After Injustice: Gods Among Us proved incredibly popular with DC Comics fans, Warner Bros and developer NetherRealm have given us an excellent sequel, Injustice 2.
Like its predecessor, it will explore a dark alternate universe where the Justice League has fallen apart. The Injustice 2 roster is full of familiar heroes like Superman and Batman who will all be battling to the death.
This new entry not only picks up the story where it left off with the alternate universe Batman trying to rebuild society after taking down the twisted reign of their version of Superman. Only now we’ve seen that Brainiac is getting involved as well. The new storyline also opens possibilities for new characters to join the roster, as well as updates to returning heroes. So let’s dig into the Injustice 2 roster.
First Round of DLC Revealed With a Non-DC Surprise
Barring any last minute surprises, the Injustice 2 roster seems pretty final at this point. But that doesn’t mean it’s anywhere near complete. The developers at Netherrealm released the above video showing off the first round of DLC. Available as part of the Ultimate Edition or as part of a season pass, this trio of fighters will join the roster at some point after launch. But who are Red Hood, Starfire, and Sub-Zero?
Red Hood
Red Hood is one of Batman’s oldest enemies, but also one of his most complex. He first appeared in 1940 as an alias for The Joker, something that Alan Moore integrated into his version of Joker’s origin. But in the mid-’00s, the Red Hood returned as the formerly dead Robin, Jason Todd. Jason was killed by Mr. J, and when resurrected, Todd came back to kill Joker himself. He hasn’t succeeded yet, but he’ll no doubt keep trying. So, is Injustice 2‘s Red Hood also Jason Todd?
Starfire
Starfire (aka Koriand’r) has been a “New” Teen Titan since she first appeared in 1980. Kori is a somewhat naive, friendly hero who is no less powerful or capable as a leader. Starfire is no longer the teen she was popularized as on the Cartoon Network series, and her toughness, flight, and energy projection will be a real asset in Injustice 2. Wonder how her old teammate Cyborg will react to fighting her?
Sub-Zero
Now, this is a surprise. Sub-Zero is one of the icons of the Mortal Kombat series that made developer Neatherrealm famous. The ice-cold Chinese ninja warrior has appeared in countless games and many different permutations, even fighting the Justice League in Mortal Kombat Vs. DC. Now he’s making his way into the Injustice 2 roster as the first round of DLC. Could more Mortal Kombatants be far behind?
Cyborg is Giving You the Eye
Cyborg‘s body was destroyed in a tragic accident and now he’s half-man, half-machine. The experimental tech that makes up a good portion of his biology now has made him incredibly powerful as he has a large arsenal of gadgets and weaponry at his disposal. He’s a member of the Justice Leave, but he struggles with his humanity as a part machine.
The Joker Can’t Be Stopped
The Joker has been Batman’s nemesis since he first appeared in 1940, and he’s been a fan favorite for decades. Though in the world of Injustice, the demented clown is more a problem for Superman, as Joker killed Lois Lane (and everyone else in Metropolis) leading Superman to kill Joker.
Seemingly back from the dead, Mr. J is out to beat the crap out of people with crowbars, acid, and other vicious pranks. As you can see in the above gameplay, there are also multiple references to the Robin he killed, Jason Todd. Could this be a tease for The Red Hood being in the game?
Captain Cold Freezes the Competition
Despite being goofed on for decades for his costume and powers, Captain Cold is currently one of Flash’s most important (and popular villains). That’s thanks, in large part, to Geoff Johns making the character shine since writing at DC Comics, as well as Wentworth Miller making the character a hit on the many Arrowverse shows. Not bad for a guy with a cold gun and a parka.
Leonard Snart is bringing the same cold demeanor and ruthlessness to the Injustice 2 roster, with enough freezing moves to make Sub-Zero jealous. In the Injustice universe, Captain Cold is out to hurt the heroes because they executed his supervillain sister. This is why he’s out to destroy Green Arrow in Cold’s debut footage.
Black Adam
The newest Shattered Alliances trailer showcases the relationship between Supergirl and Superman, but more importantly, it confirms a certain follower of Shazam is in the game. Yes, it’s Black Adam, the former Egyptian ruler who became an antihero in the modern age with brutal efficiency.
Black Adam is the dark rival of Captain Marvel, but more importantly, he’s a global threat with power that challenges Superman’s, and he and Supergirl are fairly evenly matched too. Black Adam will soon be played by The Rock in an upcoming film, so expect to see the character getting bigger after Injustice 2 comes out.
Firestorm
Revealed when some pro wrestlers visited the Netherrealm offices, the newest member of the Injustice 2 roster is Firestorm. And this looks to be the more recent incarnation of the Nuclear Teen, Jason Rusch. Judging by the first gameplay, he is powered by the same dangerous Matrix and has similar scientific control over all non-organic elements. That’ll definitely work to Jason’s benefit.
