DC Comics' Future State event is coming at the beginning of 2021, but the publisher has already released new previews for the upcoming titles taking part in the line-wide event. Current stories will be put on pause for the first few months of next year in favor of showing readers the likely future that lies ahead for the DC Universe and its heroes. For the Suicide Squad, a fresh roster of rogues will have been formed and a new preview teases that they'll be once more facing the Justice League - though not a League like they've ever faced before - in Future State: Suicide Squad #2.
In DC Comics' past, the Suicide Squad and the roster casual fans are most familiar with - Deadshot, Harley Quinn, Killer Croc, Captain Boomerang - have faced the Justice League more than a few times. However, a new Squad has been formed in DC's Future State, featuring notable rogues like Black Manta, Cheetah, and Peacemaker. Peacemaker in particular is a logical choice, seeing as how wrestler-turned-actor John Cena will be providing fans the character's live action debut in James Gunn's The Suicide Squad film coming next year. DC is most likely looking to foster some increased name recognition and synergy between the two projects, especially considering Peacemker will be getting his own spin-off series as well.
Future State: Suicide Squad #2 from writer Robbie Thompson and artist Javi Fernandez will see the Suicide Squad assigned to bring in Amanda Waller herself, the creator of Task Force X. However, Waller has an entire Justice League under her control: the League from Earth-3, also known as the Crime Syndicate. Here's the synopsis and cover art from Fernandez (and a variant cover from Derrick Chew) , courtesy of DC's February solicitations:
- FUTURE STATE: SUICIDE SQUAD #2
- “Suicide Squad” written by ROBBIE THOMPSON
- “Suicide Squad” art by JAVI FERNANDEZ
- “Black Adam” written by JEREMY ADAMS
- “Black Adam” art by FERNANDO PASARIN
- cover by JAVI FERNANDEZ
- card stock variant cover by DERRICK CHEW
- ON SALE 2/23/21
- $5.99 US | 48 PAGES | 2 OF 2 | FC | DC
- Peacemaker attacks! Assigned to bring Amanda Waller back to Earth-1 at all costs, the Suicide Squad battles Waller’s private Justice League on Earth-3. As lives are lost and blood is spilled, the fate of the Multiverse will be decided by Superman!
- Also in this issue, the 853rd Century is burning, and only Black Adam can save reality from the onslaught of murderous rage from a new threat spawned from a former hero.
Apparently, Waller has no intention of returning to Earth-1, choosing instead to fight this new Squad with her own personal Justice League, who seem like they'll be more sinister than justice-seeking. It will be interesting to see which "lives are lost" and whose "blood is spilled." The preview indicates that this rematch fight between the Squad and the League is going to be a much more violent and costly affair than the showdowns they've had in the past.
And if that wasn't enough, a bonus story in the issue featuring Black Adam (from Jeremy Adams and Fernando Pasarin) should be pretty entertaining as well, seeing the ruler of Khandaq fighting for his life in the 853rd Century. It seems as though the future will provide a ruthless rematch between two of the biggest teams in the DC Universe, and there's no telling which side will overtake the other. Fans will just have to wait and see when DC's Future State comes to comic book store shelves and digital platforms in early 2021.