REVIEW: ‘Dark Knights of Steel II’ Issue 2

Dark Knights of Steel II Issue 2 is published by DC Comics. Written by Tom Taylor, art by Otto Schmidt, colors by Arif Prianto and letters by Wes Abbott.

In Dark Knights of Steel II Issue 2, Zala has been poisoned on her wedding day, and now the most powerful kingdom is suddenly afflicted with a deadly illness. Taking place in the moments directly following the first issue, the most distressing part of the opening chapter only increases. Zala isn’t quite dead yet, but she’s not far away.

And very rapidly within, Dark Knights of Steel II Issue 2 starts picking apart the neatly stitched union. The Kingdom of Storms, the Amazons and the Els have worked well together, but a few suggestions quickly start to strain Wonder Woman from both her own kingdom and the others.

Many parts of Dark Knights of Steel II Issue 2 move at a rapid pace. Whether the characters are charging through the medieval streets or flying to their castles, the forward momentum is phenomenal. As soon as a particular character is revealed, suspicions are raised, and it becomes easier to figure out the culprit.

However, that’s not where the surprises are held within Dark Knights of Steel II Issue 2. They come from the reactions to the machinations, the unpredictability of who could be killed, and changes in characters from their regular counterparts in the mainstream universe. That’s what makes Dark Knights of Steel fascinating and engaging. These figures may bear the same names as the heroes and villains on other Earths, but their lives have been completely transformed.

The biggest example of this in Dark Knights of Steel II Issue 2 is Wonder Woman and Supergirl. Not only is Zala married to Diana, but she’s also the sister of Superman, not his cousin. And the closeness between Diana and Zala is such an integral part of this world, and seeing that potentially fractured is very distressing.

Amanda Waller’s treasonous works, as well as others, are based on disunity and distrust. Stereotypes and fears are used to stoke fires and enact harm. Taylor also spends some time in this issue exploring some of the newer figures within the world.

Aquaman is still about, revealing parts of his fight to win back and restore his own kingdom. There is also another region run by very sickening, unsettling torturers. Whilst these aren’t necessarily at the forefront of the conversation, Taylor does an excellent job of setting up the foundations for war and just a much larger war.

The art is sensational once again within Dark Knights of Steel II Issue 2. The movement and the facial expressions are fantastic, even with a small amount of detail. In a comic like this, the small glimpses and whispers are crucial. So it’s important that when one of the Kingdom’s advisors leans in to deliver their own advice, the response matches. And it’s not just the faces of the characters, their whole bodies change and shift.

This is most prevalent around Wonder Woman, who is displaying more vulnerability than normal. Her shoulders can slump as she wrestles her responsibility between her kingdom and her wife. Dark Knights of Steel II Issue 2 offers more views of other locations. Castles, regions, and beautiful landscapes are all gorgeously rendered by Schmidt.

The action is phenomenal. Not only does the sense of momentum excel, but there’s also a terrific reveal of how quickly things can spiral out of control. When there’s a rabid crowd of people, each swing of a weapon can hit someone and cause consequences, and that can cause a snowball effect.

The colors are also tremendous. There is a wonderful selection of vibrant shades on almost every page, and it makes Dark Knights of Steel II Issue 2 inviting to look at. The heroes may not have traditional superhero outfits, but what they do wear mimics the tones. The throne room in the Castle of El has a resplendent golden glow that highlights their wealth and prosperity. But when needed, the book can also get dark and gloomy depending on the situation. The lettering is very clear and easy to read.

Dark Knights of Steel II Issue 2 features breathless intensity. This issue superbly captures just how quickly a union can shatter once one person falls. Not just that, it causes emotional imbalances that have destabilized the whole world already. The canter the comic moves at is incredible, removing a trust that took so long to build. And the amazing part is that Taylor can show the reader what’s happening, while also highlighting how wrong the heroes have it, and creating surprises that turn the story upside down.

Dark Knights of Steel II Issue 2 is available where comics are sold.