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.

Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Three (2014) #8 Review

Ragman and Constantine V.s Superman and the rest of the Regime.

In this issue Ragman is using his Suit of Souls to imprison Superman and end the Regime. However Superman is too strong and after activating his comm-link calls for backup. This results in Shazam incapacitating the Ragman and despite his protests, watches as the Spectre kills him. The rest of the Regime turn up and turn their focus on Constantine.

I feel so sorry Ragman in this issue, who is used and then killed when Constantine decides to turn his back on his "friend." This comic takes inspiration from the Hellblazer titles and I love how it keeps his personality very much the same: manipulative, inelligent and dangerous to anyone who forms a partnership with him.

I love how this title focuses on the interrogation of Superman and am interested to know how Superman managed to get out of the suit's power, though he was overpowered before hand.

This entire issue is why I love the occult. The magic that these characters wield is both amazingly powerful and fascinating how it ffects the user or it's target. Ragman was a hero I was unfamiliar with before this issue and it has made me want to go back and look up the character.

That is what I love in comics, if they make you like the character in one comic, then you will want to know about a character's backstory in another and you will actively read those comics to learn more. Though the story progresses extremly slowly, (a small number of scenes throughout this title) the detail in character development is astonishing. I like comics that choose to develope characters, just as much as issues with lots of action and emotion and this issue and title as a whole lives up to this.

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

This series just gets stronger and stronger with every title that passes. I have always been fond of the magical side of the Dc Universe and it's occult and this series just enhances that.

A synopsis of this title would be that Superman has decided to spare the life of Constantine. When Shazam is transporting him, he is possessed by Deadman, who causes him to drop John and be saved by Zatanna. During a mental conversation between Deadman and Billy, Shazam transforms back into his child form, causing the Spectre to realise that there is a third mind inside his head. He exorcises Deadman and the latter asks to speak to Jim Corrigan, however realises that the Spectre isn't who he thought he was, ending with him questioning the Spectre as he smiles darkly.

I am loving the character of Constantine in these issues and am also interested  in how Superman will lose his Sinestro Corps ring, as he is not wearing it in the final game. 

This character change in Superman is becoming extremely apparent and I am just waiting to see how further he will descend into depravity before the events of the game.

If you are fan of the Injustice Gods Among Us game, you will love this title and it's two predecessors, Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Two (2014) and Injustice: Gods Among Us (2013) (the first year of Superman's new World order.)

Earth 2: World's End (2014) #8 Review

Apokolips is in Earth 2's orbit, the Furies are on the offencive and the moon is hurtling in tiny fragments that are destroying everything which they fall upon. Welcome to the end of the World.

This title is fast paced and filled with action, following the end days of Earth 2's destruction. A brief summary of this issue would be, Flash and Hawkgirl have recovered from Fate's accidental Famine contamination. Alan Scott, Grundy and Sam are trying to locate the other Avatars. Batman and his team, must fight there way through Superman clones to reach Huntress and DeSaad. Constantine has teamed up with prisoners of the Arkham Base in the Lost Lands of Gotham. Chicago is destroyed by the moon and Barbara and Dick Grayson's fate has been left on a cliffhanger. Finally Hawkgirl has been possessed and opens fire on Flash and his mother, while Huntress' monitor has flat lined.

I love this issue and the tension that is building between the White Avatar (formerly Sam Zhao) and the Green Lantern (Alan Scott), because although it appears that Sam has completely disappeared, their are still traces of their former relationship and Sam inside the Avatar. I also like the number of cliffhangers this series leaves for the next issue or the mainstream Earth 2 title, making the reader want to find out how this will be resolved. 

Obsidian has been introduced into the Earth 2 title, which I am really excited about. Todd Rice was one of my favourite heroes before the Pre-Flashpoint event, so I am looking forward to seeing how they will shape him in this series. 

I am enjoying Batman using his brain to defeat his enemies instead of just drugs and brawn. This is the first time Batman II really follows in the footsteps of his son and I think he is a better hero for it. Another great panel is Major Sato choosing to ignore the Chancellor and deciding to power a survival and evacuation rather than fight against Apokolips.

I find it hard to actually find a complaint about this issue, because I love so much of it. Sometimes it is slightly hard to follow everything that is going on, but that is what is so brilliant about going back and reading it a few times. Once you have re-read this several times you get it, and it is such a good read that I don't begrudge that. 

So I would recommend not only this issue but the title as a whole and it's Earth 2 companion.

