WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for Future State: Teen Titans #1 by Tim Sheridan, Rafa Sandoval, Jordi Tarragona, Alejandro Sanchez, and Rob Leigh, on sale now.
While the end of Death Metal opened up an immeasurable number of possibilities for the future, that future is looking especially bleak for the Teen Titans, who are in a world filled with tragedy, betrayal and loss. When things are so grim, Dick Grayson looks through the ruins of the Titans' old headquarters, where he finds one of the strangest, and most potentially dangerous weapons in the DC Universe, the H-Dial from Dial H for Hero.
While Red Arrow pays her respects and takes a moment to talk to the dead at their old base, Nightwing is sifting through the piles of broken glass and concrete that now almost solely comprise the island's landscape. There, among the wreckage is what they came for, and when Red Arrow asks Nightwing if they can even be sure that it still works, he reminds her that turning it on to find out is the last thing either one of them wants to do.
First appearing in 1966's House of Mystery #156 by Dave Wood and Jim Mooney, the H-Dial (short for Hero Dial) was originally discovered in a cavern by teenager Robby Reed. The device's origins have always remained a mystery, but what it can do is very well known. Resembling a rotary phone, inputting the correct sequence give the wielder random access to a near infinite array of superpowers, each coming with their own transformative persona. Connected to the Heroverse, the H-Dial is quite possibly the most powerful artifact in the universe, with access to the potential of every superpowered being across all existences, even those who have been undone or are yet to be written.
Most recently the Dial was in the possession of Miguel Montez, who as a child was saved by Superman, and dreamed of being a hero ever since. Miguel has gained that chance on multiple occasions, and his career as various heroes has been a fairly fantastic one up until now, when his ultimate fate is revealed to be death at the hands the very object he used to make his dreams a reality.
Though it still hasn't been revealed what exactly caused the tower on Titans Island to come down, it can only be assumed that it had something to do with Red X and his apparent betrayal of the Teen Titans. Disillusioned with his mentors, Red X stood between the rest of his teammates and one of their own who had become trapped inside some sort of energy cocoon. Though the other Titans might not have known what was happening, they knew enough to want to put a stop to Red X's plans, whatever those were.
While Nightwing distracted him, Donna Troy threw a punch that put Red X on the ground, giving Miguel time to dial up a hero capable of freeing their friend. Somehow, the powers of the H-Dial were corrupted by the other energies emanating from the cocoon, and in a brilliant flash of light both Miguel and Donna Troy were reduced to grotesque husks of their former selves, dying instantly.
With such immense power in the palm of one's hand, it's no wonder that Nightwing would want to use it in the fight against the tyrants who destroyed his home. And with absolutely no control over what gifts the Dial will bestow upon its user, it's also no wonder why his teammate Starfire is so adamantly against it even being an option.
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