successful toehold in their world than he usually does. Unfortunately, it’s just not all that interesting to see the arc that Supergirl takes here, especially when it takes a sappy cliche or two to make it happen. “Supergirl” has been a fine title, but it’s the one ‘New 52’ book that still feels like it’s playing around with the origin and core identity of its main character. The ‘Futures End’ installment is no different, as it’s still all about Kara coming to terms with her identity and understanding her role in the world around her, even 5 years after the present. 5 years is a long time – and this is the one issue of “Futures End” so far that feels like it doesn’t matter what timeline it takes place in. Instead, it was more like an average issue of the title, with something of a sappy conclusion. Emanuela Lupacchino’s art is solid, and very squarely in the realm of exactly what DC Comics’ wants their comics to look like, on average. By now, you’re probably familiar with what their books tend to look like and it’s becoming difficult to describe their approach in any other way. It’s good cape comic art that doesn’t disappoint, but is substance over style the whole way through.
Continued belowFinal Verdict: 5.5 – Not a bad comic, but overly familiar, a little cheesy, and unambitious.
Is it better than the average issue of “Supergirl”? No.
Superman/Wonder Woman: Futures End #1
Written by Charles Soule
Illustrated by Bart Sears
Reviewed by Brian Salvatore
Note: this is part of of a two-parter that starts in “Wonder Woman: Futures End” #1. So, I would suggest scrolling down and reading that review first.
So, Superman shows up at the end of “Wonder Woman” – and not the farming Clark from “Futures End,” but rather a time-traveling Clark from 4 years ago. How did he time-travel? Her generals “pulled him through time.” That’s all the explanation given – this ranks among the laziest writing I’ve read in a very, very long time. This lets Soule use Clark without using the constraints of the “5 years later” format, which is the entire point of the issue. This is Soule shitting on the very comic he’s writing. He is usually much, much better than this.
Bart Sears handles the art, and his work looks stiff and awkward, especially his Clark. This whole issue feels so stilted, in part because it tries extremely hard to be neither a “current” or a “future” comic, but float somewhere in the middle. And who wants that?
Final Verdict: 2.8 – A shit sandwich
Is it better than the average issue of “Superman/Wonder Woman?” – Not even close.
Teen Titans: Futures End #1
Written by Will Pfeifer
Illustrated by Andy Smith
Reviewed by Zach Wilkerson
This book is a perfect case against judging a book by its cover. Anyone expecting a fun, forward thinking teen team book with a cool and quirky cast of characters, prepare to be disappointing. This issue, is, unfortunately, an exercise in wasted opportunity. Throwing together a cast of cool “new” Earth 2 characters and a new Heretic (who maybe isn’t the same one in “Batman and Robin”?), “Teen Titans” pretends to focus on new and exciting, while espousing the same old thing. The issue feels alarmingly dated, from the artwork, to the dialogue, to the final page lifted straight from X2: X-Men United. It’s a shame that, in light of Marvel’s great work on teen heroes, DC is still unable to do much with their iconic youths.
Final Verdict: 3.5 – A great cast is wasted on a dated and generic plot
Is it better than the average issue of “Teen Titans?” – A little below average for the series.
Trinity of Sin: Pandora: Futures End #1
Written by Ray Fawkes
Illustrated by Tom Derenick Francis Portela
Reviewed by Zach Wilkerson
I haven’t read “Pandora” since the end of “Trinity War,” and I’ll admit, I have no idea what is happening in this issue. Don’t get me wrong, my reading comprehension is sound. I get that the Seven Deadly sins are just alternate incarnations of Pandora (or perhaps just her children?), and that they exist in a constant cycle of death, destruction, and regeneration. But…why? Pandora has been, for better or worse, or cornerstone of the New 52 from its inception. Now, it seems that we get the definitive answer to what Pandora is, along with the nature of her mysterious appearance at the end of “Flashpoint,” and it’s just one big head scratcher. The end of one world and the beginning of the next ends not with a bang, but a sigh.
