Injustice 2 #64 & #65 - A Review

The Red Lanterns' siege of Oa continues in Injustice #64. The Red Lanterns' still have Starro The Conqueror on their side, and through it control of a Guardian and many Green Lanterns. Can Hal Jordan find it in himself to be a leader again?  If he can, will The Green Lanterns follow him despite his past crimes?



An unexpected arrival turns the tide of the battle in Injustice 2 #65. But the new arrival is not there to save Oa or to defeat the Red Lanterns. They have come for Conner Kent, the new Superman!




I regret that my Tuesdays of late have been so busy as to not find the time to discuss this book in a more timely manner. If pressed to pick a single favorite comic book right now, I dare say this might be it. Tom Taylor's command of these characters - many of whom no longer exist in the regular DC Comics universe (or, at least, are heavily sidelined) - is astonishing and I still say that when the current creative teams are done with their runs we need Tom Taylor writing a Green Lantern book.

As far as the artwork goes, it is ever fantastic. I have a slight preference for Bruno Redondo's clearer lines and Gabe Eltaeb's delicate inks over the grittier aesthetic preferred by Xermanico, but that is only because I think it generally fits the tone of Taylor's stories better. Generally, this is true, but Xermanico proves the perfect artist to draw the darker-toned Injustice 2 #65. The colors by both Juan Albarran and J. Nankan are spectacular and Wes Abbott is, as always, wonderful about using his balloon placement to enhance the action rather than obscuring it.

Bottom Line: There are both great issues. This is a fantastic series and it should be an obvious pick-up for anyone who loves the DC Universe.

The Final Analysis: 10/10 for both issues.

Injustice 2 #60-62 - A Belated Review

The Red Lanterns have recruited Starro The Conqueror and have lain siege to Oa - home of The Green Lantern Corps and The Guardians of The Universe. The New God Metron has recruited Jaime Reyes - The Blue Beetle - to stand against Starro, having foreseen that only the wielder of The Scarab can stand against the rage-empowered Starro.

Blue Beetle does not stand alone, however, with his friends in the New Titans and Booster Gold having joined in the fight. Even the bounty hunter Lobo, who was hired by Metron to bring Blue Beetle to him, has joined in the fighting on the simple grounds that it'll be hard for him to get paid in a universe run by a crazy hive-mind. And before the day is over, even more unlikely allies may be found to aid Oa in its blackest night...


Due to life being life and my schedule of late leaving me busy on Tuesdays when this book is released on-line, I haven't had the opportunity to review Injustice 2 for nearly three weeks. Indeed, I've barely had the time to read it!

Today, however, I made the time and I am glad I did. For Injustice 2 #62 contained no less than three jaw-dropping moments. I am not certain that my jaw literally did drop physically as I was reading the issue. Mentally, however, I was gobsmacked.

I know Tom Taylor is a busy man but I dearly wish he were writing several series based on his work here. There are a number of characters in Injustice 2 - no longer in existence in the DC Rebirth reality - who I sorely miss and am glad to see being given their due here. Chief among these are Conner Kent and Cassie Sandsmark, who have become this reality's new Superman and Wonder Woman and one heck of a cute couple. I'd also love to see Taylor tackle the Green Lantern Corps on a regular basis or pen a new Blue and Gold series.

The artwork is equally fantastic. This book is blessed by a number of great creative teams and I'd be hard pressed to pick a favorite if asked to do so. Xermanico, Daniel Sampere, Juan Albarran, J Nanjan, Rex Lokus and Wes Abbot all deliver their respective A-games to every aspect of this series' artwork and I cannot recall any issue where the art was anything but excellent.

If you haven't been reading Injustice 2, for whatever reason, you've been missing out. This is one of my favorite series and you would do well to check it out and find out why.

The Final Analysis: 10 out of 10. Great issues, all of them. 

