Injustice: Gods Among Us Vol. 1

I'm not a gamer, so I was unfamiliar with the story. From what I understand, this is the backstory to the video game. First, what an incredible and exciting story it is! No spoilers here, let's just say that with just about every turn of the page, I was surprised by the turn of events. The artwork is outstanding and I can say without a doubt that it was very emotional for a comic, with characters we're all familiar with doing things out of character. If you know the game, you'll want to read it and if you don't, like me, you've just got to read it.

This is my step-son's guilty pleasure. He got turned on to the Injustice comic series by finding one in a book store a few months back. I have been buying the others on Amazon since then (price is a lot cheaper than in a bookstore) He loves these series. I buy him a new one every 2 weeks. I know some parents don't think comic book reading is engaging enough but I am just happy he enjoys them so much. I have looked through most of them for anything inappropriate but they are fine. There is some violence but nothing you don't see in a marvel or dc movie. Great graphics and storylines. Overall awesome series and great book. I will continue buying the Injustice series for my 14 year-old stepson.

Product tie-ins are not a new thing in the world of marketing. Films, television, music, and games had had their share of adaptations in some shape or form. A good majority of the time, this idea never pans out well. Occasionally though, product tie-in can be good. Arkham City had the right idea Batman: Arkham City (Batman (DC Comics Paperback)) . So for the video game release of Injustice: Gods Among Us - Playstation 3 , DC had a storyline already built into the game and decided to make a prequel of the same story for digital comics. The sales for the series proved exceptional enough to make in physical print and that made enough sales to warrant this trade collection in hardcover. How does this media tie-in work for fans of the game? It works exceptionally well for them and readers who have never played the game. INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US VOL.1 collects issues #1 - 6. Set in an alternate reality, the story from the Injustice video game has it that the Joker has tricked Superman into horrible and personal attack beyond what you could of imagined (even if players of the game know who and what I am talking about, I'll still keep it spoiler free for readers). In retaliation, Superman loses his moral compass and has established marshal law on the world from attacking one another. While Batman see's this as a terrible future of things to come. Now the world and the Justice League are divided on what is best for the future of mankind. Will Superman's totalitarian view of keeping peace be a lifeless place? And can Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, and Green Lantern stand by all this? What makes this comic so good is the first notion that this series is non-canonical; it's set in a alternate universe so those who might get offended by the darker elements can rest easy that it doesn't hamper these characters legacies. The other is writer Tom Taylor writes a ton of moments of taking characters to places I'm not sure have ever been to before. Superman and the Justice League do some questionable acts that are very dark and graphic, where I'm surprised DC is okay with allowing the content to be this serious. In fact, it does share qualities to Mark Waid's own Kingdom Come and some of The Kingdom . Superman appears to be will-weakened and corruptible, the Justice League are too compliant with Superman's atrocities, and all of the Bat-characters were spot-on with their portrayals in the regular comics. Take those elements together and Injustice becomes a rather gripping story that not only adds a whole bunch of character to the games hit-or-miss story plots, but an engaging read all by itself as well. The character development is what makes for a well done reading experience. Although this is an alternative universe, the characters are finely written within their context that, dare I say, remind of their Pre-New 52 versions. Superman may be deeply conflicted and seen as the villain, he still shows signs of being a boy scout toward others and calling his fellow JL members by their real names. Green Arrow is like his older self (with beard!) in that he hates politics, Harley Quinn is actually Joker's puddin'. Wonder Woman dislikes fighting, but will if she has to and follows the beliefs of Superman. And Batman...well, Batman is Batman. But a good example is Green Arrow and Harley Quinn being together, something I'm not sure I've ever read before, with some of the funniest and brightest moments in the series. These characters are nothing like their current New-52 selves or the game for the matter, yet you cannot get a sense of liking each character, while also showing you their god like abilities and having a sense of humor about itself. The art is handled by various pencillers. Jheremy Raapack and Mike S. Miller do majority of the art, but other artist include Bruno Redondo, Axel Gimenez, David Yardin, Tom Derenick, Marc Deering, and Diana Egea all do their share of the art which is overall good. If there are any flaws in this series, is the dark and graphic content. This isn't mature reading, but there are some scenes where you go "I cannot believe they did that!" and there is a good share of bleakness in this first volume. Again, this series is in a alternate universe, but still. The other is the rotating artist which really might annoy readers. And the comparison to Kingdom Come, although I think it has some influences on this series and enough to make it stand on its own, some readers still might feel they've read this from KC. Overall though, INJUSTICE VOL 1 is a truly enjoyable book that surprised me. I heard nothing but good things about it, and I'm glad I gave it a chance. The characters are enjoyable, the darker story telling is a welcome change, the art is overall good, it helps flesh out the games story and as a stand-alone book, and it's just a different perspective on the DC Universe. But some might not like the darker themes, the changing art, and the similarities to Kingdom Come. I'm giving this a solid 4 stars, maybe even 4 ½. What was meant to be a game tie-in is now become so popular, the series will continue after the events of the game. And I am truly looking forward to more Injustice comics in Injustice: Gods Among Us Vol. 2 .

