DARK KNIGHTS OF STEEL II #1 (DC COMICS)
It is time to return to a land of fantasy in medieval times.
In 2021, “Dark Knights of Steel” debuted. Its’ combination of DC Comics lore with themes of knightly activity sparked the interest of fans. After twelve issues plus spin-offs, many wondered if this world would return.
They finally now have their answer.
DARK KNIGHTS OF STEEL II #1 by Tom Taylor, Otto Schmidt, Arif Prianto & Wes Abbott (DC Comics) kickstarts a new Elseworlds story.
Let’s take a closer look at what begins now.
DARK KNIGHTS OF STEEL II #1 by Tom Taylor, Otto Schmidt, Arif Prianto & Wes Abbott (DC Comics)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Taylor orchestrates a fantastic re-introduction with this opening chapter. The beginning pages recap a few previous events before taking a flashback. Seeing a young Victor Zsasz adress Carmine Falcone before the visit to the House of El hits on a few notes. The worry and underlying politics of this era start vaguely showing. Once in the presence of royalty, the mood changes. Reader watch as Victor’s deceitful actions cause some secrets to be exposed.
As events turn to present day Kingdom of Amazonia, the writing shows the buddening start of peace amongst the factions. There are some playful moments between John Constantine and Kal-El before getting more grounded at certain matters. Bruce Wayne’s current quest puts him in a conflicted spot. This all becomes sidetracked as a threat arrives to the island. Readers watch as a new player enters the game of power. It leads to illusions of more peace before crashing down. Taylor takes one character off the board in true medieval fashion. It leaves much in the air as a mystery is now swirling around the illusion for peace.
MORE FROM TOM TAYLOR!
Schmidt & Priantoopen with a great retelling of the ship which changed everything. This leads into Zsasz’s scowl as the Falcones ask for help. His interaction with Carmine never hides his scowl at events. Even when the pair go over events, it never feels like progress is being made. Once the journey leads to the House of El, the dark tendencies take over on the young boy. His confrontation with Young Bruce leads to a full page stand-off with a tense close. It serves as a great pivoting point to the present day drama.
The Amazonia scenes expose a more corgial time to celebrate. Readers watch the awkward interactions of Constantine and Kal-El give comedic relief. This switches gears fast as Bruce Wayne embarks on some action. Panels jump as he handles business until a visitor comes through with a proposition all her own. This all leads to the heaviest portion of the book. A joyous celebration is on display until a two page splash shows a party crasher. This causes some havoc to take place as pacing speeds up. Readers will get caught up in the combat until cooler heads prevail. Once here, the ramifications take over as one has fallen. Even with someone’s warning, it appears the peace longed for is fading ever so quickly. Great visual experience.
FINAL GRADE: 9
The return to the medieval times proves costly as peace between kingdoms becomes fragile. Taylor welcomes readers back with an exceptional script. Schmidt & Prianto deliver on impact art as the journey leads into many directions. Buckle in for an ever-engaging combination of fantasy & heroics.
Let me know your thoughts on DARK KNIGHTS OF STEEL II #1 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
