Injustice: Gods Among Us (comics)

Injustice: Gods Among Us
Publication information
Genre	Superhero
Publication date	January 2013 – September 2016
No. of issues	153 (digital) 60 (print)
Creative team
Written by	Tom Taylor (Year Zero–Year Three: #1–7) Brian Buccelato (Year Three–Year Five: #8–12)
Artist(s)	Various

Injustice: Gods Among Us is an American comic book series that serves as the 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.

Plot

The story is split into the six years preceding the Injustice: Gods Among Us video game. While Year Zero takes place before Year One and tells the story of how and where 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" brings the narrative to that of the game, setting up the events that take place.

Year Zero

Year Zero features Joker using an evil mystical amulet to possess and hurt members of the Justice Society. Superman is possessed, but frees himself after Batman gets through to him. The Joker takes this as a challenge to corrupt Superman, leading to the events of Lois'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 Joker. While Superman searches for her, Batman and the Justice League deduce that 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 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 Joker, despite Green Lantern's and Batman's best 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 identity as Clark Kent 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 closest and most hawkish advisor as the League stops conflicts by force. Batman and Superman grow increasingly at odds, with Batman questioning Superman's and the League's unrestrained 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 seriously doubt the League's new 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.

At Superman's private urging, Catwoman goes to Wayne Manor to console Bruce Wayne. She and Batman secretly meet with the US President, who asks Batman to neutralize Superman. He begins building a team to oppose Superman's League—including Catwoman, Green Arrow, Aquaman, Black Canary, Black Lightning, Huntress, Captain Atom, and Batwoman. With the battle lines clearly drawn, Superman's League continues its mission of stopping conflicts by force. Shazam forces Black Adam to give up his power but begins to doubt Superman's mission as a result.

Lex Luthor is found as the lone survivor in the ruins of Metropolis. He meets with Superman's League and wishes to join them, promising to recruit more members to Superman's side. Meanwhile, Batman's League kidnaps Hawkgirl and replaces her with the shapeshifting Martian Manhunter, thereby gaining a spy in Superman's League.

On Apokolips, Darkseid's son Kalibak hears of Superman's new role as Earth's protector and wishes to test him. He leads a parademon invasion of Earth, coincidentally during a public relations event at which Superman and Lex Luthor hope to spread their message of public safety. Enraged, Superman pummels Kalibak to death, but not before Kalibak taunts him over his failure to save many innocent lives. Batman's and Superman's teams band together to fend off the invasion, but all appears lost until Superman uses his powers to vaporize the parademons. At a cost of thousands of lives, the invasion is stopped, and Superman is more popular than ever.

In the wake of the invasion, Superman and Luthor conceive plans to create an enhanced security force, loyal only to Superman, using drugs created with Kryptonian technology. Robin teleports to Wayne Manor, having secretly taken one of the prototype drugs. He confronts Batman, with the disguised Martian Manhunter having discreetly followed him. In the ensuing fight, in which Alfred is accidentally injured, Robin deduces Martian Manhunter's true identity. In response, Superman reveals Batman's identity as Bruce Wayne, despite Batman's efforts to stop him. Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and Flash journey to the Batcave, where Wonder Woman delivers an ultimatum to Batman: stand down, or the League will respond with force. But Batman, who turns out to be a disguised Martian Manhunter, shapeshifts inside Wonder Woman. With her oxygen cut off, Wonder Woman pleads for Superman to use his heat vision on her, which he does to burn Martian Manhunter alive.

