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Mild Mannered Reviews - "Injustice: Gods Among Us" Comics

Injustice: Year Two - Chapter #1

Injustice: Year Two - Chapter #1

Released Digitally: January 6, 2014

"Third Wheel"

Writer: Tom Taylor
Penciller: Bruno Redondo
Inker: Julien Hugonnard-Bert
Cover: Jheremy Raapack

Reviewed by: T.A. Ewart (aka liheibao)

Click to enlarge



In their civilian identities of Hal Jordan, Dinah Lance, and Oliver Queen, Green Lantern, Black Canary, and Green Arrow partake of some downtime in a nondescript bar, Buffalo's. Dinah is hit on by a nondescript bar toughie, which results in a one-sided fight as she makes short work of the toughs, and the trio clink glasses to celebrate Hal saving the world. The story returns to the present, where Dinah is at Oliver Queen's funeral with Hal and others. Dinah questions Hal staying with Superman's order, but Hal insists that good work is being done. Their conversation ends, and sometime later, Superman arrives and attempts to talk to Dinah. She attacks him with her "Canary Cry". Superman is angered, but is able to allow Canary to dress him down verbally without killing her. Dinah asks Superman to look at her perspicaciously, and it is revealed that she's pregnant. Superman flies off, and Canary connects to Oracle, asking if the interaction was recorded. Oracle responds in the affirmative.

3Story - 3: Injustice: Gods Among Us starts its second year with some of the tropes that it began its first: death, pregnancy, and a Superman who isn't quite what he should be... and that's putting it lightly. Flashbacks work best when they help the reader connect to the present; the connections they make save time and establish needed characterization and sequencing. This flashback feels out of place, as the characterization established was never shown in the first year of Injustice. There was no discussion between these three good friends about Superman's goals, they just fell on one side or the other. The funeral scene between Dinah and Hal is also a letdown, as they say even less than what occurred at Buffalo's. Buffalo's is curious as one has to wonder why this lot were heroes in the first place. Surely, Dinah could solve the problem without resulting to beating the clearly outmatched tough down, especially when Ollie shows they could be dispatched by lifting a single finger. Hal looks uncomfortable, and he should: after saving the world, it looks very petty to lord it over the populace in such a manner.

Superman's interaction with Dinah continues the disjointed relations that were/are the sundered Justice League of America. The wisdom of attempting to talk to Canary after having had killed her husband is a head-shaker. Surely sending a proxy to feel her out would be smarter. The obvious occurs and well, it shouldn't. It's understood that blood oozing from the orifice of choice makes the scene. It shows us the pain undergone, and speaks to the fanboy in all of us. However, why would Canary be able to generate enough force to cause Superman to bleed at all? Sonics should annoy Superman, not injure him. His hearing is still functional after the scream, as are his eyes which should also take a beating from such an attack. No problems with standing or flying, so his equilibrium is sound. Where's the blood coming from? Canary tells Superman to look at her closely and he sees that she's pregnant, but doesn't notice the false lenses, the mic connection to Oracle, or even the radio waves that would resonate from such an open connection. Bother.

Fair or not, I was expecting more from this opening. Instead, it walks where it's once been, and lacks the punch that Injustice can have. There needs to be some consistency with Superman's character this year as well. He can't be naïve and dictator. He can't hold on to gossamers of what he once was, not while it's full steam ahead for the world around him. No puppy dog looks at people being pregnant; Superman has a mission, he's committed to it, now tell that story.

3Art - 3: Looking forward to Derenick's first issue, if he's still connected to the book. No one else gets the outfit quite as well.

2Cover Art - 2: If he killed Batman, this would be excellent and ominous, but he didn't, so it's misleading as the Bat doesn't appear at all.


Mild Mannered Reviews

2014

Note: Except for digital first releases, the month dates are from the issue covers, not the actual date when the comic went on sale.

January 2014

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