The Good
Chapter 30 was a nice little dose of nostalgia and escapism, but now it's time to dive back into this twisted reality. Luckily for us, it's not all frowns and bleakness thanks to Tom Taylor's handling of Green Arrow. The dude seriously does a killer job with Oliver and any time Taylor has the archer in a chapter, you can expect at least two remarks or so which will slap a smile right on your face. His banter with Black Canary while locating Batman's latest secret base was particularly enjoyable and a nice (yet brief) escape from the severely pressing matters taking place all around them. From talking toilets to guessing how many secret bases Wayne has, it's a very nice dose of levity. A happy calm before the super-storm, if you will.
And speaking of storms, a massive one is definitely brewing. If you've played the game, then the cover alone should give you a sinking feeling in your gut. I've always wondered what happened behind the scenes, and as of right now, Taylor's doing a good job crafting a scenario where matters can take a very unfortunate turn. Despite knowing the outcome (or at least thinking I do), I still have no idea how it'll play out and it's being executed (for a lack of better words...) in a gripping manner.
The illustrations by Tom Derenick and coloring by Ikari Studios remains consistent for the most part. Close-ups and even mid-shots all look solid, providing us with appropriately strong reactions and environments that give off a fitting amount of depth -- be it out in the ocean or an underground facility. One thing is for sure: Batman almost always looks fantastic (his "surprised" reactions a tad much, though). I continue to really dig the slight changes to his cowl (a more armored look) and his rather grumpy expression (most of the time, that is). Naturally, the quality and attention to detail takes a bit of a dive when scenes get more crowded and characters are smaller, but that's to be expected and never truly takes away from the read.
Spoilery note about Martian Manhunter: According to Batman, Martian Manhunter is dead from Superman's attack. I guess I'll just have to believe he's actually alive and then goes on the path set in his video game ending. I suppose enduring such an attack could force him into evading the conflict for the time being, right?
The Bad
I imagine Captain Atom fans won't be too pleased. But hey, the teaser for the next issue says, "Clash of the Titans," so I wouldn't assume he's down and out just yet.
The Verdict
Every now and then a book hits you with an ending worthy of exclaiming, "holy $#*&!" INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US #31? Yeah, it's totally a chapter that'll do that to you. Taylor has a history of doing wonderful work with Green Arrow and this is no exception. We're finally diving into a watershed moment which I've been anxious to see unfold for quite some time now. It's not a scene I necessarily want to happen, but there's no denying the massive potential behind the moment and, luckily for us, it has a more than solid set up thus far.
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