The Good
Batman makes his stand against Superman, refusing to let him move the crazed residents of Arkham Asylum to a new facility under the Man of Steel's control. To make matters even more dire, Damian has turned his back on his father, deciding to instead side with Clark in this conflict. A tense standoff for sure, but surprisingly enough, that's not the highlight here. Instead, this issue is all about the good times in this crazy situation and the laughter it's sure to generate. From Calendar Man to Kenneth (man, I hope he has health insurance) to Killer Croc's remark, this issue was packed with lines that'll make you grin or even laugh out loud. As if there weren't enough lines in there to make you smirk, writer Tom Taylor also brings Green Arrow and Harley Quinn into the mix (the mustache may or may not make a return as well). Fear not, there's a funny reason why they had to leave the safety of his "arrow cave" and, I won't lie, seeing them return made me super excited. While their panel time is limited, it's still incredibly joyous.
While I've been digging the story thus far, a complaint this digital comic often receives is that the artwork's a mixed bag. I'll admit, sometimes it feels a tad rushed and lacks detail, but that isn't a problem in this case. Tom Derenick's art is fantastic and there's some truly excellent panels to be found in this one (the close up of a villain's eyes and Killer Croc's full panel are highlights for me). Nightwing looks a little too smug at one point, but aside from that, I have no major complaints whatsoever with the visuals -- great looking the entire time. Additionally, Alejandro Sanchez's coloring is thorough and bold, keeping Derenick's work dynamic. While Arkham Asylum usually feels grim, each character brings a unique contrast which manages to make the pages look solid.
The Bad
If you've played the game (which is likely at this point), then you probably know who's going to live and who won't. Knowing the outcome takes a bit away from the experience, though I have faith Taylor will certainly make matters interesting as we race towards the expected destination.
I'm sure it's easy to assume Superman could have Batman removed from the scene in an instant (courtesy of Flash or even himself), but given the circumstances, it's understandable to think they'd both still want to talk things over... to some degree, at least.
The Verdict
While I enjoyed Aquaman story, I felt like it like it was a step down from the events that came before it. One scene aside, the stakes didn't feel as gripping or engaging. This story, however, puts the comic back on track, placing a strong focus on the Batman/Superman agenda and surrounding it with legitimately exciting and fun interactions. With shockingly impressive artwork, sharp dialogue and a fine cliffhanger (even if we do likely know how it'll turn out), INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US #15 has me absolutely pumped to read #16 next Tuesday.
Log in to comment