So Scott Snyder made an unreadable mess with the Dark Metal crap and they had to bring in Jurgens to clean it up. Got it. Over all this book was pretty good.

I hate to say it, but there isn’t much here and it’s a drop for us.

Tom King is the best writer (and the best Batman writer) in years. I can’t get enough. This is why I read superhero comics.

I don't get how people get to claim that "Superman is in good hands" when this is the third story from PKJ when SUPERMAN IS BARELY IN IT. How can he be in good hands when he's not in the story? It looks like PKJ got a note from Bendis and he's applying the same system: doesn't care about Superman at all, he just tries to build other characters that maybe will pay off one day and he'll get the money for it. more

Politics are a very tough subject to write about. Not only because they're so complex, dirty and interconnected, but also because most people are completey ignorant about them and prefer easy answers to questions that can't be answered easily. Think of any big political crisis, and ask yourself is there a simple explanation to it. What caused Brexit? And the 2008 Great Recession? Or 9/11? Or both world wars? It is impossible to simplify these subjects enough to explain them in one, or even few sentences. They require extensive explaining which may explain one thing, but will spark a dozen of new questions and uncertainties. And sufficed to say, average people don't like that. They prefer easy answers. Hey, it's the Russians, or Chinese, that's all there is to a problem, no convoluted professorial explanations needed.

Now, obviously, it's not hard to write such simple fictional narrative. Isn't that what western comics have been all about for decades? Good vs. evil, all day all night. Superman is good, Lex Luthor is bad, no extra layers of depth and complexity needed, because they'd confuse readers who are used to not thinking at all. That was the Silver Age mentality. And then came the Bronze Age with writers like Alan Moore, the man behind Watchmen and V for Vendetta - tho incredibly deep political comics, ones that actually provide us compelling narratives with super complex backgrounds. Take Adam Susan, for example - the fascist ruler and the main antagonist of V for Vendetta. He is a monster commiting monstrous acts... but he's also a human with believable psyche and decisionmaking we can understand.

Compare that to Luthor here, who turns 180 degrees in the span of one panel. We've got a chance to understand the typical totalitarian way of brainwashing the masses and controlling them through fear, poverty and desperation, but instead Mark Russell abandons the deep and mature storytelling this comic could have featured for a simple good vs. evil fight, ending with a cartoonishly silly twist which fits the tone of the rest of the book as much as Tom King's Looney Tunes references fit Batman comics.

And look - there is some decent lessons and point made here - take the concept of ruling, according to Lex, saying it's not about giving people what they need but rather what they want. As a cynic, I'd say in reality it's convincing them they want something you claim to be for, and then convincing them you're the only one who can give it to them, just to get elected and not do anything. But hey, politics is a complex bitch, as I already said, and anything related to it can be continuously explained further and further. Russel, contrary to Moore, doesn't delve deep enough, BUT the little depths he reaches still contain something worth remembering and understanding, even if ultimately it's kind of a two dimensional wasted potential. more

It's a real shame that the art in this book is wasted on such a garbage puke inducing story. It makes about as much sense as "burning two bridges with one stone." (Pg #13) Whatever the hell that means...Save your money kids, unless you want to read about Capitalism being evil and if you dare to have an opposing view than the author it's because you're too stupid to know better. This title is already two issues too long and I'm not looking forward to the third. more

Fuck Tom king

Tom King continues to prove he doesn't grasp Batman at all.

It's really hard to enjoy this. I usually enjoy Mann's art very much but I see he was once again horny when making this art. Happens to the best of us and I would let it slide if that was my only problem with this issue.

But it's hard to say anything good about this. I really don't get what the narrative is that King is trying to write. We have, what, 3 stories going on and I honestly can't remember anything else except the future parts. Nor do I get what is going on in them.

And I don't get what is the hook King should throw at us to keep coming back. I mean, nothing really happens here. Why should I be interested in the 4th issue now? more

The only thing about this issue I really enjoyed was the idea of Joker locking himself in a safe and waiting around for Catwoman. That's an effective idea and an effective image. But dude. The dialogue throughout this issue is abysmal. I don't understand why Tom King persists on writing the Batfamily like he does. Other characters don't always talk this way. Unfortunately, they're not the protagonists. Also, holy shit some of the art is just begging for a Tumblr post decrying it. Selina's back has been broken for decades. But ultimately, while the art took me out of the story at points and distracted me (What else would distract me? The plot?), I really think the biggest problem is the three timelines thing. Last issue worked better because there was a throughline, while this issue was just... More story. It really is a shame. more

Just a boring comic book. I'm happy that Tom King is almost done writing any Batman book. He goes out with a the of equivalent of a silent fart in church.

