Dark Knights of Steel #12

Writer: Tom Taylor Artist: Yasmin Putri Publisher: DC Comics Release Date: August 23, 2023 Cover Price: $3.99 Critic Reviews: 12 User Reviews: 21
8.6Critic Rating
7.0User Rating

The cataclysmic conclusion to the bestselling series is here. The Three Kingdoms are united for the first time in a generation against a common threat-but can even their combined might prevail? Will a traitor in their midst turn the tide of the final battle? The shocking finale…but is this truly the end?

  • 10
    Lyles Movie Files - Jeffrey Lyles Aug 16, 2023

    Dark Knights of Steel marked another successful out of continuity series for Taylor who excels at these types of stories. With Putri, Prianto and Abbott, Taylor has a creative team worthy of another round of stories featuring this magical, superhero kingdom. Read Full Review

  • 9.7
    The Super Powered Fancast - Timala Elliott Aug 24, 2023

    This issue contains brilliantly crafted action scenes that are fully immersive. The classic illustrations focus on both character and scenery in detailed, realistic form. Every page is both emotionally engaging and tonally supportive of the tale. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Dark Knight News - Sharna Jahangir Aug 24, 2023

    I want more, and other fans are left wanting more, too. Isn't that perfect for an Elseworlds saga? The series ends with this universe's own Justice League, pulling on my heartstrings. I'm hoping there will be more, as the art and different iterations of my favorite heroes has been a thrill to read. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Geek Dad - Ray Goldfield Aug 22, 2023

    Is this a good final issue? Absolutely, but it's also a little hamstrung by some of the best things about the series. It has an epic scale and a huge cast of characters, which means not everyone gets a fair shake in the final issue. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Batman-News - Aaron Ray Jr. Aug 22, 2023

    The fantastic world of Knights of Steel is fun, interesting, and action packed. Though most characters have familiar traits and reputation, a new reader can have a blast flipping through the story with little to no experience reading DC Comics at all. Even still, there are few issues and nitpicks that Tom Taylor still can't justify. Aside from all of the cool moments, the story takes small convivences to get from point A to point Z. In just this issue, I have no idea why the Kryptonite wielding White Martians would leave the battlefield to chase the heroes. Furthermore, it is a Batman/Superman story at its core, but Kal El doesn't actually get to do anything. Yet, overall I'd never say any of those things will keep this book from being an often gorgeous adventure for curious readers. Read Full Review

  • 8.5
    AIPT - David Brooke Aug 22, 2023

    Dark Knights of Steel #12 manages to wrap up the long building final battle while setting up a universe well worth exploring again in future series. Throw in a key character death or two and you have yourself a rousing climax. Read Full Review

  • 8.5
    Comic Book Revolution - Kevin Lainez Aug 22, 2023

    Dark Knights of Steel #12 delivers a strong conclusion to Tom Taylor and Yasmine Putri's epic. The final battle against the White Martians had a big event feel. The end result leaves the door open for an even bigger story to take place down the line. All in all, Dark Knights of Steel is a series you should pick up the trade paperbacks to experience the story for yourself. Read Full Review

  • 8.4
    The Fandom Post - Chris Beveridge Sep 6, 2023

    This was an absolute blast of a series from start to finish that only suffered from the delays it had. And those were worthwhile because the quality of the artwork and writing will mean that in the long run when more people see this through collections where they'll have the best experience. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the finale wraps up things neat and tidy but with enough messes around the edges so that we'll definitely come back for more whenever they decide to revisit it again. The concept is simple – just like the other non-continuity books that Taylor has worked on – but the execution is fantastic across the board. This is the kind of stuff that keeps me reading DC's books when their sprawling continuity stuff just feels like it doesn't work. Great characters, engaging and fun stories that shake things up, and great artwork. Very recommended. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Get Your Comic On - Neil Vagg Aug 22, 2023

    Tom Taylor's swords of sorcery take on the DCU wraps up with a huge final issue. All the pieces slot together for a satisfying and epic conclusion which leaves plenty of room for future stories. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Supergirl Comic Box Commentary - Anj Aug 25, 2023

    I really liked the way these characters were handled, as the power behind the power. In particular, I loved this Harley, using the power of being the fool to both lull people's suspicions while still being able to spout wisdom.  Give me a special with just these three. Read Full Review

