The New 52: Futures End #36 Review
By Steve Lam
Writers: Brian Azzarello, Keith Giffen, Dan Jurgens, Jeff Lemire
Artists: Scot Eaton, Scott Hanna, Hi-Fi, Ryan Sook
Futures End #35 Recap
In New York City, still grasping the intricacies of her powers, an enraged Firestorm blows apart Doctor Polaris’s armor. In Las Vegas, Lana Lang, who’s reached her breaking point, gives Fifty Sue an ultimatum: let her be a mother to Fifty Sue, or Fifty Sue can kill her. Fifty Sue agrees to playing daughter and the two share an awkward bonding moment. On the Ant Farm, as Frankenstein lays dying, the Atom discovers that Hawkman’s Nth metal-laced arm is what’s killing him. Left with no scientific options to save Frankenstein, Amethyst leaves for Earth in the hopes that magic will be the remedy. In New York City, as Plastique is pursued by the hybrid Batman/Joker cyborg from the future, both Batman and Batman Beyond come in for the rescue. Batman Beyond’s true feelings for Plastique surface when he kisses her mid-rescue. As Batman is pinned down by the cyborg, the Batman half of the cyborg suggests killing Batman. The Joker half is quick to understand that if Batman dies in the past then the hybrid cyborg will cease to exist.
Spoiler-Free Reaction
Futures End #36 is a mishmash of plotlines that don’t really go anywhere. It’s filled with characters rediscovering what readers already know.
Plot Details and Spoilers and Deaths: Oh My!
The House of Mystery: Frankenstein, still dying, is attended to by the members of the Justice League Dark. Zatanna’s attempts to magically heal him fail. Constantine makes a surprise appearance and riles Amethyst up with his usual sardonic ways. Angered, Amethyst plunges a sword through Constantine.
The Ocean Floor: Fifty Sue is at the site of the DNA vault wreckage and seems to find what she’s looking for.
Las Vegas: As King Faraday, General Rock, Lana Lang, Grifter, Voodoo, Banger, Mash, and Mercy discuss about Fifty Sue, Fifty Sue surprisingly appears and interrupts them. When Fifty Sue claims that she found the DNA vault, the team treats her like a child and wants more proof. Annoyed by their condescending nature, Fifty Sue telepathically and violently lifts the vault out of the ocean.
Smallville: Constantine has survived Amethyst’s assault and wakes up from healing. Accompanied by Midge, Constantine meets up with Superman. As Midge gets an evil vibe in their current location, Constantine theorizes that perhaps it’s the absence of good that’s making the place feel evil — areas that draw in good to fill a hole. Superman then has another thought — what if his infant ship, a source of good, was drawn to Smallville?
New York City: As Batman Beyond and Plastique find sanctuary on a rooftop, they have an awkward conversation about the merits of their abilities — Plastique claiming that she’s a “loser” because her future cyborg self couldn’t even kill Batman Beyond, and Batman Beyond making her feel better by claiming that her cyborg self had a handicap. Their plan now is to enlist the help of Tim Drake. Plastique, unable to hold her emotions back, initiates another kiss with Terry McGinnis. In the distance, Batman has them under surveillance.
Justice League Defense Station Omega: As Stormguard asks why Shazam is still wearing his Superman disguise, Stormguard delves into his own reasons for keeping up his superhero identity (this recollection also gives us his origin story). During the war, the President could’ve evacuated, but he stayed behind for symbolic reasons. Trying to protect Marine One for the President, Stormguard fought one of the Parademons and took its gauntlets and belt. Wearing the American flag as a cape, Stormguard became a symbol of hope in the war. Their conversation is interrupted with the arrival of Firestorm, who they’re surprised to learn is now female.
Wrapping It Up
Last week, I was hoping that Futures End would pick up the pace (you know, with it being the last dozen issues). But Futures End #36 is probably one of the weakest installments in the series. There’s a lot of talking, but no compelling exposition. The information is repetitive and only serves to educate the characters. The only piece of new information I gleaned from #36 was Stormguard’s origin story, which wasn’t that interesting either. With only twelve issues left, Futures End should up the stakes and give us a dramatic final act.