Having played and loved the Injustice game, I was interested about checking out the prequel comic, but apprehensive as someone who doesn't typically enjoy comics. Luckily for me, Tom Taylor's writing elevates this above most of the other works I've read, making it into a well-made prequel that not only expands upon plot points and fills in gaps from the game's story, but actually helps enhance my enjoyment of the story as a whole. Injustice deals with the prickliest of subjects for superhero fans: Superman, after a harrowing experience with the Joker that leaves a loved one dead, decides he's had enough of villainy and war, and commands all conflicts in the world to end--or be ended. While the game picks up with Superman's regime in full swing, this comic details his rise to power (well, part of it), and its a testament to the creators' abilities that the fall of our greatest hero to our greatest dictator feels completely natural. Superman doesn't immediately go into full-on mustache-twirling mode the moment things start going south for him; his transformation is gradual, and the decisions he makes that lead him down that path are completely understandable. The debates that arise from his actions also feel very real, echoing arguments one might find among philosophers or politicians. Compared to how the creators could have played this (and how other teams have played it in the past), Superman and the rest of the Justice League are presented in a sympathetic light, showing that they're still good people even as they make more and more questionable decisions. The fact that the rest of the Justice League goes along with Supes's little crusade may seem a bit off-putting, but that's also handled well... mostly. Most of them have spent their lives looking up to Superman, in one way or another, so when they see him in pain, it's understandable that they want to help him deal with it. Even Batman continues to be his friend, despite the fact that their friendship has been demolished by the time the game begins. The sympathetic portrayal extends to everyone on both sides; even a death we learn about during the game is revealed to have been accidental, casting the killer in an entirely different light. I will say that if anyone's out of character, it's Wonder Woman. Of all the heroes, she's easily the most violent, especially odd given that she was originally an ambassador of peace (as everyone keeps reminding her). In addition, she's clearly after Superman, and goes about winning his heart in the worst possible, even to the point where she's slightly manipulative and trying to drive a schism between him and certain other heroes. It's a little odd to see the spirit of truth and the premier super-heroine acting this way. It's also interesting that a relationship between Superman and Wonder Woman is used to show how far things have fallen, when they're starting to hook up over in the main DC universe as well. For a prequel to Injustice, a story that can only end with the dismal world we see as the game begins, this comic was an absolute joy to read. Taylor does a great job of mixing up the dramatic and tragic elements of the story with comedic moments, and those comedic moments spring naturally from the characters and their interactions, rather than being forced jokes the writer had to go much too far out of his way to set up. The interactions between Green Arrow and Harley Quinn, of all people, are especially entertaining, and the interactions between Batman and Superman, while growing more and more strained as Superman's actions grow more and more totalitarian, still show the extent of the friendship between the two, and how much it pains them to see a wedge coming between them. I'm looking forward to more, and even though I'd rather own this trade, I almost want to buy the other issues digitally, just to see what happens next. After all, there are a lot of questions unanswered; few of the supervillains we see as part of the Regime in the game have made appearances, a character who dies is still alive, a character who turns yellow is still green, and Batman and Superman are still on speaking terms. If Taylor continues this story as well as he's begun it, I'm definitely looking forward to Volume 2--not to mention his newly-begun run on on Earth 2.