I try to be as open minded as possible, and even, or especially when I encounter something I don't like, I try to give it a fair chance, and understand why I don't like it if I still don't like it after giving it said chance. It was the case with post I Am Bane Batman series by Tom King, which I grew to dislike only more and more with every passing issue. Enter Batman/Catwoman, which made, to say the least, a very unfavourable opinion on me with its first two issues. And here I am - giving it the last chance to capture my attention and imagination, make me see something more in it, because as of now, I'm completely conscious about what I dislike about it.

All my good will was gone when Catwoman says "I became a cat. I met a bat". I shaked my head asking myself in disbelief why am I even exposing myself to this trash? But yet, I proceeded. I continued reading this comic, just to find some action in it. Yeah, that's new, isn't it? Action. Too bad it features more inarticulate meowing, growling and hissing, making me shiver in disgust and cringe, and rather comically oversexualized fight sequence, which whilst not bad, reminds me of the infamous panel from Heroes in Crisis featuring half naked Lois Lane being half naked for the sake of being half naked. 90's called, they want their porn influences back.

I'm done with this series, it's time I stop wasting any second more on it. I've seen too much already. Screw the bat. And the cat. And my life as well, because I could have read something half decent instead. more

Here it is - a line ending the issue, but not really. It's there, we can't deny it, and it's there to make you believe it's an end for this series, but I can't say it does its job. Not when it's pretty much clear why it's there to begin with - and it's there because DC ditched the idea of Generation 5, turning it into a 2 month long event. Everything they've planned, all the long running new series, had to be cut short, and the result is this - an overall mediocre issue intended to be merely a chapter of something bigger, ending up being the finale. And honestly, the more I think about it, the more furious I am.

Look - The Next Batman started out strong. It offered us a lot of background story arcs and complex relationships between characters which could have been explored in the future. This comic had genuine potential, but since Future State has one week of life left, we will not see it (ever?) being tapped.

Fox family problems? Cut short. New Batman's lack of experience and confidence? Cut short. Fascist militia controlling Gotham City? Cut short. Two good detectives? Cut short. Heck, even the main story arc itself, involving two murderers, is not resolved nor properly concluded. Nothing is.
It pains me to give this comic such a low score when I can see what it could have been, but there's no other choice for me. I can't applaud this unfinished mess, as much as I'd like to see it continuing.

I'd say this issue is worth picking up... if Ridley finishes his tale one day. Until then it's a skipper. Keep your money.

Contrary to the titular story, Batgirls short actually concludes. I won't cheer for that, because I reasonably expect my stories to feature endings at their ends. I can cheer for the new beginnings, however, just like Cass said. New beginnings where none of this utter trash is even remotely acknowledged. Let's never return to this failed experiment, okay? more

Superheroes took the place of mythological gods. They're the ones we tell stories about, not Thor, not Zeus, not Chernobog, not Ra. They're the ones that teach us the timeless lessons of doing what's right, of never giving up and always trying to improve and overcome what life throws at us, beating demons both external and internal. Yeah, these are simple lessons we all are familiar with, but their power doesn't lay in their originality. It's in their universality. Anyone can pick up a comic like this one and find some deeper meaning in it. FInd inspiration to stand up and be selfless. We see that in Superman's actions, but we also have a chance to read one of his articles running paralelly to the actual main arc. One that shows how he, himself, was inspired by someone else just like many of us were by his tales. It's simple, but beautiful, and works really well as a self contained mini comic. It is effective.

You know what isn't, though? Mister Miracle's short thrown in here... because. Similarly to many other Future State titles it doesn't really end. It just cuts, leaving things unresolved, and worse of, leaving the audiences completely indifferent to their fate. Whether or not this story ever gets picked up again by someone at DC, I can confidently say that I don't care.

Same applies to Midnighter's tale, which actually will continue. Can't say that I care, nor that I'll be there to witness its future chapters, but I guess if you do, more power to you.

