The Good

The latest part in Superman and Batman's conflict has been building and building and building even more. Watching a ton of foreshadowing and seeing how Constantine will approach the situation has been good fun and plenty of entertainment, but despite some jaw-droppers, things haven't really escalated just yet. Well, chapter 12 changes that and it's all thanks to the dude on the cover, Etrigan. To avoid spoilers, I'll have to tiptoe around this one carefully. Basically, the cover for this (and the last) issue gave away the fact there would be some kind of clash between Etrigan and the Man of Steel, but things are never as simple as they seem in the Injustice universe, right? As expected, Tom Taylor adds a twist to the fight -- one a few of us predicted -- and, thanks to the dialogue, it's handled in a satisfying way. Now, I'm sure some will think Kal-El is being downplayed in a pivotal scene, but given his shock (which is clearly expressed in both his blunt comments and the look in his eyes), I think it's totally understandable. You can scratch another one of Madame Xanadu's plot points off the list!

This is yet another chapter of INJUSTICE: YEAR THREE with consistently good looking pages that present the tale with engaging angles. Little things like using the Earth as Spectre's pupils is greatly appreciated. Mike S. Miller,Juan Albarran, Bruno Redondo and Rex Lokus put this one together and, aside from Miller's facial expressions being distinct, the difference between pages is never too jarring and each manages to thrive for its own reasons. Even if I'm not the biggest fan of how the fight with Etrigan is handled, it still looks good. From feeling the heat of the flames to Etrigan's smile, these panels looked solid. Just like the previous issue, the trip to space offered a nice dose of spectacle and the two double-page spreads were used at just the right moments.

The mystery surrounding the Spectre still feels like it's dragging its feet -- something that's sure to annoy people who think this volume hasn't really gone anywhere yet -- but I'd be totally lying if I said this arc didn't have a tight grip on my curiosity. Sure, there's no real emotional impact when there's a big turn of events (we only just met the character and this is a universe full of death after death), yet Taylor continues to successfully tease us with the mystery and leaves us hanging. Here's hoping this delivers a game changing development sooner rather than later.

The Bad

As fun as the action sequence was, I couldn't help but feel like this new version of Superman wasn't acting in character and Hal Jordan's (or Superman's; can't tell who said it) advice to Sinestro, one of the most talented ring-slingers in history, was pretty unnecessary. It's just telling him what he already knows, but I guess stating the obvious for support is better than nothing? That said, also better than nothing would have been flying above the flames and using a construct against Etrigan. You'd think they'd be wise enough to do that. As for Superman, this incarnation has been more brutal in his methods, so it was surprising to see him respond in such a defensive way. Instead of attempting to block the hellfire with his hand, wouldn't a punch to the demon's head or a tackle into his body be a way more fitting and appropriate for this aggressive version of the character to respond? That would prevent Etrigan from aiming at the Lanterns, too.

Personal criticism (doesn't impact the score): A chapter without Constantine makes me really, really miss just how well Taylor writes the character. Oh, and they're not just going to leave Superman there, right? I assume someone from team Batman will place him somewhere else? The final page looks great -- I love the work put into the night sky -- but to leave Clark's body there doesn't seem like the best idea considering his powerful allies. Or maybe they're just that confident this magical coma can't be countered?

The Verdict

The Spectre's story seems to be moving along pretty slowly (it's looking like that may change soon), but the rebels' mission against Superman takes a huge and very promising step forward. Yes, if you've been paying close enough attention this development's something you probably saw coming a mile away, but that doesn't change it from being all kinds of exciting and full of potential. A whole new stage has been set. One character is out of commission, another is probably ready to unleash all kinds of hell. Then there's the other big developments which happened in the previous issues (the new Deadman!) and Madam Xanadu's teasers. The INJUSTICE universe is never a boring place, is it? Three volumes in and this is still an incredibly entertaining ride.

Injustice Batman looks a lot like Midnighter.

The best part of this series is seeing so much of the wonderful DCU in one book. We get superheroes, street levelers, magic users, higher beings, and Detective Chimp!

Need to pick up now

@the_stegman: I couldn't agree more. It's nice to see the entire dc roster interact with one another. Also love how the mix things up. Dick as %%}}}. Who could have seen that coming

@holyserpent: So true! This is an Elseworlds story done right!

Nice.

