Injustice: Gods Among Us is an American comic book series that serves as a prequel to the fighting video game of the same name. The series takes place in an alternate reality, where Superman descends into villainy following his family's death at the Joker's hands. The Justice League is split by those who put their trust in Superman, establishing the totalitarian One Earth Regime, while Batman forms an insurgency out of the other half of the League to fight back against the Regime.
The series was written by Tom Taylor and Brian Buccellato, and illustrated by a number of artists, including Jheremy Raapack, Mike S. Miller, Bruno Redondo, Tom Derenick, and others. It was released digitally by DC Comics from January 2013 to September 2016, and was later released in physical comic book form and collected in trade paperback and hardcover editions.
Contents
Plot
The story is split into the five years preceding the Injustice: Gods Among Us video game. While Year Zero takes place before Year One and tells the story of how the Joker got the idea to drive Superman to madness, Year One to Year Four sees Superman's totalitarian regime fighting against one enemy after another. Year Five concludes the struggle between Superman's regime and Batman's insurgency, as the latter attempt to summon counterparts of the Justice League from another universe for help, setting up the events of the game.
Year Zero
Year Zero features the Joker escaping from Arkham Asylum and breaking into Blackgate Prison to free Andre Chavard, whom he forces into helping him find an evil mystical amulet known as the Amulet of Apophis, using his grandson Stefan as leverage.
As the amulet had been buried in the past in the deepest part of the Mariana Trench by Alan Scott following World War II, the Joker teams up with Black Manta to dive down into the trench and get the amulet. He then begins using its powers to take control of members of the Justice Society and have them kill each other, resulting in the death of Jay Garrick.
The Joker goes to Egypt where he excavates the Helmet of Chaos, becoming Doctor Chaos. Now immensely empowered by the chaos magic from both the helmet and the amulet, the Joker attacks the Hall of Justice and easily defeats the heroes. Superman is possessed, but frees himself after Batman gets through to him and he destroys the Amulet of Apophis. The Joker takes this as a challenge to corrupt Superman following his defeat, leading to the events of Lois Lane's death.
Year One
Year One features the Insurgency led by Batman against the Justice League led by Superman and the establishment of the One Earth Regime.
In Metropolis, a pregnant Lois Lane is kidnapped by the Joker. While Superman searches for her, Batman and the Justice League deduce that the Joker has used Scarecrow's fear toxin and laced it with stolen kryptonite to affect Superman. Superman and the League track Lois to a submarine where the Joker and Harley Quinn are hiding, but Superman is attacked by Doomsday. He fights and defeats Doomsday, only to learn Doomsday is an illusion, and he has been fighting an unconscious Lois. Too late, he learns that Lois's heart was synced to a nuclear warhead, which detonates and destroys Metropolis when her heart stops. Blinded by grief and revenge, Superman kills the Joker despite Green Lantern's and Batman's efforts to stop him.
A grieving Superman decides that all violence must end, by force if necessary. He addresses the United Nations, with Wonder Woman beside him, revealing his secret identity and demanding an immediate cessation of all worldwide hostilities. In response, the United States government contracts Mirror Master to kidnap Jonathan and Martha Kent to use as leverage against Superman. Using increasingly draconian measures, the League locates Mirror Master, and Superman relocates his parents to the Fortress of Solitude. The global escalation continues, with Wonder Woman becoming Superman's advisor as the League stops conflicts by force. Batman and Superman grow increasingly at odds, with Batman questioning Superman's and the League's methods.
In the Pacific Ocean, the League responds to a whaling ship under attack by Aquaman at the head of an Atlantean army. Tensions boil over into a full-scale battle until Superman coerces Aquaman into backing down, but not before Atlantean armies appear on multiple coastlines as a reminder of Atlantis's power. In response, Superman lifts Atlantis and places it in the Sahara Desert. Aquaman backs down, telling Wonder Woman that he is willing to advise Superman as a fellow ruler, but she does not relay the message. In Australia, Superman and Wonder Woman violently respond to a public demonstration against the League's new tactics, crippling a fan and wannabe hero named Galaxor. The Flash, also present, begins to doubt the League's mission.
