Wonder Woman and Blue Beetle Headline ‘Injustice 2’ Comic-Con Panel

Seth Jans
Games Comic-Con
Games Comic-Con Comics DC

At San Diego Comic-Con 2016, the Injustice 2 panel started very much how you’d expect from a major studio like Neatherrealm: with a long line and a few bad jokes from the host to get everyone riled up for the panelists. Cue technical difficulties, followed by more bad electricity jokes, and then finally an Injustice trailer… for the first game. Odd. Tension is mounting.

Injustice 2

The giddy announcer brings to the stage NetherRealm director and Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon; the writer of the Injustice comic line, Tom Tyler; George Newburn, the voice of Superman; Phil LaMarr, the voice of Aquaman; and Laura Bailey, the voice of newest addition to the roster, Supergirl. A few good rounds of Q&A were exchanged with the audience. Tom revealed he will be returning for another Injustice comic run when the sequel comes out. The actors recounted their experience with their roles and what it meant to them.

Mention of new features popped up in the form of Injustice 2‘s all new Gear System which should allow for a high level of customizability for every member of the Injustice 2 roster. The pieces of gear are collectible character enhancements that’ll be constantly swapped, Borderlands-style, granting different buffs for different play styles.

That’s all well and good, but we’re here for the new characters promised! The Injustice 2 roster already includes Gorilla Grodd, Atrocitus, Supergirl, Batman, Flash, Aquaman, and Superman. The first Injustice game had 30 total fighters, with word that the sequel could double that number. Prior to Comic-Con, Ed Boon teased the announcement of two new characters. As revealed in the below trailer, Wonder Woman and Blue Beetle joined the squad. Obviously, the Amazonian Princess was expected, but seeing the current Blue Beetle, Jaime Reyes in the game was a nice surprise.

After the trailer finished rolling, many of the audience members asked if their favorite characters would make the Injustice 2 roster, to which they received the same response over and over: “It’s a possibility.” While firmly tight-lipped on the inclusion of any more new characters, Ed Boon definitely had a lot to say about how gameplay has changed this time around. While some may worry the gear system would give an unfair advantage to some players during tournaments, he assured there would be a stabilizing system put into place.

Boon also mentioned that how characters interact with their environment will differ based on gear and that the interactive environments from the original would even be expanded. Additionally, some range attacks that could be spammed in the last game will be toned down. While no PC port has been confirmed, Boon indicated it was very likely. And soon enough the panel came to an end with the audience wanting more but having to wait for the early 2017 release.

If you’re looking for more news on Injustice 2, expect announcements at Gamescom and New York Comic-Con. And be sure to check out Fandom’s Comic-Con interviews with the creators and cast of Injustice 2.

Seth Jans