DC Comics reviews 2/2/21-Future State Wonder Woman #2, The Next Batman #3

Future State Harley Quinn #2

The downside to Future State only lasting two months is that’s not nearly enough time to properly build and create a worthwhile payoff for the two issue titles.

Harley Quinn had one of the more promising Future State issues last month, but there’s definitely a sense that writer Stephanie Phillips had to quickly wrap up her story with the Future State Harley finale. Given two issues to basically tell a Days of Future Past story set in Gotham, Phillips does a commendable job. I’m actually interested in seeing what Phillips does with Harley in the regular continuity based on this tease.

Given more freedom to craft this story as long as she wanted it seems unlikely Phillips would have cut it so soon after introducing the concept of Harley standing in for Hannibal Lecter consulting Jonathan Crane’s demented Clarice in tracking down Black Mask for The Magistrate.

The hasty pace means Phillips has to abandon any subtleties and start setting the story down for a landing. It feels too abrupt to be satisfying making for an understandable if underwhelming payoff.

Artists Simone Dimeo and Toni Infante have conflicting styles so there’s a lack of cohesion with the visuals. Tamra Bonvillain’s piercing colors provide some needed consistency with great use of lighting effects and shadows.

This was probably the best case scenario for such an abbreviated arc, but Future State Harley Quinn serves as a better introduction to Phillips’ take on the character.

Rating: 7 out of 10