Learning that Superman's enhancement drug is being manufactured at the Fortress of Solitude, Batman's team raids the Fortress to steal it. As a distraction, US military forces engage in a build-up in the Pacific, but Superman is not long fooled by the ruse. Too late, Batman discovers Jonathan and Martha Kent at the Fortress and realizes that, if Superman discovers his team here, he will assume they have come for his parents and will respond with lethal force. Superman arrives, but Captain Atom fights him both on the orders of the Pentagon but also to give Batman's team time to get away—with the exception of Green Arrow, who is separated and trapped inside the Fortress. Wonder Woman slashes Captain Atom's suit with her sword, not realizing that this will render him unable to contain his nuclear energy. Both Superman and Wonder Woman are severely injured in the ensuing blast, but Superman recovers quickly, now realizing that the US military tried to kill him and believing that Batman's team is trying to do the same. Returning to the Fortress, he confronts Green Arrow, who is with the Kents. After Green Arrow accidentally injures Jonathan Kent with an arrow, Superman beats him to death in front of his own parents—but not before Green Arrow delivers the prototype pill to Batman. The remaining members of Batman's team escape in a costly victory. An enraged Superman confronts Batman at the Batcave, where the Batcomputer is analyzing the prototype pill. The two argue and fight, ending with Superman breaking Batman's back, but not before the analysis is completed successfully, enabling Batman's Resistance to synthesize the drug. Finally, Alfred, who has surreptitiously taken the drug to gain temporary superpowers, intervenes and injures Superman, allowing him to rescue Batman. In the closing, Superman's League, including Luthor, addresses the United Nations, pledging an end to violence, "Whatever the cost."

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 the Tower of Doctor Fate, outside of time and space, and therefore 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 the US Congress into averting a government shutdown. Wonder Woman remains incapacitated on Themyscira. The formation and brutal methods of Superman's superpowered 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 new regime as his new de facto advisor. The Guardians of the Universe, watching from Oa, dispatch their leader Ganthet and Green Lantern 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, however, side with Superman and fly to Earth to warn him.

A squadron of Green Lanterns journey to Earth to arrest Superman but are defeated with the aid of Sinestro and Yellow Lantern reinforcements. The Green Lanterns yield and, over Sinestro's objections, are taken prisoner. Guy 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.

The battle rages on Earth and above it, with the Green Lanterns attacking the Sinestro Corps and Batman's resistance attacking the Hall of Justice. Luthor warns Gordon that Barbara's identity as Oracle has been compromised, and the two teleport to the Watchtower to stop Cyborg from finding the resistance. Gordon (who is suffering from lung cancer) defeats Cyborg at the cost of his own life, but not before saying his farewell to his daughter and Bruce Wayne.

Black Canary, out for revenge for Superman's murder of Green Arrow, defeats Superman with the aid of a kryptonite bullet. The day appears won for the resistance, but Superman becomes a Yellow Lantern and, fueled by the fear he instills in everyone on Earth, is more powerful than ever. He kills Ganthet and Mogo by crashing them both into the Sun. Seeing the tide of the battle turn, Batman orders a retreat.

Guy Gardner and John Stewart are killed in the fighting, along with at least a quarter of the Sinestro Corps, and Hal Jordan is forced to become a Yellow Lantern to save Carol Ferris. Black Canary is also seemingly killed but rescued by Doctor Fate and taken to a different Earth where she and an alternate Oliver Queen can be together with their son. Several members of Superman's League are prisoners of the resistance, including Flash, Cyborg, and Robin. Yet Superman's League continues to rule Earth, and he has proven his willingness to kill on a mass scale to continue doing so.

