It is an unusual time for NetherRealm fighting games. There's no clear path forward, and rumors about NetherRealm's future with its publisher have been swirling for the past year. Warner Bros. has denied that NetherRealm is up for sale, but the existence of those rumors seems to indicate some turmoil in the company. Meanwhile, fans have no idea which franchise NetherRealm is going to pick up now that Mortal Kombat 11 is done. A Marvel-based fighting game has been discussed, and a recent rumor suggests the developer is playing things safe and moving on to Mortal Kombat 12. However, judging by the pattern NetherRealm Studios has held for the past decade, it seems likely the studio's next game could be Injustice 3.
The Injustice games have always sat in an interesting place. They are fairly faithful comic adaptations of plotlines present in DC Comics, notably the Injustice story arc its name comes from. After having one bad day, Superman decides the world needs a dictator rather than a hero, and many characters die in the ensuing fighting. Despite being one of the most notable game adaptations DC Comics has seen in some time, Injustice has seemingly always played second fiddle to Mortal Kombat in terms of both sales and fan reception.
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Still, people adore the story modes present in these games, and being able to step into the spandex of so many iconic heroes and villains to duke it out is too good to be missed. Even if Injustice 3 isn't NetherRealm's next game, it should materialize eventually, and there are plenty of characters fans would love to see on its roster.
Mainstays and Returning Favorites
There are some returning DC favorites to get out of the way first. Batman and Superman provide the core conflict of the series, and it's tradition for the ultimate ideological conflict to come down to them. Versions of Wonder Woman are sure to participate, as are the various other members of the Justice League. There are plenty of other characters in the roster who would be great to keep around, Harley Quinn being a particular highlight due to her recent surge in popularity. Equivalents to some old characters could be kept around too, like members of the Bat-family, one of the many Green Lanterns, and perhaps even the Martian Manhunter's niece. Premium costumes, NetherRealm's equivalent to Echo Fighters, would definitely be useful in getting as many characters into the game as possible.
Anti-Monitor
It's been looking like the Injustice series is leading up to some kind of giant interdimensional crossover Crisis storyline for a while, and there would be no better villain to usher in such a major storyline than the Anti-Monitor. A being of pure anti-matter, the Anti-Monitor seeks to destroy all positive matter in the multiverse. It took scores of heroes from many dimensions to take him down, and because he is essentially a primordial force, that didn't stick. Often a key component for events that permanently alter the lore and characters across all of DC Comics, the Anti-Monitor is the perfect "cast-unifying threat" to throw into the end of an Injustice trilogy.
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The Batman Who Laughs
A giant fighting game boss should be complemented by a smaller, but no less important and dangerous sub-boss. The Batman Who Laughs is a parallel Bruce Wayne who fell prey to the effects of Joker Venom. Killing all the other superheroes in his world and driving it to ruin, Laughs has since been approached by a variety of cosmic threats to serve as a spearhead for multiversal domination. He lept at every opportunity and has been a key player in some of the most recent Crisis installments. With an army of Joker Venom-ized Robins and the help assorted corrupt superheroes, Laughs has proven time and time again to be a capable threat toward all of existence. It helps that his vaguely Judge Doom-like design is popular with fans.
King Shark
King Shark is an odd pick, but would go over well with the fans. This shark man is a minor Aquaman villain with a simple backstory, but he's more commonly associated with the Suicide Squad. Over the past few years, King Shark has appeared or been set to appear in pretty much every major multimedia Suicide Squad project, with the David Ayer film being the only instance where he was cut outright. He was particularly popular as a core member of the Harley Quinn animated series, and NetherRealm should be able to do his strong portrayals justice.
Static Shock
More known among older fans is Static Shock, who was in a well-liked DC animated show from 2000 to 2004. This Black teenager has the ability to control electromagnetism and is often seen using this to fly with a makeshift hoverboard and manipulate metal in the environment. While he appeared in the mobile Injustice game, Static was never ascended to the main roster. Injustice 3 could give him the shot he needs to prove himself.
Booster Gold
While the DC universe is seen as having a more serious tone than its Marvel competition, it isn't always so uptight. A major source of this is the time-traveling Booster Gold. Booster is a lot more self-centered than the average hero, and his schemes to take advantage of his future knowledge in the present always seem to backfire. No one is able to remember his various nicknames either, much to his chagrin. He does hold a spot in DC history as the first significant new character introduced into continuity after Crisis on Infinite Earths, and it would be nice to see him working in Injustice alongside his usual partner Blue Beetle.
Dr. Manhattan
There's one more character who would be perfect for a new Injustice title. Dr. Manhattan has officially migrated to the DC Comics universe from Watchmen over the past few years, and while his appearance has been controversial, none can deny he would be a great pseudo-crossover character who could feasibly be in the base roster. He would have a fair amount to say to the DC cast in NetherRealm's signature back-and-forth match intros, particularly with The Batman Who Laughs thanks to a particular previous interaction between the two.
Injustice 3 is rumored to be in development.
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