Batwoman: Futures End #1 Review

Written by: Marc Andreyko
Art by: Jason Masters
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: September 17, 2014

I Want to Suck...

I wish I had some fancy time traveling Police Box that may or may not be bigger on the inside because right now I'd set it to go back ten minutes or so and warn myself not to read this issue.  I know that would mean that I couldn't review it, but it also means that I'd still have total faith in Marc Andreyko and his take on Batwoman.  I have complained about these Future End issues having nothing to do with Futures End and this issue is a prime example, but my hatred of it runs deeper.  It's just an awful issue that ruins everything I've loved about Andreyko's run on the book.  Don't get me wrong, I am not a dummy who thinks this story is ever going to continue or that these Futures End stories won't be wiped clean after the event, but the bad taste this issue  left is going to stick around for a while.



Surprise...Kate's a Vampire.  I would usually call that a spoiler, but it is on the cover, the solicits, the previews and may or may not have started in last months issue.  Unlike some fans who hang out in internet chat rooms, I don't have a problem with her being a
Vampire.  Throw Andrew Bennett in the mix, make her a Blade-esque badass and I think we have a pretty good book on our hands. Unfortunately, this is not that book.  Not even close.

This issue seems intent on ruining everything I love about Kate Kane.  Andreyko already tore her and Maggie apart, but now he wants Kate to straight up murder her.  She is awful, but the words Andreyko puts in her mouth may be worse.  Seriously, a character can be an awful monster without being an AWFUL monster.  This is an example of the later.  The big ending actually came as a relief than being upsetting.  I hope we never see this version of Kate ever again.

I actually liked Jason Masters' art.  It was dark and moody and I liked his character work.  It's a shame it had to be in such an awful story.  Three and a half points of the final score is for the art alone.  Do the math.

Bits and Pieces:

If you are a fan of Batwoman and/or love Kate Kane, don't read this issue.  You will instantly regret it and the bad taste is bound to last well into the return of the regular run of this book.  I expect better from Mark Andreyko, but I'm starting to worry,  First Maggie, now this.  I hope this isn't the beginning of a downward spiral.

3.5/10