In the third installment of Dark Knight III: The Master Race, Frank Miller and Brian Azzarello continue the slow buildup in this eight-part miniseries that has lived up to the legacy of the original Miller incarnation some 30 years ago.
Batman has finally admitted to himself that he’s lost a few steps in his old age and refuses to show Robin that he’s weakened. He fears that she would be more concerned with his well-being and jeopardize any mission that they set out on to fight the Kryptonian cult lead by Quar from the Bottle City of Kandor, who with the help of Lara the daughter of Superman and Wonder Woman, and the late Atom, were restored to full size in an attempt to take over the Earth.
After the Dark Knight Strikes Again (aka DK2) Superman went into seclusion at the Fortress of Solitude after nearly ending the world. It is only now that Batman and Robin must free him from his icy isolation to help save his adopted home world from Quar, his children, and his newest follower that left this fun and fantastic tale with a killer cliffhanger.
Thank goodness this story isn’t being rushed. In the 1980s, these eight issues could have been condensed into four double issues like the original Dark Knight Returns but the anticipation for the next issue increases with every page turned. Andy Kubert’s art is a testament to the original series and Janson’s inks only enhance his work.
The only thing that gets annoying, like the original slang created in Dark Knight Returns is its transition into “text speak” and the short cuts. It works for the story, but forced me to pause a couple of times as I prefer to use complete sentences instead of abbreviations.
Issue four isn’t coming out fast enough but for now Dark Knight III The Master Race‘s third issue will have to hold you over for another month as it comes out today online and at your local comic book retailers.
Dark Knight III: The Master Race #3
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Story - 8/108/10
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Art - 8/108/10
The Verdict
A return to the legend that made Batman gritty again.
