The New 52: Futures End #9 Review
By Steve Lam
Writers: Brian Azzarello, Jeff Lemire, Dan Jurgens, Keith Giffen
Artist: Patrick Zircher
Futures End #8 Recap
Last week, Grifter was given a taste of Fifty Sue’s power due to her envy that Grifter might replace her as Wilson’s sidekick. Lois books a flight to the Indian Ocean based on coordinates found in the mysterious box. Jason Rusch assists in an unsuccessful test of Yamazake’s transporter and is visited by Superman who tells him to fix his relationship with Ronnie Raymond. In the Huron System, S.H.A.D.E. continues to investigate the destruction of Stormwatch. In a surprising move, Dr. Palmer severs the arm from Hawkman’s body to use a replacement part for Frankenstein. In an unknown location, Midge, sleeping next to Constantine, awakens from a nightmare involving a techno-enhanced Parasite killing treasure hunters in Southeast Asia.
Spoiler-Free Reaction
A definite slowdown from past issues, but many of this week’s events seem to be a setup for things to come.
Plot Details and Spoilers and Deaths: Oh My!
The Indian Ocean: Lois is on a private jet scouring the ocean for clues. She finds nothing.
Cadmus Island: Grifter is still questioning his involvement with Wilson and Fifty Sue. Wilson reveals that King Faraday thinks Grifter doesn’t just have the ability to see Daemonites, but the ability to see deception. This ability will be used to help them track down and detain superhumans. Wilson then takes Grifter to a containment facility where he shows him Cadmus Island’s current collection of Earth 2’s superhumans.
The Metropolis Armory Ward: Madison Payne visits her father, Maxwell, to talk about his involvement with the deaths of the Teen Titans. Rampage makes a sudden appearance. Her mission: break out Ethan Boyer. A masked Superman comes to the aid of the prison. Clearly not a match for Superman, Rampage distracts Superman by throwing Madison through the roof and out of the prison where she then starts to free fall. Superman saves her just in time.
New York City, Terrifitech: Mr. Terrific analyzes the cybernetically-enhanced body of Plastique. As he dreams of the possibilities the technology will bring, he questions Brother Eye about the technology’s origins. Outside, Batman Beyond transforms back into Terry McGinnis. His new plan is to break into Terrifitech again, but with more help — by enlisting the services of Coil, Plastique, and Key.
The Huron System, The Carrier: As Dr. Palmer attempts to attach Hawkman’s arm to Frankenstein, Hawkman comes to consciousness surprising all of them. The Nth metal worn by Hawkman has given him powerful abilities. One of them seems to be immortality. As Hawkman calms down, he recollects to the team the events that led to Stormwatch’s demise.
Earth, S.H.A.D.E. Headquarters: Little does the team in the Huron System know, Father Time has been monitoring their actions and working with Dr. Belroy. Father Time actually knows what’s going on and hopes that the team can stop it before the threat reaches Earth.
Wrapping It Up
This issue gave me more of a conspiracy feeling versus an action feeling from issues past. I had hoped that we would receive more panel time for Lois as she’s the one with all the clues dealing with Green Arrow’s death, or what seems to be his death at least. Looks like Coil, Plastique, and Key are still planning their break-in into Terrifitech, but they’ll be getting a little help from Terry McGinnis. Will he do it as Batman Beyond or pretend to be a regular criminal wanting in on the action? I think the biggest surprise for this week’s issue dealt with S.H.A.D.E.’s investigation of Stormwatch’s destruction — from Hawkman’s spontaneous revival to Father Time actually knowing the true threat Frankenstein and team will be facing.