Review by Ian Keogh

Over six collections, Future State looks into possible near futures for the DC universe, and this collection explores how the world might be for Superman and his allies.

Unlike the Future State Batman equivalents, this collection is a single story to which many writers and artists contribute sections. It spreads far and wide, not just restricted to Earth, encompasses a greater number of threats, and features secondary characters, some new, some associated with the New Gods, while the Legion of Super-Heroes also put in an appearance and there are also versions of known villains.

The volume opens with the US Army invading Metropolis, the Jonathan Kent Superman having to improvise a hasty solution to protect his home city, and Supergirl taking great issue with the results. Many subsequent stories explore the ramifications. Brandon Easton and Valentine de Landro’s use of Mister Miracle starts as ordinary, but as further snippets are inserted between other stories it opens into something really interesting as it connects with other heroes, while Marissa Louise’s colours really deliver.

Artistically this is a variable volume, with Gleb Melnikov on the Midnighter section having obvious influences he’s not good enough to match. Thankfully Michael Avon Oeming completes a story too complex for its own good. Although Marguerite Sauvage is very impressive, Mikel Janín is the illustrative star turn (sample art left), providing a realism to ordinary people yet opening up to the incredible as they relate stories of Superman saving them in unbelievable circumstances. Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s script then has them speculating on where Superman might be, allowing further flight to Janín’s visual imagination, and later segments of their collaboration deliver something really affecting.

Mark Russell and Steve Pugh (sample art right) contribute the longest section, awkwardly titled ‘Superman vs. Imperious Lex’, and it takes a very different tone from the remainder. It’s Russell’s satirical comment on the policies and priorities currently sustaining several countries around our world delivered by a planet controlled by Lex Luthor. He distorts news to his advantage, blocks dissent, and prioritises wealth above all else. It’s perhaps more comical than people expect from a Superman story, but accept that and it’s a lot of fun.

Both Supergirl’s story by Marguerites Bennett and Sauvage, and the Legion of Super-Heroes by Brian Michael Bendis and Riley Rossmo occur in an unspecified future, and don’t connect with the main thread. Bennett’s story being emotionally simplistic undermines her point of what Supergirl could have been, while Rossmo’s unsuitably stylised art makes the Legion story difficult reading. A redesigned future is viable, but Bendis is going through the motions until he reaches a very clever idea. By then, though, he’s only a couple of pages from the end.

Johnson and Scott Godlewski end in the far future with the House of El facing an existential threat. Should they lose what they stand for will die and the Red King will rule the universe. It’s a leaf out of the Star Wars mythology, but never as desperate as intended for concerning a bunch of new characters without resonance. The ending’s nice, though. In all, this rather exemplifies a hit and miss collection.

Separating the stories are covers to the original issues and it’s worth taking a look out for the painterly wonders produced by Lee Inhyuk.