Trading Places
Written By: Dan Watters
Art By: Leila Del Luca
Colors By: Nick Filardi
Letters By: Tom Napolitano
Cover Price $3.99
Release Date: February 9, 2021
Future State: Superman / Wonder Woman #2 recovers Jon Kent/Superman from his blackout at the end of the last issue to wakeup up in the floating Fortress of Solitude with Yara Flor/Wonder Woman making a lot of noise and a lot of mess in the Trophy Room. When Yara explains she's agreed to her own race against Kuat to get him to stay away from the fight with Solaris. Yara gets to see Jon complete his daily routine of chores that very conveniently reveals a solution that will help them win both their races. It's at least easier to understand than the first issue. It's more weird facial art. It's Future State.
Was It Good?
Despite the mild ding on the art, which remains an issue, it is a cleaner story than the first issue, partly because Watters eased back a bit on trying to cram in so much Brazilian sun god mythology. However, there's a deus ex machina that solves everyone's problems so well it strains credibility, and Jon's final solution to dealing with Kuat is a bit of an eye-roller.
To be clear, the art isn't terrible, but it's not great. Del Luca is struggling with facial proportions and symmetry. It's not a problem for the wider shots, but it's really noticeable up close.
What's It About?
Superman wakes up in the Fortress of Solitude(FoS). The attack alarms are going off, but it's because Yar Flor is trying to bridle the horseless moon mare (that has a head) and she's making a terrific mess in the process. Yara explains she convinced Kuat to race her, and if she wins, Kuat will not interfere in the battle between Superman and Solaris. But she needs the moon mare to win the race.
Realizing he overslept, Superman races off to a side room in the FoS with a small black hole that has a single, tiny planet orbiting it. Superman pulls out an atomic bazooka and zaps the black hole to force into repelling the tiny planet before it gets sucked in. If he doesn't do this every morning, the planet will be destroyed.
Yara is amazed at the daily routine but also sympathetic that Superman hasn't had a break from saving worlds since forever. She realizes the atomic bazooka is the solution to both their problems if they trade places for each contest.
Superman rides out on the moon mare, with which he's able to develop a report, to race Kuat. He accepts believing that being Superman is a better bragging right than beating Wonder Woman in a race. Wonder Woman walks out to face Solaris from the ground in Superman's place. Solaris agrees to the swap if Superman accepts his fate if she loses, and Solaris believes Wonder Woman will be easier to beat.
Kuat and Superman begin a 300-lap race from Pluto to Earth. Yara blasts Solaris with the atomic bazooka. Superman, still weak from exposure to Solaris' red sun rays keeps pace but starts to fall behind. Solaris absorbs the initial brunt of the atomic beam easily.
Slowly, the atomic beam begins to turn Solaris into a blue sun, neutralizing the effects on Superman. Now free of red sun rays, Superman regains his full strength and easily wins the race against Kuat. Solaris runs off, fearing his blue sun leaves him vulnerable to defeat by Superman.
Kuat, defeated, starts to throw a fit, and Superman gets Kuat to calm down by doing the most Superboy Prime move possible -- he punches the Sun. The punch somehow knocks Kuat out, but he later decides not to start fighting again because he's had enough adventure to add to his mythology.
The issue ends with Yara helping Superman with the chores, and Superman bringing her breakfast.
Bits and Pieces:
Future State: Superman / Wonder Woman #2 is a less confusing chapter to this particular title than the first issue. However, an overly convenient plot device, an eyerolling super punch, and inconsistent facial art keep the issue from rising above mediocre.
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