Dark Knight III: The Master Race #9
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Dark Knight III: The Master Race #9

Writer: Frank Miller, Brian Azzarello Artist: Klaus Janson, Frank Miller Publisher: DC Comics Release Date: June 7, 2017 Cover Price: $5.99 Critic Reviews: 19 User Reviews: 24
7.6Critic Rating
7.2User Rating

The epic conclusion to DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE is here from the all-star creative team of Frank Miller, Brian Azzarello, Andy Kubert and Klaus Janson! This is Earth's last stand. Quar's Kryptonian Army has conquered the planet, but Batman and his allies don't believe the world is beyond saving. They'll rally once more against Quar and save the world or die trying.

  • 10
    Dark Knight News - Ryan Lower Jun 7, 2017

    This issue wraps up Dark Knight III: The Master Race in a satisfying way. The threat is neutralized. Our key players all get their moments (even the return of some we haven't seen for a while). Dialogue is sharp. And last but not least, Batman lets it be known this is his book. When the collected edition comes out in a few months, I'll look forward to rereading this whole story in one (very long) sitting. I think it will play out better that way as opposed to this journey we've been on since November of 2015. Regardless, a great story with a satisfying conclusion. If you've been along for the ride up to this point, no question: buy this book. Read Full Review

  • 10
    DC Comics News - Steven Brown Jun 7, 2017

    The Master Race was a great series, period! The action was intense, the bond between Superman and Batman reinforced, and we get to see an older Justice League in action. It's very rare in a series where you see the growth of all characters and their consequences carry so much weight, but Miller and Azzarello do it flawlessly. This is definitely a series I will be reading over again very soon. Read Full Review

  • 9.5
    Black Nerd Problems - Oz Longworth Jun 10, 2017

    Bottom Line: The strongest tact this book could take was bringing a well plotted ray of positivity to Miller's Batman future vision. This is an immensely strong finish to this story. Bravo. Read Full Review

  • 9.5
    AIPT - David Brooke Jun 7, 2017

    An excellent conclusion to a series that has had its ups and downs, but make no mistake: this is a showstopper of an issue. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    We Got This Covered - Eric Joseph Jun 7, 2017

    Without a doubt, Dark Knight III: The Master Race has proven itself worthy of adorning the shelves of Batfans everywhere. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    IGN - Jesse Schedeen Jun 7, 2017

    As a whole, The Dark Knight III is a flawed story at best, and one that hasn't always captured the greatness of the original mini-series. But the final issue stands out in large part because it doesn't try to. Instead, it brings a newfound sense of optimism to this formerly dark and dreary universe. It's a refreshing change for the Dark Knight franchise, and one that leaves the door open for an even bolder and more daring sequel. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Chuck's Comic Of The Day - Chuck Jun 8, 2017

    It's a solid series with quite a few surprises and terrific art - and it lays the groundwork for future series set in the DK Universe. Good deal! Read Full Review

  • 8.4
    Impulse Gamer - Chris O'Connor Jun 19, 2017

    Overall it's a worthy end point. You may well literally breathe a sigh of relief when you finish it… there are some pretty intense moments and there is a lot at stake. It's good to have Batman back to his old (new) self… back where he belongs ready to fight crime at a moments notice. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Newsarama - Justin Partridge Jun 12, 2017

    Through all the bluff, bluster, and numerous un-PC gaffs, Miller, Azzarello and a reverently talented creative team have ended this latest opus on an uncharacteristic note, but a powerfully hopeful one; one that shows that one of comic's most controversial creators might just be big ol' superhero-loving softie after all. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    The Batman Universe - Paul Selby Jun 7, 2017

    While I doubt that the creators are anywhere near finished with these characters, if Frank Miller never returns to the Dark Knight Universe, this would be a good ending" or good enough. Read Full Review

  • 7.5
    Weird Science - Branden Murray Jun 7, 2017

    The DarkKnight III: Master Race wraps up with a satisfying conclusion featuring a bunchof cameos from characters from throughout the series both in the main title andmini-comic companion pieces.  This was avery worthy addition to the Dark Knight trilogy for me. Read Full Review

  • 7.5
    Multiversity Comics - Michael Mazzacane Jun 12, 2017

    "The Master Race" ends effectively and in a manner, I did not expect when this began 18 or so months ago. Read Full Review

  • 6.5
    GWW - RW Adams Jun 7, 2017

    Never quite living up to its own, daunting roots, The Master Race ends with neither a whimper nor a bang, but a solid and rather safe shuffling off of its rather long winded narrative. You won't be disappointed, but neither will you be thrilled. Read Full Review

  • 6.0
    Comic Bastards - Jonathan Edwards Jun 7, 2017

    In conclusion, not just to this review but also the series, is the eponymous "master race" supposed to be referring to the Kandorians? That would be my first guess, but I'm never sure when Miller's involved. Furthermore, I could be wrong, but the Kandorians actions really just don't seem equivalent enough to warrant such a loaded comparison. Mostly, it's just "let us rule the world or else." Then again, it could always just be tasteless shock value attempting to hook readers. And truthfully, they were probably successful in that regard. DK3 is not a series I think is ultimately worth reading, but at least it doesn't end on a mean-spirited and awful note. Instead, it's much more of a "meh, alright I guess." Read Full Review