This book is the only one that makes my jaw drop with the twist and turns that it has taken. So I can't wait to see what comes next.

God I love Entrigan.

This series is the Sons of Anarchy of comics. Just twists and shock scenes and a lot of violence.

For someone who's mastered fear, seeing Sinestro afraid seemed really odd.

Ughh it's killing me, who is the spectre?!?!

I am just curious to why Spectre cant just come back and reverse everything, but lets see how Tom tackles the issue.

Having a character like Spectre working against the people you are cheering for makes for a rather intense story.

He is smiling like he heard a killing joke.

@rubear: Wow you just blew my mind. If that is true I will freak out. She did say he is coming back.

@rubear: it is not the joker

Its good that Etrigan got more love

@holyserpent: I am willing to bet real money that it is the Joker, they couldn't have made it more obvious than they already have.

@thetrolldance: The Spectre does not act the joker at all. Joker is about chaos, so he wouldn't join Supermans team which the complete opposite

Unless that's part of the joke... The setup for the punchline, if you will.

Not saying I buy it, just that it would be... interesting.

Why they don't just kill Superman? What Batman did to him is not better than killing...

Why they don't just kill Superman? What Batman did to him is not better than killing...

don't think that she refer as he is coming back from death. After that Injustice is like a spin off or a Prequel/Sequel to the Game (who in my believe if there is something DC does do good is making good games). So the return of the Joker may refer to the other universe's Joker.

@holyserpent said:

he does has a point. The Spectre is becoming really crazy like if he where being dominated by somebody else. And what Dead-man says about he being somebody else make sense. The Question is not if Joker is coming back or not (is clear Joker is coming back, but I don't think is the one from this universe like in the game), the real deal is who is powerful enough to manipulate Spectre and who is powerful enough to handle the Presence. After all that guy is like the One Above All (Marvel's God) of DC but without a story to play.

Spectre isn't the Joker. The writers want us to think he is.

This was really good.

@kestrelio: Trigon perhaps.

@zackisme: Interesting thought, but Trigon's already pretty powerful. I don't quite remember how the Spectre works - doesn't it only inhabit humans of its choosing?

Whatever, I like the mysticism in comicbooks but it's frustrating how after a point they just make up transparently arbitrary rules to justify plot twists. I suppose the Spectre could be anyone. My guess is Justin Bieber.

Has anyone heard of the series ending in March?

http://www.comicvine.com/articles/sixteen-dc-comics-titles-ending-in-march-2015/1100-150710/

That deal though...

Etrigan's fire is magical and Superman is weak to that. There was no way for him to stop the fire with his hands. I liked the book.

Considering how well it sells, I'd be surprised if they didn't move forward with a YEAR FOUR.

Are you saying he shouldn't have tried to stop it with his hands or addressing the part in "the bad"? If the latter, I was saying he could have saved the Lanterns by punching, tackling, or using his powers other ways to knock Etrigan (and that would mess up his aim), and given how he's been acting in the series, I'm surprised he didn't take that route.

So he won't kill him but sentences him to something worse than death sigh. Why didn't he just send him to the phantom zone that batman logic i swear.

I wish Dr Fate would just kill Superman before he kills more of my favorite characters (Nightwing, Martian Manhunter, Captain Atom, and Ragman have all died).

Much of her propechy have already came to beign. Souls will be lost. Emperor sleeps. Green will grow. Hellfire will burn. And it seems that Xanadu was really frigtened not only by Joker's vision, but by his presence. Like he was already returned.

@rubear: yeah but if that where true? how was Joker capable of taking control of somebody like spectre and more important how was spectre capable of taking down GOD.

@divell: whait a minute. Where it was stated that Spectre took down God? о_О About control - well, he was once with Eclipso.

@rubear: Spectre took the Presence who is GOD in DC and destroy Saturn in the number 11. In this issue we don't know what happen with them, at lest i haven't see it. Just like that. But Eclipson wasn't dead?

Ah, that was just Phantom Stranger.
He was agent of Presence and not Presence himself. And, by the way, he was traitor from Bible, Judas. About Saturn - Saturn is gas giant. He cannot be destroyed by this way, one of Saturn's moons more likely. And Eclipso, well, before New 52 he was basically the Spectre before Great Drowning and after that get exiled by god.

Very much agreed and the way they interact (or don't) is great. Seeing Etrigan as valid threat was also good.