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Future State
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"Future State"
The cover of Future State: Justice League #1 (January 2021, DC Comics), featuring new characters introduced during the storyline.
Art by Dan Mora.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
FormatMultiple limited series
Genre
Publication dateJanuary – March 2021
Creative team
Written byMultiple
ArtistMultiple

"Future State" is a comic book storyline published by DC Comics in January and February 2021,[a] consisting of multiple limited series released in place of DC's regular ongoing series during those months.[1][2] The event is set in the aftermath of the "Dark Nights: Death Metal" storyline, and takes place in a "possible future" of the DC Universe.[3] The conclusion of the event leads into DC's Infinite Frontier relaunch.[4]

Publication history

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DC Comics originally announced Generations as the event that would unite all eras in the history of the DC Universe, starting with Generation Zero: Gods Among Us, which was scheduled to release during Free Comic Book Day on May 2, 2020. However, following the firing of publisher Dan DiDio from DC Entertainment in February[5][6] and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the comics industry, the series was delayed. Writer Scott Snyder stated the plans for Generations had become more "fluid", and in June, Generation Zero was not part of DC's plans for the revised Free Comic Book Day.[7] As well, DC Comics publisher and chief creative officer Jim Lee stated that the 5G initiative, which would have occurred at the end of the original plan for Generations was no longer happening: "We had a lot of great ideas that we were floating around. And rather than dumping it all in one month and renumbering the line and going for that really short term spike in sales, we just naturally gravitated to the story ideas and concepts we love and building them into the mythology, the ongoing mythology, in a very organic way".[8]

In September, DC announced "Future State" to be scheduled for January and February 2021.[9] In October, Snyder has also assured the ending of Dark Nights: Death Metal will be tied directly to the event. He responded that "it's hooked into everything. We're building the DCU plan together with editors and other writers and artists. I'm really excited about it. Death Metal ends in January, and then January and February is "Future State", which is going to give glimpses of possible DC futures. That was built while we were doing Death Metal to lead into some stuff which isn't happening anymore, but those plans have taken a new shape, which is exciting. Death Metal is very tied into and hooks into everything happening on the other side—the whole DCU is working together, plus we have some surprises lined up later in the year".[10]

Titles

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Batman family

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Superman family

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Justice League family

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Aftermath

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Critical reception

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At the review aggregator website Comic Book Roundup, the storyline garnered an average score of 7.8 out of 10, based on 809 reviews.[15]

Collected editions

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Title Material collected Publication date ISBN
Future State: Dark Detective Future State: Dark Detective #1-4 (main story and backup stories from #2 and #4), Future State: Catwoman #1-2, Future State: Harley Quinn #1-2, Future State: Robin Eternal #1-2, Future State: Batman/Superman #1-2 July 6, 2021 978-1779510716
Future State: Justice League Future State: Justice League #1-2, Future State: Justice League Dark #1-2, Future State: Aquaman #1-2, Future State: Green Lantern #1-2, Future State: The Flash #1-2 June 22, 2021 978-1779510655
Future State: Superman Future State: Superman of Metropolis #1-2, Future State: Superman vs. Imperious Lex #1-3, Future State: Superman: Worlds at War #1-2, Future State: House of El #1, Future State: Kara Zor-El, Superwoman #1-2, Future State: Legion of Super-Heroes #1-2 June 29, 2021 978-1779510686
Future State: The Next Batman Future State: The Next Batman #1-4, Future State: Nightwing #1-2 and backup stories from Future State: Dark Detective #1 and #3 June 15, 2021 978-1779510648
Future State: Wonder Woman Future State: Wonder Woman #1-2, Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman #1-2, Future State: Superman/Wonder Woman #1-2 July 20, 2021 978-1779510747
Future State: Suicide Squad Future State: Suicide Squad #1-2, Future State: Teen Titans #1-2, Future State: Shazam! #1-2, Future State: Swamp Thing #1-2 July 13, 2021 978-1779510723
Future State: Gotham Vol. 1 Future State: Gotham #1-7 and material from Future State: Dark Detective #2-4 April 12, 2022 978-1779514363
Future State: Gotham Vol. 2 Future State: Gotham #8-12 September 27, 2022 978-1779516800
Future State: Gotham Vol. 3: Batmen at War Future State: Gotham #13-18 April 11, 2023 978-1779520005

