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 4 Future State Report!
Words in italics signify actions or descriptions.
(Spoilers for Week 4 of DC Comics Future State)
The bright studio lights illuminate the lead anchor, Dan, who seems more alert than usual. If your television has 4K capabilities, you can tell that his makeup is much thicker this week as if to hide whatever transpired after last week’s broadcast
Good evening Earth Prime! Another lovely week in Gotham City and the world around you. Our top story tonight is the mysterious disappearance of Aquaman and Aqua…Lass? Is that right? Oh, sorry, Aquawoman. The two had famously taken the place of former Aquaman, Arthur Curry, and Mera. What I am going to read is a quote from a fisherman who seems to be the last one who saw the pair. “There were some far out psychedelic lights, man. They were all glowing up from the water then poof. They never came back.”
It looks as if Dan is clearly trying to hold back a laugh as he reads it.
Well, I’m glad that Jerry found this quote on Twitter despite the fact he has been asked to stop tweeting from the corporate account. Turns out he is the only one who knows the password.
Someone off-screen calls to Dan and he sighs deeply.
Seems as if our reporter in the field, Jake is somehow alive and it sending in a broadcast from… space. Right, absolutely. Sure! Take it away.
The feed flips to footage of Jake floating through space, untethered, floating like a dashing astronaut. This unattached-space-pioneer is none other than GC52’s own Jake McMahon. Through his visor, you can see that he is speaking with no audio coming through. He points at himself, nods and presses a button, and restarts. Clearly, on his visor, you can see a teleprompter is built in as words scroll across his face.
Howdy Folks! What a day it is in the 31st-century not having that pesky Legion of Superheroes! It has been some time since the team of so-called teen masked heroes disbanded and the galaxy is all the bett…
He taps his finger to his helmet buttons.
Looks like the boys are back in town!
He presses the button on his helmet once more to mute himself and you see him mouth the words, “Who is working the teleprompter? Jerry?” and then after a beat, he rolls his eyes and unmutes himself again.
It seems that there are multiple factions fighting to call themselves the Legion and attacking private citizen Jan Arrah, formerly the legionnaire Element Lad. It’s going to be a bumpy time for the private citizens of many different planets with these… wait what is that?
An asteroid enters view as it hits the reporter and camerawoman which launches them into a wormhole. The camera never cuts off as they are dropped into a dark alley in the year 2030. Jake sits on the ground as it becomes clear that he has a broken leg from his fall through a trap door set by Nightwing last week or five years ago. The camera is aimed in his direction despite the camerawoman having been knocked out from the fall. He lets out a wail as the pain kicks in from the fall.
Oh no, I left my crutches in the 31st century!
Multiple sets of footsteps can be heard coming down the alley and the sharp unsheathing of a dagger can be heard. The Justice Squad comes into view of the viewers at home!
Wait why does Batman have so many knives…oh the Magistrate was right about h…
The feed is cut off abruptly and the image returns to the studio. Dan stares directly at the camera.
Listen, I know Mitch Shelley otherwise known as the Resurrection Man is trapped on Mars by Vandal Savage but… are we sure Jake isn’t somehow related to him? Let’s check in with the Magistrate’s puppet, I mean reporter Bartholomew.
The camera cuts to the shit-eating grin of one, Bartholomew T. Iddy. He adjusts his tie and looks into the camera, eyes beaming.
Good evening, Gotham, and to my legions of fans especially! I have received your letters of support and I am touched that you all hold me in such high esteem. It is my great privilege to be part of the team bringing you hard-hitting news each week, of which this week is no exception!
Barty glances off-camera for but a moment, seemingly distracted, then agitated.
No, Jerry! Not yet! Let me do my intro first!
Barty regains his composure and slicks his hair back, the picture of calm and collected.
My apologies. Anyways, portals opening up through time to show us far-off places have been appearing more and more frequently ever since that nasty business with that One Who Laughs or whatever, and this time we have something real special for you, a look at where Earth is headed, no doubt due in part to the order maintained by the Magistrate in our time.
A clanging noise is heard, like the toppling of expensive equipment onto the studio floor. An alarmed Barty rises out of his seat quickly in what looks less like concern, and more like frustration.
Oh Jesus Christ no, Jerry! Just roll the clip!
Roll clip of meeting of United Planets meeting in the future to discuss Lexor.
That’s right, you heard it here first, a meeting of the United Planets that includes Earth! We aren’t clear on the specifics of how far in the future we’re seeing, but finally, Earth’s voice will be heard on the universal stage! And representing us, it looks like none other than Lois Lane! I don’t recognize any of these other weirdos, except for the Big Blue Boyscout, looking a little gray these days. Huh. Didn’t know he could age like that.
