The New 52: Futures End #17 Review

Is there still worth in this weekly saga? Or should fans give up on it? Read on to find out.

The official description from DC:

Who is the Masked Superman? What does his identity have to do with last week’s startling ending? The answers will shock you as the entire New 52 gets ready to jump five years into the future!

There have been quite a few mysteries bouncing around, so much so that it made the brief wait between installments hard to swallow. Add in the fact that there were times where revelations just seemed unlikely, and it’s understandable that devotees suffered all kinds of frustration. But don’t worry fanboys and fangirls we have a couple nuggets in this outing, as the final release before the whole of this universe takes a temporal leap forward lives up to its innate possibilities.

Brian Azzarello, Jeff Lemire, Dan Jurgens and Keith Giffen work together to offer more problems as threats mount and paths continue their march toward intersection. The most interesting feature found here comes from the last few pages as we finally discover who the masked Superman is, and depending on your perspective, you’ll either be pleased or annoyed by it. Personally I liked the wrinkle and the final guest appearance cemented the deal for me as all the apparently separate plots begin to slowly garner some rather interesting results.

The illustrations handed in by Patrick Zircher were absolutely stellar. Whether focused on prisoners or a battle among titans, the talent knows how to execute scenes in a clear cinematic way. And it’s through that skill that the whole of the DC universe soars even in the wake of certain developments. Add in the colors by Hi-Fi and I literally have no complaints just questions that are buried under a rock solid and at times compelling display.

The New 52: Futures End #17 is a strong installment that sets the stage for the barrage of one-shots that will soon be at our local comic shops. I don’t know how this weekly will eventually conclude but I’m invested in it as this comes recommended.