Future State: Superman: Worlds of War #1

Writer: Jeremy Adams, Becky Cloonan, Michael Conrad, Brandon M. Easton, Phillip K. Johnson Artist: Valentine De Landro, Mikel Janin, Gleb Melnikov, Siya Oum Publisher: DC Comics Release Date: January 20, 2021 Cover Price: $7.99 Critic Reviews: 17 User Reviews: 37
8.2Critic Rating
6.7User Rating

This monumental Future State title features four big stories! First, Clark Kent is gone, leaving a Superman-shaped hole behind. People gather in Smallville to celebrate their hero, little realizing that he is across the galaxy helping others. Superman has gone to Warworld, where he fights as a gladiator in the deadly pits of Mongul. But this is Superman we’re talking about-and his idea of a victory does not line up with the expectations of Mongul’s hordes!
Meanwhile, on the other side of Warworld, other agents are at work, struggling for a better life. Shilo Norman, the man known as Mister Miracle, has ridden a Boom Tube across th more

  • 10
    ComicBook.com - Spencer Perry Jan 20, 2021

    Writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson's take on a post-Superman world is an intriguing meta-examination of the DC hero and what he means. Read Full Review

  • 10
    But Why Tho? - CJ Jan 19, 2021

    Future State-Superman: Worlds of War #1 pays tribute to the Man of Steel's legacy and offers new takes on elements from the DC Universe including the Fourth World and Wildstorm. With Johnson set to board Superman and Action Comics as the main writer after Future State, the Man of Steel is in great hands. Read Full Review

  • 9.6
    Forces Of Geek - Lenny Schwartz Jan 20, 2021

    All in all though, this was a solid book and very entertaining. Read Full Review

  • 9.5
    Lyles Movie Files - Jeffrey Lyles Jan 19, 2021

    Johnson's first crack at Superman is impressive and the Mister Miracle story is well worth the extra price tag alone makes this an easy recommendation. Read Full Review

  • 9.3
    Comic Watch - Ariel Bee Jan 19, 2021

    One of the strongest in the Future State line so far, this issue feels like a tapestry of many kinds of thread, slowly coming together to slowly form a single image that, so far, remains just out of reach. I can't wait to keep following those leads. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Newsarama - Oscar Maltby Jan 20, 2021

    Superman: Worlds of War #1 offers a patchwork picture of Mongul's Warworld in the time of 'Future State', with strong scripts and memorable artwork across the board. Well worth the hefty cover price. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Geek Dad - Ray Goldfield Jan 19, 2021

    Overall, just about every story in this volume has something going for it, but none can stand up to the spectacular main feature. Read Full Review

  • 8.7
    The Comicbook Dispatch - Dispatchdcu Jan 19, 2021

    There is a ton in this issue for everyone. I highly recommend giving this overly packed issue a try. It has its moments to shine AND wasn't exactly what I thought it would be. That said, it was still well worth the buy and a solid read for any fan excited for Johnsons SUPERMAN run as well as Warworld, the Fourth World, and so much more. Read Full Review

  • 8.5
    AIPT - Ben Morin Jan 19, 2021

    On the whole, Superman: Worlds of War delivers a strangely cohesive collection of stories spanning the broader ends of the DC universe. Johnson's Superman debut serves as an indicator of the direction he will bring to the character, while also providing an engaging look at a world without Superman. The accompanying backups each bear their own merits and serve to further expand the looming backdrop of Warworld. This is a solid Future State entry that provides something for everyone. Read Full Review

  • 8.4
    Supergirl Comic Box Commentary - Anj Jan 25, 2021

    Great premise and gorgeous art. Will this sort of take on Superman carry into the main titles in a couple of months. I can only hope. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Comics: The Gathering - Carlos R. Jan 19, 2021

    Future State Superman Worlds of War #1 is a hefty issue with a lot to offer. Be sure to check out the Superman of Metropolis before picking up this collection. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    DC Comics News - Carl Bryan Jan 19, 2021

