INJUSTICE 2 Super Hero Video Game Arriving In 2017

For fans of DC Comics super heroes, 2013's INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US from NetherRealm Studios is one of the most action packed and immersive video game experiences to date allowing players to engage in combative competitions featuring these characters.  Similar to the dream sequence shown in the recent Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice movie this fighting game also has Batman battling Superman in a dystopian future  INJUSTICE takes place in an alternate reality from the primary DC Comics fictional universe where the Joker has tricked Superman into killing Lois Lane and their unborn child.  Fueled with grief, Superman becomes a dictator over the world ruling the planet as its High Councillor imposing his will over all of subjected humanity.  Batman doesn't let this go on without a challenge and leads a resistance that also includes Aquaman, Green Lantern, and Wonder Woman.  I've spent a lot of hours having fun playing this game on my PlayStation 4 and its mobile version on my iPad so it was exciting to find out that a new and improved sequel will be arriving in 2017.

Available for Playstation 4 and Xbox One, INJUSTICE 2 will feature a massive roster of Super Heroes and Super Villains allowing players to create the ultimate version of their favorite DC Comics characters personalizing them with unique and powerful gear that can be earned throughout the game.  INJUSTICE 2 will allow gamers to take control of how their characters look, fight, and develop through a variety of game modes.  The game will continue the cinematic story introduced in INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US as Batman and his allies work to putting the pieces of society back together while struggling against those who want to restore Superman's regime.  In the midst of this chaos, a new threat appears that will put Earth's existence at risk.



To get INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US fans excited about the upcoming sequel, players of the mobile app version of the original video game can now unlock INJUSTICE 2 versions of Superman and Aquaman through its in-game Challenge Modes.  The mobile device version of the game is available as a free download on the App Store and Google Play.  It does contain in-app purchases but casual games can enjoy the game without spending money as I've personally had a lot of fun playing it without buying any enhancements or power-ups.

For more information, visit injustice.com or follow @injusticegame on Twitter.

There is no Injustice in basing a Comic Book on a Video Game

At first though you probably wouldn't believe that a comic book series based off of a video game would be very good but rather just consider it another marketing ploy to pull some money out of your pocket as part of a product tie-in campaign.  In the case of the comic that is the topic of this review it is a comic book based upon a video game that is based upon comic book characters and I have to say the thought I just expressed is absolutely not the case.  DC Comic's INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US comic book series, which is now in its second year as a monthly comic book serial, is probably the BEST product that this publisher is printing.  If you haven't read any of its issues I encourage you to do so!

Injustice: Gods Among us is based on the hit video game of the same name.  The story arc for this series serves as a prequel for the Injustice: Gods Among Us video game plot.  It features all of the popular characters from the DC Universe but in an alternate dimension where just one different act sets it apart from the mainstream New 52 timeline that most of the publishers other comic book titles are set in.  This is a BIG event that sets these universes apart though!  You see the Joker bored with his confrontations with Batman decides to go after some bigger prey for some fun and games .... Superman.  The series starts off with the Joker ambushing and murdering Lois Lane (who is pregnant with Superman's child) and than destroying all of  Superman's adopted hometown of Metropolis in a nuclear explosion.

So how will Superman react?  Well not in the do no harm manner people may expect of him ... Superman literally hunts down the Joker and rips his heart out!!!!

Superman than determines it is his job to save humanity from itself and makes himself a global dictator utilizing the Justice League to serve as his enforcers.  This doesn't go well with law and order Batman who believes in not killing villains leading an insurgency against Superman's regime.  The primary plot conflict is Superman blaming Batman for the Joker's actions believing that if the caped crusader had killed the clown in earlier confrontations Lois & Metropolis would have been saved thus embracing violence to respond to crime versus Batman believing all life is too valuable for anyone to take and that democracy should always rule over dictatorship.  This results in an epic battle pitting Superman's allies versus Batman's.  Year One of the series ends with Superman prevailing in this conflict leaving the Martian Man Hunter and Green Arrow dead and Batman is seriously injured and on the run.

You'd think the second year of this series wouldn't be able to keep the momentum up but Injustice: Gods Among Us Year 2 is just as good as the first year which says a lot!  I caught up on the Year 2 action by reading the compilation of the first five monthly issues titled INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US YEAR 2 VOLUME 1 and can honestly say I was very impressed by the work done by writer Tom Taylor and a team of artists that includes Mike S. Miller, Bruno Redondo and Tom Derenick.  The graphic novel picks up right where Year One left off and is a great read!  It is filled with crisp eye-catching artwork that enhances the enjoyment of reading a story that you don't want to put down.

Injustice: Gods Among Us has some mature themes and I'm not just referring to violent action and death scenes but also a plot filled with philosophical debates on morality?  Is it alright to do evil things for the "better good"?  Can good people believe they are acting appropriately but for the wrong reasons?  Should people give up freedom for security?  Who really defines what ethics are?  How do you know for sure the "good guy" isn't really the "villain" and the "bad guy" isn't really a "hero?"  Some weighty topics that expand this comic book beyond just action sequences and really makes the story and its script stand out beyond its imagery. 

