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Mild Mannered Reviews - "Injustice: Gods Among Us" Comics

Injustice: Year Three - Chapter #15

Injustice: Year Three - Chapter #15

Released Digitally: January 6, 2015

"Awakenings" - Part 1

Writer: Brian Buccellato
Penciller: Mike S. Miller
Inker: Mike S. Miller
Cover: Neil Gouge with J. Nanjan

Reviewed by: T.A. Ewart (aka liheibao)

Click to enlarge



Regime Superman and Wonder Woman take in a sunset. He compliments her and they stand in admiration of each other. Regime laments the war that he now fights against the Batman, but believes the fault lies with those who oppose him, and not himself. He questions why Wonder Woman stands by his side, and she responds that he is the greatest man she has ever known. Wonder Woman says that she will be whoever Regime needs her to be. He reciprocates her emotions and as they are about to osculate, Wonder Woman is awoken from her magic-induced slumber. She finds Hypollyta and Ares at her bedside, and learns that Hypollyta has made a bargain with Hera for Diana to be unenchanted. Constantine and Batman converse at the Tower of Fate, and disagree as to the state of the war. Batman seeks to bring the captured members of the Justice League to his side, but his overtures are rejected. Wonder Woman arrives at the Hall of Justice with Ares in tow. She sees Regime in his state of kip, then sees the Yellow Lantern ring on his finger, which causes her to attack Sinestro, demanding to know what he has done to Regime.

2Story - 2: The opening seemed to be a continuance of last issue's dream, but with the onset of Wonder Woman, and her awakening, it was most disappointingly not. There is nothing of consequence in this installment at all, and it's surprising that Injustice would show such disregard for its readership, as it has such a healthy one. However, as the opportunity has been afforded, it would be wastrel not avail this pen of a chance to comment on Wonder Woman and Superman in a relationship. Injustice is yet another show of the two together, and that their pairing can only happen in the most unhealthy and dysfunctional of circumstances. The dysfunction of the pairing, while equal in the New 52 linking, is squarely on the shoulders of Wonder Woman, and it is a sorry show. Regime dreams of the life he would have had with Lois Lane, but Wonder Woman dreams of being with Superman. No, not just being with him, but being whatever he wants and needs her to be. It is a jarring, cacophonous statement to hear from Diana, and for no reason other than it shouldn't be happening. Diana sounds like a trite, romance novel, caricature. It's not beneath her to want to be loved, or even to want the love of Superman. Still, as he is emotionally unavailable and she would willingly regulate herself to second place after a memory. That doesn't speak to love, that tells us anything but.

Much like The Dark Knight Returns, Kingdom Come has left a legacy that has been nigh indelible. However, where TDKR has been a source of consternation for Superman, KC has rendered onto Wonder Woman two aspects that have been embraced by readers and creators without a moment of thought: She's warrior/warmonger, and she should be with Superman. KC explains why and how such things would happen, but, as Mark Waid has explained on more than one occasion, it occurs in a world that has gone wrong. Superman and Wonder Woman find comfort in each other due to a weariness they both possess, but it's a consolation to the loves that they have lost, and not the love many would expound it to be. This love denies Wonder Woman the clarity, the common sense to see that Regime Superman is wrong and those following him as myopic in their foolishness. Instead, she pledges herself to his side and will play the good solider, if only to be closer to the man she's got a torch burning for. It's a sad state for any character, but one of deep demolition for Wonder Woman, as she places her integrity on ice in order to be close to the man she loves... who doesn't love her.

4Art - 4: A pretty tight issue. Miller does a good job of returning Wonder Woman to the book and with linework the other characters would envy if they could.

4Cover Art - 4: A bright, boosting bounty of Wonder Woman thrashing Sinestro.


Mild Mannered Reviews

2015

Note: Except for digital first releases, the month dates are from the issue covers, not the actual date when the comic went on sale.

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