Future State: Superman of Metropolis # 1 2021 NM

Future State: Superman of Metropolis #1 (2021) is a key introductory issue in DC Comics' company-wide Future State publishing initiative. Released on January 5, 2021, this anthology comic jumps forward in time to a bleak, alternate future of the DC Universe to showcase a new generation of heroes.

The issue was written by Sean Lewis, illustrated by John Timms, and features a striking cover by Gabe Eltaeb and John Timms.

The Main Story: "Superman of Metropolis"

• The Protagonist: With Clark Kent exiled from Earth, his son, Jonathan Kent, has stepped up to become the new Superman of Metropolis. However, Jon is younger, more impulsive, and struggles deeply under the overwhelming pressure of his father's heroic legacy.
• The Conflict: Metropolis has descended into absolute chaos due to a highly volatile tech-organic virus known as the Brain Cells (created by the villain Brainiac). The military group Brainiac-One moves in to pacify the city, threatening total annihilation.
• The Shocking Choice: In a desperate, highly controversial move to shield the citizens from the spreading virus and military slaughter, Jonathan makes the executive decision to shrink and bottle Metropolis using salvaged alien technology—exactly like Brainiac did to the Kryptonian city of Kandor.
• The Fallout: This radical choice instantly puts Jon at direct, violent odds with Supergirl (Kara Zor-El), who views his actions as a reckless, tyrannical betrayal of everything the Superman crest stands for.

Featured Backup Stories

The oversized issue includes two prominent backup features exploring how other heroes within the newly bottled city react to the crisis:

• The Guardian ("The Metropolis Menagerie"): Written by Sean Lewis with art by Cully Hamner, this story follows Jake Jordan (The Guardian) as he tries to maintain ground-level law and order among panicked citizens trapped inside the bottle.
• Mister Miracle ("The Shilo Norman Story"): Written by Brandon Easton with art by Valentine De Landro, this feature stars Shilo Norman as he uses his master escapologist skills to navigate the high-tech traps of the new Metropolis.