Who says that all superheroes have to wear spandex? In Dark Knights of Steel by Tom Taylor and Yasmine Putri, DC's heroes don suits of armor in a high-fantasy storyline set during the middle ages. The 12-issue miniseries is an Elseworlds adventure that reimagines Batman and Superman as surrogate brothers, Black Lightning as a king, and John Constantine as a prophet. It is an ambitious story that manages to subvert expectations without losing the familiarity that makes DC's heroes so much fun. Dark Knights of Steel #1 is an imaginative start to the series that guarantees fans will be back for more medieval mayhem.
Dark Knights of Steel #1 opens on Krypton, with the familiar sight of Jor-El and Lara watching their planet die as they race to save their son's life. However, the comic takes its first of many twists by revealing they have joined Kal-El on his journey to Earth. The family soon crashes into Earth's Middle Ages. As the story races forward 19 years, the Els have become a royal family, complete with a castle and their Dark Knight, aka Bruce Wayne. As the protector of the kingdom, Bruce scours a nearby village for information regarding a would-be-assassin to the king, coming across more medieval incarnations of DC's characters. Despite his successful venture, Bruce returns with a sullen look in his eyes. He confronts King Jor-El with his concerns about the future. However, their revelatory conversation is quickly interrupted by an assassin's glowing green arrow, changing the Kingdom of El forever.
Writer Tom Taylor pens yet another otherworldly tale in Dark Knights of Steel. After acclaimed runs on DCeased, Injustice, and Earth 2, Taylor claims that Dark Knights of Steel is his biggest Elseworlds story yet. While that declaration will ultimately be determined by readers, it's clear that the foundation for this world is incredibly immense. The first issue reintroduces over a dozen heroes. The complex dynamic between Bruce and Kal-El lies at the heart of the series but it's distinct from all other incarnations of the pair. Though it remains to be seen if the two of them will stay allies throughout Dark Knights of Steel, their banter is endearing and should capture the attention of even the most jaded fans.
Artist Yasmine Putri makes her DC interior art debut with Dark Knights of Steel #1. Known primarily for her cover work across various different titles, Putri brings an elegance befitting the fantasy setting of the book. The playful costumes for Harley Quinn, Batman, and Green Arrow feel natural and intuitive. There's careful consideration taken towards incorporating original iconography into a fresh design. Putri's storytelling skills are incredibly strong, utilizing a variety of camera angles and layouts to control the comic's pace. Subtle decisions like using skewed panels when characters are arguing or using empty leaves to separate the page bleed show that there is a lot of thought put into every image.
Also worth noting is the strong lettering of Wes Abbott. Abbott, who has paired with Taylor on books like Injustice and Nightwing, defines the weight of the different characters' voices with simple, recognizable flourishes, like diamonds in Harley's dialogue or the shadow of a bat in Bruce's. The opening narration by John Constantine is immediately grabbing, with Abbott's torn pages giving the monologue a storybook quality that enhances the tale's atmosphere.
Overall, Dark Knights of Steel #1 is an appropriately epic beginning to DC's latest Elseworlds' epic. Tom Taylor proves yet again that he is a master of subverting expectations when crafting alternate DC Universes, while the gorgeous artwork of Yasmine Putri turns the concept into a fully realized fantasy. With a tantalizing confrontation between Green Arrow and Batman on the horizon, Dark Knights of Steel shows that DC's iconic heroes are the perfect subjects for a myriad of multiversal stories.
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