Injustice 2 #49 - A Review

Amazo has been defeated, but the followers of Ra's Al Ghul who helped to bring about his defeat now face a difficult battle to escape from Gorilla City with their lives. Meanwhile, two teams must begin to rebuild and tend to the wounded - those wounded physically and those whose pain lies in their hearts and minds.



The better portion of this issue is devoted toward some rather intensive action sequences. Despite this, Tom Taylor still finds plenty of time to devote to quieter character moments - both serious and comedic. The quality of his writing is equaled only by the fantastic artwork by Daniel Sampere, Juan Albarran, Rex Lokus and Wes Abbott. This continues to be one of my favorite comics.

The Final Analysis: 10 out of 10.

Injustice 2 #46 - A Review

As two teams of heroes face the newest Amazo, The Atom attempts to bring the killer android down from the inside. Meanwhile, Ra's Al Ghul's superhero allies begin to question their allegiance... including the mysterious new Batman!



Again, I can't really discuss the particulars of this issue beyond some big and important things to the overall storyline occurring. As usual, Tom Taylor focuses on the relationships between characters over the action of the big battle, which is largely kept to the background of this issue. This plays to Taylor's strengths as a writer, because while he can write a darn fine action scene, it's his command of dialogue and character that make this book so marvelous. The artwork is equally impressive, with Daniel Sampere, Juan Albarran, Rex Lokus and Wes Abbott each delivering their usual excellent performance. I've said it before and I'll say it again - you should be reading this series.

The Final Analysis: 8 out of 10. A solid issue, though the "twist" ending is a bit obvious.

Injustice 2 #38 - A Review

The Titans have been freed from The Phantom Zone, but General Zod has hitched a ride into reality with them! When they and The Justice League Task Force fail to stop him from escaping The Fortress of Solitude, only Batman may be able stop Zod... by using a weapon he never dared turn upon Superman!



Injustice 2 #38 is another flawless issue.  The artwork by Sampere, Lokus and Abbott is fantastic. Tom Taylor's script balances both comedy, action and drama in equal measure. This is one book I look forward to week after week yet I find it harder and harder to review, having run out of praises to sing about it.

The Final Analysis: 10 out of 10.

Injustice 2 #36 - A Review

Breaking into The Fortress of Solitude in search of a working Phantom Zone Projector, Batman and the new Justice League Task Force were not expecting to run into an army of angry Superman robots. What they find inside The Fortress proves even more surprising!


Injustice 2 #36 is largely devoted to one humdinger of an epic action-sequence. Despite this, the best moments of the issue come in the quiet conversations our heroes have later on. Good as he is at writing superheroic battles, Tom Taylor's bread and butter are these quieter character-driven moments and these scenes are what keep me reading this series.

Xermanico excels at depicting both the active and static scenes, though some of the panels in the action-filled half of the story are a tad rough. The majority of the comic still looks fantastic, with J. Nanjan's finishes and Wes Abbott's letters proving as spectacular as usual.

The Final Analysis: 9 out of 10. A few oddly posed panels put this one just short of perfection.

Injustice 2 #34 - A Review

Ra's Al Ghul tests his latest weapon - T.O. Morrow's most powerful Amazo robot yet - in a remote Arizona town. As Batman and his allies sort through the rubble trying to understand the new threat they face, a new villain unlike anything Earth has ever seen is born...


In terms of story, seemingly little happens in Injustice #34. I suspect that what we see here will achieve greater significance later but it seems that the larger plots are treading water for an issue. This is fine, as Tom Taylor takes the opportunity to tell an ironically human story about a character who is not.

The art team is on-point, as-usual. Bruno Redondo's detail-driven penciling style is perfectly finished by Juan Albarran's well-applied inks. Rex Lokus proves his phenomenal skill as a colorist once again. And Wes Abbott adds a subtle touch with some distinctive and inventive lettering.

The Final Analysis: 8 out of 10. The story is relatively sedate for this series but it's probably building to something bigger and the art is amazing.

