Since half the fun of solicits is trying to piece together what’s happening in the book from the 50 words and a cover, we decided to engage in some wild, semi-informed speculation on what might be coming from DC’s event.
Let’s get right to it: Future State has a very strong Seven Soldiers of Victory vibe.
The original Seven Soldiers were briefly a superteam from the ’40s, brought back sporadically whenever a comic needed a nostalgia boost, until Grant Morrison got his hands on them in the mid-aughts. He and some of the most brilliant artists of the era (Frazer Irving, JH Williams III, Ryan Sook, Doug Mahnke and more) put together a superteam crossover where a group of B and C list heroes stop evil faerie invaders from the future, come to harvest humanity. Also the heroes never meet. The climax is a series of brilliantly planned coincidences where the heroes just barely cross paths, or set up one accident that places the final blow just in time. It’s a superheroic Rube Goldberg machine.
The Black Adam One Million story feels like where something like a 7S conclusion might take place. It got a pretty strong push when we talked to Justice League group editor Alex Carr back in October, and that far in the futue, Adam might have the perspective and the means to nudge a couple of things into place in the past to try and set the multiverse right.
Finally, we’ll talk a bit about variant covers. That Red X cover, if conventions ever come back, is going to make Dustin Nguyen a substantial sum of money. The Future State Green Lantern variant will also likely bring in some cash for Jamal Campbell, but from a very different crowd. The kind of folks who are interested in hot G’Nortt original art. I don’t think I’m ever going to be able to unsee that.
Now, let’s take a look at the goods, including one quietly disturbing variant cover:
FUTURE STATE: AQUAMAN #2written by BRANDON THOMASart and cover by DANIEL SAMPEREcard stock variant cover by KHARY RANDOLPHON SALE 2/23/21$3.99 US | 32 PAGES | 2 OF 2 | FC | DCCARD STOCK COVER $4.99 US
“Andy Curry, daughter of Arthur and Mera, has had a pretty terrible month. Jackson Hyde, a.k.a. Aquaman, won’t stop calling her Aqualass when she’s told him a thousand times it’s Aquawoman. She’s manifested a new power that scares the absolute hell out of her. Oh, and she and Jackson just got ripped apart in the midst of a cosmic space ocean and she can’t find him anywhere! For the first time in her 14 years, Andy’s all alone—and it’s gonna take her wits, her will, and every single lesson Jackson ever taught her to survive.”
“All hope is lost as Barry Allen races to save his former partner, Wally West. Armed with the weapons of the Rogues who once tried to destroy the Flash, Barry plots an attack that’ll either free the former Kid Flash from the evil that’s possessed him—or end his threat forever!”
FUTURE STATE: GREEN LANTERN #2“The Last Lanterns” written by GEOFFREY THORNE“The Last Lanterns” art by TOM RANEY“Teen Lantern” written by JOSIE CAMPBELL“Teen Lantern” art by ANDIE TONG“Hal Jordan” written by CHRISTOPHER PRIEST“Hal Jordan” art by DEXTER SOYcover by CLAYTON HENRYcard stock variant cover by JAMAL CAMPBELLON SALE 2/9/21$5.99 US | 48 PAGES | 2 OF 2 | FC | DCCARD STOCK COVER $6.99 US
“Outnumbered but never outwitted or outfought, John Stewart leads the last of the Green Lanterns against insurmountable odds. Facing a bloodthirsty Khund cult dedicated to the “God in Red,” the onetime Green Lantern shows that even without a ring or the Corps to back him up, he’s still a force to be reckoned with! Plus, from the pages of Young Justice, Teen Lantern teams up with Mogo, and Hal Jordan reconnects with Oliver Queen after the power battery goes down!”
FUTURE STATE: JUSTICE LEAGUE #2“Justice League” written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON“Justice League” art by ROBSON ROCHA and DANIEL HENRIQUES“Justice League Dark” written by RAM V“Justice League Dark” art by MARCIO TAKARAcover by DAN MORAcard stock variant cover by KAEL NGUON SALE 2/9/21$5.99 US | 48 PAGES | 2 of 2 | FC | DCCARD STOCK VARIANT COVER $6.99 US
“Exiled to a distant planet, the Justice League suspects an impostor in their midst, but not even the next Batman or Green Lantern can find the clues they’re looking for. Meanwhile on Earth, the terrifying return of a classic Justice League villain may spell doom for the planet! Doppelgängers abound, paranoia runs rampant, and only the Justice League can save humanity—if they can ever find their way home.”
FUTURE STATE: SHAZAM! #2written by TIM SHERIDANart by EDUARDO PANSICAcover by BERNARD CHANGcard stock variant cover by GERALD PARELON SALE 2/16/21$3.99 US | 32 PAGES | 2 OF 2 | FC | DCCARD STOCK COVER $4.99 US
“Shazam’s soul is laid bare as he’s confronted by one of the most powerful beings in theDC Universe! Revealing shocking secrets and the final fate of Billy Batson, the boy who was Earth’s Mightiest Mortal, this issue introduces a deadly new threat born from the ashes of the Teen Titans Academy: Raven!”
FUTURE STATE: SUICIDE SQUAD #2“Suicide Squad” written by ROBBIE THOMPSON“Suicide Squad” art by JAVI FERNANDEZ“Black Adam” written by JEREMY ADAMS“Black Adam” art by FERNANDO PASARINcover by JAVI FERNANDEZcard stock variant cover by DERRICK CHEWON SALE 2/23/21$5.99 US | 48 PAGES | 2 OF 2 | FC | DCCARD STOCK COVER $6.99 US
“Peacemaker attacks! Assigned to bring Amanda Waller back to Earth-1 at all costs, the Suicide Squad battles Waller’s private Justice League on Earth-3. As lives are lost and blood is spilled, the fate of the Multiverse will be decided by Superman! Also in this issue, the 853rd Century is burning, and only Black Adam can save reality from the onslaught of murderous rage from a new threat spawned from a former hero.”
FUTURE STATE: SWAMP THING #2written by RAM Vart and cover by MIKE PERKINScard stock variant cover by DIMA IVANOVON SALE 2/2/21$3.99 US | 32 PAGES | 2 OF 2 | FC | DCCARD STOCK COVER $4.99 US
Humanity strikes back! The shadow of Swamp Thing Supreme stretches across the globe as it has for centuries. The world is at peace, until a rebellious faction of humanity ignites their terrible plan, fueled by Woodrue Wilson’s appetite for power. But Swamp Thing, too, harbors a secret—one he must reveal in order to restore peace to the planet once again. But it will cost him everything he has.
“Red X returns to the Teen Titans! The mysterious former Teen Titans Academy student joins the surviving Titans in a final fight to stop the threat unleashed by one of the school’s students. Nightwing, Raven, Crush, Shazam, Starfire, Cybeast, and Red Arrow face their demons as one of these heroes must make the ultimate sacrifice to save their world!”
