While DC's Future State slate of titles is set to hit stores next month, DC is also beginning to chart the course of the post-Future State DC Universe, too. And while Gotham City will be transformed into a harsh, vigilante-hating dystopia soon, there are still many heroes and villains who are ready to make Gotham City their home once again.
And if Jorge Jiminez's variant cover to Batman #106 is any indication, it's clear that Gotham City is going to be just as busy as it ever has.
Bat-Family
As the cover shows, the entire Bat-Family is locked in and ready to keep Gotham safe. Almost all of Gotham's major surviving heroes are here, including Batman, Damian Wayne, Robin (Tim Drake), Red Hood, Nightwing, Catwoman, Signal, Spoiler, Batwoman and Huntress. The Bat-Family made a renewed commitment to Gotham City and even Batman vowed to change in order to keep Gotham safe, and that means he's asking for help much more often now that Alfred's not around.
New Looks
Even Harley Quinn has turned over a new leaf and is one of Gotham's newest anti-hero, and she's rocking a brand new outfit to compliment her new role. She's still rocking the classic black and red colors but in a brand new skin-tight outfit and matching tattoos on her shoulders. Damian Wayne is also rocking a brand new look after his recent falling out with Batman. Now that Tim Drake is Robin, Damian is creating his own stylish persona while keeping Gotham City safe.
Oracle's Return
Oracle makes an appearance on the cover, which indicates that Barbara Gordon will be taking at least a few steps away from the Batgirl role and returning to the cozy confines of her Clocktower command center. Oracle made her return during the Joker War in James Tynion IV and Jorge Jiminez's Batman #100, . and she's continued to help Batman and the rest of Gotham's heroes since Ghost-Maker showed up to torment his old training parter, Bruce Wayne. With Alfred dead and Lucius Fox, running Wayne Enterprises, Oracle seems set to become the new voice in Batman's wars when he's on patrol.
Gotham's New Defenders
Although he just debuted in James Tynion IV and Jorge Jiminez's Batman #100, Ghost-Maker is one of Bruce Wayne's oldest friends and adversaries. The two grew up and trained together before Ghost Maker turned on him for finding out his true purpose. Now Ghost-Maker patrols the world dealing with criminals by ruthlessly killing them, something Batman won't stand for. However, Ghost-Maker and Batman recently came to a new understanding, and the pair seem set to find a way to clean up Gotham City together.
The WildStorm Universe hero Grifter is also present on the poster, which suggests he'll take on his biggest role in the DC Universe yet. The one-time WildC.A.T. has been operating as Lucius Fox's bodyguard. It didn't take long for him to throw hands with Batman either, he even got the best of him and pulled a gun on him in Tynion and Guillem March's Batman #101. It seems likely their paths will meet again once Future State reaches its conclusion.
Joker's Last Laugh
Joker is the most wanted man in the world after the events of "Joker War" and he's going on the run in his own stand-alone series by James Tynion IV and Guillem March called The Joker. Commissioner Jim Gordon is set to go after the Clown Prince of Crim in what could be his last case before his potential retirement. However, Gordon isn't the only one who wants Joker's head. He'll be competing against a mysterious new force that wants Joker dead and they'll go through Gordon to see it gets done. Meanwhile, Punchline is on a media tour to clear her name. She's playing the role of Joker's victim while staying in Blackgate and her story will continue to be explored while the vigilante known as Bluebird tries to keep her brother from falling under Punchline's sway.
Mystery Men
Tim Fox is Future State's Next Batman, but his role in a post-Future State era remains unclear. It seems like we'll find out because he's seen standing next to Joker and Punchline on the cover. While it's almost a certainty he won't be a villain, it seems as though he's not standing next to the Bat-Family either, meaning that he could have a different role to play. We know Bruce Wayne is returning to the cape and cowl, and Gotham might not be big enough for both of these Batman, even if his dad is still in control of the Wayne fortune.
There are two other mysterious characters on the cover. The character in the blue Gotham police-branded armor could be Officer Christopher Nakano from Detective Comics, who lost an eye during "Joker War" and could have a bone to pick with Gotham's remaining super-criminals. The spooky character standing above everyone else seems to be the Scarecrow, sporting an eerie new look, which is set to debut in Batman #106.
KEEP READING: Future State's Batman Proves the Waynes Are NOT Gotham's Most Important Family