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Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Three #4 - Chapter Four: Spirit of Vengeance

4

Spectre's going after the resistance. Yeah, good luck with that, Batman.

The Good

So far, INJUSTICE: YEAR THREE has been all about John Constantine. It's a nice change of pace, obviously, but Batman's felt like a bit of a joke. It's hilarious, but I imagine some fans of the Dark Knight aren't too happy that he's being mocked over and over nothing has been done to counter all the teasing. Well, your moment has arrived. The dynamic between Constantine and Batman reaches a boiling point and what follows is basically a love letter to how pivotal Batman is in this universe. Now, it may seem like the Constantine's become the joke for once, but writer Tom Taylor handles this in a way that gives a lot of love to an older comic and winds up paying respect to both characters. The plot doesn't progress all that much, but their relationship does, and that's critical as the story moves forward. Oh, and there's a moment which reminds me just how much I want Taylor to one day write a Harley Quinn series. It's not something that'll make you burst into laughter or anything like that; it's just an adorable bit and I love how he writes the character.

There's a blatant and cheerworthy nod to one of Batman's most memorable scenes. Everything from the angles to the amount of characters in the panels is the same. I'm surprised Taylor didn't incorporate the big line (I could see Harley joking about it), but maybe he thought that would have been a bit too heavy-handed. Regardless, that bit made me crack a huge smile.

Aside from a human in the double-page spread with Spectre (it kind of looks like they're power walking instead of running and full of fear), Bruno Redondo, Xermanico, and Rex Lokus' visuals are consistent and do a fine job hitting us with all of the strong emotions and big displays of magic. Everything from a sad expression on Harley Quinn's face to Teekl gazing at a chaotic scene just feels right. While these are very short chapters (they are only $0.99 and weekly, after all), the layout prevents this one from feeling like too quick of a read. And, as stated above, there's a fantastic nod to an older comic. ONE NOD!

The Bad

The bit between Batman and Spectre is a badass display for Batman (no, he doesn't kick Spectre), but I'm left wishing there was more to the dialogue. I'm sure Taylor will eventually explain why this powerful being is assisting Superman, but I imagine Wayne would have wanted to get a little more info during the exchange. It starts off with potential, but then quickly shifts gears. Maybe if the opening scene was trimmed to one page it could have allowed for a slightly longer conversation between the two. Again, I know we'll get our answers in due time, but with the last chapter's cliffhanger, you can't help but want a little more information. I can't be the only one wondering why Spectre's helping Superman, right?

The Verdict

The narrative doesn't take any big steps and I still have a lot of questions about Spectre's role, but this fourth chapter solidifies the connection between the two leads and offers a nice amount of spectacle as magic is put to use. There aren't any big jaw-droppers and Taylor goes for a more subtle cliffhanger this time around, but it's still well-written, looks lovely, and there's a moment in here that DC fans are sure to appreciate. All in all, this is yet another good chapter of INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US.