See also

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Notes

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Future State

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Future State is a publishing initiative by DC Comics consisting of a two-month lineup of limited miniseries released in January and February 2021, which collectively depict possible future timelines of the DC Universe following the events of Dark Nights: Death Metal. The event replaced all of DC's ongoing monthly titles during this period, with approximately 25 two-issue miniseries organized into thematic "families" such as Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Justice League, Teen Titans, and Green Lantern, allowing for interconnected narratives across character groups. For instance, the Batman Family storyline explores a dystopian Gotham under the authoritarian control of the Magistrate, introducing Tim Fox as the new Batman in Future State: The Next Batman. Key innovations included reimagined roles for iconic characters like Superman (as Jonathan Kent), Wonder Woman (as Yara Flor), and Batman (as a grizzled veteran), alongside new heroes such as Avery Ho (a new speedster) and a team of ex-Green Lanterns led by John Stewart. These stories spanned from near-future scenarios to apocalyptic visions at the end of time, emphasizing themes of legacy, multiversal threats, and the evolution of heroism in a post-Death Metal world. While presented as an "in-continuity" exploration of potential futures rather than a fixed canon, Future State served as a narrative bridge to the subsequent Infinite Frontier era, teasing character developments and plot threads that influenced later DC titles, including the integration of new elements like the House of El's expanded legacy and the rise of younger Justice League members. Several characters and concepts from Future State, such as Tim Fox's Batman and Yara Flor's Wonder Woman, were later incorporated into the main DC Universe continuity.

Overview

Concept and Premise

Future State is a DC Comics publishing initiative that presents a series of limited stories set in various possible futures of the , depicting timelines from the near future to the distant past. This speculative framework explores potential evolutions of the superhero landscape, emphasizing a world reshaped by cataclysmic events and the passage of time. The premise emerges directly from the aftermath of the Dark Nights: Death Metal storyline, in which the is reformed following a reality-warping crisis, ushering in new generations of heroes amid profound societal upheavals. This fractured timeline leaves lingering scars, such as remnants of the "City of Bane" era's chaos in Gotham, where authoritarian control has intensified under threats like the —a surveillance-heavy regime that enforces and outlaws masked vigilantes after the apparent death of Batman. Global crises further disrupt traditional hero roles, forcing adaptations to widespread instability and advanced technologies. Central themes revolve around legacy heroes stepping into iconic mantles, such as Tim Fox as the new Batman and Jon Kent as , highlighting the evolution of heroism in a diminished world. The Justice League's power dynamics are altered, with the team weakened and fragmented, reflecting broader explorations of , the perils of unchecked , and how successive generations redefine amid existential threats. These elements collectively paint a of resilience and reinvention in a pushed to its limits, with stories spanning from near-future scenarios to apocalyptic visions far into the future.

Relation to DC Continuity

Future State is positioned as a direct narrative extension following the events of Dark Nights: Death Metal (2020), in which the cosmic entity Perpetua's defeat fundamentally reshapes the , allowing for explorations of "possible futures" that operate outside strict linear canon. This placement enables Future State to depict non-canonical "what if" scenarios, such as dystopian outcomes for key heroes, without disrupting the primary timeline of ongoing DC titles. In terms of canonical status, Future State serves as a testing ground for ideas, with select elements integrated into the main DC continuity through the Infinite Frontier initiative launched in 2021. For instance, new heroes like Tim Fox assuming the Batman mantle and the villain Punchline's elevated role as a Joker successor were presented as potential developments, but only aspects such as Punchline's prominence and supporting characters carried over into primary stories. Similarly, concepts like the oppressive Magistrate regime in Gotham and the authoritarian "United States of Superman" framework influenced subsequent arcs, including the Magistrate's appearance in Batman titles and thematic echoes in Superman narratives. This selective incorporation reflects DC's approach to the Multiverse mechanics post-Death Metal, where an infinite array of Earths permits experimental storytelling that probes alternate paths without overwriting established events. Future State's role also ties into the abandonment of DC's planned "" publishing initiative, which envisioned a generational shift in heroes and a hypertime-based structure; instead, its remnants were repurposed into Future State's two-month event format, paving the way for 's refreshed, interconnected universe. By showcasing Gotham's fall to authoritarian control and Superman's world-spanning authority struggles, Future State provided prerequisite foreshadowing for later DC titles. This framework ensures reader understanding of the as a flexible tool, emphasizing conceptual "what if" explorations over rigid .

