The Good
Up until now, I've viewed this alternate timeline as basically the same as the standard one. It's just one huge and nuclear difference which sets them apart and divides the main roster. However, this issue shatters my perception by completely altering a key dynamic between two characters -- and that's a pretty big deal. I'll remain spoiler-free, but this large change definitely deserves major praise for its handling. There's a moment of hesitation when the two meet and then we're struck with the polar opposite of what we'd expect. It's a brilliant way to present this major change. Additionally, incorporating said character is a significant deal for fans of the game because this individual does play a somewhat critical and most certainly interesting part. Tom Taylor deciding to incorporate the character has me very interested to see how things will play out and eventually lead this individual on the path we see in the video game.
Also deserving of praise is Taylor's dialogue (as usual). The man sure knows how to make these characters speak in a natural manner, even when it comes to completely bizarre and out of the ordinary situations. And even when we're hit with suspense,Taylor continues to prove he can deliver a decent laugh. Finally, I know quite a few Wonder Woman fans have been uneasy with Taylor's portrayal of the character, but that's somewhat addressed in this issue when a pivotal character confesses that she hasn't been acting like herself. Regardless, while I understand disappointment in having a favorite character taking a more devious turn, it's important to remember this isn't the timeline we know and Taylor hits us with a major reminder of that in this issue. It's possible some of her motives have yet to even be revealed.
Aside from a super medicated looking Harley Quinn in the beginning, I really dug Tom Derenick and Alejandro Sanchez's art. There's some truly memorable and striking panels to be found in this one and, except for the one gripe I listed, I had no immediate complaints when glancing through the pages. From Superman's x-ray perspective of a devastated Metropolis to an incredibly vivid panel of an unfortunate fate for a speedster, the entire chapter looks solid.
The Bad
If there's one thing the Injustice world loves to do, it's tease fans of a certain Justice Leaguer. I believe Batman's secret ally is more than obvious at this point, so I find it a little odd Taylor continues to build up the suspense around the character's reveal. I just really hope he has something huge planned for the character to justify this level of mystery. They were massively underused in the game ("I'll just hang out and watch you guys fight"), so my fingers are crossed this person will do something significant.
Minor gripe: Hal's hair is still black. I understand this is an alternate universe and all that, but his hair is brown in the video game.
The Verdict
This series continues to make Tuesdays worth celebrating. Whether you're a fan of the game or just enjoying this digital series on its own, you'll hopefully agree this is commendable issue for changing the status quo and doing a superb job teasing the series' future. If you are indeed a fan of the game, then the introduction of this character should absolutely have you exited because their role is most definitely an intriguing one in the campaign. And, if you haven't played the game, this should still be a cool moment simply because it brings about a massive change. And finally, if you haven't even been reading along but you're curious about the series, this issue can serve as an excellent jumping on point. I of course recommend reading everything leading up to this, but I understand that may be too expensive of an option for some.
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