    Midnighter reeks of a Batman/Punisher vibe and Mister Miracle is always good for a bit of fun! Throw in the Big Blue Scout for the fight of his life (only thing better is to see him face Doomsday again) and we have an event on our hands! Read Full Review

  • 7.0
    The Super Powered Fancast - Deron Generally Jan 19, 2021

    Mikel Janin delivers some great art throughout the issue. With the emphasis on character, the art does a great job of bringing depth and detail to those characters. Read Full Review

  • 6.0
    Kabooooom - Matt Morrison Jan 28, 2021

    I'd say it's worth picking up just for the story at the start, but I wouldn't recommend reading past it. Read Full Review

  • 6.0
    Bleeding Cool - Hannibal Tabu Jan 22, 2021

    Superman is missing and the galaxy is a mess, but elements are at play that could set everything right ... if only Mongul doesn't find out! Read Full Review

  • 6.0
    Weird Science - Eric Shea Jan 19, 2021

    While the art is strong throughout all of the four stories in this over-sized book, the stories are pretty lacking all around. There's barely any Superman in the Superman story, Shilo Norman has no idea what he's doing in his story, Midnighter is fighting the good fight for a cause he doesn't fully understand, and the new Black Racer..... Well, she's doing stuff that we don't fully understand. I had high hopes for this book but it was pretty disappointing since I barely got any kind of real info out of it. Read Full Review

  • 6.0
    GWW - Joseph Gilmore Jan 19, 2021

    With Time and Effect Part 1 we are told right from the start that this story takes place immediately following the events of Superman of Metropolis #2, which hasn't come out yet. Midnighter: Future State part 1 and Black Racer part 1 were both interesting stories that I'm sure will somehow connect to other Future State books down the line. Read Full Review

  • 10
    C.V.R. The Bard Jan 25, 2021

    These stories on WarWorld are cool, but the most interesting piece of this tale is the first part with the girl against the zealot shit going on once Superman left. And no tnose editor's notes are not enough to entice me to see what's going on with Jon Kent in Future State.
    Superman meets Planet Hulk with a cast of afro-centric characters for tne supporting cast ? I'll check out another issue.
    -
    audiomack.com/cvrthebard

  • 8.5
    Ollie44 Jan 20, 2021

    The first two stories I thought were enjoyable to read. This bodes well for the future of Action comics and Superman

  • 8.0
    Swift Planet Mar 30, 2021

    PKJ and Manin on Superman = 10/10 in my book. The backups bring it down though.

  • 8.0
    REYNARD Jan 19, 2021

    Great story by PKD that's given me hope for his upcoming run.

    Midnighter was really fun as well but Gleb Melnikov's art was def the standout.

    The Black Racer and Shilo Norman stories just didn't feel Fourth World enough.

  • 8.0
    radiocomicsescapist Jan 19, 2021

    Main Superman (or should I say Clark Kent) story is the best of the bunch, with a great way to catch us up to speed on how Earth is handling his disappearance and how they view him post "death."

    Backup issues are hit-or-miss. I enjoyed Mister Miracle, especially for the art. Midnighter dragged on a bit too long, and the Black Racer story would have benefited from being longer.

  • 8.0
    sebastianorellana95 Jan 19, 2021

    I liked the main story and art of this tale about Superman. And Philip Johnson Kennedy's characterization of Superman is good. It's looks he will do a good job with his stories in the canon books (or at least better stories of Bendis).

    The rest of stories looks like filler, though I like Midnighter mini story.

  • 8.0
    Darrow Jan 19, 2021

    I like the main story but rest? No. I don't like them.

  • 7.5
    mrDovydas Feb 15, 2021

    First story was really good and I'm getting really excited for what's in store for Superman post-Future State. The backups were fun, even if I could easily live without them.

  • 7.0
    TheKize Jan 21, 2021

    Phillip K. Johnson and Mikel Janin's debut story is fantastic, but be aware that Superman himself has mostly an off-panel presence. The backups that follow do a decent job fleshing out the world where it takes place, though it's the main tale that makes this purchase worthwhile. It seems like the Superman books are in good hands.

