Future State: Gotham #1 Review

 

Back to the Future State

Writer: Dennis Culver, Joshua Williamson

Artist: Giannis Milonogiannis

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: May 11, 2021

Future State Gotham is an odd book, and I am unsure who the target audience is.  While we are heading full steam ahead towards Future State in most books, I don't know if I am interested in going back to the future here.  Plus, having it in black and white will surely throw some people off.  I am a manga fan, so that's not an issue with me, but I get the idea from this that DC is trying to grab those big sales numbers we see from things like Demon Slayer and My Hero Academia.  The problem is, there is more to it than black and white art and Jason Todd doing his best Akira impersonation.  Besides that, is this a good book worth putting down your cash on?  Let's find out...

The issue starts with a very ominous beginning that gave off a Game of Thrones vibe.  There is a mystery going on here, and while we don't solve it in this first issue, I have my theories...that I will save for our podcast, so I don't spoil it on the day the book hits the shelves.  That's a backdoor advert you all you kids out there!

We then see Jason in full-out Capsules mode, zipping around the city to face Wesker and a mecha Scarface.  Again, I am a manga fan, and I think Giannis Milonogiannis' art looks fantastic.  The problem is, the Future State Gotham is all about the neon, and of course, you don't get that here.  It's almost like taking another character out of the book.

The biggest question most will have is whether or not they need to read this book.  As for this issue, I would say "no".  If you a desperate for some more Future State Gotham and aren't sick of the Magistrate and Peacekeepers 1 through 1,258, you may enjoy this, but until I see some solid connections to the current books, I don't see any reason to recommend it.

The story continues with Jason Todd accepted by the Magistrate and possibly becoming a Peacekeeper himself.  I suppose that's big, but the mystery of what Jason is really up to and who he is talking to is why I would come back next issue.  It all ends with Jason coming face-to-face with the Bat-Family, and they are not happy to see him!

Future State Gotham was an okay start to a book that, so far, doesn't feel important or necessary.  Plus, the one thing that I liked from the Jason Todd backup story during Future State gets pushed aside in this.  Oh well, as I said, the art is excellent, but this might be for Future State completists, and I don't know many of those.

Bits and Pieces:

If you have a craving for more Future State Gotham, I guess this book is for you.  I enjoyed the manga-like presentation, but mostly I was bored.  Nothing here made me glad to revisit an event that I already left behind, no matter how hard DC tries to make me.

5.5/10