  • 5.8
    Comicsverse - Brandon Bloxdorf Jun 6, 2017

    Overall, DKIII was more of a repetitive mess that tried to capture the essence of the original DARK KNIGHT book but missed hard. The third installment has finally ended and we're hoping that Miller will bring us backsoon. Read Full Review

  • 5.5
    Batman-News - Jay Yaws Jun 7, 2017

    After a long year and a half journey it's finally over. There have been a few highs and several lows, and the average ending doesn't do much to redeem The Master Race. With so few stakes and the promise of another possible sequel this series isn't entirely rewarding, feeling like a continuation just for its own sake rather than a story that needed to be told. Still, there's some good here, like some surprisingly gripping action scenes and the genuinely moving conclusion. I didn't love it as a whole, but there were just enough parts to like that it didn't feel like a total waste. Read Full Review

  • 5.5
    Doom Rocket - Brad Sun Jun 9, 2017

    Turning something as deeply personal as Miller's career-spanning bat books into a collaboration was bound to produce a flawed end product. Yet taken on its own merits, The Master Race still managed to offer its fair share of far-out comic book wackiness and genuinely thoughtful character moments. The series ultimately delivers an optimistic ending that, if not quite profound, at least feels sincere. It's a fitting conclusion to a perplexing miniseries, even if it can't live up to the audacity and ambition of its pedigree. Read Full Review

  • 5.0
    All-Comic - Erik Gonzalez Jun 11, 2017

    Pick it up and finish the story; just know that it may not live up to expectations one would hope for a tale/property of this magnitude and notoriety. Read Full Review

  • 4.5
    Comic Book Corps - Tim Montoya Jun 7, 2017

    Why, why do we do this to ourselves? Dark Knight III ends as we all feared it would, as an incoherent mess that feels completely unsatisfying. Read Full Review

  • 10
    Quirky Genin Mar 13, 2020

    Judge this on it's own merit. It isn’t 1986 anymore and that’s ok. "The Dark Knight Returns" holds it's status today because of the boundaries it broke in its release, not to mention it being a single Batman story for the ages. Just as you wouldn’t compare a modern day play with Shakespeare, look at this as an evolution rather than a comparison.

    Miller, already pushing 60, decides yet again to return to his holy grail, and why not after flame out 'Strikes Again', both deserved redemption. This time he returns with backup in the form of writer Brian Azzarello (Joker/Batman: Damned) and DC legacy artist Andy Kubert (Batman and Son). The story is a classic DC tale of the fabled shrunken and bottle city of Kandor, final remains more

  • 9.0
    kfc902 Jun 9, 2017

    A lot of hate but I liked the ending, art, action and conclusion of the story.

    It leaves the door open for more Dark Knight.

  • 7.5
    Spock's Brain Jun 15, 2017

    Well, this didn't all amount to much, but this issue in itself is a solid conclusion. It seems to set the table for more Dark Knight, which is, well, um...yeah. It had it's charming moments, like Batman warming to the new Batwoman, and the surprisingly optimistic mini-comic, with Miller pencils that didn't look horrifically distorted. So, there it is.

  • 7.0
    jorgezade Jun 8, 2017

    To me, it wasn't the epic I expect it to be, so I won't say anything more than it just wasn't bad (like TDKSA) but it wasn't good neither (like TDKR).

    But!... if there was something good about the conclusion of this run was the Action Comics #1 companion. Finally! Finally there was an issue that made an effort and a statement about the "gods" adjective comic writers has been using to describe the "heroes". I really hate it when they talk about the characters as "gods", and not just because a religious matter, but also because it creates a void between them and the audience where we are no longer connected to them, we are no longer related and so we tend to not caring for them anymore cause in some way, we know they won't die, the more

  • 7.0
    Supes' soups Jun 7, 2017

    It could've been worse but I actually thought this issue was ok. Overall the series didn't go anywhere, just made Bruce younger so there can be 27 more sequels to the DKR. It does water down Frank Miller's original work. I personally don't think it's worth $50 to get through this slog especially given the delays. Lara could be interesting but she's just a rehashed Supergirl that is the offspring of Supes and Wondy. I guess "meh" describes the whole series in one word...

  • 5.0
    bucswin611 Jun 8, 2017

    Well, it didn't redeem itself in the end. The Action Comics #1 backup was actually pretty enjoyable.

  • 2.0
    Big Brother Jun 7, 2017

    Garbage.

  • 9.5
    Spidey Spawn Jun 16, 2017

  • 9.0
    Minto1981 Jul 21, 2017

  • 9.0
    CConn Jun 10, 2017

  • 9.0

  • 8.5
    duBEARck Jun 10, 2021

  • 8.5
    Nuckster77 Jun 10, 2017

  • 8.5
    Xtian95 Jun 7, 2017

  • 8.5
    sebastianorellana95 Jun 7, 2017

  • 8.0
    Adrián Morgades May 2, 2020

  • 8.0
    Alex Mackay Jun 28, 2017

  • 8.0
    ActionCity Jun 8, 2017

  • 7.5
    Julhin Feb 18, 2021

  • 7.0
    DizzyG Jun 8, 2017

  • 6.5
    pippopietro22 Sep 6, 2020

  • 5.0
    Gunnarthehuman Jun 8, 2017

  • 3.5
    MKW69 Jun 11, 2017

  • 1.5
    VanessaLivingstone Jun 7, 2017

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