Review by Ian Keogh
Over six collections, Future State is a thorough look into possible near futures for the DC universe, and as the title indicates, this collection gathers the stories of Justice League members along with that of the main team, opening with the Flash
There’s a clever idea to Brandon Vietti’s plot, as without his speed Barry Allen has to cobble together a uniform enabling him to use the scientific constructions of his enemies to deal with a threat from very close to home in a reversal of the usual battles. Vietti overplays the tragedy, though, and there’s none of the accompanying lightness characterising the best Flash material. Dale Eaglesham’s art is traditional superhero style, and he makes the most of what he’s given.
Daniel Sampere’s first rate art graces Brandon Thomas’ look at Aquawoman and Jackson Hyde as Aquaman, transported to the Confluence, a sort of gateway where the seas of different worlds unite. Each leading character is the focus for chapter, with Aquawoman’s far better for having the form and coherence of a quest.
In Ram V and Marcio Takara’s future the Justice League Dark operate in the shadows of a world controlled by the cruelties of Merlin. The Demon might make a difference, but he’s sworn never to fight Merlin. This is an intriguing glimpse rather than a resolution, but certainly near the top end of Justice League Dark material.
Assorted Green Lanterns feature in generally shorter stories. Strangely it’s the longest that’s the weakest. Geoffrey Thorne and Tom Raney have John Stewart leading the last hopes of a broken world. Green Lanterns without rings? What’s the point? This leads directly into Thorne’s disappointing Green Lantern run, with these chapters also found starting Invictus. Jessica Cruz is also lacking a power ring in Ryan Cady’s Green Lantern Corps story, but it’s far better, not least for Sami Basri’s excellent art (sample left) with some creepy designs and a surprise ending. Power rings not working also prompts Ernie Altbacker and Clayton Henry’s Guy Gardner story, with the usually belligerent Guy becoming peacemaker. It’s slim, but fun, as is Josie Campbell and Andie Tong’s look at Keli Quintela and her power gauntlet. Robert Venditti and Dexter Soy handle Hal Jordan, but it’s nothing but a bizarre prelude with no guidance as to what it leads into.
Various heroes seen in the assorted futures seen over the entire Future State series are united in Joshua Williamson’s Justice League. Due to the mistakes of their predecessors they operate differently, but it makes them vulnerable to a group of villains. Williamson’s essentially running a contracted version of an old Justice League plot, but twisting it to good effect, while Robson Rocha’s art deals with a lot of characters without ever crowding them off a page. This is fun.
As with all Future State collections, there’s a bit of up and a bit of down, but it works out just about average.
