Injustice Gods Among Us #31
Seems Batman has really pushed his luck this time. Time after time it has been Superman and his league on the receiving end of Batman’s plot to save the world and this time, Batman might have bitten off more than he can chew.
The one thing that remains consistent which I like that Tom presses is that while Batman has his team, he doesn’t have their trust. Even when it seems like there is a team effort towards the greater good, it still ends up as Batman acting as a one man army. No specifics on anything they do and he only tells them what they need to do rather than the big picture. It’s detrimental to his cause and something we’ll have to see as later events unfold.
The best thing that Tom Taylor could do in this situation is raise the stakes. Give some sense of urgency to what each side is fighting for. And that right there is the driving force that pushes both sides to risk their lives over how things should be done. What we want to see now is how far Superman will take this act against him because it was one hell of a slip up. Wonder Woman made it pretty clear when they confronted Batman that they had to go their own way if they didn’t want to face any aggression from them. Something you knew Batman could not do. You can look at the cover, and if you have played the game, you know what this is all leading to. As the comic counterpart to the game there are certain parts that were never explained, this is one of those points which makes this arc something to look forward to. Hopefully shock you as well.
Solid issue, great build up, good execution, and one cliffhanger that should leave you desperate to find out what happens next. Tom Derenick’s style captures what makes you feel this way through the expressions of the characters involved. That is what sold every moment in this issue, from Green Arrows frustration, Batman’s cold attitude, to Superman’s shock at what takes place.