Express Review – DC Future Snooze

DC Future State: Superman Worlds of War is an oversized 64-page format issue with four stories. I sprung for the cardstock Federici variant cover which ran me about $12 Canadian dollars at a comic shop I frequent. As a collector, it looked like an awesome cover and the oversize format was expensive either way, card stock or not. After a full read-through, I will not be picking up the second issue. This book is a hot mess that went nowhere. All the stories inside were mediocre and it's the equivalent of buying a Spongebob Comic only to realize there is no Sponge or Bob to be seen.

Superman was in a couple of frames and they cut that part of the story off before anything happened. Some of the "Superman" story (if you can even call it that) seemed like social check boxing with snoozy dialogue from characters that appear from nowhere. These characters then pontificate and theorize for multiple pages about Superman's attributes and possible death. I honestly did not want to write a pessimistic review about one of my favorite DC characters, but I don't want to pretend this was good. I'm not getting the impression that DC is taking this stuff seriously anymore, an editor should have said, "write it again." I have been reading about problems at DC over this past couple of months, but I suppose I just didn't want to believe the rumbles. If this book is any indication about how this ship is being steered, someone had better kick open the bridge door and wake the captain up, because the boatswains took a handful of strange fungus and are steering right into the only iceberg for a 1000 square nautical miles.

As a collector feel free to pick it up as the variant has a nice cover and it is a Future State #1, although I don't think this book will hold much long-term value. As a reader give it a pass and buy something from the back issue bin.

Stay focused fellow humans!

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Express Review – Future State: The Next Batman

For the sake of time, I'm only going to focus on the first story in the oversized 64 page - Future State: The Next Batman issue #1. As a reader, I needed more set up to care about the new Batman Tim Fox. The character is showing some real promise, but writer John Ridley just threw us into the story which felt more of a tell than a show. I will say there are good points. Ridley wrote some convincing moments with the Bane-litos gang recruiting new members and an interaction between ex-partner street cops. I will also give Ridley credit in that the page count he was working with was dismal. Shame on DC for not at least allowing the writer to develop the full 64 pages for the new Batman. The drawing was good for this first story. Nick Derington has some really decent pages in here, especially with the action shots. Denington makes consistent use of shadows, which is a must to maintain the look and fee l of Gotham City. Some panels also had a Judge Dredd tone (which is a good thing) mi

Factors of Return

W hen I recently decided to drive out of my way to visit a comic shop, as the one close to my house stopped selling comics months ago, I was returned to a world both familiar and exciting. I am an artist and writer myself and both of those skills started as a direct result of digesting comics in my youth. I'll admit I was a bit out of the loop and a little hesitant to pick up some of the titles I used to read in the past. I haven't been living under a rock when it comes to recent social/cultural movements, and I do not share the view that every nuance of life has to be viewed through, or serve a political agenda. Nor do I think that every word or interaction is a quest for power, as post-modern theory would have us believe. I would never fault someone for writing from their heart and mind, no matter what their personal or political views are. However, taking a well-known and even beloved character (without knowing the nuanced historic layers built up by artists or write

Back Issue Keys –The Incredible Hulk 364

Today's Key issue I picked up from an LCS (Local Comic Store) 30 minutes from where I live. I'd never been there before and had very little time as the family was waiting for me in the car. There were a lot of slabs and some decent back issues. It seemed to be functioning the way a comic shop should; the owner/operator who is friendly and looking to make a sale without pressure and some local comic heads who might just be there to say hi, and feel part of the community. I didn't have the cash to drop on a slab so I told him I was looking for some good back issue keys. Under time pressure and a text from my wife I quickly sifted the bins and pulled out a 1989 copy of The Incredible Hulk 364. I didn't check the interior pages because I never assume they are white, it's nearly impossible on the classic newsprint style paper. The book did have a near-perfect spine, no rollover, and nice staple alignment. The edges and corners were also excellent. I'm not an expert,

Comic Sandwich by CT Guy

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