Knowing that other characters have different outfits of their previous identities, will this mean that Ronnie Raymond will also make an appearance in the game?
Green Arrow and Green Lantern
Yes, the hard-traveling heroes themselves were shown off in the story trailer above. Both Hal Jordan and Oliver Queen are ready to return to super-battlefield, even though they have their share of scars. Green Lantern is out to prove he has beaten the rage of the Red Lanterns, while Green Arrow has followed Black Canary into an alliance with Batman and Harley Quinn.
But can those alliances stick? Because Bruce and Oliver don’t always agree, and Hal still doesn’t seem all that stable. Could this mean Sinestro will return as well? Or how about other Lanterns, like John Stewart or Guy Gardener?
Doctor Fate is Here to Fight Chaos
Now, before you imply anything, first realize that Doctor Fate — DC’s most famous occult hero — has been around for 22 years longer than Marvel’s Doctor Strange. And Fate is a bit creepier.
Doctor Fate is a combination of a human host and the dominating presence of the otherworldly mystic master Nabu in the helmet. Doctor Fate works for the Lords of Order to battle chaos with his Cloak of Destiny, Amulet of Anubis, and the Helmet of Fate. He’s a core member of the Justice Society, but it’s hard to tell which human host is controlling Fate in the Injustice 2 roster. Knowing the good doctor, it very well could stay a mystery.
Catwoman and Cheetah
In a special Valentine’s Day trailer, we got to see two more fighters join the roster: Catwoman and Cheetah.
DC’s ultimate femme fatale, Selina Kyle, has been frenemies with Batman since 1940, although she’s been a much bigger force in Batman’s life since the Crisis reboot of the ’80s. Selina is known for her own specific morals that don’t always agree with Batman’s code of ethics. Still, that doesn’t stop her from teaming up with Bruce just as often as she fights him.
Catwoman is a very skilled, acrobatic fighter, with all the grace of her feline namesake. She looks similar to the Catwoman of the Arkhamverse, but she’ll surely have a couple tricks up her sleeve to make her stand out in the world of Injustice.
Cheetah is one of Wonder Woman’s most consistent nemeses who first appearing in Wonder Woman comics back in 1943, but has been scratching and clawing her way into the hearts of DC fans for years. She’s normally pretty outmatched against Wonder Woman’s strength, but Cheetah’s sharp claws and remarkable speed often make up the difference in battle.
Injustice 2 looks to embrace this supervillain’s best attributes in battle, and we can’t wait to see how she stacks up against Wonder Woman.
Swamp Thing
Alec Holland had a hard life, and then his afterlife got a lot worse when he was transformed into a walking pile of moss. One of DC’s most famously weird heroes, Swamp Thing transcended his horror roots to become a crusader for environmentalism and one of Earth’s greatest defenders.
Still, he hasn’t been in too many DC video games, but that’s changing with Swamp Thing’s inclusion in the Injustice 2 roster. Swamp Thing’s move set takes advantage of his green abilities, like growing new limbs and even a second body to overwhelm his enemies with powerful vegetation. Not bad for a plant man who starred in a famous box office bomb.
Black Canary
Revealed in the exclusive IGN video above, Black Canary has officially joined the Injustice universe. The character has been around since 1947, but this specific hero persona is Dinah Lance, who first joined the Justice League in 1968.
She’s an incredibly skilled fighter and leader, working on street-level crime and leading the Justice League against intergalactic threats. Black Canary is also known for her powerful sonic blasts of Canary Cry, which is on full display in her first gameplay.
Dinah has a tumultuous relationship with Green Arrow, as seen in comics, animation, and the Arrow series, so now that she’s part of the Injustice 2 roster, you can expect to see that in the game in some form.
Brainiac
Superman’s ultimate computer nemesis is now ready to ruin his life in the Injustice universe as well. The Kryptonian supercomputer has a very analytical edge to his malice, and he seems to be bringing that to Injustice 2. Brainiac is the top villain in the game, directing all the super-powered people into battle against each other.
Darkseid
When it comes to evil in the DC Universe, there’s no one more diabolical and powerful than Darkseid. Created by comics legend Jack Kirby, Darkseid is no less than the cosmic satan, a New God out to ruin everything good.
Even by the standards of Injustice, Darkseid is obscenely strong, to the point where even the whole Justice League likely couldn’t stop him. Darkseid is usually cast as the main villain in stories like Injustice 2, though his role must be smaller if the ruler of Apokolips is only available as a preorder bonus. A curious situation indeed.
Robin
Under numerous different guises, the Boy Wonder has been supporting Batman since 1940, but for Injustice 2, the game is focusing on an adult Damien. Prepare to play as a Robin/Nightwing with a much bigger killer instinct than even Batman possesses.
Poison Ivy
Not seen in the previous game, Poison Ivy is one of the most popular members of Batman’s Rogue’s Gallery. Pamela Isley has been around for more than 50 years, but she really hit it big as the femme fatale in Batman: The Animated Series.