Injustice 2 #29 - A Review

As Kara, Damian Wayne and Black Adam launch their plan to rescue Diana - the former Wonder Woman - from her Themiscyran prison, Diana is visited by an old foe with an odd request...


I can't show any images from this week's Injustice 2 issue. Partly because Tom Taylor has put enough surprises in this issue relative to the description above that I don't want to spoil anything and partly because all of this issue's failings lie in the artwork.  I'm not saying that Mike S. Miller is a bad artist, but his bright, detail-driven style is a poor match for the tone of Taylor's story here. Some of moments which are meant to be dramatic look goofy as rendered by Miller and the scene depicted on the cover does not happen, even in a metaphorical sense. Fans of the Amazons will want to read this issue anyway, particularly for the final page.

The Final Analysis: 7 out of 10. Good, but not great. 

Injustice: Ground Zero #4 - A Review

As the heroes of another Earth arrive just in time to save a group of anti-Regime protesters, Harley Quinn finds herself in the unlikely role of hero, moving to protect the crowd from the fallout of a superhero battle. This leads to some deep thoughts of the insanity of heroism and how Harley - for better or worse - has definitely become one of the good guys.


The last thing most people expect from a Harley Quinn comic is deep thoughts. Yet that is precisely what Chris Sebela delivers this week, as Harley pontificates upon how inherently silly superheroes are. Of course Harley, being Harley, revels in the insanity rather than criticizing it... right up until the point when two bozos in spandex slapping each other around becomes more important than the people put in danger. Still, the opening speech of the comic is on-par with the speech Alan Moore wrote for Rorschach regarding the clown who couldn't laugh anymore.


The artwork continues to impress, with Daniel Sampere and Juan Albarran turning in their usual high-quality work. Every panel of this comic looks gorgeous, with intricately drawn figures, astonishing colors and inks that enhance the original pencils without making the comic look overly shaded.

Injustice: Ground Zero #3 - A Review

With her first secret mission for Batman in the can, Harley is ready to celebrate. Being a generous boss, Harley decides to take her henchmen out to enjoy in the merrymaking and finally learn their names. But there's no rest for the wicked, even if they are the good guys now... technically. So when Harley sees a news story about the Regime's police moving in on a peaceful protest, she knows just what her new gang/team's next mission will be.


Daniel Sampere is one of my favorite artists and this issue showcases precisely why that is so. Sampere has a great gift for expressions and is a wonderful visual storyteller. He is well-paired with inker Juan Albarran, who adds the perfect definition to complete the artwork.


Harley Quinn hasn't been written this well in quite some time. Plotter Brian Buccellato and writer Chris Sebela present a classic Harley Quinn here - one who means well but whose "help" is of dubious quality. Still, it is fun to watch ol' Harl cut loose and there are many moments of hilarity in this issue.

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

A Superman impostor is on the loose and The Regime is desperate to bring him to heel quickly. As Superman questions Lex Luthor about his involvement, The Trickster finds himself in the unenviable position of befriending this bizarre clone and instructing him as to what Superman should do to save the world.


There s a grand irony to Brian Buccellato's script for this issue, in that The Trickster has become a hero in his manipulation of Bizarro, though his motives for setting him on the real Superman are hardly noble. In this, the rogue among The Rogues remains the only honest villain among them. And yet he has inadvertently accomplished more good than the likes of Weather Wizard and Heatwave, who were honestly trying to go straight!


I wish I could be as generous in describing the artwork this week. There's a number of forced poses, elongated bodies and odd perspective shots that leave this issue looking awkward throughout. It's not bad as such, but this is not Mike S. Miller's best work.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Five #7 - A Review

The fight continues as Batman and his inner circle face off against Superman, Wonder Woman, Killer Frost and Bane while Batgirl tries to rescue Catwoman. Meanwhile, on another world, Katar Hol returns home to find his wife is missing. And he is not pleased.


There's a lot of action in this issue. Yet Brian Buccellato takes the time to slow things down and allows for the kind of conversations he's famous for writing. The final scene between Bruce and Selina is particularly touching.


