Just when everything was going pretty badly…
Creative Staff:
Story: Brian Buccellato
Art: Mike S. Miller
What They Say:
With the battle between Trigon and Mxyzptlk threatening to engulf the Earth itself, combat is brought to a halt between Batman and Superman’s two teams.
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Injustice: Gods Among Us took the step the last time around to really make you feel like there’s a lot at stake here on a personal level with the death of the Huntress, who is obviously not the first person to die in this series overall. But it has been a bit quiet on that front for a bit as it’s focused on other areas and dream sequences along with some flashback. Providing that darker moment here helps to push events forward a bit more as you want to see some revenge going on, but you also want to see the characters sticking to their core truths a bit. All of this is operating under the shadow of Mister Mxyzptlk and Trigon going at it, which provides the scale against which the personal is set.
With this installment, things in the larger scale are not going well at all. Trigon has finally tired of all of this with Mister Mxyzptlk and as we see the two battling it out, it’s starting to rip apart the fabric of reality, which is what Doctor Fate has been worried about for some time since these two forces ended up thrown against each other. Constantine and he are at least a little bit safe at the moment to talk it through by being in the House of Mystery, but even in there we’re starting to see the effects as Hal Jordan is trying to rescue the Flash, only to start seeing his powers faltering and even his very existence starting to become a little less grounded than it was. It has an amusing visual effect though of making them look like slightly scrambled TV channels.
What becomes fun to watch with all of this is that the effects are stronger outside and we get to see the way it’s causing a realignment of priorities amongst the combatants. Poison Ivy and Swamp Thing realize they’ve both been duped into this and are trying to find peace now, which contrasts from Batwoman and Wonder Woman slugging it out as Batwoman tries to retain her moral side while still providing a real beatdown. There are several moments like this that has them all trying to continue the fights they’re on, but also realizing that events are slipping so far out of control that their existence is at stake. There’s a bit of luck that doesn’t exactly save the day, but gives them a little room to breathe, but I like that there’s a causality to it as well so that it offers something potentially intriguing for the future of Swamp Thing here.
In Summary:
With its heavier focus on the action here and bringing the fights to a close for the moment as the stakes have changed considerably, we do get a good bit of material that catches us up with most of those in the present and what their mindsets are like. And that kind of slap to the face to get them on the right page to realizing what’s going on and adjusting to deal with it. Those aren’t huge moments, but they’re fun and welcome, particularly with Swamp Thing and Poison Ivy, as this really affirms that I want a whole Vertigo-level series focusing on their adventures in the world and the Green.
Grade: B
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: DC Comics via ComiXology
Release Date: February 24th, 2015
MSRP: $0.99
