REVIEW: ‘DC K.O.: Knightfight’ Issue 2

DC K.O.: Knightfight Issue 2 is published by DC Comics and written by Joshua Williamson, with art by Dan Mora, colors by Tríona Farrell, and letters by Tom Napolitano.

This issue is part of the DC K.O. event. Batman has to battle against a future version of Batman, with Dick Grayson wearing the cowl.

This chapter is part of the DC K.O. tie-in and is fascinating because it’s split into two. The first part continues the fight between Bruce and Dick, or, rather, a version of Dick Grayson created by the Heart of Apokolips. It’s a slugfest that tests Batman, hammering him with insults and fists alike. But unlike when Bruce was on the defensive in the previous issue, now he is willing to fight back. This created an electrifying issue: a confrontation with a false future that led to a distinct and powerful conclusion.

Except that’s not the end of DC K.O.: Knightfight Issue 2, it has much more to give. A future where Nightwing became Batman was only the beginning; and there is a rapid transition into another alternate world. It’s a fresh story that’s still within the confines of Batman’s mind and the whim of the Heart. The pace is the same, pressured and violent, and there’s even more hostility than before. The sort is a complete surprise, so the rest of the comic is unexpected, taking an even darker shift.

Each segment of DC K.O.: Knightfight Issue 2 is based on the influential personalities of Batman and the Robins. Batman can determine what sets him apart from his sons. He has his experience, the only one out of all of them that understands a lifetime of crime fighting and what it does to a human’s body. The dialogue and the captions are gorgeously written in these moments.

Dick and the others are brilliant at what they do, possessing their own methods. But there will never be another Batman like Bruce Wayne because there just are so many differences. And it’s also important to remember that this is being crafted, invented by a malevolent figure to grind Batman down. Even though the characters may change, they have a similar time and mindset. They’re hostile, degrading, and angry. The ending takes another turn, taking it even further into chaos.

The art highlights why Mora is in such high demand. He may be providing art for multiple books at the same time, but DC K.O.: Knightfight Issue 2 has some very distinctive attributes that show that he’s far from lazy or repeating himself in his work. The first half of this issue is an extraordinary fight scene, as the two Batmen battle in the pouring rain.

The heavy downpour slightly obscures the action. But you can see the inner faces, and their fists and weapons. The fight against Dick and his Robins is a sprawling, brutal clash. They’re good, but Batman is starting to shred any mercy or restraint.

There’s a terrific flow to the action and an understanding of positioning. But then the story changed, and the art had to be altered entirely. It’s a new version of Batman as another Robin takes over. But the whole comic has shifted, because it’s a new world entirely. It’s a situation that is more haunting and desolate than the utopia Dick created. It shows Mora’s ingenuity even when inundated with work.

The colors are pivotal to the storytelling. The first half of DC K.O.: Knightfight Issue 2 is all about blue, smothering the page. We have become accustomed to those shares, assuming that it’s just how the whole tie-in will look. So it’s breathtaking when everything is flipped, and the comic’s entire visual aesthetic transforms.

The buildings are then black and white, stark and silent, whilst a rich red covers the page. The color drains from Batman, turning him gray. This makes it clear whose kingdom it is. The lettering draws attention at all times, is straightforward, and is easy to read in the rain.

DC K.O.: Knightfight Issue 2 brilliantly shows what it takes to build the perfect Batman. The transition this book goes through is staggering. The dialogue isn’t too dissimilar from start to finish, as Batman is interrogated and belittled by some who have now assumed his name and position. Bruce’s dominance and defiance had made him dangerous, but there are still love letters to those he trained. These Batmen are just poor imitations of them, and Batman can see through the cracks. But it’s the change in the art halfway that gives the issue something special, with dazzling visuals that create phenomenal atmospheres.

DC K.O.: Knightfight Issue 2 is available where comics are sold.