Things are getting serious.
Creative Staff:
Story: Tom Taylor
Art: Cian Tormey
Colors: Rain Beredo
Letterer: Wes Abbott
What They Say:
What can the World’s Finest do to save themselves when they aren’t on the world, but instead, flying oxygen-less in the vacuum of space where no one can even hear you scream? Meanwhile, Joker follows a voice leading him to Egypt…
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
It’s hard to imagine Injustice: Year Zero getting more violent and deadly but Tom Taylor is sitting somewhere, cackling, as he cracks his knuckles and makes it so. This issue is more about the preparation for that as what we actually get is a moment of saving most of the lives with only a few deaths along the way. Cian Tormey has really grown on me as an artist on this run overall and there are some really good moments, from capturing the very human moments between Superman and Lois to presenting us with a really great new incarnation of the Joker that’s frightening in a way that the mainstream books never seem to get for me.
The opening bit with Superman and Lois is nicely done as they talk about the baby and his concerns as well as the potential for him taking a break or retirement for a while in order to put his focus where it needs to be. But with the blowout on the Watchtower happening, he’s called there to help quickly and it turns into discovering what’s been going on and how the Joker is manipulating the situation. You really feel for Dinah at this point because she feels like she’s given up everything with what the Joker did while in her mind. At the same time, the team has to regroup after saving everyone and opt for something a little more earth-based in order to figure out their move – which has Tormey giving us a wonderfully striking view of the Hall of Justice that has been a part of my DNA for decades.
While this unfolds, the Joker is dealing with the artifact that’s now talking to him more clearly (poor Gary, overhearing it!) and instructing him how to gain even more power through it. It times out well because the Justice League crew are scouring the continent for him and he ends up off in Egypt where he gets to do a big dig with some “hired” help to unearth the helm of one of the Lords of Chaos. There’s some real fun in seeing how the two kind of banter and bargain in their own way to make sure they get what they want and Joker is all in on this once he gets to deface the helm a bit to suit his own style. We’ve been getting a good look at a particular kind of Joker in this storyline but here it’s taken to the next level and I’m excited to see the crazy reactions he may generate.
In Summary:
Everything is getting ready to shift gears to the next level and that’s exciting. So much has been somewhat secretive based on what the Joker is doing but now he’s a known quantity that has powered up significantly and it’s going to make for a lot of chaos. The action is good here but the real draw continues to be Taylor’s gift in really getting these characters, which Tormey really brings to life wonderfully. The small moments between a couple, the quiet intensity of Batman in his scenes, Dinah’s realization. It all clicks and it’s because of the strength of both the writing and artwork. I can’t wait to see what’s next.
Grade: B+
Age Rating: 12+
Released By: DC Comics via ComiXology | Amazon
Release Date: December 8th, 2020
MSRP: $0.99
