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Future State: Superman: Worlds of War
Future State: Superman: Worlds of War #1
This monumental Future State title features four big stories! First, Clark Kent is gone, leaving a Superman-shaped hole behind. People gather in Smallville to celebrate their hero, little realizing that he is across the galaxy helping others. Superman has gone to Warworld, where he fights as a gladiator in the deadly pits of Mongul. But this is Superman we’re talking about-and his idea of a victory does not line up with the expectations of Mongul’s hordes!
Meanwhile, on the other side of Warworld, other agents are at work, struggling for a better life. Shilo Norman, the man known as Mister Miracle, has ridden a Boom Tube across the cosmos from Metropolis to finds himself at odds with an entire planet!
At the same time, Midnighter, the greatest fighter from Earth, is punching his way through a whole mess of trouble. He’s on the hunt for a new energy source deadlier than Kryptonite. His goal: to shut it down before it gets unleashed on an unsuspecting universe.
On top of that, the Black Racer, a girl raised in the slums of Warworld to be one of its top competitors, turns betrayal into a crusade to fight for the freedom of others like her.
Meanwhile, on the other side of Warworld, other agents are at work, struggling for a better life. Shilo Norman, the man known as Mister Miracle, has ridden a Boom Tube across the cosmos from Metropolis to finds himself at odds with an entire planet!
At the same time, Midnighter, the greatest fighter from Earth, is punching his way through a whole mess of trouble. He’s on the hunt for a new energy source deadlier than Kryptonite. His goal: to shut it down before it gets unleashed on an unsuspecting universe.
On top of that, the Black Racer, a girl raised in the slums of Warworld to be one of its top competitors, turns betrayal into a crusade to fight for the freedom of others like her.
62 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 19, 2021
4 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Phillip Kennedy Johnson
522 books96 followersPhillip Kennedy Johnson earned a Master of Music degree from the University of North Texas, where he served as Teaching Fellow for the Department of Jazz Studies, and a Bachelor of Music degree from Eastern Kentucky University. SFC Johnson has performed with the Lexington Philharmonic, Dallas Opera, Washington Symphonic Brass, and the Moscow Ballet, and was a member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra from 2004 to 2005. SFC Johnson remains active as a composer, arranger, teacher, and clinician, and also enjoys a second career as a writer of comics and graphic novels. His work has been published by DC Comics, Marvel Comics, BOOM! Studios, and more.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 20, 2021
The Mister Miracle story wasn't quite my cup of tea, but the Midnighter story was interesting, I enjoyed the Black Racer story and I really, really loved the Superman story!
Midnighter is a character I was introduced to in Grayson and I find him intriguing. I don't know that this storyline was quite what I want for a story featuring this character, but it was okay.
The Black Racer storyline is the type of dystopian/future storyline I gravitate to: someone extraordinary trying to save people in need. I don't know if this is a brand new character (I sort of suspect she's not because DC really doesn't have a lot of black female characters and I make a point of knowing all of them). Anyway, I'm curious to read more about her and this story grabbed my attention.
I truly loved the Worlds of War story. I love exploring what Superman and his mythos mean to other people. Unfortunately, Snyder's films tend to just keep beating you over the head with the "Superman = Jesus" stuff and I found that rather annoying. Here, someone tries to express a similar sentiment as someone (a stand in for your typical annoying dudebro) keeps saying Superman is Superman because he's super powerful. Sadie, the main protagonist, is the person who understands what Superman is at his core: Clark Kent, a man who just wanted to save others and inspire hope. I loved Sadie as a character and I loved her as a way in for the reader in a story that appears to be half the public outcry to Jon's actions in Superman of Metropolis and half Superman's current situation. I'm really excited to read more of this story.
Midnighter is a character I was introduced to in Grayson and I find him intriguing. I don't know that this storyline was quite what I want for a story featuring this character, but it was okay.
The Black Racer storyline is the type of dystopian/future storyline I gravitate to: someone extraordinary trying to save people in need. I don't know if this is a brand new character (I sort of suspect she's not because DC really doesn't have a lot of black female characters and I make a point of knowing all of them). Anyway, I'm curious to read more about her and this story grabbed my attention.
