Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Batman, dark knight, dkiii, entertainment, frank miller, the master race

13 Reviews Of Dark Knight III #1 – The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

Published Wed, 25 Nov 2015 19:00:59 -0600

So a comic book came out today. And lots of people wanted to buy it, talk about it and read it. But enough of the new issue of Saga. There was also Dark Knight III: The Master Race #1.

I thought it was all right, as things go, but I preferred the upcoming Batman/TMNT crossover. But what did everybody else think? How many Batarangs out of five? Let's have a look…

Comic Book:

For a book that goes to press with just an unbelievable amount of history and baggage, Dark Knight III: The Master Race acquits itself very well. It's visually spectacular, with a sense of scale and design that's admirable, and the story has a lot of potential, even if this first issue feels a little unsatisfying because it's so focused on setting up an epic that it occasionally forgets it's also delivering a story.

IGN 9.5

The Dark Knight III: The Master Race delivers a pitch-perfect first issue, channeling the vibe of The Dark Knight Returns by telling a slow-burn story with mythic characters set against a modern day backdrop. The art pays homage to Miller's iconic world while improving and inventing where needed — an impressive show of artistry on all fronts. While Miller is co-writing with Azzarello, it's Azzarello's voice that shines through, lending the book the crime smarts of 100 Bullets, the reverence for Batman's legend in Joker, and the epic quality of his Wonder Woman run.

Major Spoilers 4.75/ 5

As much as DK2, and All-Star Batman and Robin soured a lot of comic fans on Frank Miller's opus, Dark Knight III: The Master Race feels like the comic book we need and deserve. A magnificent opening chapter, The Dark Knight III: The Master Race #1 is a book that even the most closed minded and cold of heart should check out. I'm in for the full ride, and can't wait to see what happens next.

Word Of Sean

I think it's the art that salvaged this book for me. Andy Kubert was our artist for the issue–there'll be interchanging artists for the series–and he did a pretty good job of doing various characters and their designs. Most of them are kind of awkward looking in the first place and so he has little to work with there, so kudos. His art is refreshing compared to some of others own art, as well as some of the previous artists he's worked with. It's a good mix of the newer art styles as well as melding Miller's older stuff.

But it really isn't enough to keep this book just barely above average, if not just average. In my first read-through, I thought it wasn't too bad. But getting to go through again and analyze it shows that this isn't really the brand-new, exciting adventure we were looking for. Carrie Kelley being Batman–somehow bulking up insanely over three years–is indeed an interesting development and there is a decent mystery as to how Superman was put on ice, but the random commentary in the beginning, annoying degradation of Wonder Woman, and remaining silliness of the plot regarding Lara's quest to subdue humanity still bogs the book down.

Sam Quixote

All that said, The Master Race #1 is a promising start. Unfortunately Miller these days can't tell a story with the same breakneck pace that he used to but, given time, The Master Race could turn into something quite good. It sort of sets up the premise of the series and asks some compelling questions – that's not a bad first issue though it's not an amazing one either.

The two old men, Frank and Bats, are back for the third time and ready to wheeze through seven more issues – it might've been better but, remembering Miller's last two outings in Gotham, it also could've been much worse, guys!

NerdsUnchained 9.0

I can't say it's sea-change kind of story the original Dark Knight was, but frankly that's an unfair and impossible challenge for this book to meet. What I can say is that the issue showcases all of the strengths of the creators, and none of the weaknesses, and the result is an issue that leaves the reader eager to dive back into the universe Frank Miller created all those years ago.

CBR 4/5

"Dark Knight III: The Master Race" #1 defies what both Frank Miller supporters and detractors alike might be expecting. The addition of Azzarello and Kubert smooths out the artistic excesses of Miller's more recent efforts, but also doesn't quite bring the same level of moody ambiance or character depth that was seen in the first "Dark Knight" story. On its own, though, it stands out as a worthy introduction to a compelling Batman story.

Newsarama 8/10

I've read enough comics to know that exposition can oftentimes be a necessary evil, and Miller, Azzarello and Kubert have laid out all the pieces they need before the coming of the Master Race, a threat that will likely demand the combined might of DC's power trinity to contain. Yet this sort of world-shaking threat coming right out of the gate feels almost heretical to the DNA of The Dark Knight Returns, which spent issue after issue tackling street-level supervillains before escalating to a Cold War-era power struggle. But at the same time, this series is a very different beast to that '80s classic, from the scale to the characters to the very artwork itself. It may be impossible for a legend to ever truly come back – that the wine or the vows or the weight of age might be too much for either Batman or Frank Miller to overcome. While this book is far from the revolutionary effort of its predecessors, DKIII: The Master Race still proves to be a heroic first effort from three stellar sequential artists.

Comic Vine 4/5

DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE offers a solid and entertaining read. It didn't blow me away, but it shows an immense amount of promise for greatness. Miller's world opens up even more as Brian Azzarello steps in to work with him and the artistic team is a wonderful fit for the first issue. DKIII doesn't feel like something that's trying to be DKR. It is its own story that pushes this world forward. If you're a Batman fan, then this is something you need to pick up on new comic day.

Tech Times

This first issue of Master Race should be enough to at least silence some of the doubters for now. Despite being a sequel to a 30-year-old classic, it manages to stay fresh, thanks to the creative team's ability to respect the past, while also laying some new ground.

It's a story about legacy, of finding yourself, of stepping out from the shadows of those before you and blazing a new trail. It's true for the characters in the book, and it's true for the creators behind it.

Bam Smack Pow

Overall, Dark Knight III: The Master Race – Book One is a strong start for this new installment. From Miller's more reformed attitude and Kubert's clean art, I'm looking forward to the continuation of the Dark Knight saga.

Comicosity 9.5/10

In a comic market that is currently at a crossroads — between material aimed at a long-time audience of mostly white men and that which appeals to the ENORMOUS number of women and persons of color that make up the comic-buying public today — Dark Knight III may prove to be a hybrid book that unites both. Or it may be the thing that elicits the fiercest divisiveness yet. I can't tell.

But I'll say this: Read the book. Decide for yourself. I'll be over here sighing my sigh of relief, knowing I still have Batman working on the side of social justice for ALL.

Comics Bulletin 2/10

That's what makes looking at the reception of this issue by the legions of comics sites and blogs so absolutely stunning. Every month leading to this release was filled with dread as commenters made sport of Miller's increasing focus on sexist and Islamophobic themes in his comics. Yet the final product features very little in the way of hate opting for inanity instead. Is this better? Perhaps, but it does not make The Dark Knight III a good comic. The Dark Knight III #1 is no better than the cardboard shells of pizza served by Pizza Hut. Yet comics reviewers are happy to praise it, applaud it, and tenderly kiss it for being workmanlike. They are Yelp reviewers eagerly posting 4 and 5 star reviews of a pepperoni pizza containing something resembling flavor. If that's what we want to call great food, then maybe it would be better to starve.

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