Rama Kushna (Injustice Gods Among Us: Year Three 2014)

First Appearance: Injustice Gods Among Us: Year Three (2014) #10: Death of a Dead Man

Rama Kushna is a goddess who resides in the Himalayan temple of Nanda Parbat.


Injustice Gods Among Us: Year Three (2014) #10: She is in the middle of praying when Deadman arrives, pleading her to save him from the wound that the Spectre had given him and stop him from fading from the world. She apologises to him, saying there is nothing that she is able to do, cradling him. She tells him that he has served well and that the balance must be restored with his replacement. Deadman asks if he could chose his replacement, but she reveals that she already knows his choice and that she will bring "him" as "he" will be able to restore the balance. 

She tells Deadman that she has brought the replacement, comforting him as he gives both his powers and his final message for Batman to his successor, Nightwing.

Injustice Gods Among Us: Year Three (2014) #10 Review

Deadman dead and the Swamp Thing joins Superman's One Earth Regime... "The Green will rise" and probably destroy everything the Insurgency has been planning for the last couple of issues.

This issue was just so tense, setting up more questions that it does answer. A quick synopsis would be; the Spectre cuts Deadman with a blade that causes a fatal wound, Batman and Constantine try to recruit Swamp Thing for the Insurgency, Deadman goes to Nanda Parbat where he recruits a familiar face to become the new Deadman and change the tide of the war.

For all the tension in this issue, it was nice that Zatanna provided humour, using one of her magic spells to seal both Constantine and Batman's lip together was really funny. The big twist in the final panel made my jaw drop and I was like "No  way!!! This can't be right." I'm both confused and ecstatic at the same time.

I'm not sure if I want to ruin it for those who are yet to read it, but those who have will know what I mean (I'll post the comic underneath the post).

Finally we see one of the most magical places in the Dc Universe, Nanda Parbat and I'm just hoping it will make more appearances because it is one of my favourite locations in the comic book world. I also enjoyed the Swamp Thing panels, where it is looking like Constantine and Swamp Thing will be the bitter rivals of this series, like Batman and Superman in the game.

Overall this issue is great for setting up the Swamp Thing's choice and the twist at the end will shock and surprise as it comes without any warning. Well? What was is Madame Xanadu said in #6 "A dead man will fall and a dead man will rise."?

Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Three (2014) #9 Dead Man

Superman has got Constantine by the collar of his coat, pinned against the wall and angrily interrogating him for Raven's true location, while the other members of the Regime watch on. Constantine tries to act dumb, telling him that he had been "left in the dark" and that Ragman was the ringleader in the gang, mocking Superman for being short-sighted. Superman uses his heat vision in an effort to try and decapitate Constantine, but Shazam stops him, protesting that there had been too much violence already that day. Sinestro interjects, agreeing that they should keep Constantine alive for interrogation purposes as he was the only way they could locate Raven. Superman relents, throwing Constantine aside and apologising to Shazam. He also thanks him for saving his life and coming when he had called. Constantine insults Superman, calling him a "mass murderer", which Superman tries to confront, before the Spectre tells him Constantine is wanting Superman to kill him as he is protecting someone else. Superman orders Shazam to bring Constantine to the Hall of Justice as he was the only one that he truly trusted not to kill him.

As they fly towards the Hall, the Spectre senses something watching them, although is worried by the fact that he is unable to identify the force. Undetected by Superman and the others, Deadman flies right through them and possesses Shazam, telling Constantine that, although Klarion had asked him to help in case Constantine was in trouble, Batman had Deadman following him for that past week. He Deadman reveals that this was his escape plan for Constantine and parley to Jim Corrigan (the Spectre's human body), dropping Constantine, who is saved from hitting the ground by Zatanna and her large magical hat, transporting them both to safety.

Superman confronts Shazam, who is trying hard to fight Deadman's control over him. Deadman tries to make a deal with Billy Batson, that if he just lets him speak to the Spectre's human body, Jim Corrigan he will give him back his body. But Billy tells him that he doesn't need it, transforming back into his child form. Spectre catches him, know able to sense a third mind in Billy's body and exorcising Deadman. Spectre questions what he intended to do, but Deadman answers that he will only speak to Jim Corrigan on the matter. However he can't sense him, realising that the Spectre might be someone else and demanding to know who while the latter just grins.







Here is a digital copy of the comic, from the channel Mortal Kombat Komics.

Swamp Thing (Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Three 2014)

First Appearance: Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Three (2014) #6 Chapter Six: Xanadu

Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Three (2014) #6: Swamp Thing appears during Madame Xanadu's prophecy, where she tells Batman and Constantine that "The Green will grow."

Swamp Thing is the Entity of the Green, with the ability to control plant life.

Constantine and Batman visit him in the middle of a swampy plain. When he sees Constantine, Swamp Thing tells him that he is wasting both their time as he won't find what he was looking for. Constantine ignores this, revealing that they are looking for his help to take down Superman's Regime. However Swamp Thing says that Superman and Lex Luthor are doing more to help the world , by harnessing solar power and stopping people from cutting down tress and burning them. Constantine tries to argue that humanity will be enslaved, but Swamp Thing just answers that humans aren't his "concern." Constantine points out that he was humn once, but Swamp Thing retorts with the answer of "so were you." The former says that he is trying to save the world, but Swamp Thing comments on that he is only trying to save one species and only has selfish motivations. Batman questions his alliegence, asking if he was going to join their side. Swamp Thing just replies that he won't and Batman takes his silence after the second question "will you join his?" as a sign that he already had. Constantine tells Swamp Thing that he doesn't want to be enemies and the feeling is mutual from his former allie. Constantine asks if he had knew that he had been figuring a method of destroying him, but Swamp Thing calls him a "bastard" and that is what he always does with those he works with. However he lets them go on that occasion and not harm them if they promise not to interfere and harm the Green. He threatens that if they cross him, they will learn to "fear every tree. Every blade of grass." He shows off his power over plant life as a warning that he is serious with his threat as they leave.

