REVIEW: Dark Knights Of Steel II #3

The League of Kingdoms is in danger, and someone is strategically taking its leaders off the chessboard right under the noses of the heroes of Dark Knights of Steel II. There’s one person who knows exactly what’s going on, but how can she stop the perpetrator when it’s someone so close to her heart?

Writer Tom Taylor introduces even more familiar faces in the third issue of this return to the Dark Knights of Steel Elseworlds universe, alongside artist Otto Schmidt, colorist Arif Prianto and letterer Wes Abbott. The plans against the Els are ramped up considerably, while Queen Lara, Prince Kal-El and Princess Zala-El are in no position to protect themselves or their alliance.

But there is hope. Introduced fully in Issue #2, Barbara Gordon is a literal Oracle in this universe, gifted with visions of things to come. She’s also the daughter of Jim Gordon and Amanda Waller, which makes what she is seeing even more terrifying. Queen Diana desperately wants answers about her beloved Zala, while Harley Quinn knows something is very wrong inside the Kingdom of El.

There’s plenty to get into, but first, let’s check out these awesome covers. The standard cover by Yasmine Putri symbolically shows the fall of the House of El through Oracle’s prophetic viewpoint. Instead of three powerful Kryptonians soaring through the sky, Lara, Kal and Zala appear limp, unconscious and falling. A brown, thorny vine curls around them and Barbara, whose eyes glow green. It’s a haunting image of just how dire things have become.

Amanda Waller looms large in the dungeon of the Kingdom of El on Gerald Parel’s variant. No matter what universe she’s in, Amanda is always playing the long game. Decked out in armor and brandishing a longsword, she looks ready to battle for what she believes must be done. Once Waller convinces herself she is right, very little will stand in her way.

Marguerite Sauvage’s variant gives us this universe’s version of the classic DC Trinity. Kal, Diana and Bruce emerge from a stained-glass mosaic. Bruce remains fully within the glass, Diana appears to be transforming into flesh and blood, while Kal looks almost ready to step completely out. Even in an Elseworlds universe, these three are legends.

There’s also a variant by Travis Moore, which I feel is a wholesome homage to Doc Shaner’s cover for ‘Superman: Red & Blue #6’.

Inside the issue, Schmidt, Prianto and Abbott once again show how well they work together. Schmidt makes the castles, armor, dungeons and kingdoms feel lived in while keeping these characters instantly recognizable. Prianto’s colors give every scene atmosphere, while Abbott’s lettering gives the conversations, warnings and explosive moments their proper weight. I have said it before, but Taylor understands these characters. He knows what makes them recognizable even when he completely changes the worlds around them. That is especially evident with Barbara Gordon, my favorite female character in DC Comics.

In regular continuity, Barbara becomes Oracle through her intelligence, technological abilities, and determination. Here, Taylor makes that name literal. Barbara is a metahuman who can see terrible things before they happen. But knowing the future and being able to stop it are two very different things. That becomes even more powerful because the person Barbara fears may be responsible is her own mother. I also love Taylor’s use of Harley Quinn. This Harley fiercely loves the Els, especially Queen Lara, and when her adopted family is threatened, she doesn’t wait for permission to act. She knows something is wrong and immediately begins putting the pieces together.

That leads to Barbara’s meeting with Dick Grayson and eventually Dick’s reunion with Bruce, with one moment giving me flashes of the controversial 2017 animated movie Batman and Harley Quinn. It’s another example of Taylor taking relationships DC fans know and twisting them just enough to fit this universe. But any sense of hope this issue gives us is brutally tested. Amanda and her new, loyal ally take things further than I expected, and the consequences are devastating. My heart especially went out to Barbara. She saw something horrible coming. She tried to prevent it. Sometimes knowing what will happen only makes the pain worse when you realize you still couldn’t stop it.

What makes this issue work so well is that the danger is coming from inside the kingdom, from people who know exactly where its weaknesses are and how to exploit them. Barbara brings heart and hope, Harley proves how fiercely loyal she can be, and Amanda Waller reminds us why she can be one of the most frightening people in the DC Universe without possessing a single superpower.

(10/10) Dark Knights of Steel II #3 takes the conspiracy that has been building since the beginning of this sequel and sends it into overdrive. Taylor combines political intrigue, tragedy, familiar character relationships and shocking moments while Schmidt, Prianto and Abbott continue to make this world feel epic, dangerous and emotionally grounded.