Future State: Dark Detective #2

Future State: Dark Detective #2

by Mariko Tamaki, Joshua Williamson, Ladrönn (Cover Art)

Bruce Wayne is supposed to be dead...but this Dark Detective is on the run and shining a light on the mystery of his own “murder”: How did the killers know Bruce Wayne was Batman? As the forces of the Magistrate zero in on Bruce’s location, it’s a race against time to unlock the secrets of their surveillance tech and take the fight to the very top! But is the knowledge that Bruce’s own legacy helped to enable the greatest authoritarian force the city of Gotham has ever seen too much to bear?

Genres: Comics, Batman, Dc Comics, Comic Book, Graphic Novels

47 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 26, 2021

About the author

Mariko Tamaki is a Toronto writer, playwright, activist and performer. She works and performs with fat activists Pretty Porky and Pissed Off and the theatre troupe TOA, whose recent play, A vs. B, was staged at the 2004 Rhubarb Festival at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Her well-received novel, Cover Me (McGilligan Books) was followed by a short fiction collection, True Lies: The Book of Bad Advice (Women's Press). Mariko's third book, FAKE ID, is due out in spring 2005.

Mariko Tamaki has performed her work across Canada and through the States, recently appearing at the Calgary Folkfest 2004, Vancouver Writer's Festival 2003, Spatial III, and the Perpetual Motion/Girls Bite Back Tour, which circled though Ottawa, Montreal, Brooklyn and Chicago. She has appeared widely on radio and television including First Person Singular on CBC radio and Imprint on TVO. Mariko Tamaki is currently attending York University working a master's degree in women's studies.

[MacMIllan Books]

Reviews

[Chelsea 🏳️‍🌈 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi, can I have Mariko Tamaki writing a really lengthy Batman series? This is the first Batman book I've wanted to read in ages.

I love the way she writes Bruce's internal monologue as he works through his detective work. I love the setting and the vibe of Bruce on the run. The art is perfect and really suits the tone. A+ story for me.

The Red Hood story was confusing more than anything for me. I am not sure when Rose/Jason became a thing? If that's just Future State? I'm also not sure why both of them so easily hunt down masks now. These people were their friends? It's baffling.

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

First story - 4
Second story - 3

Overall the first is still interesting and I like how Mariko is writing Bruce so lost but not giving up yet.

Second story is decent with red hood but the art was jarring.

[Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Batman story: 4⭐
Another great little piece of the story. And when I say little, I mean little. Arts stunning.

Red Hood story: 3⭐
Art was kind of atrocious but it's an okay read. Yet another "everyone's a dickhead" gimmick though.

[Murphy C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another neat one, thinks I. I don't appreciate the artwork in the Red Hood backup, but both stories are strong.

[A Fan of Comics · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this more than the first issue.

Batman is still trying to figure out how the Magistrate figured out he was Bruce Wayne. The story doesnt pick up but it does get kinda nuts. The Bat is living with an individual who everyone has written off as "crazy". But Bruce knows better! he thinks this guy might be on to something...
The art work for this series is great! I love the colors and the cityscape. Again, lots of Blade Runner vibes. Definitely could have been part of issue one, I don't think they should have made this (or any) series longer then two issues.

The second story;

I really liked this Redhood story. Maybe more so then the Batman storyline. Redhood is working for the cops, taking down other Masks and everyone thinks he is a traitor for it. Until he find out someone is using the Redhood helmet to control people. I think they did a good job with Jasons character here. This was probably some of the best/coolest art from Future State and I think it should have been its own issue. or paired with Nightwing.

[Kastie Pavlik · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd give the Batman story 5-stars. I love this humanized version of Bruce, er, Jeff (not going to get used to that), and watching him slink around doing old fashioned detective work in an ultra high tech Gotham. For the first time, I'm actually curious about who Peacekeeper 01 is. And I also enjoy Bruce's living situation. It's perfect.

2-stars for Redhood. I dislike the unfinished art style and the story was disjointed. At least it was a quick read.

[STEVE LONG · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it. I like where the story is going and I’m looking forward to reading the rest of this story. I think Tamaki’s writing in this is good enough to make me want to check out more of her work. I really like Mora’s artwork. As for the Red Hood story, I’m not crazy about the artwork in this one and I’m not sure how I feel regarding the path that Jason has taken. My gut tells me that I don’t like it. Overall, main story is solid.

[Etienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Already so much better than the first. We understand more of what is happening, we get good Batman background and development as well for this universe. Nice!

[Jacob Helberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dark Detective and the Yara Flor Wonder Woman are the only two Future State issues I'm still engaged in. Both stories here were good. In all honesty I think I liked the Red Hood tale more than the Batman story.

[Cameron Howell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hope this team continues to work on detective comics for a bit. Loving the Bruce Wayne story and the art. I could pass on the Red Hood story though.

[Shawn Ingle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic writing and art. Continues the strong intrigue and suspense from the first issue. The Red Hood story wasn't nearly as good though. I was enjoying it up until he started talking. Then it kind of meandered. So they get a pass for wearing masks because they round up other masks? Getting into the why of this from both the Magistrate's and Jason's point of view would have been much more interesting.

[Craig Schorling · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Batman story was still intriguing. I really liked the paranoid roommate. The action is still very well done too. I was not as interested in the second story which is why this is 3 stars instead of 4.

[Jim Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This rating is only for the Dark Detective story. Dan Mora is masterful. This makes the Red Hood story look even worse. It was hard to get through and the writing was similarly poor.

[spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Derek Neveu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superior to its Next Batman counterpart. The Red Hood storyline is weaker, but still better than most of the other fragmented storylines they are force feeding us in these Future State titles.

[Rob S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐½

I'm looking forward to Mariko Tamaki's run on TEC! I liked the Red Hood story, but not the pencils; thus the half star deduction. Jordie Bellaire's colors throughout are amazing, as always.

[Octavi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy bueno. A ver cómo sigue.

[John]

A Sign

[Steven Shinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely progressing pretty well.

[Roman Colombo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hmm. I think that second story is misdirection