With so much going on in the world today, only one broadcast network can bring YOU the news that YOU want. Coming to you LIVE from the Gotham City GC52 recording studio, The GC52 Week 3 Future State Report!
Words in italics signify actions or descriptions.
(Spoilers for Week 3 of DC Comics Future State)
Lights up on the GC52 Newsdesk as the lead anchor Dan McMahon is talking to someone off-camera as he cuts his conversation short as the news begins.
I just didn’t remember him being that ho- Good evening Earth-Prime! As usual, I’m your host with the most Dan McMahon. We are starting tonight off with some BREAKING NEWS. We have just received footage from what seems to be…Warworld! I am not sure the legality of showing this on television but roll the tape, Jerry.
The footage plays of a scantily clad Superman brandishing a sword and shield in a colosseum pit. Sparks fly as he matches his blade against other alien combatants. The public has never seen a more battle-worn Man of Steel before. This footage comes after a long absence by Kal-El.
I guess we know what happened to truth, justice, and the American dream or whatever. I hope he is okay and all but was Superman always this hot? Listen, Conan the Barbarian isn’t usually my thing but that symbol and chain combo is making me feel hope. Swing your burly sword at me, Cla-
The anchor looks back and forth in the studio as he realized he was a bit too much of himself for one broadcast. Jerry snaps a photo of his look of dismay at what he just said.
Oh, well, it looks like Jake is back for another report… we should go to him live, like now…
The camera hastily cuts to Jake who is somehow still alive even after last week. It looks as if he is squinting like he is reading something. There is a noticeable scorch march across his face from the incident with the other Superman last week.
Well, folks! It looks like our heroic Magistrate and her, uh, Peacekeepers may have finally cornered the leader of the mask terrorist movement? Nightwing, himself, has set up shop in the ruins of Arkham Asylum.
He mouths to the on site producer “who wrote these cards? They’re illegible”.
Our daring Peacekeepers have managed to set up this trap flawlessly. We are hopeful this will bring a swift end to the terror of masks in our fair Gotham City.
The camera follows behind Jake as he walks through the ruins of Arkham as the Peacekeepers run past him.
Look at those heroes go!
A large electric surge echoes through the hallowed halls as the camera’s feed is scrambled for a moment. The Peacekeepers activated what could only be a booby trap set by the Dark Knight’s former protege. Jake’s hair is now standing up straight like a mad scientist.
Errhhzz… oh that was a shocking experience!
Jake places his finger to his earpiece as a look of surprise appears on his face. A slight sound of gears cranking can be heard if your volume is up far too loud.
This just in! Catwoman has infiltrated a Magistrate transport…
A trap door opens up under Jake’s feet as he vanishes into the darkness of the hole beneath it. The camera peers over the void as Jake can be heard screaming.
TRAAAAAAIIIIIINNNNNNN!
The camera angle shifts up as if the cameraman shrugs, having grown accustomed to this. The feed returns back to the studio where Dan is pinching the bridge of his nose.
How? How does he come back? I get it, I do. Death is sort of a revolving door for those hero types but christ. Well, here is hoping that Jake returns next week. We take you over to Bart Iddy…
The camera cuts to everyone’s favorite corporate shill, Bartholomew T. Iddy. But this time, the audience can see a sense of amazement in his eyes, a look of wonder is painted across his face.
Folks, Gothamites, mortals of the known Earths, I have seen…the future. I was walking home from work last week, taking in the fine Gotham air, enjoying the peace afforded to us by the Magistrate, when suddenly I was violently thrown into a portal!
He pauses for a moment as if to let people feel concerned for his well-being. The sound of crickets chirping is heard, the silence is cut by Jerry making a fart noise with his mouth. The overzealous reporter sighs.
Anyways, as I was yeeted into this unknown land, this isn’t even the first time this has happened mind you, I looked up in the sky and there she was: Wonder Woman. She was simply glorious. A sight to behold. It might have been a trick of the light, but I swear I saw some gray in her hair? Things only got weirder from there, as next thing I knew she was talking to a tree. That’s right, a tree, and it talked back to her! Thought I was dreaming, but the harsh reality soon came crashing down. Literally. Something dark and fiery came shooting through the heavens, and I saw as Wonder Woman addressed her fellow amazons, rallying them for a fight. Hell, I would’ve been inspired if not for fearing for my goddamn life as hellfire was about to touch down on Earth.
He pauses to catch his breath and take a sip of water.
I’m sorry, it’s just a lot to recall, perhaps it’s better if we break this up?
Barty looks to his side for confirmation, which is seemingly given.