Following the destruction of Metropolis, Harley Quinn escapes police custody but is recaptured by Green Arrow. He takes her to Arkham Asylum, where Superman, Wonder Woman, and Cyborg have also arrived to relocate the inmates to parts unknown. Batman and Nightwing arrive to stop them, but Robin (who believes in Superman's new crusade) switches sides to join Superman. In the ensuing fight, Robin accidentally kills Nightwing, the shock of which ends all hostilities and Batman, overcome with rage, disowns Robin as his son.
Year Two
Year Two features Superman's fight against the Green Lantern Corps and Harley Quinn joining the Insurgency.
Green Arrow's funeral briefly brings together the rifted Justice League, but in its wake the League is more divided than ever. An injured Batman has been relocated to Doctor Fate's tower, which is located outside of space and thus safe from Superman. Oracle has taken charge of his resistance movement, recruiting other heroes (including Harley Quinn) to fight Superman and his supporters. Harley and Black Canary begin an odd friendship, with Harley becoming an unofficial aunt to Connor, son of Black Canary and Green Arrow.
Meanwhile, Superman's League continues its global crackdown under the guise of enforcing order, sending the Flash and Hal Jordan to intimidate Congress into averting a government shutdown. Wonder Woman remains incapacitated on Themyscira. The formation and brutal methods of Superman's security forces, created with the help of Lex Luthor, convinces James Gordon and many members of the Gotham City Police Department to join with Batman's resistance, thanks to Batman's reverse-engineered superpower pills.
En route to Earth, Green Lantern Kyle Rayner is ambushed and killed by Yellow Lanterns led by Sinestro, who joins Superman's regime as his advisor. The Guardians of the Universe dispatch Ganthet and Guy Gardner to investigate the situation on Earth.
At the Fortress of Solitude, Ganthet urges Superman to step down, but negotiations fail when Ganthet admits the Guardians could have prevented Krypton's destruction. Ganthet returns to Oa, convinced Superman must be captured and brought to Oa for trial. Hal Jordan and John Stewart side with Superman and fly to Earth to warn him.
A squadron of Green Lanterns journey to Earth to arrest Superman but are defeated by Sinestro and Yellow Lantern reinforcements. The Green Lanterns yield and, over Sinestro's objections, are taken prisoner. Gardner, covertly observing, confirms Superman's alliance with the Sinestro Corps and warns the Guardians. In response, the Guardians dispatch all available Green Lanterns, including the sentient planet Mogo, to Earth in a final attempt to defeat Superman.
Year Three
Year Three introduces magic users such as John Constantine, Zatanna, and Doctor Fate, who aid the Insurgency.
In a flashback, the Teen Titans are present during the explosion that destroyed Metropolis. Kid Flash and Beast Boy are killed, while Superboy, Starfire, Red Robin, and Wonder Girl confront Superman. The remaining Titans battle Superman to stop him from killing any further, but Superman sends them to the Phantom Zone. Shortly after the battle in Year Two, John Constantine learns that his daughter Rose has lost her mother. He takes Rose to the Tower of Fate to keep her safe, vowing revenge against Superman.
In the present, Batman recruits John Constantine, Doctor Occult, and Rose Psychic to take down Raven and Wonder Woman. Raven is defeated, but Occult is killed, and Rose dies after prolonging Wonder Woman's sleep. Having kidnapped Raven, the Insurgency gathers at Jason Blood's home. The Spectre attacks, killing Blood and Harvey Bullock, but the Insurgency escapes to the Tower of Fate with an injured Detective Chimp.
The Spectre forms an alliance with Superman, believing in his cause. Batman and Constantine meet with Madame Xanadu, who prophesies that three new characters will join the fight, others will play bigger roles, and the Joker will return. In Gotham, Constantine and Klarion set a trap for Superman using Raven's body. Ragman ensnares Superman within his shroud, but Shazam arrives to rescue him. In the ensuing battle, the Spectre kills Ragman and Shazam kidnaps Constantine. Deadman finds a way into Shazam's mind and saves Constantine; he also attempts to speak to Jim Corrigan, the Spectre's host, but learns that someone else is controlling the Spectre. The Spectre mortally wounds Deadman, who returns to Nanda Parbat.
Batman and Constantine speak to Swamp Thing, who explains that he supports Superman's regime since it has stopped humanity from destroying the environment. Though Swamp Thing agrees not to harm them, Constantine tells Batman that they will have to kill Swamp Thing. In Nanda Parbat, a dying Boston Brand sends his power to Dick Grayson's spirit. Detective Chimp, now healed through Klarion's power, helps the Insurgency decode Madame Xanadu's prophecy. The Phantom Stranger meets with the Spectre, buying time for the Insurgency to mount another attack. Etrigan the Demon arrives and battles Superman, during which he makes a deal with Batman to replace Jason Blood as his host.