I truly loved the Worlds of War story. I love exploring what Superman and his mythos mean to other people. Unfortunately, Snyder's films tend to just keep beating you over the head with the "Superman = Jesus" stuff and I found that rather annoying. Here, someone tries to express a similar sentiment as someone (a stand in for your typical annoying dudebro) keeps saying Superman is Superman because he's super powerful. Sadie, the main protagonist, is the person who understands what Superman is at his core: Clark Kent, a man who just wanted to save others and inspire hope. I loved Sadie as a character and I loved her as a way in for the reader in a story that appears to be half the public outcry to Jon's actions in Superman of Metropolis and half Superman's current situation. I'm really excited to read more of this story.
February 1, 2021
3.25? Really? I feel like I'm just starting to like what many people hate. But I also like what many people like. So, um...I just like comics?
January 26, 2021
What would a world without Clark Kent as Superman look like? This is the main question that drives the narrative of Future State: Superman Worlds At War, a book that despite featuring the hero prominently on the front cover doesn't really feature the hero much within its pages.
The story is set within the same world of Future State where Jon has taken over as Superman in Metropolis. Meanwhile, in Smallville, crowds have gathered to worship at the alter of the original Superman. This is a world where people have learned that Clark Kent was Superman, and his home town has turned into a giant tourist trap for fans, worshippers, and people who have come to get closer to the figure they worship like a god.
What's most fascinating about this is that despite people knowing who Superman was, knowing that he's a Kryptonian who came to Earth as a baby, was raised by the Kents, and was very much as human as them, at least in personality, they treat him like a mysterious figure. Despite being able to talk to people who knew him as a child, being able to see his old school records, a lot of the people in this book seem to be unable to accept that this was who he was.
They have theories that he's part of a race who travel the stars and come to less developed worlds to be worshipped as gods and remake the planet in Krypton's image. There's someone positing that he's transcended physical form, and is everywhere as energy, living as a 'righteous wind'. Another person puts forward that he never looked human, but was some kind of shape-shifter, who travels from world to world setting themselves up as a hero before moving on.

The book shows how even when people have answers, even when they know what's real they feel the need to make things bigger, to try and see more in things than really exist. When you know who Superman really is and it doesn't meet the wild expectations you have you cant accept that truth. It strikes me as being similar to those people who have to come up with elaborate conspiracy theories to explain things, because they can't just accept that sometimes things are only as simple as they seem.
Despite this, there is someone who sees through the conspiracies and the wild theories, Sadie. Coming to speak with a group of people who were all saved by Superman she finds their weird theories and odd opinions to be missing the point of who he really was, about what made him special. Something that's summed up when she tells them it's not Superman who saved her life, it was Clark Kent. She seems to be the only one to understand that it's not the powers or the cape that made him a hero, but the human being he was behind it all.
The issue does have some Superman in it though, it's not just people talking about him, as we travel across the universe to War World, home of Mongul, where a captured Superman is being forced to fight for his life in a gladiatorial arena. It's a brief appearance for the hero, but one that not only sets up for a more action packed second issue, but also shows that even when he's been beaten down, enslaved, and forced to fight, he still has hope inside him; that the heart of Superman can't be beaten down.
Future State: Superman Worlds At War wasn't the book I was expecting it to be, and at first I wasn't even sure that it was a book I liked, but the more I thought about it, the longer I allowed the content to sit and mull over in my mind the more I realised that this book really spoke to the heart and soul of the character. It showed that it's not what makes him fantastic that makes Superman a hero, but what makes him a human.
The story is set within the same world of Future State where Jon has taken over as Superman in Metropolis. Meanwhile, in Smallville, crowds have gathered to worship at the alter of the original Superman. This is a world where people have learned that Clark Kent was Superman, and his home town has turned into a giant tourist trap for fans, worshippers, and people who have come to get closer to the figure they worship like a god.
What's most fascinating about this is that despite people knowing who Superman was, knowing that he's a Kryptonian who came to Earth as a baby, was raised by the Kents, and was very much as human as them, at least in personality, they treat him like a mysterious figure. Despite being able to talk to people who knew him as a child, being able to see his old school records, a lot of the people in this book seem to be unable to accept that this was who he was.
They have theories that he's part of a race who travel the stars and come to less developed worlds to be worshipped as gods and remake the planet in Krypton's image. There's someone positing that he's transcended physical form, and is everywhere as energy, living as a 'righteous wind'. Another person puts forward that he never looked human, but was some kind of shape-shifter, who travels from world to world setting themselves up as a hero before moving on.

