DC Future State Will Completely Take Over the DC Comics Lineup for Two Months

Right before the Pandemic shut everything down, DC Comics fired Co-Publisher Dan Didio for leading their universe into yet another reboot. They scrapped the 5G(enerations) plans and turned Dark Nights: Death Metal into their big event, promising fans that they weren’t going to put them through another reboot. With Death Metal ending, DC finally announced what comes next. So, what comes next? Future State, the next big DC event…that sounds like it might set up another reboot.

DC Future State is a Very Ambitious Plan, but will DC Fans Go For It?

Wait, Sojourner “Jo” Mullein, the Green Lantern from Far Sector, is in this? Okay, I’m intrigued. (Image: DC Comics)

Two months. DC is dedicating all of January and February 2021 to Future State. So far, we’ve only seen DC do this with events like Flashpoint and DC Rebirth, two reboot events. But we’ll speculate on that later. But for now, let’s look at their plans. Through January and February 2021, “the full title lineup will feature a combination of monthly and twice-monthly oversize anthologies, as well as a monthly schedule of miniseries and one-shots.”

This means two things. Consequently, if you love the storyline currently happening, it will go on hiatus for two months. Hopefully, each writer finds a good breaking point. It also means that it’s a good jumping in point for wherever DC goes with Future State. In this way, it’s a little similar to House of X and Powers of X, where Marvel Comics stopped the entire X-Men line to give it a fresh start in Dawn of X. Not similar as in “they ripped off Jonathan Hickman” way, but an exciting look at a new future.

DC is Going BACK TO THE FUTURE (State)

Oh damn. Swamp Thing means business. (Image: DC Comics)

In fact, Future State feels like a mix of Powers of X, where we learned how Moira’s futures impacted the X-Men’s present, and DC One Million, in which the heroes of our time had to save the future. As the press release reads, “the Multiverse has been saved from the brink of destruction, but the triumph of DC’s heroes has shaken loose the very fabric of time and space!” So, just as they did at the end of Dark Nights: Metal, the heroes of the DC Universe are going to do something really drastic. Evidently, more drastic than destroying the Source Wall that helped keep Perpetua in check.

But in Future State, DC is focusing on the future, telling stories about “futures both near and far, full of current and new characters.” And since this will be DC’s bread and butter for two months, you can bet that there will be a lot of stories. We’re looking at “a combination of monthly and twice-monthly oversize anthologies, as well as a monthly schedule of miniseries and one-shots.” Now, what goodies are we looking at?

DC Future State: Batman’s Family Isn’t Doing Too Well

Wait, what alley in Gotham is he in? Did another mom named Martha die again? (Image: DC Comics)

In the seemingly near-future of Gotham, Batman is dead. Oh, um, spoilers? Gotham is our dystopian story. A villainous regime called the Magistrate controls the city, and has outlawed all masked heroes. But don’t worry, there’s a new Batman on the scene. The story is familiar, sure, but what’s really exciting that DC is doing with Batman in Future State is some of the creators. Brandon Easton! Vita Ayala! Gene Luen Yang! Mariko Tamaki! Laura Braga! Here’s there entire two-month line-up:

Oversized Comics:

• Future State: The Next Batman #1-4
  • The Next Batman, by John Ridley, Nick Derington and Laura Braga
  • Outsiders, by Brandon Thomas and Sumit Kumar
  • Arkham Knights, by Paul Jenkins and Jack Herbert
  • Batgirls, by Vita Ayala and Aneke
  • Gotham City Sirens, by Paula Sevenbergen and Emanuela Lupacchino
• Future State: Dark Detective #1-4
  • Dark Detective, by Mariko Tamaki and Dan Mora
  • Grifters, by Matthew Rosenberg and Carmine di Giandomenico
  • Red Hood, by Joshua Williamson and Giannis Milonogiannis

Future State Monthly Miniseries:

• Batman/Superman, by Gene Luen Yang and Ben Oliver
• Catwoman, by Ram V. and Otto Schmidt
• Harley Quinn, by Stephanie Phillips and Simone Di Meo
• Nightwing, by Andrew Constant and Nicola Scott
• Robin Eternal, by Meghan Fitzmartin and Eddy Barrows

Superman Has No Home in the State of DC’s Future

Our New Amazon Warrior is from the Amazon Rainforest! Or, at least, from Brazil. (Image: DC Comics)