So what happens in Year 2?  Batman and his allies are out of the picture now (for the time being) but Superman's behavior has troubled the Green Lantern Corps which comes to arrest him and place him on trial for his actions.  Lots of action and intrigue ensues.  I'm not going to provide any spoilers rather just encourage you to read Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Two.  It is well worth the read!

DISCLAIMER:  I received a complimentary digital copy of the graphic novel Injustice: Gods Among Us Year 2 Volume 1 that I had access to for 30 days to utilize for this review.

DC COMICS HAS DOUBLE SUCCESS WITH ITS VIDEO GAME & COMIC BOOK DYNAMIC DUO

My college years were filled with a lot of late evenings tackling my buddies in exhausting bouts of combat as we all strove to be the campus champion in Mortal Kombat.  This game had cutting edge graphics and features for the time and was a great way to release some of our scholarly anxieties and just have some youthful rambunctious fun.  I've wondered over the years why video game publishers have never made an exhilarating combat game that allows players to bash comic book super heroes and villains  against one another.  Well the waiting ended this year when the creators of Mortal Kombat took its game engine updated with today's graphics and processing technology to produce INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US.

INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US pits the DC Comics super heroes of "our universe" against their personalities from an alternate dimension on  Xbox and PlayStation consoles.  The game play is fun and full of special effects and feature moves that keeps the games interesting.  It's a brawling good time for fans of Superman, Batman and the like.  The weakness of the games is an odd ball plot and lacking script for the game's "story" but that is overcome by the sheer fun of the game's one-on-one battle sequences.

Don't fret though because DC has addressed the limitations of the game's script with an incredible new comic
book series with the same name as the video game but with its own stand alone in-depth story.   Often times these type of tie-in comics are just meant for marketing purposes and don't have a lot of effort put into them making them not worth a glance, but I have to say DC has embraced this effort and made this an extraordinary piece of work.  I was riveted to the pages while reading it and enthralled by the storyline of this comic book series.  The comic has decent artwork but it is the story that draws your interest and hooks you.  This was one of the best comic book reads I've had in a few years and highly recommend it whether or not you are interested in the video game.

While of course the story has super hero battles it also has a philosophical undertone exploring the balancing
act of giving up "freedom" to gain "security" that combined with good character plots and scripting makes this title a winner.  The comic book series revolves around how an injustice is done to Superman and how superheroes based upon that act as "gods" among mankind in response.  There really are some hard hitting sequences in this comic that go a lot darker than the "Smallville" type portrayal of the DC universe that many people associate with its super heroes.

The story starts with the Joker tricking Superman into killing his pregnant wife, Lois Lane as well as their unborn child, with his bare hands and in the process also causing a nuclear explosion that decimates his adopted home of Metropolis killings it entire population of 11 million people.  This pushes Superman to his breaking point.  He pledges to stop all violence in the world.  Instead of protecting humanity from threats so they have the freedom of self determination, the Man of Steel determines that he well  decide the rules by which mankind conducts itself and behaves.  This places Superman at odds with Batman who doesn't believe that super heroes should be acting like "gods among us" in determining how much freedom or control the people of Earth should have over their own behavior.

 The plot of INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US really places Superman who has been know for upholding "truth, justice, and the American way" into a grey area between good guy and bad guy which is highlighted in one scene where he tries to put down a citizen protest and is yelled down being told "you think you can come here and hover above us all with a scowl and some special powers and tell us what to do?"  This dynamic really makes the story an entertaining read that I couldn't put down.  So far I haven't figured out if the comic book story is taking place in an "alternate reality" like the video game and is explaining how the Superman Regime from the game began or is supposed to be taking place in the "main stream" DC universe.  While there are similarities between some things in the game script and the comic book story there are also lots of differences too. DC Comics does call the series a prequel to the video game though which has to make you think maybe this is the alternate reality setup.  I guess I'll have to just keep reading to find out.

Missed the monthly serial issues of the comic? Don't worry you can catch up with the first 5 issues all bundled together as a hardcover edition.  INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US - VOLUME 1 went on sale August 13, 2013.  Check it out!

Also if you are interested in the game console video game and/or the comic book there also is a great iPad game that I've downloaded and been playing quite a bit lately...it's become my favorite game beating out Angry Birds: Star Wars for my attention...and its FREE.  I just beat a number of challenges to add General Zod to my online cast of characters.  You can download the game from the iTunes store.

Kudos to DC Comics for making their INJUSTICE video game and comic book a great dynamic duo!

DISCLAIMER:  I was provided a complimentary digital advance readers edition pdf of INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US-VOLUME 1 from the publisher.  I was not compensated for this review and the thoughts and opinions in this post are my own.