The Good
Brian Michael Bendis and David Mack's story of mystery and sadness continues. We've seen plenty of bleak future stories but this one seems to hit closer to home. We've already seen the death of Daredevil and Ben Urich has been determined to discover the meaning behind the final word Matt Murdock uttered before he died. So far his quest has taken him to many familiar faces, all pretty much in bad situations and all refusing to help.
The picture that is being painted of the Marvel Universe in the not so distant future is one of despair. With each familiar face seen or name mentioned, you get a little excited to see what could possibly become of them in this future story but once you find out, it make the feeling of despair even more intense.
It's not often we get big mysteries in our superhero comics. They may serve as a plot point from time to time but this eight-issue mini-series is all about the mystery. As you read each page, you can't help but try to zip through to see who might be mentioned or seen on the next page. At the same time, you're also trying to take in every bit of detail on each panel.
The art by Klaus Janson and Bill Sienkiewicz is perfect for this story. It's one of those moments where you'd hate to imagine someone else doing the art. The haunting imagery combined with Matt Hollingsworth's colors makes this a visual treat as you are pulled into the story.
The Bad
It may be a future story but it doesn't matter if these events will ever have any impact on the characters or not. It almost feels as if Bendis and Mack are treading dangerous grounds with some of the things they're showing us. The only bad thing is this story has to end. We only have three more issues after this to enjoy.
The Verdict
This is why comic fans buy comics - for great stories and art. Normally I don't put a lot of stock in future stories. Bendis and Mack have laid out a great mystery that pulls you in month after month. Each moment it appears that Ben Urich is about to uncover the answer to the mystery, more surprises pop up. The art and color here creates the perfect vibe for the story. This will be one you'll find yourself reading again and being able to enjoy it for what it is. You don't have to worry about the continuity of any of the characters involved. You get to just sit back and enjoy the show. The only bad thing about this series is there's only three more issues to go.