Publication History

Development and Announcement

DC Future State emerged as a strategic pivot for DC Comics amid the publishing disruptions caused by the , which delayed ongoing series and prompted a reevaluation of long-term plans. Originally rooted in the "" initiative conceived under former publisher , the project envisioned aging out legacy heroes and introducing a new generation of characters in a restructured DC timeline; however, DiDio's departure in and the industry's halt during lockdowns led to its transformation into a standalone, speculative event exploring potential futures rather than a full relaunch. The event was first teased during the : Explore the Multiverse panel on September 12, 2020, building anticipation as a follow-up to the Dark Nights: Death Metal storyline, which would reshape the and inspire glimpses of altered timelines. Full details were revealed in an official announcement on October 15, 2020, positioning Future State as a two-month line-wide initiative from to 2021 that would temporarily replace regular titles with over 50 issues across approximately 25 , including prestige and anthology formats like DC Future State: . Under the oversight of executive editor , the project emphasized conceptual experimentation to test bold narrative ideas while resuming standard continuity in March 2021. To bolster creativity amid broader industry challenges, DC recruited an ensemble of established and emerging talents, such as and Michael W. Conrad for Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman and for Future State: The Next Batman, aiming to diversify storytelling voices from , , and beyond. This approach sought to refresh iconic characters, spotlight underrepresented perspectives, and gauge reader interest in forward-looking concepts without committing to permanent changes, all while navigating sales pressures from pandemic-related distribution issues. Initial solicitations in October 2020 highlighted the event's scope, featuring oversized anthologies and self-contained arcs designed to hook audiences with innovative takes on heroes like and the .

Release Schedule and Format

Future State launched on January 5, 2021, with the release of the free 32-page anthology Presents: DC Future State #0, which provided introductory stories and a suggested reading order for the event. The main rollout occurred weekly throughout and February 2021, encompassing 25 that collectively produced dozens of issues, with most titles spanning two issues and select ones extending to four issues. This two-month schedule replaced DC's standard ongoing monthly titles, allowing for a concentrated exploration of future scenarios without interrupting the publisher's broader continuity. The event innovated by shifting from traditional ongoing series to self-contained #1 issues launching limited runs of two to four issues each, emphasizing finite narratives over extended serialization. It featured a diverse mix of formats, including solo hero miniseries such as Future State: Superman, team-based stories like Future State: Justice League, and anthology collections that bundled multiple short tales. Digital distribution was enhanced through platforms like ComiXology, enabling simultaneous or near-simultaneous access alongside print editions to broaden accessibility. Production incorporated Black Label variants for select titles with mature themes, such as the black-and-white Future State: Gotham series, which adopted a gritty, standalone aesthetic under DC's prestige imprint. Global distribution was adapted in response to disruptions, as DC transitioned from exclusive reliance on to multiple partners including Lunar Distribution and for wider international reach. Issue page counts varied but typically averaged 22 to 32 pages, with some oversized editions reaching 64 pages to accommodate dual stories or extended art. Crossovers were intentionally minimized to promote standalone readability, enabling readers to engage with individual titles independently while optional free guides, like the one in DC Nation #0, outlined thematic connections across the event.