What would happen if you took Planet Hulk and replaced him with Superman? Well, we’re going to find out, as Clark Kent finds himself banished from Earth. He ends up on Warworld, where he rises “through the ranks of gladiatorial combat in order to defeat Mongul with the help of some unlikely heroes.” And that’s what they’re telling us before we even start reading. However, the Superman family of titles now includes Wonder Woman, Mister Miracle, Midnighter, and a few more surprises. Here are the comics we’ll be opening our wallets for:

Oversized Comics:

• Future State: Superman of Metropolis #1-2
  • Superman of Metropolis, by Sean Lewis and John Timms
  • The Guardian, by Sean Lewis and Cully Hamner
  • Mister Miracle, by Brandon Easton and Valentine De Landro
• Future State: Superman: Worlds of War #1-4
  • Superman: Worlds of War, by Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Mikel Janin
  • Midnighter, by Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad and Gleb Melnikov
  • Black Racer, by Jeremy Adams and Siya Oum
  • Mister Miracle, by Brandon Easton and Valentine De Landro
• Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman #1-2
  • Immortal Wonder Woman, by Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad and Jen Bartel
  • Nubia, by L.L. McKinney, Alitha E. Martinez and Mark Morales

Future State Monthly Miniseries and One-Shots

• House of El, by Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Scott Godlewski (one-shot on sale February)
• Kara Zor-El, Superwoman, by Marguerite Bennett and Marguerite Sauvage
• Legion of Super-Heroes, by Brian Michael Bendis and Riley Rossmo
• Superman/Wonder Woman, by Dan Watters and Leila del Duca
• Superman vs. Imperious Lex, by Mark Russell and Steve Pugh (3-issue series ending March 2021)
• Wonder Woman, by Joëlle Jones

The Justice League Titles Feature Just About Everything Else

Um…what? (Image: DC Comics)

Firstly, in a really shocking twist, the Four Horsemen of Apocalypse are going to DC Comics! In this time of miracles, we’re getting a crossover event; our heroes are put to the test by one of Marvel’s most powerful characters. Just kidding. However, we’re getting the Four Riders of the Apocalypse. In short. under the Justice League banner, we’ll see what happens with the Flash, Green Lantern, the Teen Titans, Swamp Thing, Suicide Squad, and more. And it looks like Black Atom might be the catalyst for the next reboot, or next event, since he’ll be looking “to the past as the only way to save the future of the Multiverse.” With the Rock’s debut as Black Adam coming soon(ish), expect Black Adam to make some big moves in the comics. Nevertheless, here’s the Justice League line-up:

Oversized Comics:

• Future State: Justice League #1-2
  • Justice League, by Joshua Williamson and Robson Rocha
  • Justice League Dark, by Ram V. and Marcio Takara
• Future State: Green Lantern #1-2
  • Last Lanterns, by Geoffrey Thorne and Tom Raney
  • Tales of the Green Lantern Corps, by Josie Campbell, Ryan Cady, and Ernie Altbacker, with Sami Basri and Clayton Henry
• Future State: Suicide Squad #1-2
  • Suicide Squad, by Robbie Thompson and Javi Fernandez
  • Black Adam, by Jeremy Adams and Fernando Pasarin

Future State Monthly Miniseries:

• Aquaman, by Brandon Thomas and Daniel Sampere
• The Flash, by Brandon Vietti and Dale Eaglesham
• Teen Titans, by Tim Sheridan and Rafa Sandoval
• SHAZAM!, by Tim Sheridan and Eduardo Pansica
• Swamp Thing, by Ram V and Mike Perkins

What Should We Take from DC Future State

Okay, Harley Quinn also looks pretty awesome. (Image: DC Comics)

Overall, I feel apprehensive about this move. As we said previously, DC fired Didio to avoid this very kind of event. And though they promise, “In March 2021, the regular DC title lineup resumes, continuing existing storylines from 2020 and introducing new arcs for the year,” this event is either a setup for a reboot or just a really messy event. However, some of these titles sound great, and the creative teams are definitely a plus. So, what do you think? An exciting new event that you’ll buy straightaway?  Certainly, it’s at least a fill-in for whatever 5G was meant to be? Or is it a big cash-grab regardless? If you’re either planning to read it or not, let us know below.

(Featured Image: Also from DC Comics)

Roman Colombo finished his MFA in 2010 and now teaches writing and graphic novel literature at various Philadelphia colleges. His first novel, Trading Saints for Sinners, was published in 2014. He's currently working on his next novel and hoping to find an agent soon.