Seen In: Injustice: Gods Among Us #1 Injustice: Gods Among Us is a pretty sweet fighting game developed by the makers of Mortal Kombat. But it's also got a backstory with some ridiculous aspects thrown in. For those of you haven't played it, the game focuses on an alternate universe where after the death of a pregnant Lois Lane and the destruction of Metropolis, Superman goes a bit crazy and decides to take over the world so he can bring order to it. Members of the core universe's Justice League are brought into this new world and decide to overthrow Superman's tyrannical rule. The comic book of the same name goes into the backstory of this world and how Superman became like that. In the first issue of the print edition, Lois is captured and tortured by the Joker and Harley Quinn. Superman is then drugged by the Joker, infected with a mixture of fear toxin laced with Kryptonite. Superman believes he sees Doomsday, grabs him, and flies him above the planet to chuck him into space. But once he does, the toxin wears off and Superman realises that it wasn't Doomsday, but Lois. A pregnant Lois. Oh, and the Joker tied her heartbeat to a nuclear bomb and once her heartbeat stops, the bomb goes off in Metropolis. The "Women in Refrigerators" trope was mentioned earlier. Nowhere is it in more prominent display than in Injustice: Gods Among Us. It's not just enough for Lois to die in order for Superman to go dark side. No, she must also be pregnant. And Superman has to be tricked into killing her himself. And her death must also trigger the total destruction of Metropolis. Because shlock sells.
Percival Constantine is the author of several novels and short stories, including the Vanguard superhero series, and regularly writes and comments on movies, comics, and other pop culture. More information can be found at his website, PercivalConstantine.com