The artwork seems a little off this week. Mike S. Miller's pencils are uncharacteristically sloppy and some of his poses (particularly in the fight scene between Killer Croc and Batgirl) seem unnaturally forced. The inks by J. Nanjan are also far too thin in some panels, barely enhancing the original pencils at all.

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

Normally, I start my reviews off with a set-up of the action of the issue. This time, however, I feel compelled to do something different. This time, I'm going to start off singing praises of Bruno Redondo.


I can't recall Redondo indulging in a variety of visual gags before but there's quite a few clever ones in this issue.  From the Lex-Us car adverts to the way Batgirl rolls her eyes as Penguin blatantly lies over how completely innocent he is, there is hilarity aplenty to match Brian Buccellato's script.


It's not all laughs, however. Indeed, the sequence in which Damian Wayne - now officially going by Nightwing - is confronted by League of Assassins members in need of a new leader - may be the most brutal in the series' history. Comedy or drama, the whole issue is one great read and well-paced.


I can't neglect the rest of the art team in all this praise.  Juan Albarran does his usual stellar job on the inks. Rex Lokus continues to impress with his well-chosen colors. And the lettering by Wes Abbott is clear and easily read.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Five #4 - A Review

As Catwoman begins to approach the super-criminals with codes regarding an alliance with Batman, so too does Superman begin to allow willing villains to work for his Regime. Meanwhile, a Bizzaro clone of Lex Luthor's design is on the loose and confused in Germany, with no clue of who he is or the power he possesses...


Even at this late point in the series, Brian Buccellato still finds ways to surprise the readers. The introduction of Bizzaro in this issue was brilliantly foreshadowed. One wonders where they will go next with the revelation that there is someone who can match Superman physically in play. The cliffhanger at this issue's end proves equally stunning.


What can I say about the art of Mike S. Miller and J. Nanjan that hasn't been said already? Not much, without pulling out a thesaurus to find even more synonyms for 'stupendous', 'wonderful' and 'amazing'. So I think I'll simply say that this book looks as great as ever and leave it at that.

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

Superman receives some unexpected help in his fight against Doomsday from the criminal mastermind known as Bane. It seems The Man Who Broke The Bat wishes to prove his worth to The Man of Steel and proposes an alliance to deal with their mutual enemy. It is an offer Superman has little time to consider, however, because The Parasite is also on the loose and about to destroy Hal Jordan and Cyborg!


This issue will probably be the one that marks the turning point for Injustice. Both as the moment when Superman passed the point of no redemption and the point where the series itself became more focused on serious drama with little comedic contrast. In any case, while there's little of the humor that has made this series a fan favorite in this chapter, Brian Buccellato's writing remains as strong as ever.


The artwork this time around proves serviceable but not quite outstanding. Tom Derenick's inks are a little too heavy at times, though his character designs as well as his command of visual storytelling and panel placement remain excellent. And Rex Lokus' colors are as well-chosen and as skillfully applied as ever.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Four #23 - A Review

What remains of Superman's Regime storms Themyscira with one goal in mind - defeat the Greek Gods now laying siege to the world! They receive some unexpected help from Batman's Insurgency. But that will not help them against the nuclear missiles The United Nations have just launched!


Mike S. Miller is a fine artist but this is not his best issue. There are several points where the poses are awkward and the pencils seemed rushed. Still, there are some scenes we see what Miller is truly capable of and J. Nanjan's colors are fantastic throughout.


Brian Buccalleto remains on point with the script. This issue is largely one big action sequence but it proves to be a well-paced one. And the final page will leave you hungry for next week's issue.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Four #22 - A Review

The battle between Superman and Darkseid threatens to destroy not only the damned world of Apokolips but thousands of worlds around it! As Orion acts to stop the battle and Batman approaches Highfather to warn of the alliance between Ares and Darkseid, both The Regime and The Insurgency regroup. And as The United Nations consider launching a nuclear strike upon The Greek Gods, Harley Quinn gives Billy Batson a ride home.


