Publishers DC
Writers: Frank Miller, Brian Azzarello
Artists: Andy Kubert, Klaus Janson
Colourist: Brad Anderson
Editor: Mark Doyle
Release Date: OUT NOW!
Price: $5.99

The long-awaited Dark Knight III: The Master Race #1 and its 51 (count ‘em, 51!) variant covers has hit the stands and this time Frank Miller has a lot of heavyweight help.

Like the first seminal Dark Knight series, Batman has returned to Gotham City and the police are on his tail. But when they finally catch up to him, who’s under the mask? A sub-plot involves Wonder Woman who appears to be living in a South American rain forest, toting her infant son on her back and defeating a minotaur. “Wonderfully pedestrian,” the high-strung hero tells her Amazon tribe.

A second sub-plot involves Superman and Wonder Woman’s daughter Lara who flew off to visit Supes’ Fortress of Solitude, now frozen over complete with Superman’s body. “Why did you let the ants knock you from the sky?” Lara asks.

Artists Andy Kubert and Klaus Janson mimic Miller’s story-telling technique and style while thankfully tightening up the lines.

Miller’s original Dark Knight Returns played a pivotal role in Batman’s development and lived up to the hype. From start to finish the original series had something to say and hammered it home. DKIII, on the other hand, feels a lot more squishy about its themes. Very little happens in the issue. The Wonder Woman-minotaur fight while gorgeous does not advance the story as much as fill pages.

If DC wants to add a third chapter to the Dark Knight series it better have a great story to tell, otherwise it is likely to diminish the original. So far the story in Dark Knight III: The Master Race #1is not bad, but it’s far from great. However, it’s early days so, utility belts crossed.

Reviewer: Joe Lovece
Reviews Editor: Steve Hooker