Injustice Gods Among Us Year Two Annual #1 Review

Closure.

A six month gap passed between Injustice Year Two #7 and #8, and this annual highlights two of events that occurred in the meantime.

Marguerite Bennett takes center stage as writer, with a little help from series regular Tom Taylor, as she explores two very important partnerships in the Injustice world (and I may argue, in the DCU).

The artwork is divided by four artists in the first story, while Raapack takes sole reign in the second. The difference does show, with inconsistencies plaguing the first part through overall the artwork is satisfactory and sometimes elevates to very good.

SPOILERS FOLLOW…………

The first story concerns the sudden reappearance of Barbara Gordon Sr. even as James Gordon himself plans for his final farewell.

We see the Birds of Prey (including Harley) and Barbara enjoying some pictures of a happier times, through Barbara breaks down when she sees former lover (and currently deceased) Nightwing aka Dick Grayson in one if them.

Now again wearing the mantle of Oracle, she receives a shock as she spies her mother on one of the monitors – after a gap of fifteen years.

James Gordon immediately hunts ‘her’ down, only to reveal Basil Karlo aka Clayface as the perpetuator of the ruse.

Here’s where things get interesting – Taylor has already played around with this universe by making Superman and Lex longtime friends, and now he and Bennett re-imagine the older Barbara as a detective, who according to Clayface, fell foul of the Red Hood Gang.

Taking Gordon to her place of burial, he earns a respite from Superman’s attempts to round up all the Arkham crazies. But Barbara learns a deeper con is going on after finding Kyptonian DNA in Basil despite his assertions that he had never met Superman

Clayface morphs into Nightwing in front of her and then Alfred (apparently under orders from Clark to make them suffer by seeing their dead before them just like he does everyday).

Eventually Clayface is subdued, and James Gordon and his daughter are finally able to lay their loved ones’ to rest.

The next story details Superman assigning Sinestro and Hal Jordan to a mission to find a device of immense power – the Ur-Force of the Weaponers.

This does require a little more knowledge of the worlds of the Green Lanterns, so don’t be afraid of being lost. All you need to know is the Ur-Force’s capabilities scare even someone like Sinestro, and has been thought to be a myth until now.

Sinestro’s musings are the biggest part of this trip, and reveals a lot about his mental frame and why he does what he does.

His own desires to control every aspect of his own planet through his dictatorship parallel the Weaponers aspirations – as does his condemnation of the external agents (the Green Lanterns and the Guardians) who brought its downfall. He theorizes that if he had been allowed to continue, he may have brought eternal peace and prosperity to the planet.

Hal Jordan is the voice of reason here as with very few words, he establishes what Sinestro himself couldn’t see – choice is not a privilege reserved for a few, but to all.

Sinestro brings out his poker game trademark, as he subtly manipulates Hal into comparing his own actions with Superman and then including the Green Lanterns in the mix.

And finally he hits the crux of the situation – Hal supports Superman not through some misplaced feelings of loyalty, but as a mirror of the situation his once time friend Sinestro was in. If he had been there to guide his actions, instead of opposing them, the good would have outweighed the bad – and this time he will make no mistakes with Superman.

Now we know this is hogwash, as both Superman and Sinestro are suffering from god complex – yet all Hal sees is friends gone astray.

They’re attacked and find that a crew of Green Lanterns is transporting the Ur-Force to Oa. Using them as a diversion, Hal and Sinestro escape with the Ur-Force.

We now see Hal’s thoughts about what would happen if anyone would possess such power – and is then pleasantly surprised to see Sinestro of all people destroy it.

Believing that his friend and mentor has returned, Hal seems to have a burden lifted off his shoulders and they both return to Earth – one even more determined to support Superman’s world view as they align with his, while the other hopes to help Superman create a better world.

SPOILERS END……………

The relationships shown here are very much indepth, something that has been a little lacking in the main series amid the frantic pace and explosions.

Bennett shows some good insight in very diverse environments and this proves to be a good supplement for the main series.

The artwork is well done, especially Jeremy Raapack – who exceeds expectations with his work here.

So, I give it 9.0 out of 10.

+Some great character interactions

+Indepth analysis of the characters

+Great artwork

+Very expert handling of diverse situations

-The second story may require a little of intricate Green Lantern universe knowledge