I want you to take out Cadmus' first disastrous attempt at generating a superhuman. 
- — Sgt. Rock
The New 52: Futures End #23 is an issue of the series The New 52: Futures End (Volume 1) with a cover date of December, 2014. It was published on October 8, 2014.
Synopsis for "Futures End - Chapter 23"
Ray Palmer has come to rescue his companions in S.H.A.D.E. with the help of Black Adam from the Phantom Zone. Unfortunately, his companions are facing a gargantuan threat in Brainiac. He joins them in fighting off Brainiac's robots, while Hawkman attempts to appeal to whatever remains of Angela Spica within the Engineer, who has acted as Brainiac's mouthpiece since their capture. Seeing no way to win, Ray prepares the Nan-Knight to get them to safety, but Hawkman insists on bringing the Engineer with them. To help them all get away without interruption, Adam calls down lightning bolts to shock Brainiac. As they speed off, Adam catches up, reminding Ray of his promise to get him back to Earth, but Brainiac's robots are in hot pursuit.
Meanwhile, in Central Park, Madison Payne reflects on the previous night, angry at how often she's been lied to. Her father had lied to her about his role in the Earth 2 invasion, and her boyfriend had just admitted that he'd lied about his identity. He is not Cal Corcoran - mild mannered bartender - but Tim Drake - former Teen Titan. Much as he claimed to have been done with that life, she is sure that nobody can put a life of superheroics behind them. She had angrily returned the gift he'd got her as a show of his affection, and left. Now, she hears footsteps behind her and lashes out, discovering that Ronald Raymond was trying to talk to her. He admits that after his poor behaviour in the bar recently, he wanted to apologize to her. After getting his apology out, he offers to buy her a cup of coffee, and she agrees, worrying Tim, who has been watching her from behind a tree the whole time.
In Las Vegas, Voodoo and her companions meet with Sgt. Frank Rock, who admits that he sent people to kill them in order to lure them to him. Angrily, Mercy realizes that Rock is on her uncle King Faraday's payroll. Rock explains that he wants the assembled ladies to help him take down Fifty Sue. The eight-year-old girl is too powerful.
Thirty years in the future, Michael Holt remains in the ruins of the Terrifitech building, as Brother Eye, who claims to be excited to announce a visitor. Michael knows the AI is trying to manipulate his emotions, regretting ever creating the thing. Brother Eye reminds that there was another creator, too. That creator, Batman, has been crusading for years to destroy Brother Eye - resorting to sending his successor into the past to do it. Brother Eye has created his own agent to go back and hunt that agent down. He has cruelly merged Bruce Wayne with the Joker - and that creation will ensure that this present remains intact.
Appearing in "Futures End - Chapter 23"
Featured Characters:
- S.H.A.D.E.
- Madison Payne
- Voodoo
- Mercy
- Michael Holt
Supporting Characters:
- Banger
- Mash
- Black Adam
- Ronnie Raymond
- Tim Drake
Villains:
- Sgt. Rock
- Vril Dox
- Brother Eye
- Joker
Other Characters:
Locations:
- 5 Years From Now
- Huron System
- Earth
- 35 Years from Now
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
- This issue is reprinted in The New 52: Futures End Vol. 2.
See Also