  • 7.5
    Multiversity Comics - Gregory Ellner Aug 28, 2023

    A story closes with a satisfactory ending in this final chapter of "Dark Knights of Steel. Read Full Review

  • 7.0
    ComicBook.com - Christian Hoffer Aug 23, 2023

    Dark Knights of Steel ends with one more shocking death, but otherwise wraps things up in a pretty satisfying way. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    thecimmerian Aug 24, 2023

    Great ending to a great series. Taylor seems better suited to these types of stories than anything else and it really shows here. I think this series could have been done in ten issues but I'm not complaining. Most everything here has been done in one way or another before and this series may be a tiny bit formulaic, but who cares? It was super fun and set in a King Arthur style universe which is always a blast. This entire series had great dialogue and art which is better than most new books DC is putting out these days so sign me up for another mini by Taylor in this universe.

  • 8.0
    daspidaboy Sep 3, 2023

    As I finished up this series, I got to say that I really enjoyed it. My on ly complaint with this series was that Amanda Waller didnt get what she deserved, and it feels scummy she still gets away Scott-free when she betrayed the Kingdoms. But other than that, the pacing was good, the story was interesting, the characters were interesting (even though Batman got huge favoritism here), and the action was good. Overall, I would say this is another successful and great DC Elseworld story.

  • 7.5
    Jawsh Sep 13, 2023

    Not the finish one would hope for when the series began.
    It feels unfinished.
    Love the artwork as always and some versions of these characters work really well.
    Just hope the next arc (cuz it is coming...) is plotted more effectively.

  • 6.5
    fzanca Aug 28, 2023

    Pretty unsatisfying ending. Truthfully, they lost me when they brought in the martians. I wanted something a bit more grounded. We already had people with powers, bringing in aliens twisted the story over the edge for me. I could tell that Taylor just wanted to wrap it up quick since he had taken so long to end the series. A lot of loose ends and Waller's ending made no sense at all.

  • 5.5
    Hex Jan 12, 2024

    What the first half set up to be an amazing finale, lighting the heroes on fire as they decimate the White Martians is immediately cheapened by another shock death and zero repercussions for Waller. I absolutely hate her character, any time she is on screen or in a comic. I WISH that wasn't the case because she has so much potential for nuance. This was not nuance. This was done to upset and outrage. It is such an unsatisfying ending. I'm really over creators, writers, directors butchering their stories solely for the shock factor or to "subvert expectations". You can have a devastating conclusion without Waller walking free.
    We also know it is very unlikely to get a follow up series so just teasing ANOTHER Justice League seems so wast more

  • 4.0
    Vite Aug 22, 2023

    Well, this series was a waste of time.

    The setting is frankly, uninteresting. Taylor never goes beyond surface-level pop-culture fantasy tropes, that aren't aided by his bipolar need to either make everybody either super-nice or darker and edgier versions of themselves.

    The characters have less personality than a toaster (and that need to hide their motivations because of the twist didn't help them either). This has to be the most boring Batman, in terms of personality, I've ever read.

    Which is bizarre because plot-wise this is one of the most Batgod-wank based series I've ever read. He's got an overload of tropes to make him the coolest (even getting part of Superman's powers, he's given a dragon, secret more

  • 3.0
    Sautron Aug 25, 2023

    The only good thing I can say about this series is that it ended.

    Bad characters, bad plotting, bad pacing. Weak dialogue and moments, with the characters speaking in Twitter-speak half the time and mock-Tolkien the other half.

    Taylor's weakest Elseworld, one of the weaker things DC has put for some time. I hope they don't waste any more time with this tbh because there are a lot more stories (better ones) to be told.

  • 10
    ComiczLover Apr 17, 2024

  • 10
    wesshamu Sep 1, 2023

  • 10
    Samuelima10 Aug 27, 2023

  • 9.5
    Krakoa Foreva Apr 17, 2024

  • 9.0
    Fraidy Cat Aug 30, 2023

  • 8.0
    Watchtower022 Aug 28, 2023

  • 8.0
    JBL Reviews Aug 26, 2023

  • 8.0
    Toni Aug 22, 2023

  • 7.5
    K-23 Sep 19, 2023

  • 7.5
    ed1138 Aug 27, 2023

  • 7.0
    Swanktub Aug 24, 2023

  • 5.0
    DiegoLDUganda Aug 22, 2023

  • 3.5
    Greg Sep 1, 2023

  • 1.0
    Luxe Aug 24, 2023

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