Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Momo and Okarun share a close moment in Dandadan

    Momo And Okarun: The Gold Standard For Shonen Romance

    07/03/2025
    Ironheart Episodes 4 6 But Why Tho 1

    ‘Ironheart’ Explained: Explore MCU’s Bold New Chapter

    07/01/2025
    Buck in 9-1-1

    ‘9-1-1’ Has To Let Buck Say Bisexual

    06/29/2025
    Nintendo Welcome Tour promotional image of the maraca mini-game

    The One “Game” That Justifies The Nintendo Switch 2 Purchase

    06/25/2025
    Destiel Confession in Supernatural - Castiel (Misha Collins) and Dean (Jensen Ackles)

    The Destiel Confession: The Lasting Importance Of Supernatural’s Greatest Ship

    06/22/2025
  • Squid Game
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Switch 2 Games
  • Summer Game Fest
But Why Tho?
Home » DC Comics » REVIEW: ‘Future State: The Next Batman,’ Issue #2

REVIEW: ‘Future State: The Next Batman,’ Issue #2

Collier "CJ" JenningsBy Collier "CJ" Jennings01/19/20213 Mins ReadUpdated:04/28/2021
Future State: The Next Batman #2
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

Future State: The Next Batman #2

Future State: The Next Batman #2 is written by John Ridley, illustrated by Laura Braga (with breakdowns by Nick Derington), colored by Arif Prianto, and lettered by VC’s Clayton Cowles. It is published by DC Comics. The issue contains two extra backup stories. Batgirls is written by Vita Ayala, illustrated by Aneke, colored by Trish Mulvihill, and lettered by Becca Carey. Gotham City Sirens is written by Paula Sevenbergen, penciled by Emanuela Lupacchino, and inked by Wade von Grawbadger (with breakdowns by Rob Haynes), colored by John Kalisz, and lettered by Becca Carey.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Issue 2 of The Next Batman picks up where the first issue left off, with the Next Batman investigating a brutal murder while trying to stay one step ahead of the Magistrate. Batgirls features Cassandra Cain arrested by the Magistrate and put in a cell with her fellow former Batgirl Stephanie Brown as the two work together to navigate their prison. Gotham City Sirens features Poison Ivy and Catwoman, liberating an android named Dee Dee for a night on the town.

Ridley continues to flesh out the future version of Gotham City and showcases how Tim Fox operates differently from Bruce Wayne. Wayne had cutting edge tech, a support system including his butler/father figure Alfred, and a fairly solid relationship with law enforcement (particularly James Gordon). Fox, on the other hand, runs through burner phones and is being hunted by the Magistrate. Instead of a Batcave, he hides his motorcycle inside of a shipping container. This is a unique take on a Batman story because Wayne is often shown always to have the solution to every conceivable problem; Fox is an underdog in every sense of the word, and I love it.

Joining Ridley on art duties is Braga, who manages to put her own spin on Derington’s breakdowns. Braga still keeps the same sense of animated motion that Derington utilized in the first issue, which comes in handy when Batman engages in battle with the Magistrate. Prianto rounds off the art with a hazy color palette that gives off cyberpunk vibes and provides a nice contrast to the grays and blacks of Fox’s Batman suit.

The book also switches up the backup tales from #1, with Batgirls being a standout. Ayala is no stranger to dystopia fiction, having co-written Quarter Killer; they perfectly showcase Cassandra and Stephanie’s dynamic with all the twists and turns one would expect from a tale like this. Aneke and Mulvihill provide new designs for both Batgirls, with Stephanie having suffered an eye injury and Cassandra sporting a shorter haircut. However, their respective color schemes of purple/black and black/yellow are still intact. Sevenbergen, Lupacchino, von Grawbadger, and Kalisz also provide a fun tale with the Sirens, which is a nice diversion from the hellish and often depressing state that Gotham is in.

If there’s one issue, it’s that it felt rather jarring to jump from Outsiders and Arkham Knights to Batgirls and Gotham City Sirens. I wish the former stories had been wrapped up before proceeding to new ones, but it’s a minor hiccup in the scheme of things.

Future State: The Next Batman #2 continues to flesh out Gotham City’s future, presenting a Batman who operates much more differently than Bruce Wayne. Tim Fox is probably the most interesting character to hold the Batman mantle since Terry McGinnis, and I can’t wait to see more of his adventures.

Future State: The Next Batman #2  is available now wherever comics are sold.

 

Future State: The Next Batman #2
4.5

TL;DR

Future State: The Next Batman #2 continues to flesh out Gotham City’s future, presenting a Batman who operates much more differently than Bruce Wayne. Tim Fox is probably the most interesting character to hold the Batman mantle since Terry McGinnis, and I can’t wait to see more of his adventures

  • Buy via ComiXology Affiliate Link

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘Future State: Catwoman,’ Issue #1
Next Article REVIEW: ‘Legion of Super-Heroes,’ Issue #12
Collier "CJ" Jennings
  • Website
  • Facebook
  • X (Twitter)

Born and raised in Texas, Collier “CJ” Jennings was introduced to geekdom at an early age by his father, who showed him Ultraman and Star Trek: The Next Generation. On his thirteenth birthday, he received a copy of Giant Size X-Men #1 and dove head first into the realm of pop culture, never looking back. His hobbies include: writing screenplays and essays, watching movies and television, card games/RPG’s, and cooking. He currently resides in Seattle.

Related Posts

Absolute Green Lantern Issue 4

REVIEW: ‘Absolute Green Lantern’ Issue 4

07/02/2025
Gotham City Sirens Unfit for Orbit Issue 1

REVIEW: ‘Gotham City Sirens: Unfit for Orbit’ Issue 1

07/02/2025
Absolute Martian Manhunter Issue 4

REVIEW: ‘Absolute Martian Manhunter’ Issue 4

06/25/2025
Justice League Unlimited Issue 8

REVIEW: ‘Justice League Unlimited’ Issue 8

06/25/2025
Absolute Wonder Woman Issue 9

REVIEW: ‘Absolute Wonder Woman’ Issue 9

06/25/2025
Absolute Flash Issue 4

REVIEW: ‘Absolute Flash’ Issue 4

06/18/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Taecyeon and Seohyun in The First Night With The Duke Episodes 7-8
7.5
TV

REVIEW: ‘The First Night With The Duke’ Episodes 7-8

By Sarah Musnicky07/03/2025

The First Night With The Duke Episodes 7-8 spends welcome time in pre-domestic bliss before new developments stir up trouble.

The Terminal List: Dark Wolf trailer First Look Image From Prime Video News

Prime Video Unleashes Teaser for Prequel Series The Terminal List: Dark Wolf

By Kate Sánchez07/04/2025

The first Terminal List: Dark Wolf trailer was released today by Prime Video. The series…

Together (2025) still from Sundance
8.0
Film

REVIEW: Have A Grossly Good Time ‘Together’

By Kate Sánchez01/27/2025Updated:07/04/2025

Dave Franco and Alison Brie’s Together (2025) is disgustingly funny, genuinely ugly, and just a good time at the movies.

Black Women Anime — But Why Tho (9) BWT Recommends

10 Black Women in Anime That Made Me Feel Seen

By LaNeysha Campbell11/11/2023Updated:12/03/2024

Black women are some of anime’s most iconic characters, and that has a big impact on Black anime fans. Here are some of our favorites.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here