standardman's review
1.0
This series was always a balancing act being being absurd but actually good. Here it falls into just being a terrible book about people doing dumb stuff
trike's review
2.0
I eagerly tore into this one to see what would happen next and within the first few pages I was struck by how different the writing was. Superman on a throne? Lame puns? Clunky exposition? What happened?
...oh, new writer. Gotcha.
This is simply not very good. This volume is the sort of thing I initially expected when I read the very first collection: a below-average comic about superheroes fighting for no good reason as an excuse to give a video game some background.
In this issue Ares, the god of War, plays the same role Constantine did in the previous Year Three storyline, manipulating the gods of Olympus into taking up arms against Superman. It’s not nearly as well-crafted, and the gods are chomping at the bit to get into the fight for some not-very-clear reason. Taylor would have delved below the surface more, whereas here everyone feels two-dimensional.
Nope. Not only do we not get to see Clark and Diana kill each other, they barely fight. She somehow gouges his eyes so they bleed and then breaks his arm. Superman just seems especially weak here.
In my headcanon, Superman has always had 9/10ths of everyone else’s skills. He’s not as smart as Batman. He’s not as strong as Shazam. He’s not as fast as Flash. He’s not as good a fighter as Wonder Woman. He’s not a natural leader like Aquaman. He’s not as headstrong as Green Lantern. But he combines all of those in an all-around package and he never, ever quits. He is the shining beacon of goodness, of right, of justice, which is why the others follow him. Strip away his goodness and replace it with rage, and he can truly shake the pillars of heaven. Which is what we saw in the first three years of Injustice.
Here, his abilities wax and wane literally from page to page, in a very unsatisfying way.
...oh, new writer. Gotcha.
This is simply not very good. This volume is the sort of thing I initially expected when I read the very first collection: a below-average comic about superheroes fighting for no good reason as an excuse to give a video game some background.
In this issue Ares, the god of War, plays the same role Constantine did in the previous Year Three storyline, manipulating the gods of Olympus into taking up arms against Superman. It’s not nearly as well-crafted, and the gods are chomping at the bit to get into the fight for some not-very-clear reason. Taylor would have delved below the surface more, whereas here everyone feels two-dimensional.
Spoiler
I thought the book might be redeemed when Wonder Woman was forced to choose sides between her friends and her allegiance to the gods, but she made that choice easily, siding with Superman. Then she invokes the right to resolve the conflict by choosing champions in a fight to the death. Superman steps up, and then Batman chooses Wonder Woman for his champion. Dilemma!Nope. Not only do we not get to see Clark and Diana kill each other, they barely fight. She somehow gouges his eyes so they bleed and then breaks his arm. Superman just seems especially weak here.
In my headcanon, Superman has always had 9/10ths of everyone else’s skills. He’s not as smart as Batman. He’s not as strong as Shazam. He’s not as fast as Flash. He’s not as good a fighter as Wonder Woman. He’s not a natural leader like Aquaman. He’s not as headstrong as Green Lantern. But he combines all of those in an all-around package and he never, ever quits. He is the shining beacon of goodness, of right, of justice, which is why the others follow him. Strip away his goodness and replace it with rage, and he can truly shake the pillars of heaven. Which is what we saw in the first three years of Injustice.
Here, his abilities wax and wane literally from page to page, in a very unsatisfying way.
booksnarks's review
3.0
This was probably the weakest volume in the series, at least to me. With the introduction of the gods of Olympus I feel as if we've deviated too much from what should be the main focus of the story -- team Batman vs. team Superman. The issue did have some heartfelt moments between characters that I appreciated, not to mention that Barbara once again took up the mantle of Batgirl which was great to see.
laheereads's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
just_fighting_censorship's review
4.0
Enjoyable but not to the same level as the rest of the series. Batman's crew is in hiding and Superman is being a jerk. There is a small plot arc involving Montoya calling out Superman which I didn't really connect with since I am not attached to the character, in fact I find her somewhat annoying.
Then there is a small background arc featuring Harley's new found fascination with Shazam, I get that it was meant as comic relief, but it wasn't very funny. In fact, it was kind of creepy, in a gross that's a little kid way.
The main plot of the story focuses on the Greek gods getting pulled into the fight. I enjoying seeing these characters and the strained position it puts Wonder Woman in, but it is also putting a bit of a strain on the reader as it is definitely starting to feel a bit much. Fighting the Lanterns was an amazing storyline, absolutely epic. The magic storyline made sense even if I'm not a fan of DC's magical cast of characters, but this is starting to feel like a game of keep away and I just want to get to the parallel universe arc shown in the game!
Aside from the "enough already" feeling I was getting towards the end of this volume, the artwork was particularly offensive in some panels, just really ugly. This illustrator needs to work on eyes and facial expressions in general.
I'm still very much enjoying the battles but am definitely starting to feel like I'm running in place.
Then there is a small background arc featuring Harley's new found fascination with Shazam, I get that it was meant as comic relief, but it wasn't very funny. In fact, it was kind of creepy, in a gross that's a little kid way.
The main plot of the story focuses on the Greek gods getting pulled into the fight. I enjoying seeing these characters and the strained position it puts Wonder Woman in, but it is also putting a bit of a strain on the reader as it is definitely starting to feel a bit much. Fighting the Lanterns was an amazing storyline, absolutely epic. The magic storyline made sense even if I'm not a fan of DC's magical cast of characters, but this is starting to feel like a game of keep away and I just want to get to the parallel universe arc shown in the game!
Aside from the "enough already" feeling I was getting towards the end of this volume, the artwork was particularly offensive in some panels, just really ugly. This illustrator needs to work on eyes and facial expressions in general.
I'm still very much enjoying the battles but am definitely starting to feel like I'm running in place.
beorn_101's review
2.0
Right, so if random spirits and mages wasn't weird enough for you, this one has the literal gods jumping in, which feels forced at best.
Honestly, I found the resisting Superman storyline really compelling but now it seems like the writers are just using a magic 8 ball or something...
The only reason I am still reading is I legitimately want to see how Superman's regime goes. Does he beat Batman, or does Batman convince his followers he is a tyrant? All the addition of these random background things just feels like stalling tactics.
Honestly, I found the resisting Superman storyline really compelling but now it seems like the writers are just using a magic 8 ball or something...
The only reason I am still reading is I legitimately want to see how Superman's regime goes. Does he beat Batman, or does Batman convince his followers he is a tyrant? All the addition of these random background things just feels like stalling tactics.