Mostly, I think this is the final admission that the Pandora thing didn’t work out, and it’s time to move on. The emphasis on the multiverse, as well as some strikingly meta dialogue, also seems like an overall shift in DC’s direction and vision. By issue’s end you get a big sense of “forget and move on.” It will be interesting to see how the character is handled in the upcoming “Trinity of Sin” book.
Final Verdict: 5.5 – A lot of interesting ideas that ultimately add up to very little.
Continued belowIs it better than the average issue of “Pandora?” – Ummm, the same, I guess?
Wonder Woman: Futures End #1
Written by Charles Soule
Illustrated by Rags Morales
Reviewed by Brian Salvatore
We meet Diana in full on god of war status in this book, fighting a war with Nemesis, a, ahem, nemesis that seems almost unstoppable. Much of this comic feels like the lazy “Diana is a fierce warrior” story we’ve seen dozens of times, almost totally eschewing her humanity. Rags Morales does a fine job on art, but so much of the book is just so dull, story wise, that his art, no matter how dynamic, seems to be dull as well.
The most interesting part of the story is the council Diana has called – Boudicca (Celtic queen who led an uprising against the Romans), Napoleon, Alexander the Great, Orion, Ghengis Khan, Hades, and Hessia – as well as an “army of the dead,” resurrected soldiers from all eras. Now this is an idea that could have made for a really fun issue – an army of the dead using different skills and techniques to fight this battle. Instead, they are more or less left as a fun concept to give Diana more room to brood.
There is a weird cliffhanger at the end of the issue which is picked up in “Superman/Wonder Woman,” which, spoiler alert, is so lazy it makes this look like “Saga.”
Final Verdict: 5.5 – Some fun ideas can’t make up for some dull writing.
Is it better than the average issue of “Wonder Woman?” – Oh hell no.
Vince’s Thoughts: Fatigue is setting in now, and I have become more convinced that DC Comics was saving the weaker books for later in the month. I don’t want to make it sound like every time I praise DC for something I need to turn around and back hand them, but every time I get a little impressed with their event books, they end up proving that it’s too much and they went too far. If there were ‘Zero Month’ and ‘Villains Month’ issues that were any good, they were the ones where the ongoing writers and artists of already good titles told a story that fit within their own story arc for said title, even if the character focus may have been different. ‘Futures End’ is following that same trend, but actually some writers and artists have been able to explore interesting tangents that clearly do not take place as part of their intended story arcs – it’s just no longer happening at the frequency that it did in the first stellar week of “Futures End” books. I am not denouncing everything about these events, but my stance on them is even stronger now: I no longer recommend experimenting with them. Buy the titles by creators you would normally buy from and wait for reviews or word-of-mouth on anything else. This may be good for DC Comics’ finances, but I read a lot of their books, and I know these are the issues that I look forward to least.
Brian’s Thoughts: I’m sort of on the same page as Vince is – the bloom is definitely off the rose right now. The books have grown a little more predictable and complacent, and without the true standout issue this week, everything feels a bit meh. The books that took chances and really messed with format, to me, worked best. On the other hand, there were a few books that felt like completely lazy re-treads, not even worthy of the paper the book was printed on. For an event like this to work, you need a creative direction that is clear enough to give creators a guidepost, but loose enough to let them run free. I don’t know which side is off balance here, but something is certainly not right here. “Red Hood” was, essentially, a soliloquy that served no purpose; “Superman/Wonder Woman” was a fuck you to the whole format (and not in a fun, breaking the rules kind of way) – this isn’t how you build an event. Sadly, the last week of the event is something I’m not looking forward to – which is such a change from how I felt after the first week.
Zach’s Thoughts: I’m also sad to report that this week wore away a good bit of my good will towards “Futures End” month, even after going back and reading some great books like “Swamp Thing” and “Batman.” Of course, I imagine that if I was forced to read every book DC published each month, I wouldn’t be that satisfied either. This week’s books, outside of a few like the gorgeous and exciting “Batman and Robin,” felt like a marked step down in artistic quality. Like the other guys have alluded to, I think we’re seeing that this is pretty much par for the course for these anniversary months. The books with continuous creative teams tend to do well, there are a few breakout and underdog successes, and the rest are back issue bin fodder.
