Review: Injustice #24

In many ways, I feel remiss in not collecting Injustice 2 on a monthly basis.

I came at that decision honestly. I am not a video game player. I am sick to death of Elseworlds where Lois is killed and Superman a fascist. So the basic premise seemed off. So not pulled.

And yet, I keep hearing that Supergirl ends up the hero of the piece. And I absolutely loved what Tom Taylor did on All-New Wolverine. And I have, based on cover and buzz, picked up the odd issue here and there and really enjoyed the book. For example,  Injustice 2 #13.

And so I decided when I saw the cover of Injustice 2 #24 a couple of weeks ago that it was worth picking up. I am so glad I did. It is almost the perfect to pick up after Injustice 2 #13 because the seeds of Kara's heroics planted in that story come to fruition here. And with a lot of panache.

Taylor gives us a world under assault from Amazo and there is only one hero out there to save the day ... Supergirl. And that plot will always make me happy.

Bruno Redondo is on art and that name is new to me. He brings a clean style to the proceedings but with some nice flourishes here and there which elevate the work.

If you are a Supergirl fan, you should pick this one up.

I don't know any of the hows but the issue opens with a super-powered Amazo on a rampage, stomping his way across Earth and through its heroes. From her tower, Supergirl can look on no longer. She needs to finally embrace her destiny as hero and head out into action.

There is something fairy tale princess-ish about the girl locked in the tower, not allowed to leave that brought a bit of Silver Age to this part of her story. She is the secret weapon, not allowed to reveal herself.

So seeing her assert herself and leave the tower on her own was just great. I love the stern look on her face as she reveals the S-shield, her true self, no longer hidden.

And that round window in the background gives this a sort of Renaissance 'portrait of a saint' feeling. What a stellar page.

The Amazons have been training Kara and so when they see her in her fighting togs, they ask what she is up to.

When she says she is leaving and joining the fight and help. they admit it is about time. The 'to help' line is a classic Superman trope, his answer when he is asked why he is here. So seeing that come from Kara in this story where Kal is the villain is wonderful turnabout. That is hammered home with the 'up up and away' line as well.

Most of the heroes don't know Supergirl even exists. So when a blue streak scoops up Amazo and takes him up into space, most are confused. As they know, there is only one being out that who can do that ... presumably Superman.

I couldn't help but be reminded of Batman v Superman, where Superman tries to take Doomsday up into space but is nuked. Who shoots down someone trying to help? Don't ask that question in a Snyder movie.

Still, that top panel with Supergirl and Amazo in the top corner, the tilted Earth behind them, really evokes a feeling of speed and lift.

She plops him on the moon and there is a bit of a tussle. She gets some help from the folks on Earth. But ultimately it is her fight.

She freezes him and then shatters him.


Again, there is a lot of kinetic energy to that top panel with speed lines, Kara's blow, and the exploding head all moving in that direction.

But the real win is the next panel pulling back in an extreme way so we see just how high that battle was. More importantly, the Earth looms in the background reminding us this was a fight to save the planet.

Wonderful.

Blue Beetle, as another hero who can survive space, witnesses the fight after being trounced by Amazo himself. He didn't know Kara existed.

She says the now immortal line 'The world has a freaking Supergirl.'

Now that is an ending!

Just fantastic.

For me, it resonated a bit with the classic Watchmen bit 'The Superman exists! And he's American.'

Maybe it's a stretch but that is what I thought of.

No surprise Tom Taylor brings it. Redondo amps up the action nicely. And this was a great introduction of Supergirl to the world.

So ... should I pick this up monthly??