In the far flung future,  Diana and the remaining Amazons stand alone on Earth.  But for how long as an existential threat approaches?  Your Major Spoilers review of Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman #1, awaits!

FUTURE STATE: IMMORTAL WONDER WOMAN #1

Writers: Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad, & L.L. McKinny
Artists: Jen Bartel & Alitha Martinez
Colorist: Emilio Lopez
Letterer: Pat Brosseau & Becca Carey
Editors: Jamie S. Rich & Brittany Holzherr
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $5.99
Release Date: January 20th. 2021

Previously in Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman: The age of man has ended an unknown amount of years ago.  The planet is empty except for Diana Prince and the last remaining Amazons.

DARKSEID: DAD OF THE YEAR

Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman #1 opens up with Diana searching through the batcave reminiscing about those who used to inhabit it and searching for something.  She is then greeted by a ghost/hallucination/hologram of Batman.  They converse for a little while until Diana finds his old utility belt and departs.  Elsewhere on Apokolips, Big Barda and Orion plead for Darkseid’s help in fighting an incoming threat.  He denies them and as they are consumed he flies off heading towards earth along the way he encounters an aged Superman.  Back on Earth, Diana tries to convince the Amazons that they must leave the planet and try to find life elsewhere.  They deny her and convince her to stand and fight whatever is coming.  Then Darkseid arrives.

The second story in the issue focuses on Nubia, who has taken on the mantle of Wonder Woman, and opens with her trying to thwart Grail from stealing an artifact from a museum.  She fails to do so after the artifact in question shows her images of the past and leaves her weakened.  She seeks out her aunt who informs Nubia that the artifact is a piece of something created to hold back primordial beings from another realm.  Suddenly the floor opens and swallows Nubia.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

One of the running motifs in all of the Future State books has been this attempt to subtly fill in large swaths of backstory subtly without overt explanation.  The results of this have been hit and miss.  But here in Immortal Wonder Woman #1,  we see how this technique can be used to great effect.  There’s so much going on in the peripherals that manage to raise questions and provide an answer at the same time.  For example, one might ask “where are the other heroes” then you see Diana with a Green Lantern ring around her neck.  This is a fully realized future that doesn’t require its inhabitants to speak cryptically about the past, these characters are surrounded by reminders of the past. The fight between Darkseid, Wonder Woman, and Superman is a bit lackluster so far though.  There’s also a nice bit of symmetry between the two stories.  One story features a world without men and Darkseid, the other a world without Amazons and Grail. Speaking of that second story; Nubia is a well realized character with an engaging personality and they manage to establish her relationship not only with Diana but all the Amazons efficiently.

VERY NICE LOOKING

The art throughout was very nice.  I especially appreciated seeing this interpretation of an old man Superman.  The softer yet dynamic art in both stories complimented each other well, I always appreciate a style that’s willing to forgo some realism to get a point across.

THE BOTTOM LINE:  A STANDOUT

While a couple titles from the Future State lineup still need to come out, this title is currently the best it has to offer. Diana’s role is already a compelling one even in the first issue and Nubia has a unique enough personality that she stands on her own, not just the new Wonder Woman. The creators of this book seem to have taken the Future State mandate to heart and put a solid effort into this.  4.5 out of 5 stars.