Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Four is a comic book series written by Brian Buccellato and art by Bruno Redondo. Superman has battled against an army of Green Lanterns and the assembled forces of magic and remained standing. But how will he fare against the Gods themselves?

Having defeated Batman, the Green Lanterns, and the magical heroes, a more powerful force decides it’s time for Superman to step down and they’re called the gods. Now, the story doesn’t take off immediately but it takes its time to open up the story and the transition from Taylor to Buccellato is pretty evident. It’s good and continues to be very unpredictable but it doesn’t feel as emotionally charged as previous entries.

Now that’s not to say that there aren’t any. There are some slow moments with exposition and essentially this edition does feel like one big filler arc. However it does a good job of fleshing out more of the characters and finalizing Superman’s turn into a tyrant. I liked the story and there’s a lot that happens although there are some pacing issues and some slow subplots. However, it’s as much a thrill ride as previous installments. (3 out of 5)

Loved how well-written the characters are, both those introduced in the previous issues and those introduced in this series. I also appreciate how Buccellato shows how this war between heroes has affected them and how their allegiances are tested. Lex Luthor gets his chance to shine as well as Wonder Woman. Ares is the new jackass of the series, whispering in everyone’s ears, getting the various groups to go against each other.

Batman is being Batman. No surprise there. I love Renee Montoya who gets an epic moment. She decides to take on the Man of Steel alone after the death of Huntress. But perhaps one of the most prominent characters is Zeus. We don’t get to see much of him in the DC Universe but he comes onto the scene in style. Not only is he a threat to Superman but he even decides that he’s going to become the new dictator. Look, I could go on and on about the numerous characters, their shifting relationships, and developing arcs, but I’m not. The characters are freaking great. (5 out of 5)

Bruno Redondo again kills it with his artistic vision. I’ve never really liked the designs of the DC’s gods because I feel they’re clothing is dated and should be more modernized. However, seeing them, you can definitely see the strength, especially with Zeus. The action is intense and the conversations between characters feels dynamic. The one word to describe the art style is edgy. (5 out of 5)

The writing is good but this time around Brian Buccellato takes the reins and he definitely takes the story in a new direction. The characterization is strong, this story is disturbing yet well crafted, and there are a ton of memorable moments. Zeus steps up declaring himself and the other pantheons to the world. It’s an interesting concept though the comics fail to explore it and there are some pacing issues. Renee Montoya bites the dust but she goes out like a soldier. Two of my favorite battles focus on Superman fighting Wonder Woman and the battle between Aquaman and Mera against Poseidon. (4 out of 5)

In the end, Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Four definitely sets its sights on being different to varying degrees of success. Yes, the story isn’t as compelling nor some characters as fleshed out as they could’ve been. But there is a lot to appreciate about the story, well-written characters, great action, decent writing, and great artwork. Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Four gets 4 out of 5.