REVIEW: ‘Future State: Suicide Squad,’ Issue #1

Future State: Suicide Squad #1 is published by DC Comics, written by Robbie Thompson and Jeremy Adam’s, art by Fernando Pasarin and Javier Fernandez, with inks by Oclair Albert, colors by Jeremy Fox and Alex Sinclair, and letters by Wes Abbott. Somewhere in the future, the people of Earth traded freedom for order. This order is maintained by none other than the Justice Squad. And while they look like the recognizable champions of earth, these are not the heroes you want protecting your planet. Also, readers are taken into the far future where a threat arises that not even the legendary Superman Prime can defeat. If he can fall, what hope has the rest of the universe?

Future State: Suicide Squad #1’s primary story is a difficult one for me to wrap my mind around, as it both does, and does not deliver what it promises on its cover. By this I mean that the focal point of the story is in fact the characters we are shown there, they just aren’t the Suicide Squad. While that team doesn’t actually make it’s appearance till the final few pages of the issue. It’s an odd approach. Especially with only two issues to tell a full story.

The other big reason I have misgivings about the primary story’s focus is that it seems to exist largely to drop a tease for an upcoming series DC will be releasing in March. While I hope the elements shown in this story will have a purpose for being there beyond this, it will be a downer if the time spent on it is just an unnecessary teaser moment.

Beyond these general structural concerns, the first half of Future State: Suicide Squad #1 delivers some interesting character moments as we see the truth behind the Justice Squad. There certainly seems to be some potential behind this group’s dynamics, and I wonder what will become of them in the follow-up issue.

While I find myself with some misgivings about the front half of this issue the back half was an unexpected surprise. Returning from the 1998 storyline DC One Million, the Justice Legion A finds themselves beset by a magical horror none in their time may be equipped to defeat. This story opening with the shining golden Superman, emerging from the sun bearing the last Green Lantern ring was a far more nostalgic moment than I would’ve expected it to be. Seeing DC embrace some of it’s less lauded storylines in Future State is an awesome gift to those who remember those old storylines.

Beyond the nostalgia factor, this secondary story has tons of action, bleak odds, and great comic style melodrama. Everything here is bombastic and over the top in the best comic book fashion. A cool story, with a couple of interesting, if rushed, character moments, and an interesting cliffhanger to leave the reader wondering what comes next.

The artistic presentation in Future State: Suicide Squad #1 does a good job of capturing their respective stories. From the dark bleakness of the front half of the book to the over the top bright primary colors of the back half, everything speaks to its story in a way that augments the tale being told.

Finally, we wrap up our look at this book with its lettering, which delivers its stories nicely. Everything remains clear, and easy to follow, no matter how frantic the moments become.

All in all, Future State: Suicide Squad #1 delivers a solid pair of stories. While its opener stumbles a little in my opinion, it’s not without it’s worth. While the back half of the book hits with a bang and never lets up. This book is worth the price of admission for that alone.

Future State: Suicide Squad #1 is available on January 26th wherever comics are sold.