Future State - COMICSXF https://comicsxf.com The comics criticism you crave Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:47:50 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.1 https://i0.wp.com/comicsxf.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/cropped-orange-favicon-2.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Future State - COMICSXF https://comicsxf.com 32 32 107498702 BatChat With Matt & Will: The State of the Future(w/ Matt McThorn) https://comicsxf.com/2026/04/23/batchat-with-matt-will-the-state-of-the-futurew-matt-mcthorn/ Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://comicsxf.com/?p=56608 Event comics are a weird thing. And those events that slip in and take over the monthly slots of other comics are even weirder. Could you imagine if Law & Order was cancelled for two weeks to be replaced by Anarchy & Chaos? People wouldn’t know what to do with it. But we comics fans...

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]]> 56608 Future State Ends on a High Note in Superman Vs Imperious Lex https://comicsxf.com/2021/04/06/future-state-ends-on-high-note-in-superman-vs-imperious-lex/ Tue, 06 Apr 2021 17:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=24458 It’s the Return of the Reticulants in Future State: Superman Vs. Imperious Lex #3! Written by Mark Russell, drawn by Steve Pugh, colored by Romulo Fajardo, Jr., and lettered by Carlos M. Mangual, this part 3 of 3 closes the book(s) on Future State. Lexor’s economy is still in freefall and Lex Luthor intends to...

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]]> 24458 The Legion Stumbles, Batman/Superman Get Along and Lex Luthor Soars In Future State https://comicsxf.com/2021/02/26/the-legion-stumbles-batman-superman-get-along-and-lex-luthor-sores-in-future-state/ Fri, 26 Feb 2021 17:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=21917 The Legion of Super-Heroes confront their rogue member but not is all as it seems in Future State: Legion of Super-Heroes #2 written by Brian Michael Bendis, art by Riley Rossmo, colors by Ivan Plascencia and letters by Dave Sharpe. Future State: Legion of Super-Heroes #2 is only 19 pages. But somehow it felt like...

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]]> 21917 Bruce Wayne vs. Magistrate & Harley Quinn vs. Our Sanity in This Week’s Bat Chat https://comicsxf.com/2021/02/26/bruce-wayne-vs-magistrate-harley-quinn-vs-our-sanity-in-this-weeks-bat-chat/ Fri, 26 Feb 2021 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=21909 It’s an explosive week in Gotham City (which is a bad pun, since there are a lot of bombs going off, but we’re standing by it). Bruce Wayne faces down Magistrate-1 and Red Hood is on the run in Future State: Dark Detective #4, featuring: “Dark Detective,” written by Mariko Tamaki, drawn by Dan Mora,...

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]]> 21909 Future State Winds Down, Some X-Men Flee the Vault in Our Staff Picks for 2/24 https://comicsxf.com/2021/02/22/future-state-winds-down-some-x-men-flee-the-vault-in-our-staff-picks-for-2-24/ Mon, 22 Feb 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=21530 Each week, ComicsXF staff offer their recommendations for what to read. New DC comics come out Tuesdays, everything else Wednesdays. Cori’s Pick: Future State: Superman: House of El #1: Journey into the far future and meet the descendants of Kal-El, including twins Rowan and Ronan Kent, the new Superman of Earth and a Blue Lantern,...

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]]> 21530 Hollow Heart, Future State, an Uncanny X-Men Omnibus and More Staff Picks for 2/17 https://comicsxf.com/2021/02/15/hollow-heart-future-state-an-uncanny-x-men-omnibus-and-more-staff-picks-for-2-17/ Mon, 15 Feb 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=15176 Each week, ComicsXF staff offer their recommendations for what to read. New DC comics come out Tuesdays, everything else Wednesdays. Ari’s Pick: Hollow Heart #1: We’ve heard this new Vault Comics series described as a queer spin on The Shape of Water, in which a mechanic falls in love with a jumble of organs that...

