Injustice

Oof. This is an inconvenient moment to remember this is all the set up for a video game, which means it doesn't really have a satisfying conclusion. I have no doubt that the preponderance of Harley moments sustained me in this bleakness, smart choice on writers' part. One other point that kept occurring to me through the series: the art styles shift , but there is consistency in transforming Clark Kent's face so that with the stone-faced, implacable, nigh blank visage of the foe, he's not recognizable as anything but a dark version of Superman. I guess I can be happy Bruce never gave up, but damn, did fighting cost him everything. I honestly don't  know whch member of the bat family has the most tragic end, though bizarrely I guess I have to appreciate that the fridging didn't follow traditional gender lines. What makes this series so depressing is the realism - the likelihood that fighting for what's right, being a hero, won't end with a happily ever after, even if you did everything you could, and conversely that you can convince yourself you're doing everything right and keep going farther down the wrong path, denying redemption at every turn. Bleak. It's a powerful warning, but I'm glad to go back to reading a more hopeful Superman. I will miss the grim with purpose (cleverly playing both sides) version of Lex Luthor. A more generous reading of him suggests he's always doing what he thinks is best for humanity, but it's usually done with smugness; these circumstances really stripped him of that. Motivations felt a little more wobbly for Clark's contingent the longer things stretched out. There just didn't seem to be enough reason for Barry or Victor to stay, they had so many scenes expressing doubts. I think Hal only clung on because he'd switched from green to yellow and didn't have a way back. Diana is more compassionate and inspirational when she's not foremost a warrior who does all for the love a dictator; I'm sure fans have previously argued her characterization is dramatically altered for this series. I'm not a video game person so I may have to do some pokng around to see what the possible playthrough options are. Thank goodness this isn't the main continuity.