The Injustice: Gods Among Us comic stands apart from DC Comics canon for many reasons, but it is, with one of them in particular, the decision to permanently kill characters off, that offers one of the most notable. With it, stakes are raised as each hero or villain included in this universe is left never truly safe within the Injustice story. Often, too, this has the effect of leaving an emotional impact, but a narrative one as well.
So let’s now take a closer look, then, at at least five of the most devastating losses from the Injustice universe.
5. Lois Lane
To start, one of the most devastating deaths from Injustice is one of the firsts: Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane. This was devastating not only because she was Superman’s emotional anchor, but because of her perspective, as well.
Despite Superman’s concern about her involvement in larger-than-life events, Lois nevertheless insists on being independent, challenging the idea that humans couldn’t be trusted to take care of themselves. Her death then had the consequence of not only shattering Superman’s heart, but causing an initial divide between those most powerful and those who were less so, but still human.
4. Green Arrow
Next on the list of heartbreaking deaths from Injustice is Green Arrow. The loss of the Emerald Archer is especially painful because of the symbolic weight behind it. Black Canary, Green Arrow’s wife, was pregnant when Superman killed him - revealing a tragic irony to the situation.
In trying to prevent what happened to him, Superman only inflicts the same pain he felt onto someone else, demonstrating, in short here, that the former hero's tyranny only results in causing the same pain that inspired him to become a tyrant in the first place.
3. Lex Luthor
Next is an unexpected entry for this list: Lex Luthor. Unlike typical portrayals, the Lex of Injustice is actually a friend of Superman, a voice of reason for him, even, who wants what is best for humanity - even if it means stopping the Man fo Steel, himself.
So it’s crushing when Superman ultimately kills Luthor, after learning that Lex had been working to stop him - especially as he was one of the few people who could still reach him. Regardless, Superman took this to heart, too far gone then to see that Luthor was never the enemy here.
2. Billy Batson / Shazam
This next entry hits hard similar to Lex, though, because of how long Shazam was an ally of Superman’s it is surprising to see that he wasn’t end-game material. Nevertheless, Superman killing him marked yet another tragedy - one of the few true allies of his being lost, as the Man of Steel reached full tyranny.
Aside from the fact that Shazam was one of the few who could still defeat Superman, this was still the loss of a child due to Shazam's alter-ego being that of Billy Batson. Taking that alone into account, that leaves the loss of Billy Batson as a devastating one.
1. Alfred Pennyworth
Lastly here is Alfred Pennyworth. Oh, Alfred. His death remains one of the most heartbreaking because of his steadfastness to challenge Superman’s tyranny, even during early-days. The loyal father figure of Batman opposed, even physically defeated, Superman, in this story at one point. The irony, of course, is that Alfred was just a mortal man standing up for what was right, and Superman not even having the brass to kill him, himself, reveals, once and for all, the real man of steel here.
Be like Alfred, folks. Be like Alfred.