Titles and Storylines

Batman Family Titles

In the Batman Family titles of Future State, Gotham City exists under the iron-fisted rule of the Magistrate, a corporate entity enforcing order through the Peacekeepers, a paramilitary force that has outlawed vigilantism and imposed total surveillance on its citizens. These stories emphasize themes of resistance against authoritarianism, the passing of the Batman legacy to new guardians, and the enduring dynamics within the Bat-Family amid a dystopian surveillance state. A cornerstone of the lineup is Future State: The Next Batman #1-4, an spearheaded by writer and artist Nick Derington for the lead story, which introduces Tim Fox—son of longtime ally —as the new Batman. In this narrative, Tim, a brilliant but reluctant heir, dons the cowl to confront the Magistrate's regime after Bruce Wayne's apparent death, navigating a Gotham fractured by corporate control and personal family tensions. The anthology also features backup tales exploring related elements, such as the Arkham Knights' rebellion and the Batgirls' underground fight, highlighting the broader Bat-Family's fragmented efforts to reclaim the city. Future State: Dark Detective #1-4, written by Mariko Tamaki with art by Dan Mora, shifts focus to Bruce Wayne himself, who fakes his death following an assassination attempt by the and goes underground as a wounded fugitive. Imprisoned in spirit by his injuries and isolation, Bruce forges uneasy alliances with new figures like Grifter while grappling with the erosion of his city's soul, culminating in a high-stakes plan to dismantle the surveillance network from within. The series delves into family dynamics, including Damian Wayne's evolution from rebellious son to a more hardened operative in the shadows of oppression, underscoring Bruce's internal conflict over legacy and loss. The Bat-Family's ensemble dynamics come to the fore in interconnected titles like Future State: Robin Eternal #1-2 by writer Meghan Fitzmartin and artist Eddy Barrows, where operates as Robin alongside Spoiler (Stephanie Brown) in daring raids against convoys, embodying the younger generation's innovative resistance tactics. Similarly, Future State: Nightwing #1-2, penned by Andrew Constant with on art, portrays Dick Grayson as Nightwing leading a coalition of survivors, confronting both the new Batman and entrenched threats while protecting remnants of the old guard. These stories introduce evolutions such as Luke Fox's expanded role as a Batwing successor, leveraging his tech expertise to counter Peacekeeper tech, and position Punchline as a ruthless antagonist thriving under the regime's chaos. Integration of external legacies appears in Future State: Batman Beyond #1-2, written and illustrated by Bernard Chang, where Terry McGinnis's arrives in a -overrun Neo-Gotham, blending his high-tech suit with Bat-Family tactics to challenge the status quo and explore cross-generational themes of inheritance. Creative contributions extend to crossover elements in Future State: Batman/Superman #1-2 by and Ben Oliver, which, while touching 's orbit, centers Bat-Family origins under the early era with artist Riley Rossmo contributing to atmospheric visuals of Gotham's fall. Overall, these titles portray a Bat-Family fractured yet resilient, with new Robins and allies rising to defend a legacy threatened by total control.

Superman Family Titles

The Superman Family titles in Future State explore the legacy of Kal-El through his son Jonathan Kent's emergence as the new Man of Steel, while depicting Kent's struggles in and Lane's defiant journalism against authoritarian regimes. These narratives emphasize themes of hope and resilience in a dystopian future, where the mantle inspires resistance against oppression, distinct from the more localized urban conflicts in other family lines. Warworld serves as a pivotal setting, representing interstellar tyranny that tests the family's global influence. Future State: Superman of Metropolis, a two-issue miniseries, centers on Jonathan Kent stepping into the role of to safeguard a Magistrate-controlled , where surveillance and authoritarian control have stifled freedom. In the story, grapples with self-doubt and the weight of his father's absence, ultimately channeling the inspirational essence of the symbol to rally citizens against bottled-city threats and authoritarian enforcers. Writer Sean Lewis helmed the first issue, illustrated by John Timms and others including , Michael Avon Oeming, and Valentine De Landro, while Brandon Easton wrote the second, with art by Valentine De Landro, John Timms, and others, highlighting 's growth from a young hero to a beacon of hope amid family tensions over his rapid maturation and independence. Complementing this, Future State: Superman: Worlds of War, also spanning two issues, portrays Clark Kent weakened and captured on Warworld, forced into gladiatorial combat under Mongul's rule, where he becomes a symbol of defiance for enslaved populations. The plot underscores Superman's enduring role as an inspirer, as Clark's actions sow seeds of rebellion despite his physical vulnerabilities from the planet's harsh conditions. The series is an anthology; the debut issue features the Superman story written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, with dynamic artwork by Mikel Janín, while the follow-up includes contributions from Dan Watters and others, with art by Mikel Janín and additional contributors, focusing on Clark's strategic resistance and the broader implications for his family's legacy. In Future State: Superman vs. Imperious Lex, a one-shot, leads a journalistic crusade within the United Planets against Lex Luthor's propaganda-fueled empire on Lexor, exposing his manipulations to incite planetary unrest and free oppressed worlds. This tale highlights Lois's evolution into a key resistance figure, using her investigative skills to undermine Luthor's and support Jonathan's distant efforts, weaving in family dynamics strained by Clark's captivity. Robert Venditti wrote the issue, with Paul Pelletier's artwork emphasizing the cosmic scope of Lois's underground network and her unyielding commitment to truth. Future State: Superman: House of El, a one-shot, delves into an alternate timeline where Jonathan Kent and other House of El descendants confront multiversal threats tied to Warworld's influence, illustrating the perpetual passing of the mantle across generations. The narrative explores Osul-Ra's introduction as a potential successor variant from Warworld's survivors, alongside Lois's advisory role in familial conflicts over legacy and power. Phillip Kennedy Johnson wrote and Scott Godlewski provided the art, delivering a conceptual bridge between immediate future perils and long-term inspirational endurance unique to the Superman lineage.

