REVIEW: ‘DC K.O.: Knightfight’ Issue 3

DC K.O.: Knightfight Issue 3 is written by DC Comics. Written by Joshua Williamson, art by Dan Mora, colors by Tríona Farrell, and letters by Tom Napolitano.

This is part of the DC K.O. event. Batman resists the will of the Heart of Apokolips, who keeps trying to make him fight his sons to the death.

The peculiar structure of this series continues into the third issue. The individual chapters overlap between the issues, starting in one and then finishing in the next. That’s because they are only part of one larger story. But it also encourages readers to keep reading because the plot is left so open. There are more individual stories in DC K.O.: Knightfight Issue 3 than in the previous chapters, with three instead of two. The conflicts between Bruce and Nightwing have concluded, but there’s the second half of the fight with Red Hood, Tom Drake, and Damian too.

Each chapter has a distinct tone, exploring what Gotham would look like if each Robin became Batman. Jason’s is dark and lonely. Tim’s world is like a murder mystery similar to Knives Out or an Agatha Christie story.  Damian’s, meanwhile, is entirely unexpected. The change in tone is mesmerizing. This is not just a journey, it’s a power struggle.

The Heart of Apokolips is trying to goad Batman into fighting his sons. Batman’s refusal leads to new versions and ideas, intending to draw a violent response from Dark Knight. The final world that the Heart creates is the most surprising, because it seems like the complete opposite of what that Robin would stand for.

The dialogue and character exploration in DC K.O.: Knightfight Issue 3 are fascinating because they’re such in-depth investigations into the intricacies of each Robin, and Batman’s reaction to them. The Heart sees them as needles to prod Batman with, trying to prove how impressive his sons are, succeeding as Batman in a way Bruce never could. But Batman views them through the eye of a father, proud of what they’ve accomplished and aware that they will be better than him.

Red Hood’s solitude and acceptance of being alone, and Tim’s intellect as a detective are both key elements of this issue. Every time, Bruce tries to find a middle ground and work together with the other Batmen. It’s fantastic to see the Heart get so infuriated. So far, it’s been an emotionless, detached voice. But Batman keeps gaming the system, finding loopholes that prevent him from battling his boys, and that is breaking the composure of this inhuman force.

The art is spectacular in DC K.O.: Knightfight Issue 3, always changing and evolving. The first fight with Red Hood is pure chaos. Jason thinks Bruce is actually Clayface, so Bruce decides to be Clayface. Mora beautifully illustrates the morphing between forms and the battle as a Clayface. The gloopy, elasticated clay then transforms black into Batman. When the Heart changed the scene to Tim’s Batman, everything warps. It becomes a spoof on Cluedo, but with Batman in the centre.

Tim’s version of the Caped Crusader had a more positive feel, with a technological spin. An intriguing feature that runs throughout the issue is that every single version of Batman has altered the Bat Symbol ever so slightly, highlighting that it’s an emblem that can change and evolve.

After the opening, there isn’t as much combat, because that’s what the Heart is desperate for. But, there is still a lot of movement and world-building through Tim’s version of Gotham. There is also a montage page which shows several alternate versions of Batman (and Batwoman). It’s both creative and comical, because every iteration had the pointy ears.

The colors also adapt to changes in location. The first battle has an abundance of red, because it’s Jason Todd’s world. In between the settings, Batman is completely surrounded by a black void, demonstrating that everything he sees is a construct created by the Heart of Apokolips. Tim’s world and Batsuit frequently use bright yellow and blue, which are intensely vibrant.

The lettering is crucial at showing both major players in this story, Batman and the Heart, losing their patience. There’s shouting and fury. The Heart’s dialogue, godly and domineering, has more venom in this issue because it’s getting personal. The lettering also highlights a change in form as Batman shifts from Clayface back to his normal design.

DC K.O.: Knightfight Issue 3 continues a battle of attrition. This is a test of nerves for both the Heart and Batman. For the Heart, it’s an example of a human refusing to accept its rules and succumbing to its whims. For Batman, it’s a showcase of his sons’ personalities and how they’ll adapt the lessons he and others have taught him. It’s an incredible piece of work from every creator, from the writer to the letterer. All work to create a world that is unpredictable and ever-changing.

DC K.O.: Knightfight Issue 3 is available where comics are sold.