Year Four
Year Four introduces the Greek gods, revealing Ares' scheme to empower himself by escalating the conflict between the Regime and the Insurgency into a war by involving his fellow gods alongside enlisting the aid of Darkseid.
Tensions boil between Superman and his allies. Similarly, Batman's teammates are upset with his refusal to continue fighting. A superpowered Renee Montoya goes to Washington, D.C., where she threatens to kill Robin. Superman appears and fights Montoya, but she dies after taking too many of the superpower pills. Bruce Wayne arrives on the scene, and Superman tells him that the war is over. Harley Quinn kidnaps Billy Batson, while Lex Luthor helps Barbara Gordon to become Batgirl once more by administering a treatment that allows her to regain the use of her legs. Meanwhile, Ares and Hera voice their concern to Zeus that Superman has become a god amongst men. Hera sends the armies of Themyscira to the Hall of Justice to end Superman's rule, despite Wonder Woman being Superman's ally.
Batman, who had made an earlier deal with Ares, joins the armies of Themyscira. Wonder Woman proposes a trial by combat between the Gods and Superman's regime. Superman steps forward as the Regime's champion, while Batman chooses Wonder Woman to fight on behalf of the gods. Wonder Woman is forced to do so by Zeus, who claims that Queen Hippolyta will be killed by Hera if Wonder Woman does not honor the will of the gods. Superman and Wonder Woman begin their battle to the death, but Sinestro intervenes and shoots Wonder Woman down. Batman's insurgents and the armies of Themyscira, led by Artemis and Hermes, battle the Regime.
More of the Olympians arrive to defeat the Regime, but Ares frees Billy Batson, who turns into Shazam and joins the fight. Hercules is killed by Superman, so Zeus returns to Earth and strips Shazam of his power. The battle ends, with neither faction the victor. Wonder Woman is forced to side with the Olympians, while Zeus tells the world that they will no longer worship Superman.
Ares is revealed to have been playing both sides. The God of War advises Superman to ally with Poseidon, who is equally angry with Zeus' occupation of Earth. Poseidon threatens to destroy Themyscira, but Wonder Woman protects her people alongside Batman and his remaining insurgents. Superman and Poseidon attack Themyscira, but they are stopped by Aquaman and Mera. As the battle reaches the land, the Flash arrives and helps the Insurgency evacuate the people of Themyscira.
Year Five
Year Five sees a desperate last stand from Batman and Lex Luthor to establish a link to the Prime Universe Justice League and enlist their help to defeat the Regime. The conclusion of Year Five directly leads into the events of the game.
Prior to the occupation of the Olympians, Plastic Man's son Offspring was captured by the Justice League and imprisoned within the Trench. In an attempt to save his son, Plastic Man broke into the Trench and released nearly every prisoner inside. At the end of Year Four, a clone of Superman created by Lex Luthor escaped containment and was found by an elderly tailor who believed him to be Superman.
In the present, Superman orders the Justice League to round up the Green Lanterns, insurgents, and supervillains who were broken out of the Trench. Meanwhile, Hawkman arrives on Earth and tries to forcefully bring Hawkgirl back to Thanagar, but he is easily defeated by the Justice League. Batman recruits the Rogues, consisting of Weather Wizard, Heat Wave, Golden Glider, and Mirror Master. Doomsday comes to Earth and attacks Superman, but Bane defeats him and joins Superman's regime; Superman also kills Parasite by throwing him into the sun. Bane, Killer Frost, and Killer Croc capture Catwoman and torture her for information about Batman's whereabouts.
Batman, Batwoman, Harley Quinn, and Mirror Master confront Bane and Killer Frost at Wayne Manor, allowing Batgirl to rescue Catwoman from Killer Croc. Superman and Wonder Woman attack Batman, but he and the insurgents escape. Catwoman leaves the team after her near-death ordeal. The Rogues mount a coordinated attack on Regime strongholds across the world, but Bizarro intervenes and kills Heat Wave and Weather Wizard. Superman confronts Bizarro during a battle with Solomon Grundy and kills Grundy after he allows Bizarro to escape.
