Gotham Future State Week Seven Offers Big Moments, But Few Answers

We’re in the final two weeks of Future State! Yeah, it’s a little crazy that the event has concluded already, even if we are catching up on coverage. However, with week seven of Gotham Future State, it actually feels like the event is winding down. Albeit, it winds down with massive moments. But let’s take a step back and look at the state of this week’s slate of Gotham stories.

The Next Batman #4 States Gotham Future State Off A Little Slowly

I want a book with this team. Now. (Image: DC Future State: The Next Batman #4, DC Comics)

DC presented The Next Batman as the touchstone of the entire DC Future State event, but now, it’s not clear why. Firstly, don’t take that as a condemnation of the series. Overall, John Ridley and Laura Braga killed it on this series and made Jace Fox one of the best characters in comics. But if you’re looking for a lot of big answers in Gotham Future State week seven, we’re not there yet.

The Next Batman Conclusion Is A Good Story But Offers Little Resolution

Dude, that’s cold. (Image: DC Future State: The Next Batman #4, DC Comics)

Writer: John Ridley
Artist: Laura Braga
Breakdowns: Nick Derrington
Colorist: Arif Prianto

The concluding chapter of Tim “Jace” Fox’s intro as the “Next Batman.” Jace is a great Batman, and not just because he has the skills. Particularly, Batman was willing to sacrifice every part of his personal life to maintain the Batman legacy. So, how far does Jace go to become the Batman? Well, look above – he sends his own mother to the hospital. That’s the most Batman thing ever. At this point, even Bruce Wayne would go, “damn, Batman – that’s hardcore.” Throughout this series, Ridley developed Jace into such a likable Batman that it’s too bad we’re only getting a digital miniseries with the character. Although, that could certainly change. After week seven, there will be a Gotham Future State series starring Red Hood. Also, at this point, we don’t know what Infinite Frontier will bring to the universe.

However, while it was great to see this story wrap up and Jace bring in one of the two murderers, something was missing. As a side note, the other killer sacrificed himself so that Batman and his wife could escape the Peacekeepers. Previously, we got a lot of worldbuilding mixed into the narrative about the couple seeking revenge for their daughter’s death. The most important detail is that we saw how the Fox family had a heavy hand in what was happening in Gotham. And in Dark Detective #3, we discovered that Luke, Jace’s brother, was willing to work with the Magistrate. Maybe next week’s Dark Detective #4 will answer some of the lingering questions, but there are a lot.

To that end, how did Jace save Gotham, as we learned he did in Justice League #1?

Batgirls Chapter 2 Brings the First Epic Ending to Gotham Future State Week Seven

Great seat for the end of the world, huh? (Image: DC Future State: The Next Batman #4, DC Comics)

Writer: Vita Ayala
Artist: Aneke
Colorist: Trish Mulvihill

While Next Batman ended with great character development, Batgirls Chapter 2 went big. Really damn big. For instance, the Magistrate had nearly every villain in the DC Universe (Gorilla Grodd and Cheetah are both there, among others) in their prison. So, when Spoiler starts a riot to help Orphan find the hidden prisoner, it’s not your standard brawl. But even with their combined might, they still can’t stand up to the Magistrate’s tech. That is until  Orphan frees Barbara Gordon, the OG Batgirl, and, more importantly, Oracle.

Furthermore, as Oracle, she hacks into the Magistrate’s systems and broadcasts a message to all of Gotham. In fact, it felt very V for Vendetta. She addresses the problem the masks caused to begin with, and how they went from serving the community to feeling above it. But the Magistrate took advantage of that fear and became the tyrants that Gothamites were afraid the masks were becoming. So, with that, she – to paraphrase Poe Dameron – sparks the resistance.

Speaking of, the Resistance shows up to put the final smackdown on the Magistrate prison. Who’s writing Detective Comics, because we, without doubt, need this team. So, the Resistance shows up, Oracle does her own “remember, remember” speech, and all’s good, right? Nope. What we know now is that this story takes place before Nightwing and before Teen Titans. Famine taking over Wally West’s body hasn’t happened yet. And the Magistrate is still in control. We know it will get better for Gotham, but their suffering is far from over.

Gotham City Sirens in Ladies’ Night Part 2

Can I join? (Image: DC Future State: The Next Batman #4, DC Comics)

Writer: Paula Sevenbergen
Penciler: Emanuela Lupacchinno
Inker: Wade Von Grawbadger
Colorist: John: Kalisz

Don’t let the above image fool you – that was just a moment of peace before the end. And really, if you thought that DeeDee’s story was going to end well, then you don’t know Gotham. She was too innocent, too bright, too optimistic to survive the Magistrate, let alone Gotham on a good day. However, we get some wonderful scenes, including one hilarious moment when she asks Catwoman about Bruce Batman’s um, 🍆.

Yet, as bittersweet and kind of cute this story was, it is a quietly pivotal moment in Gotham Future State week seven. Firstly, one of the major tech developers, Dax Dilton, is out of the picture (and good riddance). It turns out he based DeeDee’s thought patterns on a dying teenage girl. Yet, we never get a good reason for why he did this. Secondly, the part of DeeDee’s tech that the Resistance needed – and she sacrificed herself for – helped immensely. Because of this, we know how Catwoman and her “strays” got the tech they needed to launch their attack on the train in Catwoman #1.

