Writer: Tom Taylor
Art: Yasmine Putri, Arif Prianto, and Wes Abbott
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $3.99
Release Date: March 1st, 2022
Deception, treason, and murder have provoked this world to the verge of war! Yet, as the Kingdom of Storms and Themyscira prepare for the incursion, the El‘s must reunite to grieve their father and find a way to stop this war before it’s too late. Let’s dive into DARK KNIGHTS OF STEEL #5 by Tom Taylor, Yasmine Putri, and Arif Prianto as fans discover even more secrets Bruce Wayne has amassed that could be integral to the future of these kingdoms.
If you’re interested in this comic, series, related trades, or any of the others mentioned, then simply click on the title/link to snag a copy through Amazon.
THE DISPATCH
Readers will get more twists and turns than a Day Time Soap Opera… and I like it! Just when you think the story was laid out right in front of you with direct answers, Tom Taylor makes you question what you saw, what you thought, and causes fans of DARK KNIGHTS OF STEEL to go back and reread some of the key moments that led up to this point. Moreover, the extraordinary way Taylor has weaved the Wayne’s and the El’s together with their interlocking history melts together in another unique way before this issue comes to a close. And readers will love the almost endearingly poetic symmetry that pieces these two families together.
Furthermore, Taylor picks up the pace this week making DARK KNIGHTS OF STEEL #5 one of the fastest reads of the series to date. However, the biggest knock on the issue was where Taylor put a large portion of focus… IVY and HARLEY QUINN. Almost half the issue was centered around those two characters instead of the true meat of the story which is the Wayne’s and the El’s. Sure, it had a bit to do with them, however, it stole some page count from the big reveals which would have felt a bit more balanced given the proper space and cadence.
ART
Nevertheless, Taylor does showcase what IVY can truly do against WONDER WOMAN, and it’s pretty bad&$& thanks to Yasmine Putri and Arif Prianto. Her dialogue and fearless composure mixed with the intricate vine work and saturated greens of the forest made IVY a threat not to be trifled with. Moreover, the big reveals were spectacular as Putri and Prianto rip out the backgrounds and focus on the pain and emotion in the eyes of the characters involved. Additionally, the flying, movement, and other action sequences were organized masterfully making the reader’s eyes dance from panel to panel with ease. Readers will not be disappointed with what’s on display this week.
FINAL THOUGHTS
DARK KNIGHTS OF STEEL #5 is probably one of, if not the most, powerful issue to date. Putri and Prianto provide the emotion and action while Taylor counters their renderings with unique story beats and plot twists that keep readers hungry and geared up for what’s to come. With DARK KNIGHTS OF STEEL #5 being so quick and this reviewer not wanting to spoil the issue, there really isn’t much more to say other than to prep fans for a thrilling story.
If you’re reading this issue interested in DARK KNIGHTS OF STEEL but feel like you’re arriving a bit too late to the show, that’s not a problem at all. This week, DC COMICS released DARK KNIGHTS OF STEEL: THE GATHERING PLACE which ties together the first three issues to get fans mostly caught up. So go snag that along with issues 4 and 5 this week, and you’ll be right as rain. Let me know what you think, have a great week, and God Bless!