Future State: The Next Batman

The DC Timeline has been shattered, and the pieces of a dark possible Future State are reflected!

Well that's the blurb from DC out of the way which gives a quick if not detailed explanation as to why we now have a New or Next Batman, which is a problem as this story and others under the Future State banner have branched out of the end of the Dark Knights Death Metal story line. Which if like me you haven't read it you do wonder whats going on and why is the future like this, but in the end I decided to just go with the flow.

Gotham is now a police state controlled by the Magistrate and his or her army of foot soldiers, capes and masks aren't welcome in Gotham and theres a shoot to kill policy for any that are seen. Bruce Wayne is missing presumed dead (read Dark Detective for an answer on that one), so Luke Fox has stepped into the void and taken on the mantle of the Bat.  As you would expect this first issue spends time world building bit its a testament to writer John Ridley that it doesn't slow down the pace of the book, and for a first issue that's setting a tone for what is essentially a 4 issue mini series its surprisingly good.  I particularly enjoyed reading a Batman stripped of all his back-up, no friendly commissioner or sidekicks to help him out which to be honest makes for a refreshing change, and gives the book a Batman Year One feel to it. 

There are two backup storys featuring the Outsiders and the Arkham Knights the latter being the more fun read, just because it has Two-Face and the serial killer Mister Zszsz working for the good guys, well sort of.

All in all its a book thats worth the cost of admission and your investment in characters that will probably be disappearing in around 3 months when the DC Universe reverts back to normal, or will they?