'Injustice 2': 20 Characters Its Roster Needs

Superheroes and super-villains of the DC Comics universe will brawl again in Injustice 2, the sequel to the 2013 fighting game Injustice: Gods Among Us from Mortal Kombat developers NetherRealm Studios. The sequel was officially announced just Wednesday with a teaser trailer a week ahead of the annual E3 trade show in Los Angeles.

Heavy hitters like Batman, Superman, The Flash, and Aquaman are confirmed to return, but they’ll also be accompanied by Supergirl, Gorilla Grodd, and Red Lantern leader Atrocitus. But who else could be in the game?

With more details about the game likely to come out of the show then, we couldn’t help but dream up of great but overlooked DC characters who should make their mark (with their fists) in NetherRealm’s Injustice 2 coming in 2017.

20. Reverse-Flash

While Reverse-Flash in the mobile version of Injustice, it was the Reverse-Flash from the CW’s The Flash. Tom Cavanagh rocks that role, but Reverse-Flash from comics is too much of a major player to ignore. He’s sort of responsible for Flashpoint, after all.

19. Constantine

While the British con artist and street magician wouldn’t even call himself a “superhero,” John Constantine’s talents were used in the successful comic prequel. Homie’s got a grudge against Superman, and he should serve it up in Injustice 2.

18. Swamp Thing

A great companion character to compliment John Constantine and (presumably) Zatanna, who was added as DLC in the first game, the bog creature Swamp Thing would be a real treat to play as against the likes of Superman and Batman. If you’re unfamiliar with the character, check out Alan Moore’s early ‘80s run on Saga of the Swamp Thing, a revolutionary book that’s overlooked by later watershed titles like The Dark Knight Returns and Moore’s own Watchmen.

17. Firestorm

With Supergirl, the Flash, and Green Arrow all in Injustice, why not more of their CW counterparts? Firestorm has been reintroduced to a new generation through The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow, so now is high time to get Ronnie Raymond and Martin Stein flying high in a video game.

16. Atom

It’ll be hard to pull off a character that goes from tiny to huge in a single fighting game, but Ray Palmer (or Ryan Choi!) would be a ton of fun to play to pummel someone like Green Lantern.

15. Black Canary

It’s been a tough year for Black Canary fans tuned into Arrow, but in comics, the likes of Brenden Fletcher have made Canary a cult punk icon. As a trained street vigilante she’s more than suitable to brawl in a fighting game, but her Canary Cry enables a play style not unlike Mortal Kombat characters like Kitana and Sindel.

14. Batwing

First donned by a police officer in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the son of Lucius Fox, Luke, took up the mantle of Batwing, essentially an Iron Man Batman. Who wouldn’t want to play as that?

13. Huntress

A crossbow-wielding ninja from an alternate timeline in Batman’s mythos, the Huntress is already suited for a fighting game. She just makes sense.

12. Batwoman

Don’t confuse her with Batgirl: Katherine Kane is a dangerous femme fatale who in the animated film Batman: Bad Blood sports a few handguns, to the ire of Batman. She’d make a very, very interesting playable character with that in her arsenal.

11. Red Tornado

Even though his body breaks down a little too often, this staple of the Justice Society of America would be a hell of a ride to control in a fighting game. Just imagine tossing mini-tornados at your opponent while you continue the juggle mid-air. You’ll lose a few friends, but it’d be worth it.

10. Aqualad

To compliment the mainstay Aquaman, introducing his boy ward Aqualad (popularized in the cult hit Young Justice series) would be a nice nod to Young Justice fans as well as flesh out the Atlantean diversity within the Injustice series.

9. Poison Ivy

Though she isn’t much of a brawler, her control of the environment could be interesting if it changes depending on the stages she fights in. I’m not a game developer so I don’t know what kind of hell that is to program, but Poison Ivy could be a fun character worth experimenting because of her variables.

8. Red Hood

To sum up Red Hood in one word, it’s “guns.” A former Robin with a violent streak, Jason Todd became the ruthless Red Hood vigilante whose brutal methods enrage his former mentor, Batman. His presence in Injustice 2 could be an amazing plot point in the game’s story mode (assuming it has one).

7. Vixen

A cult character after her introduction into the Arrowverse, Mari McCabe’s ability to channel different animal spirits would be a bomb ass time. Mauling a dude like bear, then throwing them up with the strength of a gorilla, then strike them with an eagle attack is too much fun to only imagine.

6. Katana

She’s a master swordsman whose sword takes the souls of its victims. Her upcoming appearance in Suicide Squad could make her a surprise hit character, and there will definitely be people eager to wield her katana after the movie.

5. Booster Gold

He’s the greatest hero you’ve never heard of, UNTIL NOW! The cocky jock of the future who comes to the present for fame and glory (while being a real hero without knowing it) Booster Gold is more than perfect for a game like Injustice 2, bringing levity to a game so dark its trailer is literally dimly lit.

4. Krypto

He’s Superman’s dog. No one would dare punch a dog. You would win every time.

3. Black Manta

A shadowy enemy to Aquaman, Black Manta is back (somewhat) in Aquaman: Rebirth #1. Few people know Aquaman’s legacy but are about to get a whole movie starring Jason Mamoa. The popular Injustice 2 could be a way to introduce to a wider audience one of Aquaman’s most known foes.

2. Captain Cold

A staple of Flash’s rogues, Captain Cold has emerged in popularity thanks to Wentworth Miller’s killer interpretation on The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow. He could be Injustice’s sub-zero, freezing opponents for a free shot.

1. Scorpion (again)

He was a DLC in the first game and he deserves to be in the second game. Get over here!