Injustice 2, Vol. 1

Injustice 2 (2017-2018)

by Tom Taylor, Bruno Redondo (Artist), Daniel Sampere (Artist)

The start of an all-new saga in the alternate DC Universe of the smash-hit Warner Bros. Interactive fighting game is here in INJUSTICE 2 VOL. 1!

The war is over. But a new battle is about to begin.

After years of conflict and carnage, Batman and his rebel allies have finally triumphed over their tyrannical foe, Superman. Now the Man of Steel is behind bars, and the Dark Knight holds the future of the world in his hands.

But that future is about to slip from his grasp.

Superman still has many friends who will work tirelessly to free their leader from captivity. And a new force is about to emerge from the shadows. A winged warrior is assembling a Suicide Squad of the world's most dangerous villains to pursue plans of his own, by any means necessary.

And this man in black is out to claim the mantle of the Batman himself.

As old foes and new enemies collide, can Bruce Wayne preserve the fragile peace for which so many heroes have sacrificed? Or is a new era of injustice about to dawn?

From the acclaimed creative team of Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo, INJUSTICE 2 VOL. 1 collects INJUSTICE 2 #1-6 (digital #1-12).

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Comic Book, Batman, Fiction, Superheroes

144 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2018

About the author

Once a professional juggler and fire eater, Tom Taylor is a #1 New York Times Bestselling, multi-award-winning comic book writer, playwright and screenwriter.

Well known for his work with DC Comics and Marvel, Taylor is the co-creator of NEVERLANDERS from Penguin Random House, SEVEN SECRETS from Boom Studios and the Aurealis-Award-winning graphic novel series THE DEEP. Taylor is also the Head Writer and Executive Producer of The Deep animated series, four seasons of which is broadcast in over 140 countries.

He is perhaps best known for the DC Comics series, DCEASED (Shadow Awards Winner), NIGHTWING (nominated for 5 Eisner Awards), SUPERMAN: SON OF KAL-EL (GLAAD Award Nominee), INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US, SUICIDE SQUAD, EARTH 2 and BATMAN/SUPERMAN as well as Marvel's FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN, ALL NEW WOLVERINE, X-MEN: RED, DARK AGES and SUPERIOR IRON MAN. Taylor is also the writer of many Star Wars series, which include STAR WARS: INVASION and STAR WARS: BLOOD TIES (Stan Lee Excelsior Award winner). Taylor has written for Marvel, DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, IDW Publishing, Boom Studios, Wildstorm, 2000 AD and Gestalt Comics.

He can be followed on twitter @TomTaylorMade.

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Tom Taylor is back, baby!



And you can definitely feel the difference. The tone is more badass, the level of feels is just more realistic and heartfelt, and the humor is more...funny.



Now, I made a mistake last time around by ignoring the video game and thinking that this comic was a separate entity altogether. Bzzzt. I was wrong.
So, after finishing this comic, my son and I sat down to watch the Injustice 2 Cutscenes.
All 2 hours, 45 minutes, and 38 seconds of it.
Holy shit, the graphics are amazing!



I will say that the comics and the game don't line up exactly for example, Damien kills Zzaz at the end of the Injustice comics as revenge for killing Alfred, having been with Superman's side since (basically) the beginning of that comic, after accidentally killing Nightwing. But in the Injustice 2 video game, Damien is still with his father and betrays him after they meet Superman at the prison by killing Zzaz, with no mention of anything to do with Alfred or Nightwing., but this didn't actually bother me. I'm reading the comics as a separate thing and using the game as a reference point. <--If that makes sense?



The story in Vol 1 has so much more going for it than the last few volumes of Injustice have had, and I'm giving all the credit to Taylor. It's not that the other writers were awful, but Taylor just seems to get this title in a way that makes his take on it special.



I don't want to spoil anything, but there were several moments that caught me by surprise and reminded me why I used to love this one so much! If you've lost your original love for this one, don't give up yet. Unbelievably, Injustice seems to be back!



Highly Recommended for Fans of Injustice.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who would have thought a video game tie-in would be one of DC's best comics? But that's what it is when Tom Taylor is writing it. I've never played the video game, but this is really one long Elseworlds story where Superman thinks he can do a better job of running the world than anyone else. One of the biggest things Taylor brings is a Harley Quinn I actually like. For the first time in years, she's written as more than just Deadpool with boobs.