Deadman (Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Three 2014)

First Appearance: Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Three (2014) #6: Xanadu

Boston Brand is a ghost hero, who is able posses and maniupulate peoples bodies. He is a member of Batman's Insurgency.

Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Three (2014) #6: Deadman appears during Madame Xandu's prophacy where she says that "a dead man will fall and a dead man will rise."

Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Three (2014) #9: Deadman was watching Superman as he and the Regime took Constantine hostage. The Spectre is able to sense his presence, but is unable to identify him or see him. Deadman possesses Shazam, revealing himself in a whisper to Constantine and tells him that Klarion contacted him, worrying for his safety. However he goes on to say that Batman had him tailing Constanitne for a week. He tells Constantine that this is both a rescue for him and an intervention for his old friend Jim Corrigan, the Spectre and show him that Batman is not the enemy. Constantine tries to argue that there is nothing left of Corrigan in the Spectre, but he simply tells Constantine that he might be right, but he won't see what will happen, dropping him.

Deadman remains in Shazam's body, where he is confronted by Billy Batson (Shazam's true personality). He comments that it is new to find another presence in his host body. Billy demands him to leave, but Deadman says he will but first just wanted to have a conversation with him. Billy tells him he won't let Deadman hurt Superman, while Deadman argues that Billy must see that what Superman is doing is just plain wrong. Billy stands up to him, putting up a fight and telling that he doesn't need his whole body to fight. He turns himself back into Billy and is caught by the Spectre.

The Spectre senses a third mind inside Billy's body and forcably exorcises Deadman from him. Spectre demands to know what he expected to gain from that, but Deadman states he won't reveal any information to him. He goes on to say that just wants to talk to Jim Corrigan. However he can't sense the presence of his former friend. He suddenly realises that the Spectre is not Jim Corrigan and demands to know who he really is as the Spectre grins.

Ragman (Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Three 2014)

First Appearance: Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Three (2014) #7 Raven's Rescue

Ragman is the alias that Rory Regan uses when he fights crime, wearing his magical patchwork suit, the Suit of Souls. He joins Batman's Insurgency and takes part in Constantine's plan to catch Superman.

Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Three (2014) #7 : When Superman arrives in Gotham and frees Raven from the binding circle she was held in, Ragman catches Superman off guard and answers his question of being able to sense anything  by shouting that he senses "your murdering soul!" He had been impersonating Raven as part of Constantine's plan to catch Superman. 

Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Three (2014) #8: Constantine arrives and reintroduces Ragman to Superman, who has been bound by Ragman's suit, and tells him that he is called Rory only to his friends and that he doesn't think Rory is his friend. Rory listens as Constantine makes his victory speech. He is asked how long the process takes as Constantine has nothing left to say. He is shocked by how Superman was able to use his heat vision to burn a whole in the suit and claims that Superman is too strong. He tries again, but Superman manages to activate his comm and radio in for Shazam's assistance.

Shazam arrives and grabs him. When Constantine orders him to take Shazam, Ragman replies that he is unable to as Shazam is innocent. He tries to plead with Shazam, telling him that he Superman's soul has been corrupted by evil. Shazam ignores this and uses his power to incapacitate him before the Spectre appears with Yellow Lantern and Sinestro.

Spectre snatches Ragman off Shazam, tearing his Suit and stating that all the people that Ragman had imprisoned in the suit and Ragman himself with die. Spectre rips off his mask, calling him a "soul stealer" and that his time has come. He begs Constantine for help, but the latter turns his back on his friend. Shazam tries to persuade the Spectre not to  kill him, but the Spectre ignores this and delivers the killing blow. 

Ragman first appeared as a cameo in Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Three (2014) #7. He makes his first full appearance in Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Three (2014) #8. He is murdered by the Spectre in Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Three (2014) #8.

Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Three (2014) #7 Review

Superman bleeding? Magic rules with vengeance as he is taken prisoner. Things are going from bad to worse for Superman's Regime, with his capture adding to their defeats.

In this issue, Teekl has freed Raven's spirit, allowing her to reveal her location to Superman. Superman goes rescue her and after freeing her from her imprisonment is attacked and bound up by an unknown patchwork cloak (Ragman.) The real Raven has been moved by Klarion and Constantine and he has fallen for the Insurgency trap.

This is a change to the war, since Batman's Insurgency has been constantly beaten down and broken by Superman's forces. I love this as it shows that Kryptonians are no more powerful than the average mortal (even if he is wearing a magical patchwork suit.)

There is a great conversation between Klarion and Constantine, Klarion has become my favourite character in this series, where Klarion's moral compass comes into question and Constantine has to remind him "Your a necromancer who likes to play with dead people... who likes to reanimate corpses" which results in Klarion merely saying "fair enough." I just love the casualness of this statement and the fact that he agrees with it.

 

I'm not sure about the Spectre though. His character is rather annoying me .... and he killed Jason Blood.

However apart from the Spectre's fire first attitude the other characters I really like. Maybe I just need to wait and see if he'll improve. But that is my only complaint about the comic. The issue I just adore and the dark humour that is brought forward from Constantine and Klarion just add to tension when the action happens.