Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Three #11 - A Review

Left with few allies in the wake of their failed attack on Superman, Batman and John Constantine puzzle out the prophecy of Madame Xanadu and plot their next move. Meanwhile, The Phantom Stranger questions The Spectre and it becomes clear that something is not right with The Spirit of Vengeance. And in order to get at Superman, The Resistance may have to raise a demon that even John Constantine is reluctant to summon...


I've said before that Tom Taylor has done a fine job of adding little moments of humor and character into this series and that's certainly true of this issue.  Little touches such as Catwoman playing with Karlion The Witchboy's familiar Teekl or Harley Quinn's continuing to call out Dr. Fate on not being a real doctor help to lighten the tone of the story as more serious characters discuss the dark business of killing Superman.  What I've never noted, however, is Taylor's boldness as a writer and if having Detective Chimp wearing a T-shirt mocking Rocket Raccoon on the same day that Guardians of the Galaxy is released on DVD in the USA isn't bold, I don't know what is!


The artwork matches the script in courage and audacity.  Bruno Redondo captures the cosmic scope of both The Phatnom Stranger and The Spectre perfectly, depicting them walking on the rings of Saturn!  And inker and finisher Xermanico does a fine job of enhancing Redondo's pencils, going far beyond offering mere outlines and shading.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Three #5 - A Review

I know I risk growing repetitive in talking about my love of this comic, but I do love this comic.  If this comic were a woman, I'd be afraid of asking her out for fear that it would ruin our friendship and drive her out of my life forever, leaving me a sad, broken husk of a man doomed to spend the rest of my days wallowing in eternal sadness. It is THAT good!


Tom Taylor fits so many little things into this issue that are just so perfect.  Harley Quinn being presented as a competent medical doctor.  Doctor Fate reluctantly admitting that he isn't really a doctor.  John Constantine being soft enough to lie to a scared little girl.  Klarion The Witch Boy's glee at being able to say a ludicrous thing out-loud.  And best of all, signs that despite all that has happened there is still something of the old Superman - the inherent nobility of Superman - somewhere deep inside the tyrant who now wields the power of fear as a weapon.


All of this is ably illustrated by Mike S. Miller and J. Nanjan with their usual skill and attention to detail.  I particularly like Miller's design for Harley Quinn and the way John Constantine's angry face is reflected in Doctor Fate's helmet.  Nanjan finds the perfect balance between light and dark, with inks that shade without shadowing the pencils.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Three #3 - A Review

Injustice: Year Three #3 sees John Constantine in the unusual role of the general rallying the troops. Uniting Batman's resistance movement with all the magic users interested in giving Superman a good punch up the bracket isn't going to be an easy task. And the arrival of an enemy intent on thwarting the alliance before it begins won't make things any easier.


Tom Taylor has two great gifts as a writer.  The first is an encyclopedic knowledge of the characters of the DC Universe and how they should act. The second is a creative instinct to find the perfect ways to play characters who don't normally interact off of each other in ways that make perfect sense and leave one wondering why we've never seen these characters interact before.  Taylor brings about magic on these pages, from Harley Qunn's immediate attraction to bad-boy John Constantine to Detective Chimp talking to Harvey Bullock, detective to detective, after the later declares that he can't cope with talking animals and magic.


The artwork by Mark S. Miller and J. Nanjan proves a prefect complement to Taylor's script.  Miller offers some wonderful designs for each character and has a particular affinity for drawing unique faces and injecting life and humanity into every expression.  Yes, even the non-human face of Detective Chimp has a distinct sense of humanity, if you'll pardon the phrase.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Three #2 - A Review

Is it too early to start a petition to hand over the reigns of the Constantine comic to Tom Taylor once the Injustice books come to a close?  I ask because it's become apparent to me, after only two issues, that Mister Taylor has got the best grasp on the character of any writer to tackle ol' ConJob since Andy Diggle's all-too-brief run on Hellblazer.  And given how highly I hold Andy Diggle's run on Hellblazer, that is not praise given lightly.


There are so many perfect Constantine moments in this comic that I am hard pressed to single any one of them out as my favorite.  But if pressed, I'd say the best probably involves John having a cheap laugh at the expense of his allies and Batman proving he has no idea who John Constantine truly is when he asks how John can laugh when the world is going to hell.  He is John Constantine.  How can he not? This second issue also sees John doing things that make perfect sense in the context of the DC Universe but which I don't think have ever been attempted - such as John's calling upon Trigon.


The artwork by Bruno Redondo and Vincent Cifuentes matches their usual high standard.  The inks on some pages seem a little heavier this time around, but given the darkness of the story - both literal and metaphorical - this seems fitting.

Dallas Comic Con 2014 - ALL THE PICTURES! - Part Five

Black Canary- Classic Model With Mask


Jimmy Olsen & Lois Lane


Twin Kaylee.  Double the engine-power & triple the shiny!


Black Canary Sans Mask


A trio of G.I. Joe soldiers.


Gwendolyn & Marko from Saga.


Ghost.


Supergirl, Aquagirl and Jinx from Teen Titans.


Detective Chimp!


Captain Marvel & Captain Marvel.


Everything is awesome!  It's Emmet from The LEGO Movie


Black Cat, Green Arrow and yet another Black Canary


An awesome dragon!  Not sure if she's a specific one but it's still impressive.