Dick Grayson passes on the Nightwing mantle and suit to Robin, though he does not approve of his allegiance to Superman. An underground movement led by Jason Bard decides to join the Insurgency, but Superman tracks them down and murders them all for invoking the Joker's name. Trickster decides to help Bizarro become a better version of Superman, but Bizarro accidentally kills him along multiple civilians; Bizarro brings Trickster's body to Lex Luthor, hoping to revive him. Luthor knows that Superman will question his loyalty once he finds out the truth about Bizarro, so he sends the clone to the Fortress of Solitude. Using a brainwashed Doomsday, Luthor virtually attacks Bizarro. Superman arrives and tries to save Bizarro, but Doomsday kills the monster. Hawkman joins Batman's team, and later obtains a kryptonite ring from Mongul.
Ground Zero
Ground Zero retells the story of the video game from Harley Quinn's perspective.
Injustice 2 (comics)
The comics based on Injustice 2 take place between the events of Injustice: Gods Among Us and Injustice 2. In the aftermath of Superman's defeat and the One Earth Regime's collapse, the story follows Batman and his allies' efforts to rebuild society, Ra's al Ghul's rise to power and his plans to save the world from ecological destruction, Hal Jordan's redemption after abandoning the Regime, and Gorilla Grodd seizing control of Gorilla City.
Injustice vs. Masters of the Universe
Injustice vs. Masters of the Universe is a comic miniseries that serves as a crossover with the Masters of the Universe franchise. The story continues from Injustice 2's "Absolute Power" ending, wherein Superman re-established the Regime and mentally enslaved Batman. The remaining Insurgents find He-Man in hopes that he might stop Superman permanently, while Superman attempts to employ Skeletor to restore his family to life. He then searches the multiverse to find a reality where they still live, only to learn that fate will not allow them to do so in any reality. After a clash with He-Man, Superman receives a fatal blast of lightning from He-Man and Castle Greyskull, then, in a redemptive moment with He-Man, dies. Batman, freed from the mind-control after witnessing Damian Wayne's sacrifice, forms a new Justice League in his son's honor.
Publication history
The series was announced by Ed Boon on October 5, 2012, at the EB Games Expo. The first issue was released digitally on January 15, 2013, by writer Tom Taylor and artist Jheremy Raapack, and subsequent issues were released weekly. The digital issues were later collected and issued in monthly print comic book form, and eventually in collected editions. In December 2014, Taylor announced that he would be leaving the series after writing Injustice: Gods Among Us – Year Three digital issue #14 (print issue #7), with Brian Buccellato replacing him by continuing the story into Year Four and Five. The final digital issue of the series was released on September 20, 2016, stopping right before the plot of the Injustice: Gods Among Us video game.
Sequels and spin-offs
Another comic book series, titled Injustice: Ground Zero, followed the Injustice comic prequel. This series was a retelling of the game's events from Harley Quinn's perspective.
Taylor and Bruno Redondo returned as the writer and artist, respectively, for the sequel comic book series Injustice 2, which began publication in May 2017. The series takes place between the events of the first game and its sequel, Injustice 2.
A miniseries known as Injustice vs. Masters of the Universe, featuring a crossover with the Masters of the Universe franchise, was first published on July 18, 2018, by DC Comics. It is written by Tim Seeley with art by Freddie Williams II, and follows the second game's alternate ending, where Superman wins out over Batman.
Injustice: Year Zero was released in 2020.
Reception
Critical
The series was well received by critics. According to review aggregator Comic Book Roundup, Year One as a whole scored an average of 8.6/10 based on 115 reviews, Year Two averaged 8.4/10 based on 115 reviews, Year Three averaged 8.3/10 based on 122 reviews, Year Four averaged 7.4/10 based on 77 reviews, and Year Five averaged 8.1/10 based on 134 reviews. Ground Zero scored an average of 7.6/10 based on 54 reviews, and Year Zero as a whole scored an average of 8.7/10 based on 21 reviews.
Accolades
2013 IGN People's Choice Award for Best Digital Comic Series
2014 IGN Best Digital Comic Series
2014 IGN People's Choice Award for Best Digital Comic Series
Collected editions
The Injustice: Gods Among Us series is collected in several trade paperbacks and hardcovers.
In other media
An animated Injustice film was released on October 19, 2021, as part of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line. The film partially adapts the Year One storyline from the comics while presenting an original narrative that diverges from the source material in several ways.