With the city of Metropolis in the hands of Brain Cells and his cousin out of commission, it’s up to Jonathan Kent to finally earn his father’s mantle. Your Major Spoilers review of Future State: Superman of Metropolis #2 awaits!

FUTURE STATE: SUPERMAN OF METROPOLIS #2

Writers: Sean Lewis & Brandon Easton
Artists: John Timms, Valenine de Landro, & Cully Hamner
Colorists: Gabe Eltaeb, Marissa Louise, Laura Martin
Letterers: Dave Sharpe & AndWorld Design
Editors: Jamie S. Rich & Brittany Holzherr
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $5.99
Release Date: February 2nd, 2021

Previously in Future State: Superman of Metropolis #2: In an attempt to ease tensions brewing between the military and people under the control of a sinister tech company, Jonathan Kent shrunk down Metropolis, which was exactly what the AI, Brain Cells, wanted.

SUPERMAN V SUPERMEN

Future State: Superman of Metropolis #2 opens with Jonathan at the mercy of Brain Cells, who taunts him over his failure as Superman and his inability to best the AI. Brain Cells then attacks Jon with copies of his father from various time periods of the character’s history including WW2 era and 90s era. Back on Earth, Kara awakens no longer under Brain Cells control, she takes the shrink ray and flies off to help her younger cousin. Back on Brain Cells’ ship, Jon continues to fight through the lectures and attacks from his father’s clones. He then realizes how to beat Brain Cells and sets out to do it. The issue ends with a proclamation from Jonathan where he fully assumes the role of Superman and also makes a commitment to Metropolis. Included in this issue is another Mister Miracle story that leads into Superman: War of Worlds, and the conclusion to the Guardian story that started in issue 1.

ALL TALK

Future State: Superman of Metropolis #2 is a comic book that has a lot of sentiment, but not a lot of content to back that up. There’s a lot of talk about legacy, and being true to oneself, and things like that but the actual events of the comic and how the resolutions are achieved leave a lot to be desired. Jon essentially figures out that if he punches Brain Cells the right way he can solve everything, The Guardian saves the day by basically just asking people to help him out. It’s almost as if the creators are trying to tell us what we’re supposed to take away from this story with dialogue rather than showing us this through the plot and character actions. Not even the Mister Miracle story can escape this. The big punch of the story hinges on an emotional attachment that just wasn’t earned in the two issues of this series, so the reader is left with the writer telling them that this should be emotional rather than showing it.

THE BOTTOM LINE: POORLY BALANCED

At the end of the day Future State: Superman of Metropolis #2 is a book that tries to be a poignant story about living up to a name, dealing with family legacy, finding your own way, and community. Unfortunately it’s only about these things because the characters tell you it is, which diminishes the effectiveness. 3 out of 5 stars.

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