Poison Ivy’s use of plant-based enemies and poisonous attacks wouldn’t do much to Supergirl or Wonder Woman, so will Ivy also get a big power upgrade so she can keep up with the big boys? Also, she and Harley Quinn have an interesting history together in the comics. Could that carry over to the Injustice 2 roster?
Bane
Bane was created in the ’90s and was designed to be Batman’s greatest challenge. Bane was smarter, stronger, and better than Batman in seemingly every way, famously breaking Batman’s spine in the classic Knightfall arc. Bruce got better and eventually beat Bane, leaving the criminal as little more than a ‘roided-up freak who wasn’t half the challenge he used to be.
Still, Bane is looking pretty tough so it’ll be interesting to see if he can break Superman’s spine with the proper power upgrade.
Harley Quinn and Deadshot
Did you see the Suicide Squad movie? Did you love the leads played by Margot Robbie and Will Smith? Then you’ll be happy to know that both Harley Quinn and Deadshot are on the Injustice 2 roster.
Harley was in the first entry, and she appears to be no less brutal as a combatant in the sequel. Plus the game’s customizable gear means you can mix and match Quinn’s many different looks from across animation, comics, and live-action.
Meanwhile, Deadshot is entirely new to the world of Injustice 2. Just like in the film and in the comics, this fighter uses guns in admirably inventive ways, and it definitely looks like he rarely misses, even blasting Batman in the face (good thing Bruce is bulletproof in this series).
Wonder Woman and Blue Beetle
Diana Prince’s return to Injustice was never in doubt, but it got confirmed in a big way at E3. Not only is Wonder Woman on Injustice 2‘s roster, but the game will also include multiple DLC items and character skins to celebrate her 75th anniversary, as well as the upcoming Wonder Woman film.
One of her opponents in the trailer is a holdover from a simpler age. The version of Blue Beetle in Injustice 2 is the newer version, Jaime Reyes, who took on the mantle of Blue Beetle thanks to an alien/magic scarab that attached itself to his back. That special tech allows his body armor to shift and transform into different weapons as needed, making Blue Beetle a very versatile member of the team.
Red Lantern Atrocitus
Atrocitus runs on hate and is fueled by rage, all directed at the Green Lanterns and anyone who gets in the way of his infinite anger. Atrocitus leads the Red Lantern Corps, part of the rainbow of power-ring users throughout the galaxy in the DC Universe, and he’s usually accompanied by Red Lantern Dex-Starr, the deadliest cat alive. Both Atrocitus and Dex-Starr are a part of Injustice 2, and yes, Atrocitus does have an attack where he vomits blood on people.
Gorilla Grodd
Don’t laugh at this talking ape, because the Simian mastermind would ravage your brain and eat your heart as soon as look at you. Gorilla Grodd has been a big hit since debuting on The Flash TV series, as well as for his feral battles with the Justice League in the comics, making Grodd a perfect fit for Injustice 2.
Supergirl
Kara Zor-El has been fighting for truth and justice in the DC Universe since the 1950s, and she’s reaching new levels of stardom thanks to the debut of her own Supergirl TV series. Kara Danvers is on everyone’s mind these days so it’s way past due for her to beat the Justice League senseless. Also, knowing her history as a Red Lantern, who knows if she’ll be on Atrocitus’ side in the story.
Aquaman
Stop laughing at the King of the Seas, because Aquaman has become one of the toughest members of the Justice League. If you saw him in the first Injustice, you know Arthur Curry is adept at beating people down with his trident or calling on a great white shark to devour his enemies. And it looks like he’s even more brutal in Injustice 2.
Batman
These days it feels like Bruce Wayne appears in more video games than Pikachu, and that continues with Batman returning to Injustice 2. And based on the early footage, he’ll have even more weapons and armor ready to challenge Superman and any other Justice League member out to cause trouble. But will The Dark Knight be alone or could some of his former sidekicks also be joining in on the fun too?
The Flash
Barry Allen rocketed back from the dead some years ago and has gone from forgotten speedster to the star of his own TV series and a member of the Justice League film. So it’s obvious that The Flash is also returning for Injustice 2, ready to punch Batman at the speed of light — or he’ll at least try. And based on the first footage, Flash is looking more armored than ever. Hope it doesn’t slow him down.
Superman
The whole Injustice story begins with Superman breaking bad and killing The Joker and then conquering every country on Earth, so you better believe that Kal-El will be smashing folks once more on Injustice 2‘s roster. And it looks like he’s more savage than before, which is pretty wild since the first game featured Clark launching people into outer space and then punching them back down to the ground.
Scarecrow
Scarecrow merely appeared as a cameo in the Arkham Asylum stage of Injustice: Gods Among Us, but he’s actually playable character in Injustice 2. No doubt he’ll use his psychology powers to psyche out his opponents and be quite the mad presence in the ring, spreading his fear to everyone.