COMICS REVIEW: SUPERMAN FUTURE ENDS # 1

Written by: Dan Jurgens

Cover by: Ken Lashey

Penciller: Lee Weeks

Review by: henrycavillonlinecom

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Finally! Here we are 5 years into the Future. A future not to promising for Superman or any other super hero that survived World War. As we find ourselves immersed into the events that succeed this War we get few answers of what might have happened to Superman, at least to the original one.

If you have been following this series, you know that the Masked “Superman” flying Metropolis is not other than Shazam. Thanks to our intrepid reporter Lois Lane, who finally got to “unmasked” the real identity of the protector of Earth, citizens of Metropolis and the World know that Superman has gone MIA, but we know that Superman has isolated himself (once again) from his responsibilities as The Man of Steel.

In this issue, Dan Jurgens explored brilliantly why Billy (Shazam) decided to take Superman’s place. It feels nice to know that Superman still represents a symbol of inspiration for his friends and Justice League Memberss. Even though Superman is gone and no one knows where he is hiding from the world, his example to stand and fight for what is right gives people hope.

I love how Lois is being written in this series, she has been the center of this narrative, and to be honest she was the reason why I decided to give Futures End a shot and the story has not disappointed me so far. After Lois wrote about the identity of Superman/Shazam, she decided to pay him a visit. She knows that is more than meets the eyes with Billy, there is a reason WHY he decided to replace Superman. Which leads us to have a glimpse of what happened between Shazam and Superman.  When the latter saved Shazam from Black Adam and sent him to favorite DC place in the Universe (yep, Phantom Zone) Superman said his farewell to Shazam and despite Shazam’s intentions to accompany him, Superman warned Shazam that he has to go ‘Alone” to somewhere else and try to  put an end to the War, because that’s what “He’ told him to do. Who is that HE? Another question that we hopefully will get the answer soon.

That became the last time Billy saw Superman, and as we know well he never came back to Metropolis because he is feeling guilty for some horrendous things he had to do to stop the War. As Billy is explaining all this to Lois, we see her at her best: doing her job finding THE story and helping Billy understand that no matter how noble his intentions are, at some point he will have to be himself if he truly wants to honor Superman’s legacy. Deep down Lois and Billy know that there will never be a replacement for Superman and what he means to the World. No one can be Superman but Clark Kent!

Even though this issue is about Superman, his presence is hardly notorious. But I get why the writer decided not to make Superman showed up here. We need to understand the importance of a World without Superman’s protection, why it matters to have the REAL Superman saving the day, and we get to see that through Billy/Shazam POV. His intentions to take his friend’s place in order to keep the faith and trust that people of Earth put on Superman’s hands are noble and a reflection of Superman’s legacy.

However, as I said before Superman can’t be replaced that easily. Not only Lois and the people of Metropolis won’t accept that, but we miss him. We don’t know yet, why Superman decided to go to exile and abandon all hope. The part of him that was taken away since the beginning of New 52 needs desperately to start showing up, Superman needs his humanity back and bring us our beloved super hero. The one who never gives up, the one who will fight until he dies for the right thing. The one who is Hope. We need the Real Superman, we need THAT guy back!

Now can we please have Lee Weeks drawing Superman’s books more often? His Lois Lane is BEAUTIFUL!!! Period!

RATING:

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