Justice League and Other Titles

The Future State: Justice League miniseries, written by Joshua Williamson with art by Howard Porter and others, spans two issues and depicts a post-apocalyptic world following a devastating war with , where the operates in secrecy from a hidden headquarters. The story centers on the team investigating the massacre of the within the ruins of the Hall of Justice, uncovering betrayals and impostors among their ranks, including suspicions toward the new and during an exile on a distant planet. This narrative explores themes of trust and legacy, as the League grapples with the aftermath of global catastrophe, including ensemble conflicts against remnants of ' influence that continue to destabilize hero society. A companion arc within the series focuses on , written by Ram V, addressing magical threats in a world where sorcery is persecuted; the team, including and , flees a witch hunt that harvests and executes magic users across the , blending horror elements with high-stakes pursuit to protect endangered mystical artifacts. The Future State: two-issue series, penned by Tim Sheridan with art by Rafa Sandoval, portrays a generational clash where the original New Teen Titans' academy has devolved into Titans Tower as a prison for rebellious young heroes, pitting the veteran Titans—led by Nightwing and Starfire—against a new cohort seeking to dismantle the old guard's authoritarian control. The plot escalates into a youth rebellion confronting the , emphasizing mentorship failures and the cycle of heroism, with standalone arcs that tie into broader Future State themes of fractured alliances without relying on family-specific legacies. In Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman, a two-issue story by writers and Michael W. Conrad with art by Jen Bartel, Diana Prince endures an Amazonian future as an immortal queen leading her people against the cosmic entity known as , which threatens to unravel existence; the narrative unfolds in a desolate era where Diana, alongside a dying , searches the void for surviving life while waging war against god-like forces eroding reality. This arc highlights Diana's enduring resolve and introduces elements of mythological conflict, interconnecting with ensemble threats but remaining self-contained. Other titles expand on individual Justice League members' developments within this future landscape. Future State: Aquaman, written by Brandon Thomas with art by Daniel Sampere, unfolds in a drowned world where rising seas have submerged continents, forcing Jackson Hyde—as the new —to mentor Arthur Curry and Mera's daughter, Andy Curry, while escaping a Neptunian and battling authoritarian sea regimes that exploit the flooded environment. Similarly, Future State: The Flash, also by Joshua Williamson with art by Carmine Di Giandomenico, features speedster anomalies stemming from a disrupted Speed Force, where Barry Allen and his allies confront Wally West's corruption by the entity Famine, leading to desperate measures like severing connections to the Speed Force to avert multiversal collapse. Future State: Wonder Woman #1-2, written and illustrated by Joëlle Jones, introduces as the new , a Brazilian Amazon warrior who battles an ancient evil unleashed on Themyscira, forging her path amid divine wars and protecting her island home from invading gods and monsters. These stories collectively form interconnected yet standalone arcs, showcasing creative teams' focus on ensemble dynamics and innovative hero evolutions in a shared dystopian framework.

