DC Future State week five kicks off with news on the Green Lanterns, Batman and the Magistrate, and a traitor in the Bat-Family.
The first month of DC Future State comics are in the books. The month concluded with some major moments as Harley Quinn escaped her captors in the Future State: Harley Quinn comic book by using their own arrogance against them. Now, they’ll never underestimate Harley again.
Elsewhere, Signal and Black Lightning are both stepping up to protect Gotham City from the Magistrate. And Wonder Woman (Yara Flor) learned a lesson on balance and composure.
Let’s see what’s going on this week.
The Titans’ sacrifice in DC Future State
Comic book: Future State: Teen Titans No. 2
"“Don’t worry, Miss Raven. Nothing can escape the Rock of Eternity. Not as long as I’m standing guard.” – Shazam"
A few weeks ago, Dick Grayson donned Deathstroke’s mask. It was a weird decision considering Slade Wilson’s past with the Titans. This week, however, we received little explanation as to why he did that. He said the mask was for protection. From what, we don’t know (yet). Nonetheless, the Titans went into battle against the Horsemen of Apocalypse – one of which was Wally West as Famine. The plan was to have Raven and Shazam combine to trap him in the Rock of Eternity – a move that would mean they’d both be stuck containing them forever. In the end, it works, but at a grim cost.
The previous issue was incredible but this conclusion was lackluster at best. Nightwing wearing Deathstroke’s mask was a set up with zero reward. The only part that was worth was a joke by Cybeast about what his name should’ve been. At the end of the issue we learn that there will be a prequel called Teen Titans Academy. This is where we’ll find out what happened, so maybe all of this was to promote a new comic book. Maybe after or during that series, this issue will have a bigger emotional impact. Until then, this was disappointing.
John Stewart against the odds
Comic book: Future State: Green Lanterns No. 2
"“When the cause is just, we fight. When the darkness is crushing, we stand.” – Orion"
The Green Lantern rings are depowered. That doesn’t mean the Green Lantern Corps is over. John Stewart, a platoon of former Green Lanterns, and others fought to save a planet. They were vastly outnumbered, overpowered and should have died. However, as John Stewart put it, the rings are just tools. Each of them continued to fight. Some of the soldiers sacrificed their lives so the beings of that planet could escape. John Stewart fought alone to keep the plan going even though things looked dark. In the end, it all worked out as Stewart and the former Green Lantern Corps proved they’re heroes and saviors without their power rings.
Luke Fox: Traitor
Comic book: “No” Future State part 2
"“But I’m not too worried about it.”-Grifter"
DC Future State has created a traitor. Luke Fox was willing to sell out Huntress in exchange for his freedom. Huntress has been spending her time trying to get people out of Gotham. Meanwhile, Luke used Grifter to get to her. Luke tells him this and says that, for using him, Grifter has an express ticket out of Gotham. Grifter almost leaves, until he realizes how messed up that was. As a result, Grifter sacrifices his freedom to get Huntress out of the city. In the end, he is on his knees getting arrested. When Luke tells Grifter he’s going to Blackgate prison for a long time, Grifter just smiles.
Batman finds out the truth
Comic book: Future State: Dark Detective No. 3
"“Where does it all end?” – Bruce Wayne/Batman"
Bruce Wayne and Batman are believed to be dead. It’s a good thing that Bruce wouldn’t let something like death stop him.
Since he’s been back, the Caped Crusader has been trying to figure the Magistrate out. In this issue, however, he finds more than he bargained for. First, the tech he created that the Magistrate is using cost him his life. This conclusion comes after another tech CEO was murdered by the Magistrate. After further investigating, Bruce discovers that the Magistrate has nano drones watching everyone everywhere. It’s not just just the streets though – they’re watching people in the privacy of their own homes. What’s scarier is they’ve found out that he’s alive and they’re coming for him.
It’s not shocking that Batman uncovers a secret to the Magistrate. And, of course, someone close to him is involved. The guy he’s renting the house from has a daughter that the Magistrate is following. Because they’re following her, they found him.
Before that girl left, she called Bruce lazy – she’s in for a shock when she discovers who he is. Maybe she knows and is setting him up. Or, and here’s the kicker, what if she becomes Batman’s new Robin or Oracle? In this Future State realty, who knows what can happen.
Hal Jordan has some explaining to do
Comic book: Future State: Green Lanterns No. 2
"“Where were you when the Corps needed you?” – Sojourner Mullein"
Hal Jordan hasn’t heard from any of the Green Lanterns in months. As we’ve seen in the DC Future State comic books, they’re scattered all over the universe. We’ve just seen what John Stewart is up to but Guy Gardner is on a planet dealing with Lobo while Jessica Cruz is protecting the main power battery.
Hal powers up his ring with a machine Cyborg set up, gets himself a spaceship, and goes out in search of more Green Lanterns. Along the way he’s attacked by Red, Yellow, and Orange Lantern members and other space beings. His journey then ends when he crashes on Oa. Once he does so, he sees the main Green Lantern Power Battery destroyed and, in doing so, he realizes that his mission to find his teammates is at an end because, as far as he’s concerned, he has failed. As he’s grieving, Hal is grabbed by a furious Sojourner Mullein who wants to know where he was when the Green Lanterns needed him.
There is a lot to unpack in this short story. First, we still don’t know how the Lantern Corps lost power and how the power battery crashed on Oa. In the previous DC Future State comic book, Jessica Cruz was protecting it. In the end, she was offered a Yellow Lantern ring. Does this mean she left the power battery to join the corps?
The last page has a couple of things that need to be mentioned. First, the last we see is “To be continued in Green Lantern 2021.” Does this mean we’ll be getting a new Green Lantern comic book starring Hal Jordan and Sojourner Mullein? And will they uncover the mystery? Plus, her ring was glowing when we saw her so, of course, we have to ask: Why does her ring work? Here’s hoping we get a team-up to remember.
What did you think of this week’s DC Future State comic books? What are your favorite DC Future State moments so far? Let us know in the comments below!