Injustice: Year Two #5 Review

Written by: Tom Taylor
Art by: Mike S. Miller and Bruno Redondo
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: March 11, 2014

Confrontation

I have been a huge fan of Tom Taylor and Injustice.  Year One was non-stop action thrill fest.  Every issue seemed to have a shocking twist or jaw dropping death...or both.  Year Two has been more of a slow burn.  There has been more character development and story buildup and maybe I'm alone here, but I really like it.  Things are going to get real and when they do, this buildup is sure to pay off in spades.

In this issue, Tom Taylor shows that recent events aren't the only ones weighing on Superman's mind. In fact, we go back to the beginning.  Yes, Taylor starts with Kal-El leaving the dying Krypton as a baby.  Yes, the story is overdone, but Taylor uses it smartly here.  He asks the newly arrived Ganthet why the Guardians let his home planet die.  It's not an easy answer for either of them, but their anger comes from different ends of the spectrum.  It's the question of whether just having power gives you the right to use it.  Very powerful stuff.

Of course, it's not Injustice with at least a little twist and a bit of humor.  The twist is who is whispering in Superman's ear, filling him with more hate then he needs.  It's a twist, but it's certainly no shock.  The humor comes from every one's favorite GL ginger, Guy Gardner.  He has a few lines and they are pure gold. Taylor has upped the humor factor in Year Two and it is all the better for it.

The art is split between Mike S. Miller and Bruno Redondo this issue.  I am not a fan of multiple artists and am a huge Redondo fan, so I was a bit nervous at first, but then I started reading.  Miller does the Krypton origin part and it is really good.  Then we get Redondo and BANG!  We are back to one of the series biggest strengths.  

Bits and Pieces:

For fans of Injustice, it is strange to have two issues that put the big shocks and twists on the back burner in lieu of strong character and story development, but the book is better for it.  We get more insight into how far back Superman's anger really goes and who he holds responsible.  Year Two is building to something bigger and more explosive than anything we have seen in the series yet and I can't wait to see it.

8.5/10