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 in order 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 young daughter Rose has lost her mother. He takes Rose to the Tower of Fate in order 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 Doctor Occult is killed, and Rose Psychic dies after prolonging Wonder Woman's sleep. Having kidnapped Raven, the Insurgency gathers at Jason Blood's home. New members include John Constantine, Detective Chimp, and Klarion the Witch Boy. 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, Klarion, and Teekl set a trap for Superman using Raven's body. Ragman is able to ensnare Superman within his shroud, but Shazam arrives to rescue him. In the ensuing battle, Ragman is killed by the Spectre and Constantine is kidnapped by Shazam. Deadman finds a way into Shazam's mind and saves Constantine; he also attempts to speak to Jim Corrigan, the man inside the Spectre, but learns that someone else is controlling the Spectre. The Spectre mortally wounds Deadman, who is able to return 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 the spirit of Deadman to Dick Grayson. Detective Chimp, now healed through Klarion's power, helps the Insurgency decode more of Madame Xanadu's prophecy. The Phantom Stranger meets with the Spectre, buying time for the Insurgency to mount another attack. Etrigan the Demon, now hostless, attacks the Hall of Justice and wounds Sinestro. Superman takes on Etrigan and their fight continues into space, where it is revealed that Etrigan's new host is Batman. Though the Spectre kills the Phantom Stranger, Batman is able to force Superman to sleep.

Superman dreams of an alternate reality where he is able to save Lois and stop Metropolis from being destroyed. Batman kills the Joker to stop him from harming anyone else, and goes to prison for the murder. In the coming years, Superman and Lois raise their superpowered daughter Lara. Batman marries Wonder Woman, Lois becomes the President of the United States, and Lara is able to truly save the world. In the real world, Wonder Woman is awoken from her sleep through her mother's pact with Hera. Wonder Woman leaves Themyscira and confronts Sinestro. Ares awakens Superman from his eternal sleep, and the latter stops Wonder Woman from killing Sinestro. The Spectre sends Superman and his allies to the Tower of Fate, where they attack the Insurgency. The Insurgency heroes attempt to hold them off, but Sinestro murders Klarion and Detective Chimp.

Constantine summons Trigon, who believes that Superman kidnapped Raven. Meanwhile, the reborn Nightwing infiltrates Arkham Asylum and finds a maniacal Jim Corrigan. Nightwing rendezvouses with Batman and his team as Doctor Fate transports them all to the House of Mystery. The Spectre arrives at the Tower of Fate and reveals himself to be Mister Mxyzptlk, hoping to keep Superman as a part of his grand schemes. Mxyzptlk saves Superman from Trigon and transports his allies, along with Trigon, to the House of Mystery. Swamp Thing joins Superman's side, but Nightwing brings in Poison Ivy to stop the creature.

Huntress is killed by Wonder Woman, and the battle between Trigon and Mxyzptlk causes their reality to be distorted. The world begins to slip, and the heroes lose their forms. Constantine releases Flash, who gets everyone except Swamp Thing to safety; Batman and his team are placed in the House of Mystery, while Superman and his allies are taken to the House of Secrets. Shazam, Nightwing and Doctor Fate team up in order to send Trigon and Mxyzptlk to Shazam's void outside of time and space, but Raven awakes and confronts Trigon. Doctor Fate's plan works, but he is transported to the void with Trigon and Mxyzptlk.

Everyone is knocked out by the lightning blast. Zatanna transports the Insurgency to Alaska, where Batman has built an undetectable compound. Batman finds Constantine there with Rose, and realizes that his only goal was to get rid of Trigon. Constantine resigns from the team and takes Rose with him. Meanwhile, Superman, rid of the Yellow Lantern ring, tells his team that their vendetta against Batman is not as important as saving the world.

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 suffers a fatal heart attack 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 the goddess 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 in order to end Superman's rule, despite the fact that Wonder Woman herself is 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 himself 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, Flash arrives and helps the Insurgency evacuate the people of Themyscira.

Meanwhile, Billy Batson, Harley Quinn, and Hippolyta are sent to Tartarus. They confront Ares and escape using his Mother Box, but it sends them to Apokolips and they are captured by Darkseid. Superman flies there to rescue them, and it is revealed that Darkseid is working with Ares to avenge his son's death at the hands of Superman. While Superman duels Darkseid, the Gods continue their battle across the Earth. Batman travels to New Genesis to seek help from the Highfather, and Orion manages to stop the fight between Superman and Darkseid.

