DC This Week

Review – Future State: Justice League #1 – Maniacs and Magic

Future State: Justice League variant cover, via DC Comics.

Future State: Justice League – Joshua Williamson, Ram V, Writers; Robson Rocha/Daniel Henriques, Marcio Takara, Artists; Romulo Fajardo Jr, Marcelo Maiolo, Colorists

Ray – 8.5/10

Ray: One of the few quirks of Future State that throws me off a little is the way it seems to jump around in timelines. Many of the titles are showing the future heroes’ growing pains as they settle into their new roles, but this one takes place years later. The new Batman has saved Gotham, Jon Kent and Yara Flor are established heroes, and Andy Curry is an adult. Along with multiversal Flash Jess Chambers and leader Jo Mullein, they’ve formed a new and very different Justice League—a powerhouse strike team that eschews any personal connections to avoid a repeat of the tragedy that happened years in the past. But that doesn’t mean they don’t still have enemies—a new Legion of Doom is making a move against them.

Battles of the Justice League. Via DC Comics.

That is, until that motley crew of villains turns up dead, and the core mystery of the story begins. With only six members, it feels like every member of the team gets to shine, but Andy and Jess probably stand out the most while Jo gets little to do besides be strict and businesslike. Things get thrown for a loop when doppelgangers of the League show up, targeting other members, and the ending twist brings the return of some of the best one-off villains in League history. Overall, this is maybe a bit busy for a new status quo we’ve barely been introduced to, but Williamson knows how to write a great Justice League action set piece. This maybe would have been stronger released on the last week of the month when everyone had a spotlight already.

Next up, it’s a Justice League Dark backup from Ram V and Marcio Takara. Set in a future where Merlin has returned and his puritan army is carrying out a ruthless campaign of terror, only a few JLD members remain. Zatanna and Detective Chimp are waging a lonely fight, although Bobo is carrying an unexpected ally along the road. Ragman is retired and terrified of his own suit, and Constantine and Doctor Fate are missing in action. This first chapter is mostly a mission to recruit as many heroes as they can, and there are some clever twists along the way. We know very little about the villains yet, but their attacks provide some strong horror visuals. It’s a good follow-up to Ram V’s usual run, although like many of the Future State series it just drops us into a complex status quo and lets us figure out our own way.

Related Post

To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.

GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.

Liked it? Take a second to support GeekDad and GeekMom on Patreon!

This post was last modified on January 11, 2021 5:25 pm

Ray Goldfield

Ray Goldfield is a comics superfan going back almost thirty years. When he's not reading way too many comics a week, he is working on his own writing. The first installment in his young adult fantasy-adventure, "Alex Actonn, Son of Two Seas", is available in Amazon now.

Share
Published by

Recent Posts

Kickstarter Tabletop Alert: Lewis and Clark … and Monsters in ‘Corps of Discovery’

You probably learned in school that Lewis and Clark were commissioned by the President to…

April 23, 2024

Review – The Flash #8: Closing In

As the search for Wally continues, Amanda Waller sets her sights on the Flash Family.

April 23, 2024

Review – The Penguin #9: Family Business

Penguin has returned to Gotham—but his daughter intends him to have a short stay.

April 23, 2024

Review – Harley Quinn #39: The New Gig

Harley has a new purpose—and a first client, in the form of Maxie Zeus.

April 23, 2024

Review – Power Girl #8: Unlikely Allies

It's time for Power Girl to enter the House of Brainiac—for a team-up with Crush.

April 23, 2024

Review – Batman: Dark Age #2 – The Lost Boy

Bruce Wayne finds his escape from prison in the Army—but Vietnam proves to be more…

April 23, 2024

This website uses cookies.