There is a long history of magic and its use in the pages of DC Comics, with the Justice League Dark serving as the embodiment of all the different magical factions in the universe. That history is set to continue into the future in the pages of DC's Future State event, which will see some of the universe's most powerful magic users fighting for their survival.
The Justice League Dark is a relatively late addition to DC canon, throwing together the comics' most powerful magic users and supernatural beings—from famous “occult detective” John Constantine to the weird and wonderfully mutated scientist Man-Bat. The group often tackle more magical or monstrous problems than the Justice League does in their day-to-day lives, making Justice League Dark comics somewhat, well, darker than the average DC hero’s.
Future State: Justice League #1 not only introduces readers to a brand new Justice League, but to a Justice League Dark that has their collective backs to the wall. In the new, sometimes unstable world that grew out of DC’s Death Metal event, magic has become a whole lot more dangerous to use. The comic opens on Zatanna and Bobo the Detective Chimp investigating the remains of the dozens of magic users who have all been killed by the powerful sorcerer Merlin in his continued witch hunts. The loss of life is immense, and Zatanna and Detective Chimp, with the help of Etrigan, follow a trail of magical breadcrumbs to the hidden encampment of the surviving magic users.
Merlin may have power on his side as he storms through the magical DC world, but there’s plenty of heavy hitters on the defense. On the trail to find survivors, Zatanna and Detective Chimp run into Rory Regan, who reluctantly puts his rags back on when Merlin’s men beat down his door. The three arrive at the encampment and meet up with John Constantine and Arcana. But it’s Arcana’s cards that provide the final man on their magical team when they point the Etrigan-possessed Detective Chimp towards an old man with a magical coffee can who turns out to be none other than Khalid Nassour, aka Dr. Fate himself.
With their grand show of magic to return Dr. Fate to his normal state, the ragtag group of magic users have caught the eye of Merlin as he readies to take the Helm of Fate for himself and finish what he started. Without the help of Etrigan, Justice League Dark will have more than enough on their hands in defeating the uber-powerful Merlin, especially with their diminished numbers. Ready or not, however, Merlin is coming and war is on the way for the magical refugees. Future State: Justice League #1 by Joshua Williamson, Robson Rocha, Daniel Henriques, Romulo Fajardo Jr, Dan Mora, and Kael Ngu is on sale now.