Futures End #0 Review
“Into the Future, On to the End”
Publisher: DC Comics
Writers: Brian Azzarello, Jeff Lemire, Dan Jurgens, Keith Giffen
Art: Ethan Van Sciver, Patrick Zircher, Aaron Lopresti & Art Thibert, Dan Jurgens & Mark Irwin, Jesus Merino & Dan Green
Colors: Hi-FI
Letters: Carlos Mangual
Cover: Ryan Sook
Review by Scott Keys
I’ll preface my review by stating that I know that this book won’t be for everyone. There are a lot of people that don’t like the New 52, DC Comics, or the idea of weekly comics. This book requires more than a passing knowledge of DC characters, or what’s happening in the New 52. I will also tell you, that it looks like DC is building up to something truly epic and engaging, and will definitely pay off for those of us that actually ENJOY DC comics and the New 52!
DC has decided to take on another weekly comic, this time featuring the writing talents of Azzarello, Lemire, Jurgens, and Giffen. What I like most about that line-up is that it features some of DC’s best writers, both past and present. Kinda fitting for a book like this, huh? Anyway, I know a lot of people feel that DC has gone too dark and dystopian, but as a long time fan, I think I know why that is, and where this team is going to lead us.
The artistic choices by this all-star team were also quite impressive! I love the design and the cold, uncaring demeanor the Brother Eye cyborgs had – pretty damn creepy! And each artist had a real opportunity to shine: Van Sciver with his detailed line work, showing off his Flash skills yet again; Lopresti on Amethyst once again; Merino’s “Butch and Sundance” sequence with GL and Blue Beetle; Jurgens on Batman in the Bat Cave with Terry; Zircher’s beautiful work on Terry and bringing him to the “5 years later” New 52. Such a great group of talent!
First off, they start us off at what looks to be the end of the line for our favorite DC heroes, with most of them already overtaken by Brother Eye. They do a great job of breaking the story up to focus on different characters that are fighting off Brother Eye, but to no avail! Their last hope is Batman. Along with Terry, better known as Batman Beyond, they hatch a plan to travel back in time to stop Brother Eye from ever being created. That plan gets cut short (and so does Bruce, for that matter), when some of the Batman Inc heroes, assimilated by Brother Eye, attack the Bat Cave. That leaves Terry to take Bruce’s place and travel into the past. There’s one problem though. He ended up in the wrong time, a time where Brother Eye has already been created. I, for one, love the idea of Terry being in the current DC continuity! He will be a fresh take on the classic Batman, as well as potential adversary for our current heroes, since they have NO idea who he is.
I know what you’re saying. You’re saying, “what do you think this is leading to?” I’ll preface my answer with the fact that I have zero insider knowledge, and am only speculating as a life-long DC Fanboy. Things in life are cyclical, especially in comics. Next year is the 30th anniversary of the first Crisis. This book ends on that anniversary. Coincidence? Probably, but I have faith in this team to lead the New 52 out of the darkness, and utilize Terry as a way to bring our heroes back to the light. That’s my theory. We are being fed a ton of dystopian futures, evil versions, and alternate realities, just so we can appreciate it that much more when things literally get on the bright side again. Take that for what you will, but I can’t recommend this highly enough! I mean, it’s free, for goodness’ sake, what more do you want?
Art: 4.5 / 5
Story: 4.5 / 5
Overall: 4.5 / 5
Scott Keys is a father, Butler University grad, pharmacist, and full-time comic nerd. You can follow his adventures around the spinner-rack and his Incoherent Comic Book Ramblings on:
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