Finally, Black Racer - the last of the three supplementary shorts' protagonists. Similarly to what I mentioned in the first paragraph, talking about modern gods, her comic tries to establish her as one. Does it work? Not particularly, I would say, mostly because it's a simple "blockbuster" type of a comic - spectacular looking, but ultimately hollow. Just like all these superhero movies and main continuity DC series. It falls flat, but at least it has an ending of sorts. One that wouldn't leave you pissed if that's the last thing with Black Racer we've ever got from DC.

Overall I would definitely recommend the titular comic here. Worlds of War is solid, really. What lowers the score is the supplementary unnecessary filler material added to it. more

There's a trend going around on Tik Tok that asks, "what seems like a cult but isn't..." That's all I could think about while reading the Superman story in this. They're setting him up as some sort of religious figure and it's just making me uncomfortable. That said, I enjoyed the duality of Clark Kent and Superman here. There are some things that Clark is better equipped to deal with and it was on full display.

Skipped Mr. Miracle and Black Racer. Tried it, didn't like it.

Midnighter was... bad? I was just confused throughout the story, and the art wasn't for me. more

Yeah, for a Superman book the most you'll get of him is on the cover. Again, PKJ chooses to make even the second issue about someone else than Superman. Janin's art suffered too from this type of story. The Mister Miracle was somewhat fun but ultimately the story goes nowhere. The Midnigher one and the Black Racer are just awful. Overall, given the expectations for this book it is a disappointment. more

An unenjoyable read. Hard to call it a Superman story when the character of Superman only appears on 10 pages out of a 21 page story. Only 47% of the 1st story deals with Superman and for the entire book only 17% of it has to do anything with Superman. (I included the 1 page appearance of Jon Kent in this break down to be generous, if you take that out it's 16%)
So I don't know what you want to call this book but it is a Superman title in name only. As for the art the 1st story is well done, but after that it's not very good. Save your money kids. more

The dialogue in the 1st story is "Cringe worthy". Nothing like dumbing down the main characters so they can relate to a younger crowd I guess.

The art in the 2nd 3rd, 4th, and 7th story is laughably bad.

The combat scenes are so baffling and tedious, and the characterization is sparse and flat.I really don't know why I continued to read this and tried to believe that it might be better.

WTF this is literarily a piece of shit

Thorne's main story continues to be boring and one dimensional. Teen Lantern, one of the worst ideas to come along in quite some time, was at least coherent but it didn't feel like a story rather than a "what's this character doing" bit.
The Hal story seems to be the one that at least connects well with the rest of Future State and should have served as the first story in the first issue since it did a good job of letting the reader know what's going on in all of this. Thought the cliffhanger ending was a bit of a surprise since it implies there's more to be continued even though we don't have a book with Hal in it announced yet. more

Wow! Just WOW! I wouldn't have thought it possible to write a GL book this badly yet here it is. The 1st and 2nd story are pointless and the 3rd story does little more than serve as an excuse to thrust Sojourner “Jo” Mullein into the main title. Save your money kids.

Future State Lanterns remain one of the weakest, most boring and least interesting tales I've had displeasure to read about in years. I do not care about its events no matter how hard I try, that's how poorly conceived it is.

Why is that? Well, considering that Green Lanterns are generally detached from Earth's internal affairs and operate in space, it truly doesn't matter if there are any big status quo changes there, nor future elseworld events occuring as we speak. They make their own mythology and rules, so take that, Future State. Anything can already happen in their comics, no matter the branding.

Take Keli's short story, for example, which is easily this book's only highlight. It's a fun little tale exploring not only her loose and uncertain connections to the corps, but also her humanity, fears. It's great, and I wish she got a chance to develop as a person in the main continuity's comics, since so far she's been completely sidelined even by her own creator. If DC did what Josie Campbell did here, but on much larger scale, giving it more time to unravel through several issues, I'd be all for it. And truth be told, it wouldn't matter in the slightest what continuity said comic belongs to, since as I said, Lanterns can do their own thing no matter when and where.

The last short, featuring Hal Jordan, falls flat and for some odd reason the protagonist reminded me of the infamous Batman from All-Star Batman and Robing the Boy Wonder by Frank Miller. I just smell a delicate scent of psychopathy coming from him, paired with disdain for anyone he encounters along his way.
Yeah... count me out for now, I don't care.

Overall this comic is plain bad, and the only saving grace of it is Teen Lantern's short one-off. It's hardly enough to make me recommend this book, though. Not when it's only 1/3rd of it, and the rest is quite unbearable to read. more