Future State: The Next Batman

In 2021, DC’s Future State: The Next Batman presented a four-issue snapshot of a possible Gotham City, where a new, still-unnamed Batman operates under a freshly adopted mantle. Written primarily by John Ridley and Vita Ayala, with art from a rotating team including Aneke, Nick Derington, and Laura Braga, the series explores a near-future landscape where familiar faces like Black Lightning and Harvey Dent navigate a city reshaped by the Magistrate. It matters as a key entry in DC’s Future State initiative, establishing a tense, law-enforced status quo for the Dark Knight’s legacy while spotlighting a diverse cast of heroes and villains.