I just finished reading the hardcover compilation of "Injustice: Gods Among Us, Vol. 1." It collects the first six issues of the "Injustice: Gods Among Us" series. The story is very well-written by Tom Taylor and beautifully illustrated by Jheremy Raapack. The hardcover that collects the first six issues is attractive itself, too. I was very impressed by the initial presentation, and then became so thoroughly engaged with the storyline that I read all six issues within the book quickly. The series is based on the video game (which I've never played) and serves as a prequel to the events in the game. The story involves the division of members of the Justice League into two "teams" going up against one another; one led by Superman, one led by Batman. Superman and his followers want to right the wrongs in the world by any means (Machiavelli's "the end justifies the means" philosophy). Batman, on the other hand, wants to right the wrongs within legal confines, using the established (albeit broken) justice system. I won't reveal any spoilers, but I will say that the writer does a fantastic job of not only keeping the story moving, but also with developing each character's personality. The real injustice here is that "Injustice: Gods Among Us" takes place outside of the current DC Universe because this storyline is SO much better than Justice League stories currently being written in the New 52. What a shame that the talents of Taylor and Raapack are being wasted by not giving them a regular monthly series that takes place within the confines of the New 52 and delivers powerful stories with attention to characterization. Instead, we're stuck with bland writers like Ann Nocenti. Taylor also wrote the brilliant Rose and Thorn one-shot which was also a favorite of mine. So, kudos to Taylor on his awesome writing skills. And the art in Injustice is so amazing and lifelike, too! I've rarely seen superheroes like Superman or Wonder Woman look better (although I'm not sure why Lois Lane is a redhead). I look forward to reading the new ongoing Injustice series and (hopefully) watching the careers of Taylor and Raapack fluorish.

I must say I was pleasantly surprised, one of the few times when something lived up to my expectations. I bought this book on a whim, I never played the game but the story fascinated me (and so too did the pretty pictures, lol) Now I will preface by saying that if you are a superman fan you may not think so highly of this story, because it doesn't honor that superman mythos most everyone has grown to love, but I assure it makes for a really exciting and interesting read. without giving too much away....This story brings up a lot of ethical questions particularly from a standpoint of absolute power, and this my friends is the embodiment of absolute power corrupting absolutely, what do you do when one day becomes enough is enough, when everyone on earth is made to agree and live in harmony side by side by force. This is an excellent new take for a graphic novel that I for one enjoyed reading and oh P.S. I'm a big superman fan but what made this not off putting to me was the story and the fact that I'm even bigger Batman fan and he is just badass on here :)

To begin, I'd like to say that I've been a HUGE Justice League fan ever since I was a little girl and the show was on Cartoon Network (I believe?) I've been playing Injustice since it first came out, and have been (im)patiently awaiting the release of this volume (I ordered it almost two months ago and it just arrived today - yay.) The characters are exceptionally well written; their personalities are extremely specific and easily identifiable. With that said, I have to admit that each character (especially the holy trinity of batman, superman and wonderwoman) continued to shock me. The complexity of every individual personality is so well identified, that I actually managed to really feel for the Flash, Batman and Nightwing (okay, might have violently screamed at my comic and shed a tear or two in regards to the whole Nightwing situation.) The story line itself really kept me on my toes the entire time, too. It's so dark, so not what the Justice League is supposed to be, and I think that's what makes it so interesting. You witness the characters turning, it's like we see that these "superheroes" aren't flawless. The last page of the volume provides the perfect hook for the rest of the series, and the mention of the man in the shadows (if you've played the game, you know who I'm talking about -- EEK so excited) makes my heart race even while I write this. Most importantly, from a FEMALE perspective, I'm very satisfied with the way women are presented in this storyline. Both Wonder Woman and Catwoman are ferociously strong individuals that are respected by their male counterparts. They're rockin' full coverage costumes that still show off their totally hot bods and are far from being represented as sex objects, as is common in many comics these days. I have to say that they're probably two of the best written characters in the entire story, which is probably another reason why I LOVE this story so much.

There's only been two comics I've ever read that have connected with me on an emotional level. I'm happily surprised to say Injustice: Gods Among Us Vol. 1 is one of those comics. Everything about it just feels so real. This super-powered, dark & twisted, alternate world still feels very real to me. The division of superheroes/friends/family is sad, and the losses suffered hit really hard. The fights are brutal and carry plenty motivation. The illustrations do a fantastic job at showing the grit of the fights. The writing also works very well together with the illustrations to deliver the story. However, there are some pacing issues during the slower moments that can make you lose your momentum when reading. It's just something you'll have to push through. All pacing issues aside, I really enjoyed Injustice. I can't wait to read Vol. 2 and Year 2-5.