Part of an ongoing series revisiting graphic novels and collected editions from days gone by....

Things continue to heat up as the Injustice: Gods Among Us series steamrolls toward its conclusion. In the second of three volumes in Year 5, Superman's despotic reign has grown even more tyrannical. Fearing insurgency among the general population, he begins removing basic rights, including the freedom of speech and assembly. When one group breaks that rule -- and dares to invoke the Joker's name in doing so, knowing full well that the Joker was responsible for the deaths of Lois Lane, Superman's unborn child and countless residents of Metropolis -- Superman callously and without thought kills them all.

Finally, some of his most reliable Justice League allies begin to question their allegiance.

Elsewhere, the botched clone of Superman goes on his own killing spree -- not out of anger but simply out of sheer ignorance and a childlike grasp of his own emotional reactions. He even tries to make a friend, but that goes badly -- in part because of a misunderstanding of basic hygiene practices. Without question, the two Supermen will come into conflict again, this time at the Fortress of Solitude, and this time with the deadly Doomsday in the mix.

Of course, the mere existence of the Bizarro Superman -- one who has already demonstrated murderous tendencies of his own -- provides a perfect patsy for Superman's recent atrocities. The question is, what will the public believe? Perhaps more importantly, what will the Justice League believe?

And then Superman orders the assassination of a beloved supporting character in the DC universe in the hope of drawing Batman out of hiding and, well, that's just a step too far for a lot of people. Batman, yes, but others on both sides of the conflict. And Barry Allen, the fastest man alive, might actually have the power to stop Superman -- even to reverse everything bad that has happened -- but he has been staunchly on Superman's side since the series began. Will his conscience finally tip the scales in Batman's favor?

There is only one collected volume remaining in the Injustice: Gods Among Us series, and the third volume of Year Five is supposed to set the scene for the very popular Injustice: Gods Among Us video game. I have never played it, and I do not know the circumstances of this parallel DC universe in the game world. In other words, I have no idea what happens next.

I guess it's time to pick up the final book and find out.