The book shows how even when people have answers, even when they know what's real they feel the need to make things bigger, to try and see more in things than really exist. When you know who Superman really is and it doesn't meet the wild expectations you have you cant accept that truth. It strikes me as being similar to those people who have to come up with elaborate conspiracy theories to explain things, because they can't just accept that sometimes things are only as simple as they seem.
Despite this, there is someone who sees through the conspiracies and the wild theories, Sadie. Coming to speak with a group of people who were all saved by Superman she finds their weird theories and odd opinions to be missing the point of who he really was, about what made him special. Something that's summed up when she tells them it's not Superman who saved her life, it was Clark Kent. She seems to be the only one to understand that it's not the powers or the cape that made him a hero, but the human being he was behind it all.
The issue does have some Superman in it though, it's not just people talking about him, as we travel across the universe to War World, home of Mongul, where a captured Superman is being forced to fight for his life in a gladiatorial arena. It's a brief appearance for the hero, but one that not only sets up for a more action packed second issue, but also shows that even when he's been beaten down, enslaved, and forced to fight, he still has hope inside him; that the heart of Superman can't be beaten down.
Future State: Superman Worlds At War wasn't the book I was expecting it to be, and at first I wasn't even sure that it was a book I liked, but the more I thought about it, the longer I allowed the content to sit and mull over in my mind the more I realised that this book really spoke to the heart and soul of the character. It showed that it's not what makes him fantastic that makes Superman a hero, but what makes him a human.
May 1, 2021
Pues lo he disfrutado mucho. Scifi a tope y Warworld mola mucho.
January 21, 2021
Why are these all so bleak? There’s not been one happy story. I’m exhausted from the misery of the entire thing. Another story on WarWorld. Each part links together. Midnighter was my favourite. Three stars for dystopian event exhaustion
May 4, 2021
I was expecting this two-part miniseries to be "Superman" meets "Gladiator," and while that is a little bit true, there was much less Superman in this book than you would expect. The main story is about Superman, but it doesn't really feature him much. Then, there are three back-ups, all of which I didn't care about very much. The characters featured in the back-up stories were:
-Miracle Man
-Midnighter
-Black Racer
This is the Miracle Man that I've seen in other "Future State" Superman stories, not the one that I got to know in Tom King's miniseries. I know next to nothing about Midnighter, and absolutely nothing about Black Racer. The Black Racer story was borderline bad, mostly because I didn't understand what was happening, but the Midnighter story had some good aspects.
Final rating = 2.5 stars
-Miracle Man
-Midnighter
-Black Racer
This is the Miracle Man that I've seen in other "Future State" Superman stories, not the one that I got to know in Tom King's miniseries. I know next to nothing about Midnighter, and absolutely nothing about Black Racer. The Black Racer story was borderline bad, mostly because I didn't understand what was happening, but the Midnighter story had some good aspects.
Final rating = 2.5 stars
February 7, 2021
4/5 Stars, on the dot!
Future State has been a fairly consistently great run of comics, largely because creators aren't expressly tied to continuity. It leads to some really interesting consequences and storytelling ideas that I wouldn't have expected. FUTURE STATE: SUPERMAN: WORLD OF WAR #1 (discussed as World of War #1 from here on) follows that to the T.
This issue contains four very different, very unique stories, all of which tie to Warworld, the home of Mongul. In the first, the world has been without Clark Kent for years now, but where is he? As a cult of Krypton has formed on Earth, is Superman dead or somewhere in the distant galaxy? The second story continues the adventure of Mister Miracle, as he breaks free from the Metropolis dome only to teleport directly into the heart of Warworld. The third follows Midnighter (yes, Midnighter!) as he attempts to stop the production of a dangerous isotope with the help of a mysterious voice in his head. The final story follows a new Black Racer, one who hails from New Genesis and who seemingly has the ability to come back from the dead.
Overall, these four stories had a lot of the same highs. Incredible art, strong pacing, and overall interesting storytelling. I especially loved the segment in the Superman story, where the people begin speculating about where SUperman went. The ideas that these people come up with are whacky, but it truly brings the larger than life feel of Superman to the page. You really get the feeling that he truly meant something to these people, and his loss truly affected them. Plus the visuals in this story are just STUNNING.
