Future State: The Next Batman #2
DC Comics
Written by: John Ridley
Art by: Laura Braga
Colors by: Nick Derington
Letters by: Arif Prianto
After an impressive opening issue, DC announced Future State: The Next Batman #2 sold out before it even hit the shelves. Quite the feat given the anticipation heading into John Ridley’s series.
Of course, between the success of Future State: The Next Batman #1 and the crazy sales before release, expectations remained high for Future State: The Next Batman #2 — if they didn’t increase. Partnered with Laura Braga after working with Nick Derington in the first issue, Ridley once again delivers with his Future State book.
As this Batman — whose secret identity readers should know by now — continues to handle more boots-on-the-ground work instead of facing cataclysmic events, we see him faced challenges that differ from the ones Bruce Wayne dealt with over the years. While the world-ending battles are fun, Ridley’s approach is more in line with who the character has always been — the perfect way to start things with a new man underneath the cowl.
Hopefully, Ridley carries that into his Digital First DC series with this Batman.
There are also two other Gotham stories included in Future State: The Next Batman #2: Batgirls by Vita Ayala (writing), Aneke (art), Trish Mulvhill (colors) and Becca Carey (letters), and Gotham City Sirens by Paula Sevenbergen (writing), Rob Haynes (breakdowns), Emanuela Lupacchino (art)m Wade von Grawbadger (inks), John Kalisz (colors) and Becca Carey (letters).
Gothan City Sirens was fine, but Batgirls may have been the best story of the three — that includes Future State: The Next Batman #2. Great action, surprises and there may be a point where your jaw drops.