Superman/Wonder Woman: Futures End #1 Review

Written by: Charles Soule
Art by: Bart Sears
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: September 17, 2014

War and Something Else

This issue picks up directly following this week's Wonder Woman: Futures End #1.  In that issue, Wonder Woman used the dead of Hades and the power of War to fight a war with Nemesis.  Just when the tide seemed to be turning, Superman showed up looking as if Nemesis had taken him.  Oh no.



Everything from the Wonder Woman book was a big fake out.  No, Bobby wasn't in the shower and the issue wasn't a figment of an autistic boy's imagination.  Wonder Woman only thought she was fighting a war against Nemesis.  She actually was under the spell of Nemesis and has been busy fighting Demons in Tartarus.  While this was going on, Nemesis had been winning the real War and taking over the entire World.  Including the Justice League.

As for Superman, he's for real, but not from this time.  While the "now" Superman is busy farming in Ethiopia, four years ago Superman has been called to make things right with Wonder Woman.  Things have gone wrong between the two, but this Superman shows there is still a spark between them.  And maybe some hope?

After Wonder Woman leads the way out of Tartarus, her and Superman order an Amazon army to hold their ground, fly off to Olympus to consult the gods and then visit the opposite of everything Wonder Woman has become.  Charles Soule keeps showing the stress and pain Wonder Woman feels being the God of War and then changes everything.  I love Wonder Woman as the God of War, but this change is even better.  In the end, it's as if Charles Soule is quoting Edwin Starr about the worth of War.

I enjoyed this story even if it had little to no relation to the Futures End story.  In fact, the events of this book (and Wonder Woman) seem to go against what's happening in the main Futures End book.  However, like some of the other books this month, it's the little hints and stories from the five years leading to this book that are the most interesting.  In this book, it's the hints at the gods vs hero war.  I want to see that.

I was not a huge fan of Bart Sears' art in this issue.  Wonder Woman and Superman change their look throughout the book and Wonder Woman especially looked pretty bad.  I will admit that the big reveal at the end did look awesome.  I wish everything else in this issue looked as good.

Bits and Pieces:

Superman/Wonder Woman: Futures End #1 may not fit well as a Futures End story, but as a look at war it was good.  Wonder Woman does what it takes to win while past Superman shows there is still a chance for our favorite power couple.  I wish there was a way for the ending to show up in the regular run of Wonder Woman and this book, but I know it won't and/or can't.  It's still real to me. Dammit.

7.8/10