Aftermath and Tie-ins

Following the conclusion of Future State in March 2021, DC Comics integrated select elements from its narratives into the main continuity through the initiative, which emphasized an expansive multiverse where possible futures could influence the present. #0, released in June 2021, served as a key bridge, reintroducing characters and concepts from Future State while resetting the to allow for flexible storytelling across timelines. For instance, Tim Drake's portrayal as Batman in Future State: Robin Eternal directly informed his character development in the ongoing Batman: Urban Legends anthology, where issues #4-6 (2021) explored his identity struggles and potential succession to the Batman mantle amid 's multiversal themes. Over the longer term, Future State contributed to character evolutions and arcs in mainline series without adopting its full dystopian framework, opting instead for selective canonization that preserved core DC lore. Jace Fox, introduced as the new Batman in Future State: The Next Batman (2021), transitioned into the protagonist of the I Am Batman ongoing series starting in October 2021, examining his role as a tech-savvy vigilante in contemporary Gotham while echoing his future estrangement from the Wayne legacy. Similarly, the Warworld storyline teased in Future State: Superman: Worlds of War (2021), depicting Superman as a gladiatorial slave, expanded into the expansive across #1030-1050 (2021-2023), where Superman leads a against Mongul's empire, incorporating Phaelosian survivors and ties without committing to the event's apocalyptic tone. Specific Future State threads influenced subsequent Batman Family narratives, blending them into post-Joker War developments. The Robin Eternal miniseries' emphasis on a fractured Bat-Family under the Magistrate regime resonated in Nightwing vol. 4 #78-100 (2021-2023), where Dick Grayson's leadership challenges and alliances with former Robins like drew from the event's themes of succession and resistance. Punchline, elevated as a key antagonist in Future State: Gotham (2021), saw her Joker War origins extended in the Punchline #1 miniseries (2020-2021), which delved into her psychological manipulation of and Batman, positioning her as a lingering threat in Infinite Frontier-era Gotham stories. Additionally, elements of the abandoned initiative—originally planned as a full generational shift aging up legacy heroes—were repurposed into Future State's experimental futures, allowing DC to test new character dynamics like Yara Flor's without overhauling continuity. Yara Flor's role has continued in mainline titles through 2025, solidifying her as a canon Amazon warrior. DC positioned Future State as a "testing grounds" for narrative ideas, emerging as epilogues to the Dark Nights: Death Metal event (2020) and enabling crossovers that probed alternate realities. This approach facilitated nods in later initiatives, such as the Absolute Universe line launched in October 2024, where reimagined heroes like Absolute Batman subtly referenced Future State's tech-augmented vigilantes and multiversal fractures, reinforcing DC's strategy of using such events to prototype high-impact concepts for broader adoption.

Reception and Impact

Critical Reception

Future State received generally positive critical reception, with an average critic rating of 7.9 out of 10 across 327 reviews compiled on ComicBookRoundup. Critics praised the event for its bold envisioning of potential futures, particularly in introducing diverse new heroes and exploring legacy characters in innovative ways, though some noted inconsistencies due to the anthology-style format. The series was lauded for advancing representation, such as in Future State: The Next Batman, where Tim Fox, a Black tech-savvy operative, assumes the mantle in a dystopian Gotham, earning an 8.4/10 average for its fresh take on the Batman mythos and emphasis on family dynamics amid . Similarly, Future State: Wonder Woman introduced , DC's first Latina Wonder Woman, blending Brazilian folklore with Amazonian heritage; described it as showcasing "the wild potential of a new, future " through witty dialogue and dynamic action, highlighting her as a fiery, independent legacy figure distinct from Diana Prince. These elements were seen as significant steps toward greater diversity for people of color and LGBTQ+ heroes, with AIPT Comics noting the event's success in spotlighting creators like Joëlle Jones to deliver "something of actual value" in character evolution. Thematically, strengths lay in legacy exploration, as in Ram V's Future State: Justice League, which averaged 7.9/10 for its mystery-driven examining distrust and 's enduring in a fractured world; critics appreciated how it reaffirmed core heroic ideals while teasing broader universe shifts. Phillip Kennedy Johnson's Future State: - Worlds of War further emphasized themes of humanity and resilience, portraying Kent's growth as a against . However, weaknesses emerged in cohesion, with the standalone format leading to rushed plots and disjointed world-building in anthology issues like Future State: of , which scored 6.8/10 amid complaints of overloaded exposition and underdeveloped futures. Batman News critiqued the event's structure for making it "almost impossible to keep track of what is going on," as interconnected teases across titles often felt fragmented without a unifying arc. Comparisons to Marvel's Heroes Reborn were drawn for Future State's experimental relaunch approach, with Screen Rant calling it "the boldest, most exciting comic book initiative in decades," akin to Marvel's alternate reality explorations but focused on DC's legacy heroes in a post-Death Metal multiverse. Areas of debate included the maturity levels in ties to DC's Black Label imprint, where darker, more violent futures—like those in Future State: Gotham—raised questions about tonal consistency for younger readers, though praised for risk-taking in character reinvention. Polygon noted Future State: The Next Batman as "enjoyable" yet "oddly slight," capturing the event's visionary but uneven execution in balancing innovation with accessibility.

