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As if brutal action and offbeat comedy weren't guaranteed by the cast of heroes and villains in store for Injustice Gods Among Us, the newest pair of gameplay videos starring Billy 'Don't-Call-Me-Captain-Marvel' Batson and Lex Luthor prove that the developers at NetherRealm know their source material inside and out.

Lex Luthor has been shown to be a key figure in Injustice since the beginning, and while he and Joker have joined forces in the past to take out their biggest rivals, this week's Battle Arena match puts the two head-to-head. The clown prince of crime may prefer complicated plans to punches, but nobody should underestimate his combat prowess.

Fans may be the ones determining who comes out on top of these super-powered grudge matches, but the mere fact that Joker can hold his own against the battle-armor-encased Luthor should ease concerns that the biggest, baddest, or deadliest character will have an advantage against smaller combatants.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Injustice is not the fighters themselves, but the interaction with the surrounding environments. These elements are on full display in the Joker/Luthor fight, and are far more prevalent and polished than when the mechanics were first shown at E3 2012. Even if the Metropolis setting lacks some memorable villains in the background, the cutting-edge military weaponry adds a certain extra thrill to the fight.

Injustice Gods Among Us Shazam

Next up, we have a battle of the lighting between the fastest man alive and the hero giving 'the magic word' a whole new meaning. The Flash has speed on his side, but is it enough to best the magical powers of Shazam? Let's find out:

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The pair may both have abilities and fighting styles that stretch the limits of reality, but are incredibly different in combat. Where Flash's feet and fists are fast enough to break through defenses, there's nothing quite like Shazam's lightning. That being said, getting hit by a train hurts - we don't care where you're from.

Add these characters to the likes of Green Arrow, Nightwing, and the surprisingly ruthless Wonder Woman, and there's no doubt in our minds that few players will agree on a single fighter's supremacy. As the three fighters teased by Ed Boon have yet to be officially announced, it seems there's no telling how large the game could be when it launches in April...or how many of these characters may be offered as DLC or pre-order bonuses.

We're looking forward to discovering what larger story will be framing the singleplayer campaign, and whether it's varied enough to keep us playing with each character in the roster. If you're looking for even more information on the world of Injustice, be sure to check out the (surprisingly top-notch) comic book prequel.

Injustice: Gods Among Us releases April 16, 2013 for the PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii U.

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Follow Andrew on Twitter @andrew_dyce.