Dark Knights of Steel #3 Review

 

Not so Super

Writer: Tom Taylor

Artist: Yasmine Putri

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: January 5, 2022

Dark Knights of Steel has quickly become one of my favorite DC Comics.  Tom Taylor takes the Elseworlds concept of a medieval DCU and makes it work through his character and story choices.  After the last issue, I couldn't wait for this issue and now that it's here, let's see if it's as good or even better than what led up to it.

Dark Knights of Steel #3 opens with yet another character I've been waiting for before zipping back to the House of El.  But, unfortunately, war is on the horizon, and things keep pointing back to the prophecy that opened the series.  So, as Bruce and Alfred take up a quest with the warning in mind, we also see this world's Supergirl at it again.

I thought the last issue's cliffhanger was justified, even if it was over the top and vicious.  However, I don't know if I like seeing Supergirl continue the blood bath right here.  I guess Tom Taylor is making it more than an eye-for-an-eye to set up Supergirl as a baddie, but I wish we got to know here a bit before this happened.  Certain characters seem shocked that she committed the last issue's murder, so I can assume this is not the norm for her, but who's to say they are reliable narrators themselves?

When Black Lightning asks if the Amazons will ally with his kingdom against the Els, that is front and center.  It's a great scene with the weight this sort of meeting should have.  It also ends with the Els possibly getting a powerful ally.

Tom Taylor continues to expand his world with namedrops and cameos, but also with violence.  Again, I won't spoil what happens, but it feels too quick to the point of being forced.  I was shocked at the end of the last issue, but I had no feelings for the significant death.  The cliffhanger isn't shocking, but knowing that we will learn some pretty big stuff, the next issue will certainly get me back.

Bits and Pieces:

Dark Knights of Steel #3 might take a bit of a step back overall, but I still like this series and can't wait to see what happens next.  Yasmine Putri's art is fantastic, and the vibe of the medieval world Tom Taylor is creating has me pumped.  Unfortunately, things moved a bit too quickly in this issue, and I hope Taylor gets away from the violence he's known to do for the character work that I love.

7.5/10