  • 6.5
    Onomatopoeia Jan 21, 2021

    I've decided that the reviews shouldn't have more thought than the comics themselves.

    Superman Worlds of War seems like a diet version of Planet Hulk

    Mister Miracle seems like a mess.

    Midnighter seems like someone read one too many Frank Miller comics and grew up on 90s anime

    Black Racer seems stupid.

  • 6.0
    Merlyn Jan 19, 2021

    The first story is pretty uninteresting, we've seen this type of story a thousand times over, if this is the best that PKJ can come up with I don't have a lot of faith in his Superman for the future. Janin's art is good, though. The surprise was the Mister Miracle bit, I loved it. The last two stories were okay.

  • 6.0
    Nihilist Jan 19, 2021

    Quality should always outweight quantity. The main comic in this book, the titular Superman: Worlds of War tale, would be a pretty solid addition to the overall lackluster Future State catalogue so far. It wouldn't be a book I'd remember closely in a year or two from now, nor one I'd want to buy as a trade paperback and put on my shelf, but it would stand on its own. Too bad DC decided to add few more sub-par tales to it. Tales I couldn't care less about, since ultimately they are filler. Sure, they wanted to boost sales and be able to price the book higher, but as I said at the beginning of this review, quality > quantity, and I feel like they did the exact opposite here.

  • 5.5
    Psycamorean Jan 24, 2021

    The prospects of reading this comic kinda halted me for several days. I just didn't want to read it. But I read a lot, and a new week is fast approaching. So I finally forced myself through this. It was... Fine. The first story wasn't a good first step for Phillip Kennedy Johnson, because literally every Superman writer does this issue. It's cute the first several times, but after that, it loses its luster. It wasn't bad or anything though, just kind of like, it felt like it was going through the motions to get to the Planet Hulk plot... Next issue. Plus, he throws in an odd moment where a Muslim looking woman is about to suicide bomb Jerusalem...? I looked into it and by that, I mean, I looked on his Twitter. And he seemed like a moderatel more

  • 4.5
    Kaseladen Jan 19, 2021

    Supes is actually a decent start up to what could be an interesting piece.
    Mr Miracle is both horribly written, horribly drawn, and for some reason replaced Scott for no real reason
    Midnighter is ok at best. Nothing to write home about
    What is even the point of the Black Racer?

  • 4.0
    pizzamain Feb 7, 2021

    "why do you only remember him as a fighter?" lol wut

  • 1.0
    RKS Jan 20, 2021

    It's hard to critique a Superman book that isn't really a Superman book. He doesn't make a appearance until page 6 of a 63 page book in a flashback and then isn't in the book after page 19. It's almost comical that DC has 6 writers and 4 artists working on this book and not one of them was able to produce something that was 1/2 way decent. Save your money kids this is another Future State Bust.

  • 10
    Bruno Mael Jan 20, 2021

  • 10
    Comic Dreamer Jan 20, 2021

  • 10
    Grimmjowhugo Jan 19, 2021

  • 8.5
    BitchWitcher Jan 19, 2021

  • 8.0
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  • 8.0
    tonpas1989 Jan 22, 2021

  • 8.0
    ActionCity Jan 21, 2021

  • 7.5
    Storm Rage May 28, 2021

  • 7.5
    Magik Jan 20, 2021

  • 7.0
    Jason The Dude Aug 26, 2021

  • 7.0
    Radar Jan 26, 2021

  • 7.0
    Watchtower022 Jan 20, 2021

  • 6.5
    Bananaknight Jan 21, 2021

  • 6.0
    hanry1998 Mar 11, 2021

  • 6.0
    Hellblazer Mar 1, 2021

  • 6.0
    cincyfan Jan 27, 2021

  • 6.0
    DougKent Jan 21, 2021

  • 4.5
    KnM Mar 23, 2024

  • 4.5
    Adsun22 Nov 1, 2022

  • 3.0
    Silver Rocket Jan 20, 2021

  • 1.0
    TheBest Jan 19, 2021

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