Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five Chapter #37 Review

Deja Vu

Written by: Brian Buccellato
Art by: Xermanico, Rex Lokus and Wes Abbott
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: August 30, 2016

Brian Buccellato has been saving a lot of his best stuff for this final Year.  This book is getting close to the end and Buccellato is throwing everything at the reader and I've had a lot of fun reading and reviewing it.  The one thing that worried me about this Year Five story was how Buccellato would keep the tension and suspense up even though most people reading it already know how it ends.  He's done it with crazy characters fighting even crazier ones as well as making things even more personal than ever.  So, what does he do this week to keep things fresh?  It seems a little Earth hoping does the trick just fine.  What am I talking about?  Let's find out...


The chapter opens on the Kent Farm where Jon and Martha are finding out that Lois and Clark are expecting a baby.  Wait...WHAT WHAT?!?!  What the hell is going on here?  While there is no narration or caption to let us know, the title of the Chapter says it all...Earth One!

The fun continues as we move on to Wayne Manor where everyone is celebrating Alfred's 75th birthday.  Yep, I said Alfred and it just keeps getting better as we see a very alive Dick Grayson, a young and happy Damian and one of the best things I've seen in this book in years...I don't want to spoil it, but if you have been reading my reviews all these years, you'll know who I mean.  Seriously, if you have lost a character close to your heart while reading Injustice, chances are they are in the pool or by the grill.

The hits just keep coming as we get to say hello again to long lost friends, but the best part is seeing Bruce and Clark just the way they should be...best friends.  We also get to see the real villains of the DCU led by Lex Luthor.  It's a pretty kick-ass bunch of bad guys and it's weird to see these baddies and smile and feel like everything is right in the world.

The issue isn't just a trip down memory lane, even though I still would have been happy if it was.  The villains are causing some trouble in downtown Metropolis and the super friends head off to stop them.  It all looks like a distraction as Lex and a hit squad sneak attack Cyborg, Nightwing and Raven in the Watchtower.  It all leads to Batman trying to figure out what it's all about and when he does, it's huge.

This was such a fast moving and emotional issue.  Just seeing other versions of our gone but not forgotten characters was great, but this issue just reminds you how messed up the Earth that we've been following really is.  I mean, really messed up!  I don't want to go back, but while I know we have to, I also know we will be taking some of our new (old) friends with us.

I always love Xermanico's art and this issue may be his best in the series.  His character work is so great here and everything else flows from there.  My favorite is seeing one of the returning characters laughing it up at Alfred's party.

Bits and Pieces:

Brian Buccellato introduces us to the heroes that will eventually save the day and it's like having déjà vu all over again.  While their Earth seems like a grand old time compared to the one we've been dealing with, Buccellato shows us there is trouble in paradise which will have to be dealt with before anyone is saving anybody.  The story and art were excellent and the cliffhanger makes me wish this book came out every day!

9.5/10