The Good
Wow. Just... wow. I've completed the story mode in Injustice: Gods Among Us, so I knew the shocker that was heading our way, but that really didn't prepare me for this. Honestly, manly tears were almost shed with this one. It's a scene that revitalizes earlier memories of what made me grow so fond of this book in the first place. Yes, there's plenty of laughs along the way in this alternate universe, but ultimately, this is a place where it eventually hits the fan real hard and it's all because of the terrible series of events we're reading in this digital run. Thankfully for us, writer Tom Taylor goes above and beyond when it comes to hitting us with the impact of these horrible tragedies... and this one is truly gut-wrenching.
This issue isn't all heartbreak, though. Everything leading up to the cliffhanger is brilliant fun. Witnessing Superman going all out against Solomon Grundy was a real treat and there's a moment that just makes you want to throw some confetti in the air. Batman has a moment to show off as well, and it's a real jaw-dropper. This short yet oh so sweet segment is easily his most cinematic and badass feat in this series. Awesome action aside, the script remains sharp as usual, with Harley delivering brief yet smile-inducing quips, and seeing Nightwing humor Damian's arrogance was all kinds of cute. Oh, and you may or may not see the return of Ollie's most infamous arrow.
Mike S. Miller (complimented by Alejandro Sanchez's colors) is in top form with this issue. When it comes to visuals, this book tends to fluctuate and unfortunately feels rushed at times. The polar opposite holds true here. There's so much raw emotion brought to life in each panel, allowing these exceptional moments to jump off the page and feel fluid. It's a fantastic looking issue and there are some tremendous panels. I'd love to rave about them in detail, but we do our best to keep things spoiler-free here.
The Bad
It's a little hard to believe all of the fighting would stop when we're hit with the twist, but that's an incredibly minor complaint which is massively outweighed by the emotional pull of the scene.
The Verdict
Tom Taylor and Mike S. Miller have raised the bar with #16. It's a true sign of brilliance when a predictable outcome still manages to tug at your heartstrings and leave you speechless. Not only does the latest effort pack one helluva cliffhanger, but it's sporting great visuals and, up until the end, is a huge amount of fun. If I could, I'd give this issue 6 out of 5 stars. But I can't, so 5 out of 5 will have to suffice. This is a must read issue, friends. And, if you're inspired to jump onboard, I highly recommend reading #15 first.