Finally, this week seven story represents Gotham during Future State in a unique way. 95% of the story, the three women are having fun and fighting fascists. But that 5% where things go wrong changes everything. Even with everything happening, people still have their lives and try to make the most of it, but the Magistrate can end that shakily held happiness whenever they want.

Nightwing #2 Is the Epic Ending that Gotham Future State Week Seven Needed.

I’m waiting for Nightwing/Next Batman ship fan fiction now. (Image: DC Future State: Nightwing #2, DC Comics)

Writer: Andrew Constant
Artist: Nicola Scott
Colorist: Ivan Plascencia

As good as the Batgirls ending was, Nightwing comes in and dominates Gotham Future State week seven. Dick Grayson and Jace Fox team up to take down the Magistrate, but Grayson has a bit more up his sleeve – he wants to embarrass them publicly. So, even though he wasn’t planning for Batman to show up, he uses his arrival to make the captured footage all the better. And if it’s not great enough already that the Dynamic Duo is kicking their asses, the Resistance shows up! And now that Spoiler and Orphan got everyone out of prison, Two-Face and Huntress have joined the core team. Oh, and Barbara Gordon, except she chooses her “Oracle” moniker. We also see that Orphan is now Batgirl.

Wait, no, we need THIS team in a book now! (Image: DC Future State: Nightwing #2, DC Comics)

The Resistance just kicks their asses left and right. Man-Bat flies cybers up in the air and dismantles them, and Huntress is shooting people in the face. It’s like the cheerfully violent family reunion. While they humiliate the Magistrate, Batman and Nightwing take down Peacekeeper-06, broadcasting her defeat all over the internet. As Jace says, “total victory.”

However, as awesome as this issue was, it leaves a lot of questions. Here, Nightwing realizes that Gotham’s heroes need him as much as Gotham needed Batman. Well, Jace pointed that out to him. By the end, he seems very comfortable being Nightwing. So, what happened between this issue and Teen Titans #1 that left him so jaded that he took on the “Deathwing” identity? We’re at Gotham Future State week seven. With one week to go, there are a lot of questions remaining.

Catwoman #2 Is Yet Another Epic Ending for Gotham Future State Week Seven

If you see these four approaching, just drop your gun and give yourself a concussion to save time. (Image: DC Future State: Catwoman #2, DC Comics)

Writer: Ram V
Artist: Otto Schmidt

So, while the fisticuffs in Catwoman #2 might not be as big as Nightwing #2, Catwoman has one thing going for it: Bruce – Original – Batman – Wayne. This takes place sometime after Dark Detective, so we’re going to assume that they capture him in Dark Detective #4. But while Catwoman frees her stays, Tahlia Al Ghul gets Bruce out of captivity, on her way to the Resistance. Also, one thing is clear: Tahlia knew of Selina’s plan, but Selina didn’t know about Tahlia’s. So, when Bruce shows up to help her and Onomatopoeia, she’s a bit blindsided. But not so blindsided where she doesn’t immediately make out with him.

This issue has the adrenaline of an actual train heist movie, and all the emotional beats it needs to work as a great story at the same time. Ram V and Otto Schmidt created one of the best Future State titles together, and I hope we see more from them.

Catwoman nearly dies in Gotham Future State week seven, which brings up something interesting. So far, with all these conclusions, no one in the Bat-Family has died. That will probably change in week eight.

Only One Week Left

Totally shipping these two. (Image: DC Future State: Nightwing #2, DC Comics)

Road to DC Future State

• Dark Nights: Death Metal #7
• Generations Shattered #1

DC Week One

• Superman of Metropolis #1
• Wonder Woman #1
• The Flash #1
• Swamp Thing #1

Gotham Week One

• The Next Batman #1
• Harley Quinn #1

DC Week Two

• Justice League #1
• Green Lantern #1
• Super-Man/Wonder Woman #1
• Kara Zoe-El: Superwoman #1

Gotham Week Two

• The Dark Detective #1
• Robin: Eternal #1
• Teen Titans #1

DC Week Three

• Immortal Wonder Woman #1
• Superman: Worlds at War #1
• Shazam! #1

Week Three

• The Next Batman #2
• Nightwing #1
• Catwoman #1

DC Week Four

• Superman Vs. Imperious Lex #1
• Aquaman #1
• Legion of Super-Heroes #1

Gotham Week Four

• The Dark Detective #2
• Batman/Superman #1
• Suicide Squad #1

DC Week Five

• Superman of Metropolis #2
• Wonder Woman #2
• Swamp Thing #2
• The Flash #2

Gotham Week Five

• The Next Batman #3
• Harley Quinn #2

DC Week Six

• Justice League #2
• Green Lantern #2
• Superman/Wonder Woman #2
• Kara Zor-El: Superwoman #2

Gotham Week Six

• The Dark Detective #3
• Teen Titans #2
• Robin: Eternal #2

DC Future State Week Seven

• Immortal Wonder Woman #2
• Superman: Worlds at War #2
• Shazam! #2

Gotham Future State Week Seven

• The Next Batman #4
• Nightwing #2
• Catwoman #2

DC Week Eight

• Superman Vs. Imperious Lex #2
• Superman: House of El #1
• Aquaman #2
• Legion of Super-Heroes #2

Gotham Week Eight

• The Dark Detective #4
• Batman/Superman #2
• Suicide Squad #2

DC Future State Epilogues

• Generations Forged #1
• Infinite Frontier #0

(Featured Image: DC Future State: Catwoman #2, 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.