Batman's finally got Superman locked up, but now there's a new threat rising. Ra's al Ghul is back and he's got both heroes and villains in tow to "save" the planet before it's destroyed by pollution and overpopulation. The one thing that was confusing was the evil Batman running around in the same suit. They could have at least changed the bat symbol so we could tell them apart easier. (Yes, I know it sometimes glowed red, but it wasn't consistent.)

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

OHHHHhhhHHH TOM! THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK TO US! WE MISSED YOU!

Seriously. Injustice year 4-5 were a huge disappointment compared to the excellent year 1-2 (and some of 3) Tom produced. However, I kept reading in hopes it would get better. It never really did. Moments of fun, but nothing compared to the start. THEN the announcement that Tom mother fucking Taylor would be coming back for Injustice 2 got me HYPPPPED and for good reason. Tom gets a dark, twisted, dark-verse type universe for our DC heroes.

So Superman is imprisoned. Why not kill him? Well we just don't do that shit. Batman is trying to fix the world. Not in the way superman "tried" but in a more organic way. Let the people recover from the Tyrant. However, not everyone feels the same. A new mysterious evil batman shows up while running with most of the suicide squad. You got Ra back because, why the fuck not. Immortal demon king is always a tough enemy. So batman begins to recruit and build his team for a better tomorrow but is it too late?

Good: The art is great. I didn't love Injustice art all the time but here everything looks crisp and clean, lot of bright colors, but still a dark gloomy feel. The fights between the characters are always well done too and the slight dialog edge tom gives each character really makes you love/hate them. Harley for example is finally written to where I LIKE her when I normally can't stand her. Also, How fucking amazing is Connor. Green arrow's son freaking rocks in here. Also the death here...fuck...was tough.

Bad: The last issue deals with Supergirl and what happened to her. There's some good moments in there but it's the least interesting chapter mostly because we get that all in the game. I also feel it didn't give me the hyped feel I was hoping for like year 1-2 did at the end of their volumes.

Overall this was fantastic. Tom writes these characters so damn well. I love a universe where everything is off limits and when characters bite it, doesn't feel for shock, more for a story reason. For character growth of others. Tom gets it, he just does. Thank you man for coming back. Please stay. A 4 out of 5.

[Subham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read for sure!

We pick up with the aftermath of the game and how the new world order is but things start to take a dark turn as we find a new Batman leading his own version of a suicide squad and also Ra's Al Ghul and his party upto something bad and the introduction of Athanasia and it was a great concept, break ins, seeing what Superman has been upto and then the return of a familiar S and a great twist with her origin and landing and so that will be interesting to see where it develops but most importantly the return of GA and BC and I am loving their story and where they have been and all that and a big moment for Blue Beetle!

Ahh this volume is so good and it wears all those emotions like an armor and I love the return of Taylor whose amazing at writing these emotional stories and he does well to give GA and BC an epic moment plus the big thing with who the villain is and tying it into the game, he does a great job of it here and its awesome to see. Great stuff all around plus the art is so good here and it makes for a stupendous read!

[Oscar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Light that fuse, Tom Taylor. Cos things are going to go DOWN.



This volume accomplished the difficult task of living up to my heightened expectations. We pick up where "Injustice" left off, Superman is defeated, disgraced and imprisoned, Batman has triumphed but is broodier than usual over the loss of Alfred and his son's estrangement, and DC characters around the world are struggling to "get back to normal.". Rather than upsetting the apple cart right away, though, Taylor opts for a slow boil in this volume, which I much appreciated.

Please, comic-reading friends, feel emboldened to shout down anyone who tries to fob this off as a video game tie-in property. It has slyly redefined the entire DC Universe for me, and established that there is still much juice to be squeezed from traditional tights-and-capes superhero storytelling.

[Molly™☺ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Injustice is one of the best alt. Justice League stories out there and one that manages to maintain its quality pretty consistently. It's not afraid of genuine consequences, making each turn of the page feel that much more climatic upon first read. The roster is ever expanding which is a treat for those that are already familiar with the characters (or maybe not, who knows if your favourite will make it to the end...), but it manages to not feel overly bloated despite the size unlike other major events and team-ups. Probably the best 'what if Superman' story to date, Injustice 2 is a near perfect follow up from the original.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

The original Injustice series came out and surprised everyone by being absolutely fantastic in spite of the fact that its very existence is to sell the video game that it's based on. Not only did it surprise me, I actually consider it one of the best series that has come out of DC Comics. Everyone can agree that once creator Tom Taylor left the book halfway through its run, that the quality stepped down just a bit. So it's extremely exciting to see that Taylor is back in the saddle for the sequel, which acts as the bridge between the first game and the second.