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]]> 15176 2 Batmen, 1 Grifter in Future State: Dark Detective #3 https://comicsxf.com/2021/02/12/2-batmen-1-grifter-in-future-state-dark-detective-3/ Fri, 12 Feb 2021 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=15139 Bruce Wayne comes face to face with his successor and learns exactly how far the Magistrate police state has infiltrated Gotham while Grifter, Huntress and Luke Fox make a midnight run across the city to escape in Future State: Dark Detective #3, featuring: “Dark Detective,” written by Mariko Tamaki, drawn by Dan Mora, colored by...

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]]> 15139 Image’s Next Great Hope, Radiant Black, Leads off Our Staff Picks for 2/10 https://comicsxf.com/2021/02/08/images-next-great-hope-radiant-black-leads-off-our-staff-picks-for-2-10/ Mon, 08 Feb 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=14686 Each week, ComicsXF staff offer their recommendations for what to read. New DC comics come out Tuesdays, everything else Wednesdays. Chris’ Pick: Radiant Black #1: What if Peter Parker became a Tokusatsu hero? Find out in this new Image series by former Mighty Morphin Power Rangers writer Kyle Higgins and artist Marcelo Costa. ($3.99) Check...

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]]> 14686 Hope for Superman and Darkness for Flash in this Week’s Future State Round-Up https://comicsxf.com/2021/02/05/hope-for-superman-and-darkness-for-flash-in-this-weeks-future-state-round-up/ Fri, 05 Feb 2021 18:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=14539 Welcome back to the land of tomorrow, where things are still pretty much as crappy as they’ve been for the Flash family in the recent past in Brandon Vietti, Brandon Peterson and Will Conrad’s Future State: The Flash #2. Meanwhile, the heroes of Metropolis get to put a check in the wins column over in...

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]]> 14539 The Future is Actually Eternal Darkness in DC’s Future State: Swamp Thing #2 https://comicsxf.com/2021/02/05/the-future-is-actually-eternal-darkness-in-dcs-future-state-swamp-thing-2/ Fri, 05 Feb 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=14530 Jason Woodrue and Obsidian threaten to plunge the world into eternal darkness and our only hope is…vegetables?!  Join us in looking at Future State: Swamp Thing #2, written by Ram V, penciled by Mike Perkins, colored by June Chung and lettered by Aditya Bidikar. Ari Bard: Hey Vishal… I think plants are our only hope. ...

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]]> 14530 Too Many Plots to Wrap up with One Issue Left in The Next Batman https://comicsxf.com/2021/02/05/too-many-plots-to-wrap-up-with-one-issue-left-in-the-next-batman/ Fri, 05 Feb 2021 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=14526 Welcome back to Bat Chat with Matt (and Will!). Batman is on the run from The Magistrate, Duke Thomas makes a speech and the Arkham Knight makes a statement in Future State: The Next Batman #3 with: “The Next Batman,” written by John Ridley, drawn by Laura Braga with breakdowns by Nick Derington, colored by...

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]]> 14526 The X Spot: Cheers to the Good Dads https://comicsxf.com/2021/01/30/the-x-spot-cheers-to-the-good-dads/ Sat, 30 Jan 2021 14:24:24 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=13870 Loyal Content Consumer, we made it through another week. Together. 10. Batman: Dreamland. Writer: Alan Grant, Artists: Norm Breyfogle and Noelle C. Giddings, Publisher: DC “Batman: The Abduction” was at least charming in its weirdness: Was Batman really taken by little green men to be poked and prodded? Did he travel the cosmos via astral...

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]]> 13870 DC Future State Month One Wraps with the Legion, Lex Luthor and Batman/Superman https://comicsxf.com/2021/01/29/future-state-month-one-wraps-with-the-legion-lex-luthor-and-batman-superman/ Fri, 29 Jan 2021 18:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=13811 Greetings and salutations, friends. We’re headed back to the future (Acknowledge the pun! Acknowledge it!) with three time-tossed tales from Detective Comics Comics. First, Brian Michael Bendis and Riley Rossmo future hard with a vengeance in Legion of Super-Heroes #1. Then, Mark Russell and Steve Pugh do their social-issues schtick in Superman vs. Imperious Lex...

