The Next #1 (of 6)

What is the Next? Well, it’s not a team of outcasts from STAR Labs or the Cadmus Project, as I originally thought. In fact, despite the fact that Superman is on the cover, the Next aren’t officially members of the Superman Family.  The Next are a group of four extra-dimensional teenagers from the future or a tangent timeline. When their guide ‘dog’ becomes lost in the modern era time stream of Earth, the youths become trapped, causing not only a rift in time and space but for a human girl to be killed.   Taking human form, the Next have bonded their life force to the girl, named Monikka. If they leave, not only will Monikka die again but all of time and space will begin to unravel.

So where does the Man of Steel fit into all of this? Well, the New God, Metron is a member of the Superman Family, even if it’s unofficial and a stretch. But knowing of Superman’s superior strength and passion to save others when all hope is lost, Metron informs the Kryptonian of the crisis forming in the space-time continuum.  It’s a task Superman heartily accepts but has he bitten off a little more than he can chew?

Issue 1 is the very first appearance the Next. So, there’s a ton of introduction and back story to be made. Most of the plot is devoted to explaining all of that and it’s a bit annoying. Monikka’s backstory is interesting but everything seems rushed.  Why even Superman’s role is extremely limited and doesn’t appear until the last couple of pages.

I feel like this is false advertising. The cover boasts Superman and the Next in a pose that looks like their best buds. Yet, the two entities don’t even meet! I’m not sure what’s up with that but I’m hoping it’s a plot point that will be rectified in the next issue.

So far, I’m not impressed.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.