Future State: Dark Detective #2
DC Comics
Written by: Mariko Tamaki
Art by: Dan Mora
Colors by: Jordie Bellaire
Letters by: Aditya Bidikar
Three weeks into DC’s Future State and it’s safe to say the event has been a success, for the most part. There have been a few disappointments, but DC has also had a few home runs — Future State: Dark Detective is a prime example of the latter. Mariko Tamaki is weaving together a very tight, original story that’s showing off how resourceful Bruce Wayne can be — especially since he is both penniless and still presumed dead.
Mariko Tamaki and Dan Mora have made the most of their time with their Future State run. They only have four issues to tell their story — jamming their foot on the gas with no intention of slowing down. Future State: Dark Detective #2 jumps right into the action while also giving us some answers as to what really happened to Bruce. But while some questions were answered, a lot remains unclear; specifically, who is behind the magistrate and how do they know Batman’s identity?
What also makes Future State: Dark Detective #2 enjoyable is how well both Tamaki and Mora are able to bounce between past and present storylines. This device can be distracting and take away from the story being told, but between Mora’s change in colors and Tamika’s captivating writing, everything flows together well.
Bruce’s resourcefulness is another great addition to this story. We know what he can do as a multi-billionaire, but the idea of Bruce paying rent and having a roommate was a refreshing take on the character — and also quite amusing.
I am thrilled this series was given more than two books to tell it’s story, and I’m excited to see what Tamaki and Mora cooked up for the last two issues.
In addition to Future State: Dark Detective #2, we also get a Red Hood story written by Joshua Williamson with art from Giannis Milonogiannis, colors by Jordie Bellaire and letters by ALW’s Troy Peteri. With just about all of Future States titles, there have been one or more additional short stories, some better than others; the short stories featured in Future State: Dark Detective #1 and #2 have been excellent. This Red Hood story could have and should have been its own Future State title. Williamson crafted a great story here that definitely merits its own full two-book arc and really would have enhanced the Future State catalog.