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]]> 13811 DC’s Future, History Take up Half of Our Staff Picks for 1/27 https://comicsxf.com/2021/01/25/dcs-future-history-take-up-half-of-our-staff-picks-for-1-27/ Mon, 25 Jan 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=13403 Each week, ComicsXF staff offer their recommendations for what to read. New DC comics come out Tuesdays, everything else Wednesdays. CHRIS’ PICK: Future State: Batman/Superman #1: The Magistrate’s ruined a lot of things for Bruce Wayne, but one of the cherries on top is how it messed up his partnership with Superman. Find out how...

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]]> 13403 A Superman for … Some Seasons in Future State: Superman: Worlds of War https://comicsxf.com/2021/01/22/a-superman-for-some-seasons-in-future-state-superman-world-of-war/ Fri, 22 Jan 2021 18:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=13328 Future State: Superman: Worlds of War #1 Writers:  Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Brandon Easton, Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad and Jeremy AdamsArtists: Mikel Janin, Valentine De Landro, Gleb Melnikov and Siya OumColorists: Jordie Bellaire, Marissa Louise and Hi-FiLetterers: Dave Sharpe, Travis Lanham and Gabriela Downe So, OK. Before we get started, I need to tell you...

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]]> 13328 WMQ&A Episode 143: Dr. Stephanie Phillips on Dr. Harleen Quinzel https://comicsxf.com/2021/01/19/wmqa-episode-143-dr-stephanie-phillips-on-dr-harleen-quinzel/ Tue, 19 Jan 2021 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=13173 Dan Grote · WMQ&A Episode 143: Dr. Stephanie Phillips on Dr. Harleen Quinzel Stephanie Phillips returns to the show to talk about her nascent run on DC’s Harley Quinn, her many indie projects, getting a Ph.D. and more. You can listen to WMQ&A on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify, Stitcher and at ComicsXF.com, where new episodes...

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]]> 13173 Wonder Woman, Iron Fist, I Breathed a Body and More Staff Picks for 1/20 https://comicsxf.com/2021/01/18/wonder-woman-iron-fist-i-breathed-a-body-and-more-staff-picks-for-1-20/ Mon, 18 Jan 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=13090 Each week, ComicsXF staff offer their recommendations for what to read. New DC comics come out Tuesdays, everything else Wednesdays. Chris’ Pick Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman #1: In our top “Future State” story this week, Diana takes on a new threat, the Undoing, at the end of time with help from writers Becky Cloonan...

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]]> 13090 Future State Rolls on with Superman/Wonder Woman, Justice League, Superwoman and Robin https://comicsxf.com/2021/01/15/future-state-rolls-on-with-superman-wonder-woman-justice-league-superwoman-and-robin-in-this-weeks-future-state-friday/ Fri, 15 Jan 2021 17:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=12979 Here we are in the future, and it’s bright, ComicsXF faithful. DC’s “Future State” event is in its second week, and this time we have Justin Partridge writing on not one, not two, but three books: Superman/Wonder Woman, Justice League and Kara Zor-El, Superwoman. Then, half of our Bat Chat team, Matt Lazorwitz, comes in...

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]]> 12979 A Gloomy Bruce, a Glowing Gotham in Future State: Dark Detective https://comicsxf.com/2021/01/15/a-gloomy-bruce-a-glowing-gotham-in-future-state-dark-detective/ Fri, 15 Jan 2021 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=12967 Welcome back to Bat Chat with Matt (and Will!). In the police state of Gotham City, Bruce Wayne is dead. Or so the Magistrate thinks. With nothing but the tattered costume on his back, Batman must fight to save his city. Elsewhere, Grifter plays some cards and breaks some heads. We see these two new...

