Injustice: Gods Among Us Volume 1

The Joker focuses his malevolent attention on Superman and Superman's circle of all too mortal friends; in short order Superman stands twice a killer, once as a hapless puppet and once as a vengeful titan. With Lois and the Joker's blood on his hands, the Last Son of Krypton vows to use his power to crush injustice regardless of what secular authorities%E2%80%94or the other heroes%E2%80%94might think of a self-appointed alien dictator. As costumed heroes consider whether they will stand with Superman or the law, Batman has made up his own mind; his decision will splinter the hero world and cost Batman a son. The garish art illustrates a violent world where grim faced icons snarl and lash out at each other; mirth seems reserved for the insane, smiling for the smugly victorious. While the idea of superheroes turned authoritarian despots is a familiar twist, writer Taylor still makes this an addictive soap opera of fights and larger than life characters. (Nov.)