We will touch back on this another time so I can finish my tale. After all it’s not every day you see a New God crash down to Earth on a mission of domination. But you’ll just have to wait for more on that. Next up, in a more familiar timeframe, developments on the case of this “Next Batman” have been ongoing. While we still aren’t sure of the identity of this lunatic copycat, he sure is a step-down from the last guy. It’s only a matter of time before the peacekeepers catch him and do what they did to his predecessor, and grant him a swift exit from this life of vigilantism.
Barty’s brow furrows, getting visibly upset while talking about vigilantes yet again.
Who would willingly take up this silly crusade? Who finds hope in the path of a man who used theatrics to spook criminals into stopping? The Batman never killed anyone, only threw them into the revolving door of Arkham Asylum, and this new guy hasn’t learned anything either. Don’t you all see? This is why we NEED the Magistrate! These costumed creeps don’t know how to protect us, they can’t even protect themselves! The sooner this crazy idiot is off the street, the sooner I’ll be able to sleep peacefully.
Barty holds his finger to his ear, receiving a live update, and a grin spreads across his twisted, weasel face.
Not for nothing, but it seems the Magistrate may finally have him right where they want him. We have some exciting live footage of the encounter that we show you now. Sean, roll the footage!
Well! How about that? The poor sucker couldn’t help himself but try to help these murderers on the street, and now he’s going to pay! I can’t wait to see how this situation develops, but while that is ongoing, we now cut over to Dan, for an update in another corner of town. Dan?
There was a different type of look on Dan’s face than before when he seemed baffled at Jake’s survival. It was clear to the audience it was one of disgust as if he regretted taking this job in the first place. The program had massively changed since the Magistrate had taken over Gotham. The viewers knew that but in this rare instance, it was written on the anchor’s face as it was clear he was debating even going on. The audience can hear Jerry whisper to the cameraman to just cut to Ethan.
The camera cuts over to the tip-off desk, and the reporter looks more calm and relaxed than he has the last couple of weeks. The source of which is the very noticeable glass of whiskey on the desk.
Thanks, uh, Dan? We’ve got a couple of stories for you tonight folks. First up we’ve gotten our hands on a subspace distress signal, whatever that is, from the place you saw earlier called Warworld, wherever that is.
It seems member of The Authority, the superhero known as Midnighter has-
A cough is heard from off-screen reminding the reporter that capes aren’t welcome in Gotham.
What I mean to say, of course, is known vigilante and wanted felon Midnighter has sent a distress signal, meant for his accomplices, that the GLORIOUS Magistrate acquired, indicating he is hiccup attempting to take down the government of this so-called Warworld and requires help to do so.
We wish the authorities of Warworld much luck in attempting to quell this insurrection attempt.
The reporter’s disdain for the Magistrate is clear, even though the calm veneer his copious drinking has given him.
In other news, yet another member of the Resistance was apprehended by the Magistrate five days ago and sent to their primary detention facility. While official reporting has not confirmed this person’s identity, we have received a tip-off from a reliable source indicating it is a member of the Bat family, Orphan, also known as Batgirl.
As the reporter finishes his story and goes to hand it back over to Dan, Jerry the intern runs up with a piece of paper. The reporter takes a look, gives a yelp of excitement followed by a quiet chuckle.
Well, folks, it seems the arrival of this Orphan has spurred their fellow inmates into a revolt against the Magistrate guards. This is being led by the Batgirl known as Spoiler.
Good for them!
There are sounds of quick footsteps as the Peacekeeper assigned to GC52 shows up on the screen for the first time, without a moment’s hesitation, punches the reporter square in the nose for going against Magistrate guidelines.
The reporter, blood now profusely flowing from his nose, manages to mutter one last thing before the camera cuts.
B-back to you Dan…
The camera cuts to Dan standing behind his desk shouting expletives towards the Peacemaker. Just as Dan leaps over the desk with inhumane like reflexes, the report cuts to a blank screen with only one statement across the center.
Technical difficulties, Cya next week!
Books covered this week:
- Superman: Worlds of War #1 by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Mikel Janín, Jordie Bellaire, and Dave Sharpe
- Catwoman: The Great Train Robbery #1 by Ram V, Otto Schmidt, and Tom Napolitano
- Nightwing: Once Upon a Night in Gotham #1 by Andrew Constant, Nicola Scott, Ivan Plascencia, and Wes Abbott
- Immortal Wonder Woman #1 by Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad, Jen Bartel, and Pat Brosseau
- The Next Batman #2 by John Ridley, Laura Braga, Nick Derington, Arif Prianto, and Clayton Cowles
- Midnighter: Future State #1 by Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad, Gleb Melnikov, Jordie Bellaire, and Travis Lanham
- Batgirls #1 by Vita Ayala, Aneke, Trish Mulvihill, and Becca Carey