Review: Futures End Vol. 2
Quick Summary
Pros: Both of the primary storylines are well-written and entertaining. The mystery in this book keeps it interesting while the action keeps it fun. The artwork is appealing throughout the book and has some great splash pages.
Cons: Some of the smaller story arcs are less appealing and end up being mediocre at best.
Overall: This book continues the excitement from the previous collection and even advances some of its positive elements. It builds upon the mystery present throughout the series and continues to pair it with fun bouts of action. This moves the comic closer to an epic conclusion, as various story elements come close to their end. Not every story arc is worthwhile but, luckily, these lackluster stories are in the minority. Those who enjoyed the first volume will find a similarly positive experience in this volume.
Story
Futures End Vol. 2 manages to maintain the level of quality seen in Futures End Vol. 1 (Review). It essentially continues every plot thread from the first volume, some of which it even advances toward their endgame. This means compelling mysteries, exciting battles, and tense brushes with death are either just as good or better than they were before. However, this volume also contains its predecessor’s flaws, in that many of the less important story arcs are lackluster. Overall, this is still an exciting collection and will be well worth the read for those who enjoyed the first volume.
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The central plotline in Futures End Vol. 2 continues to revolve around the nefarious plans of OMAC and the efforts of various heroes to thwart these plans. This entire operation is still cloaked in mystery, as OMAC keeps its plans hidden and only reveals elements of the plan as they are enacted. Even some of the heroes and antiheroes leave their plans undisclosed, which is the case for Faraday and, at the collection’s beginning, Green Arrow. All of these unknown variables create a story where information is a commodity and receiving it is a rewarding experience, an exchange that makes reading rather addictive.
Mystery isn’t the volume’s only positive though, as there is plenty of action and drama along the way. This includes some awesome heroics from Terry McGinnis, Green Arrow, and even the childish Fifty Sue. It also includes some intense moments, such as when Barda learns about the Earth 2 prison or when the small OMACs form into a giant OMAC. This allows the book to maintain its satisfying balance between action and mystery, which works out rather well.
Outside of the OMAC storyline, the Brainiac plotline continues to develop as well. This story contains even greater, though currently less relevant, levels of mystery. The reader knows almost nothing about what Brainiac is planning or how it will impact the Earth. This story also contains plenty of action, as evidenced by Superman’s encounter with a strange monster and all of the actions of Stormwatch. Though this plotline is not quite as developed yet, it still adds to the overall narrative and builds up some potential for the future.
However, not every story in Futures End Vol. 2 is a winner. The Firestorm portion of the narrative is still just mediocre and gets even worse as that story’s villain becomes the most generic villain in this entire collection. In addition, Lois Lane’s story gets less interesting, as her presence on the island seems unnecessary considering everything else that is going on. Her story also generates confusing questions in regards to Oliver Queen’s greater plan, such as why he would send her to an island full of killer robots instead of just telling her to accompany him.
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Art
Like the story, the artwork in Futures End Vol. 2 ends up being just as positive as the artwork in Futures End Vol. 1 (Review). Characters and locations all have a solid level of detail and are depicted in ways that help the action and story flow. The creativity present in the first volume can also be seen here. This creativity is specifically noticeable through a number of memorable splash pages that help punctuate a surprising or epic moment, which can be seen in the reveals that take place on the secret island, in space, and above a city. It is also worth noting that, despite the large number of artists working on this collection, the volume’s visuals are surprisingly consistent and do not make for nearly as disjointed of a reading experience as other events of this nature. Instead, consistently positive visuals seem to dominate this book and make it an even more worthwhile read.
Continuity
Futures End Vol. 2 continues the story from Futures End Vol. 1 (Review).
The story here continues in Futures End Vol. 3.
Most of the references in Futures End refer to events that have passed in the five-year time gap that occurred before this comic started. However, some are references to specific comics from the present day DC Universe. These include:
- Many elements from the Earth 2 series, which began in Earth 2 Vol. 1: The Gathering (Review), are mentioned here. Specifically, Barda’s betrayal at the end of Earth 2: World’s End Vol. 1 (Review) and the exodus of the Earth 2 population at the conclusion of Earth 2: World’s End Vol. 2 (Review) is mentioned here.
- Oliver Queen’s history with his infamous island is mentioned here. This history is detailed in Green Arrow Vol. 5: The Outsiders War (Review).
- Firestorm’s past meeting with the Teen Titans is mentioned here. This took place in Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men #17, collected in The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Man Vol. 3: Takeover (Review).