Wonder Woman and the rest of the Justice League battle the Olympians on Themyscira; Hera kills Artemis, but the remaining members of Batman's team assist the Justice League. Nuclear missiles are launched at Themyscira by the United Nations, but Superman returns and throws the missiles into space. As Zeus attempts to kill Superman, he is stopped by the Highfather. The latter convinces Zeus to stop his takeover of Earth, as he is no longer their true god. The Gods return to Olympus, and Zeus gives back Shazam's powers.

Superman hands over a defeated Ares to Darkseid before asking Batman to meet with him in person. Batman, knowing that it is a trap, does not attend. Instead, he speaks to Lex Luthor about recruiting a new team for a final battle against Superman.

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 call them for help. The end of Year Five serves as the direct precursor to 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 a daring attempt to save his son, Plastic Man broke into the Trench and released nearly every prisoner inside, although Kilowog was killed by Sinestro. At the end of Year Four, a clone of Superman created by Lex Luthor escaped Luthor's laboratory. He is found in Germany by an elderly tailor who believes 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.

Nightwing passes on his 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 with a restaurant full of 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.

After being humiliated by Alfred, Superman sends Victor Zsasz to interrogate him. Alfred refuses to give up Batman's location, and he is murdered by Zsasz. Batman comes out of hiding to find Zsasz, though he chooses not to kill him. Robin, Superman, Green Lantern, and Wonder Woman battle Batman, but Flash saves him and gets him to safety. Later, Superman attacks Flash for his betrayal of the Regime. Superman sends Girder and King Shark to arrest insurgents led by Iris West, prompting Flash to save her. Flash accidentally kills King Shark, and after Iris condemns him, Flash rejoins the Regime.

Batman, Batgirl, and Batwoman attack the Hall of Justice, defeating Hawkgirl and kidnapping Cyborg. Superman arrives to stop them, but he is confronted by Hawkman with a kryptonite mace. A weakened Superman manages to kill Hawkman before passing out from kryptonite poisoning. Hacking into Cyborg's database, Batman's team finds evidence of Superman murdering Bard and his underground movement. They attempt to broadcast it to the world, but Raven causes a massive blackout and the video is lost. Batman meets with Lex Luthor and tells him about a Kryptonite weapon that can only be unlocked with the DNA of the Justice League members. Luthor reveals his plan to get parallel versions of the Justice League from alternate Earths using Speed Force energy and a Mother Box.

Deathstroke breaks into a Regime armory in order to steal the Mother Box, but after killing Metamorpho, he is captured by Raven and Cyborg. It is revealed that Deathstroke uploaded the schematics of the Mother Box to Luthor, allowing him and Batman to complete their device.

In the Prime DC Universe, none of the events of Year One have occurred. Lex Luthor, Doomsday, Sinestro, Catwoman, Deathstroke, Black Adam, Bane, and Ares attack the Justice League while the Joker and Harley Quinn arm a nuclear weapon in Metropolis. As the Justice League tries to stop the Joker, they all suddenly disappear.

In the Injustice universe, Catwoman reveals Batman's location to Superman in an attempt to stop the war. While Batman and Batgirl watch the Prime Universe, Superman, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern strike. Batwoman sacrifices herself and activates the device, scattering the Regime and the Insurgency across the globe. As the series ends, Batman and Joker from the Prime Universe find themselves in the new world's Metropolis.

Ground Zero

Ground Zero retells the story of the video game from Harley Quinn's perspective.

Injustice 2 (comics)

Main article: Injustice 2 (comics)

The comics based on Injustice 2 take place before the events of the sequel game itself. The comics feature Batman's attempt to reform the society after the fall of the One Earth Regime, Ra's al Ghul's rise to power and his plans to save the world from ecological destruction, Hal Jordan's redemption after following Superman's Regime, and a coup d'état leading to Gorilla Grodd becoming the ruler of Gorilla City.

Injustice vs. Masters of the Universe

Injustice vs. Masters of the Universe takes place after the Injustice 2's "Absolute Power" ending. The Insurgents find He-Man in hopes that he might stop Superman permanently. Superman attempts to employ Skeletor to restore his family to life. He then searches the multiverse in order 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 (Superman having a vulnerability to magic), then, in a redemptive moment with He-Man, dies. Batman 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 prequels. 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.

Title	Material collected	Publication date	ISBN
Injustice: Gods Among Us Vol. 1	Injustice: Gods Among Us #1–6	November 13, 2013	978-1-40124-500-9
Injustice: Gods Among Us Vol. 2	Injustice: Gods Among Us #7–12, Annual #1	June 25, 2014	978-1-40124-601-3
Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year One – The Complete Collection	Injustice: Gods Among Us #1–12, Annual #1	March 8, 2016	978-1401262792
Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Two Vol. 1	Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Two #1–6	October 1, 2014	978-1-40125-340-0
Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Two Vol. 2	Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Two #7–12, Annual #1	Apr 15 2015	978-1-40125-341-7
Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Two – The Complete Collection	Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Two #1–12, Annual #1	January 17, 2017	978-140126-5601
Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Three Vol. 1	Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Three #1–7	October 28, 2015	978-1-40126-314-0
Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Three Vol. 2	Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Three #8–12, Annual #1	February 10, 2016	978-1-40126-129-0
Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Three – The Complete Collection	Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Three #1–12, Annual #1	January 16, 2018	978-1401275242
Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Four Vol. 1	Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Four #1–6	April 27, 2016	978-1-40126-267-9
Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Four Vol. 2	Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Four #7–12, Annual #1	August 17, 2016	978-1-40126-737-7
Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Four – The Complete Collection	Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Four #1–12, Annual #1	January 15, 2019	978-1401285807
Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five Vol. 1	Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five #1–7	December 7, 2016	978-1-40126-768-1
Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five Vol. 2	Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five #8–14	February 22, 2017	978-1-40127-247-0
Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five Vol. 3	Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five #15–20, Annual #1	June 7, 2017	978-1-40127-246-3
Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five – The Complete Collection	Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five #1–20, Annual #1	January 14, 2020	978-1401295660
Injustice: Ground Zero Vol. 1	Injustice: Ground Zero #1–6	July 11, 2017	978-1401272937
Injustice: Ground Zero Vol. 2	Injustice: Ground Zero #7–12	October 3, 2017	978-1401273880
Injustice 2 Vol. 1	Injustice 2 #1–6	October 31, 2017	978-1401274412
Injustice 2 Vol. 2	Injustice 2 #7–12, #14	May 1, 2018	978-1401278410
Injustice 2 Vol. 3	Injustice 2 #13, 15–17, Annual #1	August 7, 2018	978-1401280291
Injustice 2 Vol. 4	Injustice 2 #18–24	December 11, 2018	978-1401285333
Injustice 2 Vol. 5	Injustice 2 #25–30	April 30, 2019	978-1401289164
Injustice 2 Vol. 6	Injustice 2 #31–36, Annual #2	August 6, 2019	978-1401292270
Injustice vs. Masters of the Universe	Injustice vs. Masters of the Universe #1–6	April 23, 2019	978-1401288372
Injustice Year Zero	Injustice Year Zero #1–14	July 13, 2021	978-1779511294
Injustice: Gods Among Us Omnibus Vol. 1	Injustice: Gods Among Us #1–12, Annual #1, Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Two #1–12, Annual #1, Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Three #1–12, Annual #1	December 10, 2019	978-1401294984
Injustice: Gods Among Us Omnibus Vol. 2	Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Four #1–12, Annual #1, Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five #1–20, Annual #1, Injustice: Ground Zero #1–12	February 8, 2021	978-1779504685

In other media

Film

An animated Injustice film was released on October 19, 2021 as part of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line. The film is partly based on the Year One storyline in the comics.