Quite a lot happens in this episode and it is to Brian Buccellato's credit that he is able to balance all the on-going subplots with the skill of a plate-spinner. Yet despite some truly epic battles and literal world-shaking events, what really sells this story is the brief character moments. From Alfred's pep-talk to those still following Batman to the strange sweetness of Harley's crush on Shazam and her totally platonic (but no less creepy) feelings regarding Billy, there are many scenes that elicit a strong emotional response.


The artwork by Xermanico is similarly varied but more uneven. Largely the artwork looks good, particularly in the slower, more touching moments. But Xermanico's pencils get sloppy during some of the action sequences and there are some moments - particularly the fight with Darkseid - where the inking seems to obscure the details more than they enhance them.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Four #21 - A Review

As Zeus declares war on all other religions and the United Nations ponders extreme actions against Olympus, the political pundits ask one question - where has Superman gone? The answer lies on the planet of Apokolips.  For it is there that Superman finds the true architect of his recent troubles... Darkseid, the New God Tyrant!


Brian Buccellato's script for this issue is a thrilling one. There's a good sense of balance between all of the players and it's gratifying to see the world's response to recent events after so many extended fight scenes over the past few issues. My only quibble lies in some of the character responses. I find it hard to believe, for instance, that Hippolyta and Billy Batson - both captives on Apokolips - would be so quick to abandon Superman as they escape through a Motherbox portal.  Harley might, but definitely not a warrior like Hippolyta or an idealist like Billy.


I have similar issues with aspects of the artwork by Tom Derenick.  Derenick is a fine artist and the action scenes of this issue, where Superman fights Darkseid, are spectacular. Yet there are some little background details that bother me, such as Billy Batson not seeming at all bothered by the cold of the Himalayan mountains where he and his fellow escapes arrive on Earth, despite being in a t-shirt and shorts.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Four #20 - A Review

As the gods themselves clash in the sea near Themyscira, Batman and his team try to evacuate the Amazon people to safety. But Artemis - general of the Amazons - is not one to run from a fight, even when the enemy is a wave of magical water horses that threaten to engulf her and her elite guard! And unbeknownst to all a greater manipulation than that plotted by Ares, God of War, plays out under their noses...


One of the more gratifying aspects of this series under Brian Buccellato's pen has been his willingness to shift the point-of-view away from the major players of the conflict between Superman and Batman. In this case, we get a wonderful scene of Artemis - the Amazon who briefly replaced Diana as Wonder Woman - reflecting on the battle around her and her responsibilities to her people. It is a brief moment but it is simultaneously powerful and grounding, putting the battle in perspective.


The artwork by Bruno Redondo and Juan Albarran remains as glorious as ever. The action is well-played as Redondo is given a rare chance to show off his skills in pacing a story solo. This issue features a larger number of pages with no dialogue than usual and Redondo does a fine job of letting the art tell the story.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Four #19 - A Review

Condemned to the prison plane of Tartarus (more like Tartar-ASS, given the way it smells), things are looking bad for Billy Batson and Hippolyta. Luckily, they've got an expert in escaping from prison with them - the ever-lovin', blue-eyed Harley Quinn!  Unluckily, they're being closely watched by the architect of their imprisonment - Ares!


After several issues of doom and gloom, it's a real treat to see an issue centering upon something as silly as the idea of Harley Quinn escaping from Hell. And yet, despite the humor of the concept, Brian Buccellato does not belittle Harley's competence while mining the situation for its obvious comedic potential. Quinn is a stone-cold badass in this issue and holds her own alongside the queen of the freaking Amazons in a brawl to say nothing of being willing to throw down with the God of War himself!


Would that the artwork equaled the concept!  Xermanico's work on this issue is uncharacteristically sloppy and the issue's action sequences suffer for it. The colors by Rex Lokus, however, remain a high point of the series as does Wes Abbott's lettering.