Now We Even
Written by: Brian BuccellatoArt by: Marco Santucci, Rex Lokus and Wes Abbott
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: July 27, 2016
Okay, if you have been reading Year Five of Injustice, you had to be excited by last issue's cliffhanger. Excited...not surprised. Don't even try to fool yourself, we all knew that Hawkman was coming back to Earth with a heavy dose of kryptonite. It's just that instead of handing it off to Batman, he showed up with a kryptonite mace ready to kick some Superman ass. Now that is awesome if I say so myself. So, I couldn't wait to get to this issue with the crazy notion that Buccellato could go completely against everything and have Superman die right here, right now. Now that would be mic drop worthy and I for one would not stop clapping for days. Of course, that is not happening so we will continue after the click to my review of what actually happened this week in Injustice Year Five Chapter #32...
The chapter opens with one mystery solved...Hawkman was supposed to hand the kyrptonite off to Batman, but instead is going to use it to make Superman hurt, then die, then maybe hurt him some more. Hawkman is like that, you know?!?
It's all about revenge and while Hawkman may be mistaken on how he actually lost his wife, he is taking it out on Superman all the same. I know it's cliched, but I love seeing Hawkman so damn savage!
Speaking of savage, Batman decides to just up and leave Hawkman for the arriving Regime, but I can't really blame him. Katar has crossed the line and is doing what he is doing for purely selfish reasons and Batman ain't got time for that.
The selfish reason then wakes up just as Hawkman pounds Superman's face into the ground. Shiera then takes a mace to the chops and even though Superman fights back a bit, it really looked like this could be the end of the Man of Steel. I know some of you are wondering if I'm really that dumb and yes, yes I am.
The issue changes gears quickly when the Regime finally shows up and we immediately see why Superman puts up with Barry Allen's nonsense. Spoiler...it's because he is awesome! He plucks the kryptonite mace right out of Hawkman's hands and the bell rings for Superman/Hawkman Round Two...ding...ding.
It's a brutal fight that ends poorly for Hawkman, though, it didn't have the shock value I thought it would. I actually enjoyed Barry lingering with the kryptonite a bit more and wonder where he disposed of it after he finally ran off with it.
The issue ends with Team Batman working under the gun to get some information from the down and out Cyborg. Actually, that's not right. They aren't trying to get "some" information...they are trying to get "THE" information!
It's funny, Brian Buccellato picked my two least favorite characters to battle to the death (or was it to the pain?) and I really wanted both of them to die together. Of course, that doesn't happen, but I still got a kick of the slugfest. I can't say that Superman slipped further down the douchebag rabbit hole this chapter, because he has made himself a very comfy home down in that pit and I think this is just the continuation of Buccellato showing us there is not going to be any Darth Vader turnaround at the end of this story. Buccellato gives readers all the bullet point items that make a good Injustice chapter here, but because we are getting so close to the end, it seems to have lost a bit of the fire. I hope that changes fast because I'm expecting a huge finale when it finally shows up.
I mentioned in my review for last week's chapter that Marco Santucci has quickly become one of my favorite artists on Injustice and he solidifies that this week by giving fans ( or just me?) a stellar looking issue. It's the character work that shines once again and I just love his Hawkman.
Bits and Pieces:
Brian Buccellato reaches into his bag of tricks to give us an issue that has Superman getting the shit kicked out of him, a crazy death and Batman going to extremes to find out what Cyborg knows and doesn't know. Marco Santucci's art is awesome and if you've been waiting for some early Injustice brutality to return, have I got an issue for you!
8.8/10
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