This book picks up in the wake of the first video game, after Batman and his team have defeated the Superman and stopped his reign over the world. Superman is now jailed in a red sun prison and Batman's secret identity has been revealed to the world. But peace is still far away as Ra's Al Ghul steps up to lay claim to the world left in Superman's wake.

I'm so happy to say that this first part of the sequel is just as awesome and has a perfect combination of superhero action and thoughtful character work, as Batman is still struggling with his past mistakes and also must contend with an imposter Batman working in Al Ghul's camp. I'm so happy to be back in this world!

I still will never understand why DC feels the need to force Harley Quinn to be the lead of everything as she constantly feels out of place in almost every story she's forced into.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kudos to DC - I had not read any of the prior Injustice series (and I'm guessing there is one . . . since this is called Injustice 2) or had any knowledge of the connected video game - and yet this was an engaging and not too-hard to follow story-line for someone jumping in cold. A large, varied cast of characters (Harley Quinn is used effectively here - she gets the best dialogue); lots of action, humor, suspense and even heartfelt drama (Robin's '3-hour tour' across Gotham, to name only one instance, was perfection); and the artwork / coloring was just great. More of this, please.

[Cale · Rating 4 out of 5]

It still amazes me how strong these Injustice stories are, especially when helmed by Tom Taylor. He manages to do an amazing job of juggling large parts of the DC Universe with an impressive eye to dialogue, plot, humor, and pathos. And his portrayal of Harley here is one of my favorite takes on her (he's always written her well, and it shines here), even as he allows multiple other characters to shine. Making a sensible plot out of a fighting game series seems like an impossible task, but he really pulls it off, and manages to inject some emotion into the proceedings, while also carrying characters forward in interesting but logical ways. And he brings a couple characters back into the fold, which is nice. The last issue collected here is a little weaker as it recounts Supergirl's origins, although it does manage to tie it in to the main plot a bit. But there are lots of surprises, reveals, turnarounds, and deaths (a few a bit graphic) that will keep readers guessing, and an art style that is effective without being flashy. If you got burned by the last few years of Injustice 1, it's worth coming back to the fold, and I don't think you'll miss much by skipping those. But you will miss out on one of the stronger DC titles if you skip this one.

[Trike · Rating 5 out of 5]

The original Injustice series was not just better than it had any right to be, it was hands down the best comic DC published. That was due entirely to Taylor’s writing, with an assist of excellent artwork. But mostly his writing. The issues featuring Constantine are some of the best comics ever written, full stop.

But then a new team took over and it devolved into mediocrity. So I stopped reading them. Then I saw that Taylor had returned for the sequel. Now all is right with the world.

I just watched the movie Justice League the other day, and it’s as bad as you’ve heard. The humor falls flat and the action is dull and the supervillain gets weaker as the movie progresses. On top of all that it feels like a collection of semi-connected scenes which only tangentially relate to one another.

They should let Tom Taylor write the movies. The jokes here are *funny*, the characters have distinct motivations, and the story just flows. The plot moves right along while the twists are cool yet logical. Most important of all, Batman is an actual mastermind who is a flawed genius anticipating every scenario and staying three steps ahead of everyone else, yet he is *still* barely holding his own.

This is the gold standard for superhero comics right here.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

So glad to see Tom Taylor back and holding the reigns where he belongs.

This was a lot of fun!

[fatherofdragons113 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ugh, Black Adam filling Kara's head with lies. I hope she sees the truth eventually!

[Eli · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the edge of my seat wondering about the last issue of this one. Also mildly confused about what happened exactly between the last Injustice 1 comic and this, so I think it's past time I watch the first game cutscenes.

[Manisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although not as good as the beginning of 'Injustice: Gods Among Us', I thought this was a strong start. We see the teams being assembled while a new threat starts creative havoc. There are consequences to defeating Superman.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Injustice 2 Volume 1 by Tom Taylor is the sequel to Injustice which started five years in the past. Injustice started when the Joker grew tired of Batman beating him and turned to a new prey Superman. The Joker ends up making him kill Lois Lane and his unborn child. Superman does not want innocents killed and turns the world into a superhero police state that he rules. This does not sit well with Batman who wants everyone to have free will even the criminally insane. Batman defeats Superman by having a Justice League from another dimension beat him. That brings us to Injustice 2 where Batman tries to build society back up, but others want to tear it down. Both Injustice Gods Among Us and Injustice 2 are video games the comic series leads up to where both games start. Injustice 2 comic is intense with lots of heroes and villains deaths. The series acts like a What if? and has fun new origins for superheroes, especially Supergirl. There are a lot of heroes and villains featured in this book Batman, Damien Wayne, Superman, Green Arrow, Black Canary, Killer Croc, Harley Quinn, Amanda Waller, Deadshot, Orca, Calendar Man, Blue Beetle, Booster Gold, Dr. Fate, Black Adam, The Atom, Poison Ivy, and Super Girl. I did not mention all the names due to spoilers, because this book has some good twists and turns. The pace is rapid I thought the Supergirl new origin story was a little slow but I liked the end result. I was not prepared for how funny this book would be there were a couple of scenes that had me laugh out loud. Harley Quinn provides the best laughs and I'm happy to read a running joke throughout the first Injustice is extended into Injustice 2 and what Green Arrow calls his lair the Arrow Cave versus The Quiver. You don't need to play the game to enjoy these books, it will help at the end though since both series lead up to the games. Injustice 2 Volume 1 collect Injustice 2 Comics 1-6. Injustice 2 was published on May 1, 2018.

Plot Summary: Batman is trying to rebuild the world after Superman broke bad and had to be stopped. Batman lost all the people he cares about Alfred, Nightwing, and he lost his son Damien who joined Superman's side. Batman hopes to form a new family to take care of this damaged world but others want to tear it down. Harley who was a big help to Batman and taking Superman down is kidnapped and has an explosive put in her brain by Amanda Waller to join the Suicide Squad. Very soon after the bomb is implanted someone takes Amanda Waller's device and controls the Suicide Squad to do their evil bidding. Can Batman and his new team save the world? or is it too late?

What I Liked: Harley Quinn and her humor had me laughing way more than I thought this book would. The original Blue Beetle Ted Kord training Jamie. The viciousness of the Killer Croc and Orca team up. The prison break scene was fun and I liked the twist with it. The new Supergirl Origin, and the new timeline for when she arrives on Earth after Superman is in prison. I liked the twist of who is the real puppet master and what they want to do with the world. The scene between Batman and Conner (Green Arrow's son) was very heartfelt.

What I Disliked: The Supergirl origin was a little bit too long. Batman saying someone was better than him after a quick little fight felt false to me. I wanted a quick refresher of all the events that happened before Injustice 2 began, there was not one.

Recommendation: Injustice 2 Volume 1 is a strong start to the series. I rated The first series of Injustice very high, and this one is off to the same start. The action, the humor, and the story are all great making this easy to read and a lot of fun. I recommend you Check this book out after the first series.

Rating: I rather Injustice 2 Volume 1 by Tom Taylor 4.1 out of 5 stars.

[Elyssa (Elyssa's Editions) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished reading this book last night and holy cow that was awesome. For starters, I haven't read any of the original injustice series even though my husband owns them and loves the series. I decided to dive straight into this one because it came out yesterday and I thought it would be the perfect read for this week's Comic Book Wednesday post on my Instagram - and I was right. The artwork throughout this book is breathtaking, as you can likely imagine since it has a corresponding video game. Sometimes I read graphic novels with awesome art and awful writing, which causes the whole thing to fall short (the opposite also happens). This, however, was not one of these times. I was laughing out loud during some portions and gasping during others. After having read a fair share of DC comics this year, I have to say that I enjoyed the way these characters were written so much more here than the other story lines. The injustice series is very cool because it contains pretty much every DC Character (not unlike Civil War for Marvel). Head to your local comic book store then cozy up in your quiver to read this great book. Let me know what you think if you check it out.

Thank you to DC Comics and Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

[Jesse A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started falling a bit too far in line with just a regular DC series. Not bad but missing the magic the early volumes of 1 had.

[The Lion's Share · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m confused. At the end of injustice they were scattered in the desert and this begins with superman in prison. What did I miss?

[Jess (BookObsessedJess) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harley is everything. That's really all you need to know.

