This week in Futures End: Amethyst’s quest to save Frankenstein is extended for another issue or two, Firestorm screws up a replica experiment and falls to the floor (will she survive?!?!?!), Fifty Sue and the DNA vault make appearances, and a trio of Bat-characters converge (again). I rarely read solicits, but I checked out February’s and I have to say, I can’t wait to get past these type of issues so we can see some important stuff soon.
- The House of Mystery — The cover shows what happened last issue: Amethyst stabbed Constantine. I was curious last issue because I didn’t understand the back story. This issue explains the back story for us, clearing up the waters and showing us that it was not, in fact, Constantine’s body but rather a projection that was in the House of Mystery. No danger to our chain-smoking buddy here. He knows better than to show up with Amethyst because during the attack of Apokolips five years ago, he trapped them baddies in Gemworld so they couldn’t get out, thus destroying Gemworld and pissing Amethyst off. The important info in this section is that neither magic nor science can fix Frankenstein, and they must take Frank back to the place of his birth: Castle Frankenstein.
- Firestorm — Firestorm is working on replicating the experiment that originally fused Madison and Jason together up in the Watchtower. At the same time, Doctor Polaris (he should ride an ATV…just sayin’) is causing a ruckus down on Earth. Super-Shazam (SuperZam? Shazam-man? Kal-Zam? Shazuperman?) and Stormguard act like gnats attacking a bull with the evil Doctor. Polaris easily does away with anything they throw at him. Meanwhile, Firestorm turns the replicated transporter on and something goes wrong, shocking Firestorm and leaving her on the floor. The artwork in this section is perhaps the strongest of the book. I hate the way Constantine is drawn. Hi-Fi does a good job with the transporter explosion. The subtle yellows and whites in the tube are nice.
- Las Vegas, Nevada — As some of you know, I’ve grown fonder of Fifty Sue. Which, really, I could have only grown fonder of her because at one point I couldn’t hate her any worse. I’ve always hated the Faraday (and as of late the Rock) sections. So take my fondness of Fifty Sue and place it within earshot of Faraday and Rock’s turdiness and my fondness lessens. Sigh. Fifty Sue drops the vault through a corner of an entire skyscraper. Mercy (Faraday’s niece?) tries to kill Fifty Sue with her death touch only to have Fifty Sue, Cole, Lana, and the vault disappear, presumably by Fifty Sue’s teleport powers. Everyone is shocked when this happens, even the reader. The layouts of this section are terrible. It is not impossible to follow what happens, but Lopresti makes little attempt to help us along. Much of what “happens” is off panel and I understand what he’s going for, but it doesn’t work. Having us, the readers, experience Sue and the gang’s disappearance just as Voodoo does is interesting, but with so many characters and little direction, it comes off disjointed. A simplistic approach would have been a) more interesting, and b) an effective way to “tell the story”.
- Terrifitech — Guys, hey listen, you remember the uSphere? Yeah? Good. People are lining up for it. Okay, now back to the rest of the comic.
- Smallville — Clark, Constantine and Midge are hanging out in Smallville, waiting on Brainiac in one of those “evil” places on Earth. Four or five shadowy figures peer at them through corn stalks.
- New York City — Tim is returning to his bar/home. He’s just an upset guy. Terry and Plastique finish their love-making session on the rooftop at about this time. Terry puts the batsuit on and glides down to Tim. Tim assumes Bruce is a part of this (he looks to the other rooftop where Batman actually is) and punches Terry. But oh no. JokerBats has located the three of them and opens fire on the very last panel. I really hope they expand on this section next week. I know there are a ton of other things that must be covered, but the potential for good writing, exciting action, and interplay between different factions is too deep to miss this opportunity. I say that not necessarily as a Batman fan, but as a reader who wants a good story.
Recommended if:
- You’re closely following Frankenstein’s journey.
- You don’t mind several slow moving stories.
- You plan on picking up next week’s issue, as this may be important.
Overall:
It’s your standard Futures End fare. Things happen in this comic that I’m hoping will pay off sooner rather than later. It’s not altogether awful, but I also don’t feel good about it when I finish reading it. It’s like, I wish I had beer goggles on for this comic, then I’m sure it’d be hot. Alas, I am sober and stuck with this issue bagged and boarded in my box, asking me what I want for breakfast. Sigh.
SCORE: 4.5/10