I really enjoyed the Mister Miracle story and where it has progressed, mostly because it does a great job tying together SUPERMAN OF METROPOLIS and WORLD OF WAR. I definitely felt as if the storytelling here was a touch weaker than the others, as I really didn't get much of a sense of character from him. Shilo is a fairly new character; give us a little more context.
Then we get to the Midnighter story, and my god, does the tone just shift. Suddenly, we're in a deadpool style super-shoot-out with quips flying about. While for this quartet, this story didn't really work, by itself it may be my second favorite of the batch. I know very little about midnighter, but the reveal of the character's adversary at the end actually made my jaw drop. Fantastic storytelling, just not a right fit for this collection.
And then the Black Racer story, which I have to admit I have mixed feelings on. I have the same criticism of it as I do the Mister Miracle chapter, as it doesn't go into a lot of depth into the Racer's past or why she's on Warworld. We know she is looking for her friends, friends she used to race in an attempt to get on Warworld, but we know very little about her other than that. Still, I think she's a new character, so I'm willing to look past that for what feels like the introduction to a really unique and serious prison break story in the DC Universe.
Overall, another great entry to Future state.
Future State has been a fairly consistently great run of comics, largely because creators aren't expressly tied to continuity. It leads to some really interesting consequences and storytelling ideas that I wouldn't have expected. FUTURE STATE: SUPERMAN: WORLD OF WAR #1 (discussed as World of War #1 from here on) follows that to the T.
This issue contains four very different, very unique stories, all of which tie to Warworld, the home of Mongul. In the first, the world has been without Clark Kent for years now, but where is he? As a cult of Krypton has formed on Earth, is Superman dead or somewhere in the distant galaxy? The second story continues the adventure of Mister Miracle, as he breaks free from the Metropolis dome only to teleport directly into the heart of Warworld. The third follows Midnighter (yes, Midnighter!) as he attempts to stop the production of a dangerous isotope with the help of a mysterious voice in his head. The final story follows a new Black Racer, one who hails from New Genesis and who seemingly has the ability to come back from the dead.
Overall, these four stories had a lot of the same highs. Incredible art, strong pacing, and overall interesting storytelling. I especially loved the segment in the Superman story, where the people begin speculating about where SUperman went. The ideas that these people come up with are whacky, but it truly brings the larger than life feel of Superman to the page. You really get the feeling that he truly meant something to these people, and his loss truly affected them. Plus the visuals in this story are just STUNNING.
I really enjoyed the Mister Miracle story and where it has progressed, mostly because it does a great job tying together SUPERMAN OF METROPOLIS and WORLD OF WAR. I definitely felt as if the storytelling here was a touch weaker than the others, as I really didn't get much of a sense of character from him. Shilo is a fairly new character; give us a little more context.
Then we get to the Midnighter story, and my god, does the tone just shift. Suddenly, we're in a deadpool style super-shoot-out with quips flying about. While for this quartet, this story didn't really work, by itself it may be my second favorite of the batch. I know very little about midnighter, but the reveal of the character's adversary at the end actually made my jaw drop. Fantastic storytelling, just not a right fit for this collection.
And then the Black Racer story, which I have to admit I have mixed feelings on. I have the same criticism of it as I do the Mister Miracle chapter, as it doesn't go into a lot of depth into the Racer's past or why she's on Warworld. We know she is looking for her friends, friends she used to race in an attempt to get on Warworld, but we know very little about her other than that. Still, I think she's a new character, so I'm willing to look past that for what feels like the introduction to a really unique and serious prison break story in the DC Universe.
Overall, another great entry to Future state.
June 27, 2023
Hay una idea muy interesante en esto de una Tierra con un buen tiempo sin Superman y la gente enfrentándose a su ausencia. El punto de tener todas estas historias más o menos ancladas en el canon más algunas ideas bien locuelas y un personaje que sí que tiene claro qué significaba Superman para el mundo. De todas formas, esto pertenece a una restructuración del Universo troncal editorial, y el efecto es inane. Más aún con las otras historietas anexas al hecho de que Clark esté atrapado en el Warworld de Mongul.