LoveCraft- Gotham Season 1 Episode 10

An interesting episode, not my favourite but it certainly great to see Alfred in a stronger position than he usually is.

The premise of this episode is that an assassin (Copperhead- Not named in episode but is defiantly her)  has been sent to hunt down and kill Selina Kyle, who has been identified as being the witness to the Wayne murders. She escapes with Bruce, causing Bullock and Alfred to team up and find him. Gordon goes to find LoveCraft, Harvey Dent's main suspect to the murder, but things go from bad to bizarre when he is killed with Gordon's own gun in his bathtub. After the children are saved, Gordon is confronted by the mayor, where he is positioned to become a security guard at the newly opened Arkham Asylum.

I love the interactions between Bruce and Selina, being a perfect foreshadowing for their relationship as Catwoman and Batman being both flirty, but also disparaging to the other. Another relationship that I'm glad they explored (though differently to how I imagined it to be) was the Selina and Ivy "friendship." Ivy Pepper, who had mysteriously disappeared since the first episode is back and her awkwardness is refreshing to see, when you see how different she is in her Arkham counter part in the video games. I like how Selina is scared of her. I also like the slightly flirtatious side she shows with Bruce, which I hope grows with the show to become the classic Poison Ivy from the comics.

I am very fond of Edward Nygma, and although absent through much of the episode, the hug between himself and Gordon was sweet. I am really enjoying his smart and socially awkward personality, making him human and relate-able and not just plain annoying as the Riddler was in Batman Forever. 

I was not sure about Alfred in the earlier episodes, but I have warmed to him. I think the turning point was the episode where he sits down with Bruce and helps him with the investigation into his parents murder. But back to this episode, I love how he respectably talks Fish Mooney into helping him, something that Bullock is finding harder to do after so many incidents between them. 

What made this episode good was that Barbara kept far away from it. No disrespect to Erin Richards as an actress, but I just don't like her character and I feel she serves no real purpose in the show. It is not even that she is a strong female character like Felicity Smoak or the Lance sisters in Arrow or Caitlin Snow in The Fash. She is merely there to be his girlfriend. So unless Gotham has great arc for her character (like they did with Laurel-as I didn't like her much before the later half of series two) I feel she is just there in the background. The relationship's between the  other characters are really strong, which was a plus for the episode. In terms of a mid-season point, it lacked the action that Arrow had with it's first two seasons, where the big bad was revealed or some big plot shift. Although having said that it does introduce Arkham very nicely for the second half of the season. 

What I didn't like about this episode was line "Mayor James... Kiss my ass" at the very end by Gordon  during his closing battle with James. The comic would, I feel, have given a very witty retort to this and not descended into childishness. Also I found Falcone's response to half his criminal activity being destroyed was slightly underwhelming. I would have liked to have seen a full response gang with Maroni (who he believes is responsible), not see someone shot and spend the rest of the episode with his face in a bowl, while he still trusts Fish Mooney. The trust he has for her, even with everything she has done against him, is shocking. For someone to be a crime boss with that much fear and respect, surely they would be smarter to know that everything that has happened has connections to her. 

If I were to predict what might happen in the second half of the season, I would guess that Liza may not last until a season 2 if one is made and nor would Fish. But what do you think?

Green Lantern (1990) #137 Review

This is a fairly old title based before the Flashpoint saga that started the New 52 series of events.

A sweet comic, that has a rather interesting feature: It has no fight sequence, evil mastermind or criminal subplot of any kind.

However what it does do is give the chance for great character development.

A brief synopsis of this title would be Kyle Rayner proposes to his girlfriend, Jenn Lynn-Hayden, who refuses for the time being. When Kyle tells his assistant Terry about this, he grows angry with Terry's disinterest, resulting in Terry going into a jealous rage and running off home in tears. This jealous rage was due to the fact that Terry had a crush on Kyle and was confused with his sexuality. Kyle eventually goes to Terry and after a long heart to heart chat, Terry comes out to being gay.

This comic has some beautiful dialogue, a sweet message and warmth. It is nice to see a comic that chooses not to focus on a bad guy for once and instead goes for the heart. I never really knew Jenn (Jade) when I read Brightest Day and Blackest Night, so it was nice to see some background to her. 

But it is Terry who is the star of this issue. The way this coming out story took place was believable. I also like how Terry (who does know that Kyle is Green Lantern) is in love with the man behind the mask and not the hero on the outside. 

Overall I would recommend this comic to all for it's sweat and rather different twist of no villain. Truly one of my favourite Pre-Flashpoint titles.

 

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