Commercial Performance and Legacy

The DC Future State event achieved strong initial commercial success, with its titles dominating charts in early despite a reduced output of only 42 new comics per month—the lowest for DC since 1990. According to from Comichron, Future State: The Next Batman #1 led in initial order dollars and ranked third overall among all comics, while subsequent issues like The Next Batman #3 topped DC's amid approximately 6 million total initial orders across publishers valued at $26–28 million. Many titles received second prints and were included in Wal-Mart exclusive packs, signaling robust for key Batman and series that exceeded 100,000 units for top performers based on rankings and industry estimates. The event's announcement at 2020, which drew 22 million global views, generated significant pre-release buzz that contributed to this performance. Digital sales also benefited, as Future State's availability on platforms like aligned with a broader 62% industry-wide increase in and graphic novels to $2.075 billion in 2021, helping DC capture a larger share of the growing digital market. However, sustainability proved mixed; while the event boosted short-term engagement, follow-up sales for titles averaged around 50,000 units, indicating waning momentum post-February. This performance influenced DC's strategic shift toward greater creator diversity in , where representation of underrepresented groups tripled from prior years, building on Future State's introduction of inclusive talent and characters. In terms of legacy, Future State paved the way for ongoing DC initiatives by permanently integrating select elements, such as the character , who debuted as a Brazilian Amazonian and starred in her own main-continuity series starting in May 2021. It also repurposed aspects of the canceled relaunch—originally planned as a full-line overhaul with new legacy heroes—into a more contained event, though critiques highlighted underutilized potentials like unrevived concepts that could have expanded diverse narratives further. The structure influenced later events, including in 2023, which echoed Future State's miniseries format for character spotlights, and contributed to 2025 strategies evident in line, where legacy themes persist amid crossovers like Absolute Power. Fan engagement endures through dedicated reading orders and convention panels, underscoring its role in evolving DC's publishing model toward multiversal possibilities.

