A moment of weight.
Creative Staff:
Story: Tom Taylor
Art: Bruno Redondo, Juan Albarran
Colors: Rex Lokus
Letterer: Wes Abbott
What They Say:
In the secret stronghold of Ra’s al Ghul, it’s father versus son as Batman and Damian tangle over who gets to keep the resurrected Alfred Pennyworth. Meanwhile, Harley has a moment with Poison Ivy.
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
With a good bit of action in the last few issues we’re reminded easily how well Tom Taylor structures this book, something that isn’t always easy to do. The split in the group as they moved into Ra’s base meant that the dynamic has to be well handled so that everyone feels like they’re moving forward and the reconnect comes across as fairly logical. What helps with all of this is that Taylor’s working with a great team as Redondo and Albarran once again put in a great issue with some fun details and layouts to it. Rex Lokus also delivers a stronger than usual issue as the washed out panels are more important this time around to provide the right effect with how some of the villains are being taken down.
The progress that’s been made so far is what drives the early events here as Damian knows what’s coming and is putting things into motion to deal with that. That has the checking in sequence with the “suicide squad” members and we’re reminded how well they’ve been taken down. The hardest of these to watch is Harley and her group coming on Ivy and the way there’s such trouble there because of it. Ivy knows who Harley is, however, so there can be only so much anger over this betrayal, but it’s also an area where Harley wants to make it clear that she can’t do what’s being asked of her with all the killing. Giving it a chance for a healing when all is said and done is a nice touch because so many do always hope for a good end for this pair. Ending it with a kiss in the mix just makes it all the better.
Where the bulk of the issue focuses is on Batman’s arrival where Alfred is. Damian has set things right to deal with it, though Animal Man is taken out quicker than one might expect when you get down to it. It did make for a bit of levity, at least. Bruce’s attempt at getting Alfred back is definitely an important thing and having it be Damian that he has to fight against to get him back just makes it all the harder. The two definitely have very hardline views of themselves and each other and there is no grey area to be had there. Seeing them throw down against each other while knowing that Alfred is responding to all of this, slowly but surely, and making a big moment of it toward the end gives the fight and sequence as a whole some good weight. I don’t think things are “right” by any stretch at this point but his awakening will definitely change things.
In Summary:
While Injustice 2 doesn’t advance the larger plot with what Ra’s is up to in this installment it does move things along for Batman in relation to Alfred. And that’s an important motivator to what’s going on beyond that big picture and something that could have dangerous ramifications down the line depending on how he “came back” from the pit. Taylor keeps things moving at a good clip here while Redondo delivers some strong layouts that allows the action to flow well while putting us into the view that Alfred has at the same time, seeing those important to him going at it like this. It’s a solid issue in a strong run that has me eager to see what’s next from the team.
Grade: B
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: DC Comics via ComiXology
Release Date: September 5th, 2017
MSRP: $0.99