[Douglas Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though I have loved all of this run, the quality just vastly improves when Tom Taylor is doing the writing! One of my favorite aspects of this series is reading stories with characters that I am not too familiar with, and knowing that characters can actually die- and this volume contains both of those! This volume finally marks the appearance of Supergirl and includes a set up that she is to be a major player in the events to come. I can't wait.

[47Time · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is a thrill ride like no other. Several characters are put on the path to what promises to be a spectacular conflict involving heroes and villains alike. Very much like his previous work on Injustice Gods Among Us, Taylor has created here a fun read that is entertaining and difficult to put down. The regular DC universe has nothing on this one which is a lot more accessible for readers less familiar with the the complex classic DC timeline. And it looks gorgeous too.

Superman is imprisoned and the world is descending into chaos without a leader. Several forces are struggling to gain control of the world and lead it forward. Batman gets help from his billionaire allies. Ra's al Ghul has different plans, more environmentally inclined. Both sides want to help the planet and humanity, but their disagreements will lead to a major conflict.

An alternate, evil Batman takes control of the Suicide Squad from Amanda Waller. He even beats up good Batman and frees Damian from prison. Evil Batman's true boss is Ra's al Ghul who wants to clean up the planet by stopping pollution. He begins by killing the multinational companies that are the heaviest pollutors. Good Batman doesn't give up hi plan. He intends to fix the planet by having his richest friends invest in a better world.

[Monsour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Injustice is back










One of the best things that come out on a comicbook has return and it has not shortage of awesomeness. ENOUGH SAID GO READ THIS COMIC

[Aldo Haegemans · Rating 4 out of 5]

TOM F’N TAYLOR.

[Snehith The Book Gleaner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good.

[Partha Pritom · Rating 5 out of 5]

The war is done, The battle began.

[Adam Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tom Taylor returns to the Injustice title as we begin the sequel, and his presence couldn't be more welcome! The plot is fairly straightforward, but the fighting and comedy is right on point.
Superman has been stopped. Placed in a red sun Kryptonian prison cell, Batman has taken (somewhat) control and is working to give it back to the people. Black Canary, Green Arrow, and their son Connor, have been brought to our universe by Doctor Fate, and they are assisting him.
The new threat to the Insurgency, is the new Suicide Squad, led by Ra's Al Ghul (why didn't we get him in the video game???) and he is definitely causing trouble. He gains the cooperation of Harley, is able to break Damian out of prison, and almost succeeds in getting Superman out as well.
Two nice surprises: 1) We see a flashback story involving Damian's test to fully become Robin, which is heartwarming, yet doesn't destroy the pacing at all, and 2) Supergirl arrives at the end of the Volume, where she is met by Shazam, who is trying to secure her help in fighting against Batman.

...but which Batman? because Jason Todd (AKA Red Hood) is masquerading as Batman too!

Definitely looking forward to continuing with this title. High recommend!

[Shaun Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Injustice 2 Vol. 1 collects issues 1-6 of the DC Comics series written by Tom Taylor with art by Bruno Redondo, Daniel Sampere, Mike S. Miller, Juan Albarran, and Vicente Cifuentes.

Set after the events of the videogame Injustice, Batman and his forces have finally imprisoned Superman for his tyrannical reign over Earth. This new world peace is short lived as a new threat has emerged with Ra’s al Ghul commanding an army that contains the Suicide Squad, villains, heroes, and even his own Batman to establish a more eco-conscious world. And he is willing to commit mass destruction for his plan to work.

I’m so glad to see Tom Taylor return for Injustice 2 because he is one of the best authors to ever write these huge epics. He has such a grasp of character essence and traits and how to have them all interact together. I would argue his major alternate universe books (Injustice and DCeased) are better than many of the main continuity DC Events of recent years.

At first glance this doesn’t appear to be at the same level of threat as Superman, but the story continues to escalate. It was great to see that characters that presumably had their arcs wrapped up have returned and new players added into the story. I’m very excited to keep reading this series!

[Rylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Injustice comic is back and it feels good, I missed seeing these characters and this world. This picks up after the events of the first game leading into the events of the second game, Batman is trying to rebuild the world after what Superman did to it meanwhile someone else has other plans. It’s a pretty solid start, I like the way the Injustice comic is able to craft an interesting and compelling story with great character moments while staying within the confines of the events of the game.

[Farai Chikwanha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure where this is going, but I'm curious.