Collected Editions

The print collections for DC Comics' Future State event were released as trade paperbacks and select deluxe hardcovers between 2021 and 2022, compiling the limited series into accessible physical volumes grouped by character families and themes. These editions prioritized oversized formats for immersive reading, with page counts often exceeding 300 to encompass multiple interconnected stories from the two-month publishing initiative. Initial waves focused on core hero lineages, followed by expanded narratives in subsequent volumes. In the Batman Family category, Future State: Batman - Dark Detective (trade paperback, ISBN 978-1779510716, July 6, 2021, 344 pages, $34.99) gathers key Gotham-centric tales, including Future State: Dark Detective #1-4 (main story and backups from #2 and #4), Future State: Red Hood #1-2, Future State: Batman/Superman #1-2, Future State: #1-2, Future State: #1-2, and Future State: Robin Eternal #1-2, depicting a dystopian city under authoritarian control. Future State: The Next Batman (trade paperback, ISBN 978-1779510648, June 15, 2021, 368 pages, $34.99) centers on Tim "Jace" Fox's emergence, collecting Future State: The Next Batman #1-4, select stories from Future State: Dark Detective #1-4, and Future State: Nightwing #1-2, alongside related backups like Batgirls #1-2 and #1-2. A companion deluxe hardcover, Batman by : The Deluxe Edition (June 29, 2021, 128 pages), features an original Ridley story illustrated by , plus Future State: The Next Batman #1-4, contributions, and "" from Batman: The Joker War Zone #1. Future State: Gotham Vol. 1 (trade paperback, ISBN 978-1779514363, April 12, 2022, 224 pages, $16.99) extends the saga with black-and-white artwork, compiling Future State: Dark Detective #2 and #4 backups, plus Future State: Gotham #1-7, emphasizing Red Hood's conflicted role among and Bat-Family. The Next Batman: Second Son (trade paperback, ISBN 978-1779513601, September 7, 2021, 128 pages, $16.99) collects the 6-issue digital-first exploring Jace Fox's backstory, bridging Future State origins to broader DC continuity. Superman Family collections highlight multigenerational legacies, with Future State: Superman (trade paperback, ISBN 978-1779510686, June 29, 2021, 456 pages, $39.99) compiling Superman of Metropolis #1-2 (Jon Kent's trials), Superman: Worlds of War #1-2 (Clark Kent on Warworld), Superman vs. Imperious Lex #1-3, Kara Zor-El, Superwoman #1-2, #1-2, and Superman: House of El #1, spanning eras from near-future to distant cosmic threats. Superman of Tomorrow arcs, integrated within this volume, portray Jon's evolution amid authoritarian regimes and family burdens. Justice League and other titles received dedicated volumes like Future State: Justice League Vol. 1 (trade paperback, ISBN 978-1779510655, June 22, 2021, 296 pages, $29.99), which assembles Future State: Justice League #1-2 (featuring Jonathan Kent as Superman, Yara Flor as Wonder Woman, and others investigating villain deaths), Future State: The Flash #1-2, Future State: Green Lantern #1-2, Future State: Aquaman #1-2, and Future State: Justice League Dark #1, emphasizing a fractured team's defense against multiversal incursions. Wonder Woman-focused print editions, such as Future State: Wonder Woman (trade paperback, ISBN 978-1779510747, July 20, 2021, 200 pages, $19.99), collect Future State: Wonder Woman #1-2 (Yara Flor's underworld quest), Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman #1-2 (Nubia and Diana's parallel fates), and Future State: Shazam! #1-2, showcasing Amazonian warriors across timelines. Variant covers for these releases, including foil and retailer exclusives, were offered through comic shops to highlight key artists like Jorge Jiménez and Joëlle Jones. Later printings of select volumes occurred in 2023 due to sustained reader interest, though no comprehensive of the full event has been published as of 2025.

Digital and Special Editions

The digital editions of Future State were made available through platforms like and the , allowing readers to access individual issues and series collections shortly after their print debut in early 2021. These releases emphasized convenience for fans, with the full event's titles bundled into digital series for purchase or subscription. Additionally, the app provided early access to select Future State content for subscribers, integrating the event into its vast library of DC titles launched in January 2021. Special editions extended the event's reach beyond standard issues, including the free digital anthology DC Nation Presents: DC Future State, released in November 2020 as a 32-page preview . This publication offered introductory content to the event, distributed digitally alongside physical copies at comic shops. These extras enhanced reader engagement by providing insights into the creative process without requiring additional purchases. App-exclusive features on , such as curated reading guides, further supported navigation of the event's interconnected stories. Unique to digital formats, Future State editions incorporated bonus materials like behind-the-scenes sketches and creator notes, particularly in the DC Nation anthology, which included interviews and preliminary artwork to contextualize the event's bold narrative shifts. International accessibility was bolstered through digital translations, with French e-book editions of titles like Future State: Batman (Tome 2, covering 2025-2027 arcs) and Future State: Superman released on August 22, 2022, via platforms like Amazon Kindle. These localized versions maintained the event's core storytelling while broadening its global audience. As of 2025, Future State remains available digitally via , with ongoing updates to the platform ensuring continued access through its subscription model, including integration into broader DC All In initiatives. Digital sales for DC Comics in 2021 showed strong growth overall, contributing to the event's success in reaching non-traditional readers compared to print baselines.

References

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