A sense of relief washes over Barty, as he prepares to throw it back to Dan.
That’s it for me tonight, handing it back over to to D-
An alarm starts going off as Jerry rushes the set and whispers in Barty’s ear. Barty’s eyes widen, as does his crooked smile.
Actually, before I step off for the night, it seems there’s been a breaking development in one of the bats patrolling the streets, illegally, right now. It seems this “dark detective” was investigating a company that rose out of what some have dubbed, The Joker War. However, the Magistrate is now hot on his tail with legions of microdrones that the poor fool basically unleashed upon himself.
Barty takes a moment to beam, as if he’s winning something, just basking in the moment.
Your time is almost up, old man. The Magistrate will be upon you in moments, and there is nowhere left for you to hide. It’s time for the bats of this city to be done away with, for good. For a more peaceful, and unified Gotham. Let’s check in with Ethan to see what’s going on with him!
The camera cuts over to Ethan looking a bit worse for wear after the events of last week. There’s a band-aid over his clearly broken nose, one black eye, and a hand shaking from the stress of not wanting to go through the Magistrate’s torment again.
Thanks, Barty! I’m feeling much better since last week thanks to our incredible law enforcement setting me straight on all matters vigilante. Folks, we have a breaking story coming directly from our beloved city tonight.
As he reads off the teleprompter and realizes that he’s going to be reporting on Magistrate business again. He seizes up. Only after prompting from Jerry the intern does he continue with his report. Though his voice is clearly trembling from fear.
There have been multiple reports received to the news desk this evening regarding sightings of Enemy No. 1, Batman, though which one still remains unknown. It seems that not only is he attempting to put a stop to Magistrate plans, but The Man of Tomorrow himself has been spotted working alongside him, destroying drones meant for the protection of Gotham’s citizens.
It is clear the reporter is directly reading from prepared remarks, likely written by the Peacekeeper assigned to GC52 (who violently beat the reporter on air last week) for the purpose of pushing their anti-vigilante agenda.
We are still waiting on confirmation as to whether this has any connection to reports of the ever-growing danger presented by the so-called “False Face Serum” and its use by miscreants to destroy Magistrate property.
Thinking he’s finished reporting, Ethan gets ready to sign off. When all of a sudden Jerry the intern shows up, looking rather apologetic as he hands over a piece of paper.
As he reads through the paper his face drops, realizing he has to make one more report on Magistrate activity.
Ahem, well folks, we have one more story it seems. The duo of Red Hood and Ravager, also known as “Dead or Alive”, some of the Magistrate’s top bounty hunters, have just appeared on the most wanted list.
Reasons are currently unknown, though prior reporting states the pair were investigating the new Red Hood gang. It is possible, given one of the pair shares a name with the gang, that they were actually in league together. If so, we wish our law enforcement luck in catching these ne’re do wells.
Finishing his report, Ethan looks around for confirmation he did good, that he did the Magistrate’s bidding and won’t be beaten again. It seems he gets this as his face relaxes for the first time tonight. A big smile forms on his face.
Back to you Dan!
When it cuts back to Dan, he is tinkering with something on his desk before covering it with a stack of papers.
Well, seems like thats all the time we have this week folks! We hope you join us again next week for more thrills, chills, and spills of your favorite GC52 News Team!
Books covered this week:
- Batman/Superman: Future State #1 by Gene Luen Yang, Ben Oliver, Arif Prianto, and Tom Napolitano
- Legion of Super-Heroes: Future State #1 by Brian Michael Bendis, Riley Rossmo, Ivan Plascencia, and Dave Sharpe
- Suicide Squad: Future State #1 by Robbie Thompson, Javier Fernandez, Alex Sinclair, and Wes Abbot
- Black Adam: The Beginning of the End #1 by Jeremy Adams, Fernando Pasarin, Oclair Albert, Jeromy Cox, and Wes Abbott
- Superman vs. Imperious Lex #1 by Mark Russell, Steve Pugh, Romulo Fajardo Jr, and Carlos M. Mangual
- Aquaman: The Confluence #1 by Brandon Thomas, Daniel Sampere, Adriano Lucas, and Clayton Cowles
- Dark Detective: Future State #1 by Mariko Tamaki, Dan Mora, Jordie Bellaire, and Aditya Bidikar
- Red Hood: Future State #1 by Joshua Williamson, Giannis Milonogiannis, Jordie Bellaire, and Troy Peteri