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]]> 12967 Bonus Reading Looks at 3 Other Times DC Imagined the Future https://comicsxf.com/2021/01/14/bonus-reading-looks-at-3-other-times-dc-imagined-the-future/ Thu, 14 Jan 2021 18:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=12776 Welcome to the world of tomorrow! Superhero comics have regularly featured time travel, possible futures and glimpses of tomorrow for much of their history. Some are utopias, some are dystopias and most are somewhere in between. DC is in the midst of a two-month event, “Future State,” that gives readers a glimpse into the future...

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]]> 12776 More Future State, More S.W.O.R.D. and Clowns in Our Staff Picks for 1/13 https://comicsxf.com/2021/01/11/more-future-state-more-s-w-o-r-d-and-clowns-in-our-staff-picks-for-1-13/ Mon, 11 Jan 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=12371 Each week, Xavier Files staff offer their recommendations for what to read. New DC comics come out Tuesdays, everything else Wednesdays. Justin’s Pick  Future State: Justice League #1: Jon Kent, Tim Fox, Yara Flor, Jo Mullein, Andy Curry and Jess Chambers are the Justice League of the future, and they’re here to remind y’all that...

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]]> 12371 The Future is … Plants? … in DC’s Future State: Swamp Thing #1 https://comicsxf.com/2021/01/08/the-future-is-plants-in-dcs-future-state-swamp-thing-1/ Fri, 08 Jan 2021 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=12171 Vegetables have taken over the world in Future State: Swamp Thing #1, written by Ram V, penciled by Mike Perkins, colored by June Chung and lettered by Aditya Bidikar. Vishal Gullapalli: Hey Ari, what do you know about plants? Ari Bard: Oh boy, I haven’t taken anything to do with biology in eight years, so...

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]]> 12171 Future State: Superman of Metropolis Shows the City from Multiple Angles https://comicsxf.com/2021/01/07/future-state-superman-of-metropolis-shows-the-city-from-multiple-angles/ Thu, 07 Jan 2021 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=12143 Future State: Superman of Metropolis #1Writers: Sean Lewis and Brandon EastonArtists: John Timms, Valentine de Landro, Cully Hamner and Michael Avon OemingColorists: Gabe Eltaeb, Marissa Louise and Laura MartinLetterers: Dave Sharpe and AndWorld Design The Action Comics of the far future reveals itself in Future State: Superman of Metropolis #1. Headlined by writers Sean Lewis...

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]]> 12143 The Future (State) is Now, Eternals and More Staff Picks for Jan. 6 https://comicsxf.com/2021/01/04/the-future-state-is-now-eternals-and-more-staff-picks-for-jan-6/ Mon, 04 Jan 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=11791 Each week, Xavier Files staff offer their recommendations for what to read. New DC comics come out Tuesdays, everything else Wednesdays. Matt & Chris’ Pick Future State: Next Batman #1: DC begins rolling out its two-month Future State event with this look at a future Gotham City ruled by a private law enforcement group and...

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]]> 11791 ‘I Didn’t Expect a Series Involving a Pandemic to Actually Be Interrupted by a Pandemic’: Mark Russell on ‘Billionaire Island’ & More https://comicsxf.com/2020/11/13/i-didnt-expect-a-series-involving-a-pandemic-to-actually-be-interrupted-by-a-pandemic-mark-russell-on-billionaire-island-more/ Fri, 13 Nov 2020 17:00:00 +0000 https://www.xavierfiles.com/?p=9495 Mark Russell and Steve Pugh’s AHOY Comics series “Billionaire Island” arrived in early March as an uneasy world watched what would soon be declared a pandemic spread across the globe and collectively tugged on its collar and made a big cartoon gulping sound. Suddenly, the idea of the world’s billionaires moving to a floating island...

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