It’s time for the main event.
Creative Staff:
Story: Christopher Sebela
Art: Tom Derenick
Colors: J. Nanjan
Letterer: Wes Abbott
What They Say:
Harley helps Superman to take down Doomsday and then it’s the battle this has all been leading up to–Superman versus Superman!
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
With one issue of Ground Zero left after this before it shifts into Injustice 2, the series has a lot of ground to cover that I wish had been spread throughout the book instead of so much Harley/Joker material. Sebela definitely has a lot of fun with the Pancake Superman brought into the picture here and Derenick does a great job of presenting the two versions of the character so they’re distinct but also very similar in that two sides of a coin kind of approach. The book has a whole lot of action and Derenick really runs with it in a very good way with what has to be done and that keeps it moving along fast and fun in all the right ways. There’s a great energy to things here with what’s going down, you just wish it had more of it earlier instead of some of the slog that we had.
Harley’s story naturally takes up a decent chunk of the book as she’s doing what the heroes aren’t doing, which is a frustrating aspect of things because it’s what they do usually do. While the big guys are fighting, she and her Horde are running around saving all the civilians from destruction and they’re loving every minute of it. The positive vibes that they get, the thanks and the hugs, are a far cry from what they usually experience and it’s infectious in all the right ways. That just has them wanting to do even more of it and it’s definitely welcome to see them thinking right, doing the right thing, and protecting a lot of people. Harley can do that for only so long as she’s got her little green pills and intends to join the big fight as it’s about to go into its main event segment. And that means she’s gotta spend a little time with Pancake Superman.
His arrival in this dimension has him providing a welcome counter to the domineering Superman that we’ve had for so long, similar to how the rest of the Justice League’s arrival at the start here was like a breath of fresh air. He’s able to do a lot quickly and slow down the overall advances but he gets caught up in an extended fight with Doomsday, which is where Harley comes in. She does provide for some usefulness here as an example of how someone can change and become good, giving him a sense of hope for this particular dimension, and that just reinforces his desire to save it. That naturally leads to the first full confrontation with his counterpart here, who is intent on eliminating Pancake Superman and bringing his Lois here to show her what he’s done in her name. Superman has gone off the rails and I do wish there was more coming from Pancake Superman here in regards to a kind of sadness as to what he’s seen himself become, and the kind of cautionary tale as to how he has to handle himself and his relations with Lois when all is said and done.
In Summary:
Injustice: Ground Zero has a great kind of energy and enthusiasm about itself with this installment that makes me wish it permeated more of the series as a whole. This chapter has a lot to like as Superman proper steps onto the stage and deals with the situation at hand, all while being inspired himself as he inspires others. Sebela keeps things moving along quick here without a lot in the way of depth as one might expect and it serves well with Derenick’s artwork as it’s crisp and clean with an easy to follow flow as he captures the various (and numerous) fights that are underway with one-off panels. A fun installment before the finale the next time around.
Grade: B+
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: DC Comics via ComiXology
Release Date: March 7th, 2017
MSRP: $0.99
