INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US: YEAR FIVE VOL. 2 is what I
expected, and wanted, the film BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF
JUSTICE to be. Writer Brian Buccellato tells a story that
is more thought-provoking and cohesive than the recent
film-version match-up between Batman and Superman. At a
time when antiheroes are extremely popular, INJUSTICE:
GODS AMONG US: YEAR FIVE VOL. 2 has readers questioning
what a superhero should be, and makes it difficult to
tell who the good guys and bad guys are in a sea of moral
ambiguity.
I have always been more of a Batman fan than a Superman
fan, so it was interesting for me to see their
personalities somewhat reversed, making for a nice
juxtaposition. Although Batman is a vigilante, he usually
abides by his "no kill" rule. However, in stories like A
DEATH IN THE FAMILY, Batman proves to get closer to
crossing the line while Superman remains more of an
eternal boy scout. In INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US: YEAR FIVE
VOL. 2, readers see how Superman's grief pushes him far
beyond an adherence to any moral code, and a drift into
madness. Stories about an out-of-control autocrat
resonates with many readers, but seeing Superman fit into
that role is particularly shocking in many ways. It is
fascinating to see beloved DC superheroes get
deconstructed and make choices we never thought they
would. Some of the vignettes in INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US:
YEAR FIVE VOL. 2 are especially disturbing or heart
wrenching, like Bizarro's sad Frankenstein-like story and
the corrosive effect on Batman's family.
In INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US: YEAR FIVE VOL. 2, Superman
leads the Justice League on a downward path toward
cataclysmic and ultimate destruction. This is a great
book for comic fans looking for an explosive and
philosophical tale. This story first intrigued me because
one of my favorite characters is in it -- Harley Quinn.
While I normally enjoy Harley's daffy exploits, as
written by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti, she is
still recognizably whimsical and homicidal here. As much
as the Justice League superheroes annoy and exasperate
her, I like how their nutsy behavior has her questioning
herself. I have never really read any comics featuring
The Flash, but I love how conflicted he is in INJUSTICE:
GODS AMONG US: YEAR FIVE VOL. 2 and the way it adds
complexity to this harrowing tale of good versus evil.
The final year and penultimate volume of INJUSTICE: GODS
AMONG US is here, leading into the storyline of the hit
video game! Having defeated the Green Lantern Corps, the
forces of magic, and now the gods themselves, Superman's
totalitarian regime seems to have eliminated all threats.
Yet uneasy lies the crown on the head of the Man of
Steel. Still obsessed with the outlaw Batman and worried
about having enough troops to police his world, the Man
of Steel begins to recruit some of Earth's deadliest
villains to his side. Does the Dark Knight have any
chance of ending the Man of Steel's rule?
The finale is nearly here, as writer Brian Buccellato
(THE FLASH) unveils the penultimate chapter before the
events of the hit video game phenomenon in INJUSTICE:
GODS AMONG US YEAR FIVE VOL. 2. Collects issues #7-12.