Only in this universe can Killer Croc marry Orca.
Creative Staff:
Story: Tom Taylor
Art: Daniel Sampere, Juan Albarran
Colors: Rex Lokus
Letterer: Wes Abbott
What They Say:
Romance is in the air for two members of the Suicide Squad while Grodd makes his move against King Solovar.
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
The timing of this issue and the mini-arc that it’s dealing with is oh so amusing considering the uproar over the recent mainstream Batman wedding debacle. Let’s just say it right here that if Tom Taylor doesn’t follow through with what’s put into motion here there’ll be real hell to pay. Taylor definitely continues to delight in playing with this range of characters and what they’re up to while letting their personalities feel even more interesting and fun to watch. This book brings back Daniel Sampere on the art duties and once again it’s just a great looking book, especially just about everything involving Orca and Croc together as the layouts are fantastic and the designs and expressions are wonderful. Rex Lokus had a lot to work with and the team pulled off a great looking book.
This book has a split focus to it but I’ll admit the initial focus is one that I almost forgot about by the time I got to the end of it. Brainiac’s intentions on Earth to get Superman are moving forward now that he’s working with Grodd and Grodd is intent on getting back what is his with Gorilla City first. With Solovar having aligned himself with Ra’s and exiled Grodd, Grodd has a good foundation to work with in pushing back and drawing a number of others to his side. It’s not exactly going to be easy in a reality sense but he’s got a lot on his side and his mind control abilities allows them to make their opening push toward Gorilla City a pretty clean one, killing off an old gorilla that was protecting the land that would never change while trying to draw in a younger one to swell the ranks. Impressionable kids are the same across the species.
Where this book did make an impresion is when we have members of the Squad making their way into the sewers to talk to Croc. There’s always been a weird family vibe from the group over the years but Taylor gets to play it deeper here as they see Croc’s happiness with Orca as something they can’t get themselves and want to help. So they work with him, which isn’t easy, to convince him that he should propose to Orca since she is having his kid afterall. There’s a lot of amusing confusion in that discussion that really delights with Taylor’s scripting and it’s so very well balanced later on with Sampere’s pages as we see Orca and Croc out for a moonlit walk as he gets ready to pop the question. It’s really wonderful looking in every way and filled with great emotion and expression from both characters that makes grin like a fool and love it.
In Summary:
Injustice 2 really does have a great time here and I love it. It’s that simple. Tom Taylor continues to capture the kind of joy that got me into comics as a kid with this series and issues like that reflect it because it’s light on action, which is nicely done, but much more focused on character in several areas. Daniel Sampere is able to make it look fantastic with Albarran doing his usual top-notch job while Rex Lokus brings it all together with great color work. It’s just plain old fun that looks and reads great. Very recommended.
Grade: B+
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: DC Comics via ComiXology
Release Date: July 31st, 2018
MSRP: $0.99
