Review: Future State Nightwing #1

Future State: Nightwing showcases some awesome artwork by Nicola Scott, unfortunately it feels a bit limited in both storytelling and characterization. We see the future of Gotham which here feels a lot like current Gotham beyond a new power taking over the city. The Magistrate with its Peacekeepers rule the city and work to wipe out the last remains of the superhero resistance. Nightwing is a prime target and the first half of the issue is focused on layers of deception by the cyber-enhanced villains who have been continually laying traps for Nightwing.

The battle scenes are fantastic with different types of battles allowing Nicola’s art to shine and showcase the future Gotham’s cityscape as well as the true athletic nature of Nightwing. With his mentor gone Nightwing is supposed to be angry and determined, but writer Andrew Constant can’t quick stick that landing with Dick being the classic Nightwing one minute and a more brooding hero the next.

The Future State Batman breaks into Nightwing’s Arkham headquarters, discusses a missing girl and then realizes Nightwing has allowed himself to be tracked to end the battle with the Peacekeepers once and for all. The close of the issue with the Peacekeepers at the gates of Arkham promises a whole lot more action next issue.

The action, characters and movement in Nicola Scott’s art is always astounding, but the city, characters and costumes here do not feel futuristic in any way. This could easily be an issue of Nightwing in his own run if Batman was missing and replaced a la Azreal. It is nice that the characters in Future State still feel like themselves, but time should change anyone and the fun of a future tale should in part be about contrasts with the characters and world we know. Adding cybernetics to the villains and florescent colors to the city isn’t quite enough to differentiate things.

Writing: 3.0 of 5 stars
Art: 4.5 of 5 stars
Colors: 4.1 of 5 stars

Overall: 3.9 of 5 stars

Writing: Andrew Constant
Art: Nicola Scott
Colors: Ivan Plascencia
Publisher: DC Comics

Author Profile

M.R. Jafri

M.R. Jafri was born and raised in Niagara Falls New York and now lives with his family in Detroit Michigan. He's a talkative introvert and argumentative geek. His loves include Star Wars, Star Trek, Superheroes, Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, Transformers, GI Joe, Films, Comics, TV Shows, Action Figures and Twizzlers.