April 7, 2021
I haven't read any of the other Future State comics, however after reading this one I'm starting from the beginning 😀 . Seems quite different to the usual Superman/Batman/Wonder Woman save the world, however it still has familiar underlying themes.
Initially I was a bit confused because of not reading any of the others, but a quick read up of what Future State and I'm caught up somewhat.
I liked the art and the story has left be quite intrigued, looking forward to the next ones.
Initially I was a bit confused because of not reading any of the others, but a quick read up of what Future State and I'm caught up somewhat.
I liked the art and the story has left be quite intrigued, looking forward to the next ones.
April 13, 2022
Interesting read. I also read Issue 2. the story is part of the Future state saga, sort of like poem.
I actually met the writer and spoke with him for a bit the Fan Expo convention in Philadelphia. He explained to me these adventure of Superman are in a post apocalyptic world.
What I didn't Know is that DC bought another Hose and they acquired the Characters of The Authority.
Anyways I had these issued autographed by the writer.
I actually met the writer and spoke with him for a bit the Fan Expo convention in Philadelphia. He explained to me these adventure of Superman are in a post apocalyptic world.
What I didn't Know is that DC bought another Hose and they acquired the Characters of The Authority.
Anyways I had these issued autographed by the writer.
November 8, 2024
Fue una muy buena historieta. El hecho de que un montón de gente se reuniera en Smallville, alrededor de una fogata, para hablar sobre sus experiencias acerca de Superman y de lo que creían que había pasado con él después de que se fuera, estuvo muy interesante. La chica morena defendió su idea de Superman hasta el final de la conversación, y decidió retirarse en el momento en el que alguien insinuó que él valía por sus poderes y no por sus valores.
February 8, 2022
This one was a lot of fun. The main story is really good. I enjoyed the support group discussing what Superman meant to them. The Midnighter story was really cool too with over the top action and violence. All the stories are linked in a way that a person just coming back to comics could follow. Good stuff.
January 20, 2021
Ah yes, the bdsm-version Superman and furries.
I really enjoyed the Cloonan-Conrad team-up in Midnighter (as I did in Immortal WW). Black Racer looks promising as well. But other than that it was underwhelming.
I really enjoyed the Cloonan-Conrad team-up in Midnighter (as I did in Immortal WW). Black Racer looks promising as well. But other than that it was underwhelming.
November 27, 2022
I loved both issues of Worlds of War. Really looked at the mythology of Superman in the future.
I read some of Jon Kent's run as Superman in Future State as well ands the backups and enjoyed seeing characters I hadn't read previously.
I read some of Jon Kent's run as Superman in Future State as well ands the backups and enjoyed seeing characters I hadn't read previously.
January 19, 2021
More of the same social justice garbage. At least you can’t accuse them of being unpredictable. Or creative, for that matter.
January 23, 2021
Superman story: 4⭐
Mister Miracle story: 3⭐
Midnighter story: 3⭐
Black Racer story: 2⭐
Mister Miracle story: 3⭐
Midnighter story: 3⭐
Black Racer story: 2⭐
February 8, 2021
Superman by PKJ & Janin: 5 stars
Mister Miracle by Easton & De Landro: 3 stars
Midnighter by Cloonan, Conrad & Melnikov: 2.5 stars
Black Racer by Adams & Oum: 1 star
Mister Miracle by Easton & De Landro: 3 stars
Midnighter by Cloonan, Conrad & Melnikov: 2.5 stars
Black Racer by Adams & Oum: 1 star
July 14, 2021
The many lives of Clark Kent
November 9, 2021
Didn’t really cared about the other stories in this book aside the superman one
June 9, 2021
Superman/Clark Kent - 3.5/5
Mister Miracle - 3/5
Midnighter - 4/5
Black Racer - 4/5
= 3.62
A small collection of separate stories that are obviously going to collide in the next issue, some of them were intriguing/entertaining and the others just ok, still I’m interested to learn how Clark ended up here.
Also this feels very Planet Hulk so I would like to see how they differentiate this from that iconic green arc.
Mister Miracle - 3/5
Midnighter - 4/5
Black Racer - 4/5
= 3.62
A small collection of separate stories that are obviously going to collide in the next issue, some of them were intriguing/entertaining and the others just ok, still I’m interested to learn how Clark ended up here.
Also this feels very Planet Hulk so I would like to see how they differentiate this from that iconic green arc.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews