Genre: Superhero | Writer: Brian Buccellato | Release Date: 2020
Publisher: DC Comics
As Superman’s Regime tightens its grip on Earth, he recruits deadly villains to enforce order. Batman’s Insurgency struggles to resist, while alliances shift and loyalties crack. Amid rising casualties, Lex Luthor’s creation, Bizarro, adds unexpected depth to the coming war.
Plot
Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five serves as the final prequel chapter to the Injustice video game storyline, and it wastes no time in establishing its escalating stakes. The conflict between Batman's Insurgency and Superman’s Regime is at its boiling point, with the world’s fate hanging in the balance. At this stage, Superman has all but consolidated power, and Batman is forced into increasingly desperate acts of resistance.
The central plot thrust revolves around Superman’s controversial decision to recruit some of Earth’s deadliest supervillains into the Regime to bolster his increasingly strained global control efforts. This decision marks a significant shift in the series' moral dynamics—heroes become enforcers and villains become allies. Superman's desperation becomes evident as he wrestles control away from slipping fingers, enlisting the likes of Bane, Doomsday, and others to secure his rule. It’s a brilliant twist that turns the already fragile moral compass of the narrative on its head.
Subplots further enrich the story. Lex Luthor’s secret double life as Superman’s confidant and Batman’s spy remains a highlight. His creation of Bizarro—a twisted, childlike clone of Superman—introduces a surprisingly emotional throughline. Paired with the morally conflicted Trickster, Bizarro’s arc gives readers a touching look into innocence corrupted by power. Their eventual tragedy is one of Year Five’s most memorable sequences.
Another strong subplot involves the crumbling loyalty within Superman's inner circle. Characters like Shazam, Flash, and Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) begin questioning the Regime's ruthless actions. Their doubts fuel quiet moments of reflection amidst the chaos, offering glimmers of hope and depth to a world plunging into tyranny.
Batman, as always, plays the long game—leveraging stealth, strategy, and unrelenting resilience to keep the fight alive. He isn’t winning battles, but he’s forcing Superman to compromise further, which is its own form of victory. The narrative hits hard with several character deaths, not just for shock value but to align with the game’s canon. Unfortunately, this also weakens some narrative opportunities, as characters are sacrificed more for continuity than character progression.
Despite these structural limitations, Year Five tells a story packed with tragic ironies, shifting allegiances, and the inevitability of war. It’s dark, poignant, and powerful—but it does lose some of the creative freedom that defined earlier volumes. Still, as a closing act before the video game, it largely succeeds in building to a believable, high-stakes conclusion.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Production
Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five – The Complete Collection is primarily written by Brian Buccellato, with Mike S. Miller as the lead artist. Other contributing artists include Bruno Redondo, Xermanico, and Tom Derenick, though Miller’s consistent presence lends visual continuity that earlier volumes sometimes lacked.
Buccellato’s writing is commendable in how he manages a massive ensemble cast while maintaining thematic focus. The core struggle between absolute power and personal freedom continues to drive the narrative, but with a noticeable tonal shift. Earlier volumes were bolder with character arcs and alternate takes on familiar heroes. Here, however, Buccellato is constrained by the need to line up with the start of the video game. This naturally forces some creative compromises—characters must die, disappear, or change allegiances not for narrative payoff, but for plot alignment. That said, Buccellato still manages to deliver emotionally potent beats, especially in the arcs of Bizarro, Trickster, and Luthor.
The writing succeeds most when delving into character motivations and conflicted loyalties. Lex Luthor, in particular, walks a razor’s edge as Superman’s closest ally and Batman’s silent partner. Flash and Hal Jordan’s inner turmoil offer poignant commentary on blind loyalty versus moral responsibility. Trickster’s partnership with Bizarro—one of the most unique pairings in the series—adds heart and humor in a world increasingly void of both.
Miller’s artwork complements Buccellato’s storytelling with strong, expressive character designs. The costumes remain iconic while subtly emphasizing character evolution—Superman’s armor becomes more imperial, Batman looks increasingly weathered, and even villains like Bane carry a militarized menace. Action scenes are fluid, intense, and visually coherent. The page layouts are clean and cinematic, reinforcing the story’s tone.
Despite the praise, some readers may find the art lacking the wow factor of earlier volumes or more experimental series. It’s solid and professional, but rarely takes risks. Still, Miller deserves credit for visual consistency and some standout emotional moments—particularly in the quieter beats involving Bizarro or the death scenes of major characters.
Ultimately, the production values are strong. Buccellato’s ability to weave emotional threads while juggling continuity requirements is impressive. Miller’s consistent visual storytelling holds it all together. It may not be the most innovative installment in the series, but it’s certainly one of the most cohesive.
Rating: 4 out of 5
The Verdict
In the end, Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five – The Complete Collection is a strong finish to the prequel saga, offering emotionally resonant character arcs and a gripping final stretch before the game begins. While its storytelling is hampered by the need to tie up loose ends, Buccellato and Miller still deliver solid work. It’s not the best volume, but it’s a worthy conclusion to one of DC’s most ambitious alternate universe stories. Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five – The Complete Collection earns 3 out of 5.
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