The graphic novel Injustice: Gods Among Us – Year Four Volume 1, written by Brian Buccellato, is based on the popular video game Injustice: Gods Among Us. The story centers around two rival factions — one led by Superman, the other by Batman.
I won’t delve into the full backstory, but the key point to know is that members of the Justice League are divided — some loyal to Superman, others worried about what he’s become. Superman has gained almost god-like power on Earth, which is a significant concern for Batman. But will things stay that way? That’s because the Greek gods are about to enter the picture, and who knows what will happen from there…
INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US: YEAR 4
The “Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Four” story kicks off with a scene set on Olympus — a place few believe in anymore, since hardly anyone’s seen it. We’re told that there are gods who play crucial roles in marriage, wisdom, love, archery… even wine.
Then, Ares, the god of war, makes his entrance. He’s talking to Hercules, who admits he’s a bit jealous of Ares’ trips to the mortal world. Ares, in turn, laments that humanity has forgotten about them. These days, people worship athletes, celebrities, and superheroes — those with capes. Ares then tells Hercules that it’s time for the gods to remind mortals who’s really in charge.
The scene shifts to Superman, who’s been bringing peace to Earth for the past three years — though, honestly, it’s come at a heavy cost. The Justice League, once Earth’s protectors, now feel more like enforcers, and it’s taken a toll on them all. They’re now hunting for their enemy Batman, and some of their actions have crossed into tyranny. Even Wonder Woman, once a symbol of hope, has done things she deeply regrets.
Meanwhile, Batman finds himself on a remote cliff with Ares, the God of War. They’re meeting to discuss a risky proposition — Ares has a plan, and Batman is listening. Over on another front, Renee Montoya, a member of Batman’s resistance, gets captured by Superman. But she’s just swallowed some stolen green pills — Kryptonite-powered pills — that could level the playing field, making her Superman’s match. The fight that ensues is intense. Renee’s is seen fighting with everything she’s got, desperate to take Superman down.
Up on Olympus, Hera is losing her patience. She vents her frustrations to Zeus, furious that Superman, an alien, dares to see himself as a god. She’s determined to restore order, and Zeus, in this case, agrees.
Hera then seeks out Ares and instructs him to summon Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons — an alliance that could tip the scales in this chaotic war.
Renee Montoya and Superman are still going at it, the fight intense and relentless. Just when it seems like Wonder Woman’s about to jump in on Superman’s side, things take a dark turn — not with a punch, but with an overdose. It hits Renee Montoya’s heart! Out of nowhere, Bruce Wayne shows up just in time to witness her slipping away. The sight hits him deep — seeing his close friend fade like that.
Superman holds back, deciding not to go after Bruce right then and there, but he does give him a stern warning: to never wear that Batman outfit again. Of course, Bruce isn’t about to make any promises. He’s still got a few loyal followers backing him up, and he’s not about to give up his fight anytime soon.
Hermes, the swift messenger god, suddenly appears on Earth, catching Superman and his crew off guard. The Messenger of Zeus warns him that he’s got to leave — or face the fury of the Amazon army.
Wonder Woman, nearby, overhears the warning and looks genuinely stunned. When she gets the chance, she turns to Artemis, seeking answers — knowing that only she and Queen Hippolyta, her mother, hold that kind of authority. The tension in the air is thick, and everyone’s wondering what’s really going on behind the scenes.
Readers discover that Hera’s pulling the strings behind the scenes. Hippolyta isn’t having any of it, though — she reminds Hera that Wonder Woman isn’t just her daughter, but also carries Zeus’s blood.
That really rubs Hera the wrong way, and she doesn’t hold back, punishing Hippolyta for her insolence. The outcome? The Amazon army will go to war against Superman’s regime, even if Queen Hippolyta isn’t willing to be part of it. Things are about to get intense.
Superman asks Hermes to take him to Zeus, but Hermes isn’t having any of it — he’s not about to take orders from a non-god. Guess who then steps into the spotlight: it’s Batman! Cut to another scene, where we get more insight into his deal with Ares, the god of war. Ares raises a red flag, hinting that the biggest problem might actually be Wonder Woman herself. Things are getting even more complicated.
Superman’s told to stand down from the Halls of Justice, but he’s not about to back off. Wonder Woman quickly steps in with a bold, quick-thinking plan — if they won’t leave them alone, then they’ll settle this with a fight: one champion from each side, in a battle to the death.
Superman immediately volunteers himself. But then, out of nowhere, Batman speaks up, his voice firm and serious, declaring that on behalf of the gods — they’re choosing Wonder Woman as their champion. Whoa, talk about a clever move! Wonder Woman looks completely stunned, caught off guard. The moment that happens, all hell breaks loose — chaos erupts as tensions hit the boiling point.
What follows will spiral into full-blown war, full of twists and turns. And that looming question: will Superman and Wonder Woman really face off in a fight to the death?
That’s about all I’m going to share about the story in Injustice: Gods Among Us. But trust me, it’s packed with all the big names you love — Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash — along with plenty of Greek gods like Hercules, Hermes, Zeus, and Hera, who all play major roles. Plus, there are other gods like Eros and Apollo, though they have smaller parts. It’s a wild ride with superheroes and gods colliding in ways you won’t see coming.
I’m giving “Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Four” a solid 7.5 out of 10. Honestly, that’s mostly because I’m not super familiar with the Justice League backstory, so having all these characters thrown together felt a bit overwhelming. For example, I have no idea how Superman and Batman ended up forming their own opposing groups.
This is the fourth graphic novel in the Injustice: Gods Among Us series, so I jumped right into the deep end without knowing all the history and tension built up in the earlier books — even though they do mention some of it here. Still, it didn’t really hit me emotionally or give me a reason to root for someone because I didn’t see the story unfold from the start. But overall, it’s a good read with some clever moments. I especially loved the intense Superman versus Wonder Woman fight. Batman’s clever call in that death match was pretty impressive.
The story is pretty layered and packed with stuff to process. I probably won’t go back and read Year One, Year Two, or Year Three just to catch up on how things got to this point. Instead, I focused on this book (Year Four), which really drew me in because the Greek gods were in it. That added a big wow factor and kept me hooked. All in all, definitely worth checking out if you’re into this kind of story.
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If you’re into Superman, you might also be interested in this Superman: The Odyssey comic review.
Here are some additional Greek mythology comics and graphic novels that are also worth checking out.
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