Tom Taylor and Yasmine Putri brings all the mythology of the DC Universe to the Middle Ages in The Dark Knights of Steel, a volume published by ECC Ediciones

Even if the seal Other worlds From DC Comics is no longer used as such, it is clear that some of the best stories from this publishing house continue to be set in those parallel universes that have always entertained readers. Superman Red Son, Kingdom Come the Batman: Earth One These are just a few examples of the wonders that some authors can accomplish when they have the freedom to develop their ideas in new scenarios not constrained by continuity or established rules.

ECC Editions publish now The Dark Knights of Steelthe opportunity for a renowned screenwriter Italian: to make one of these stories. It is not his first attempt, but perhaps it is the most successful if we ignore the magnificent work he has done Injustice…

Kryptonians in the Middle Ages

It all starts with a more forward-thinking version of Jor-El. The father of Kal-El He is not satisfied with building a spaceship that can only accommodate a child and does not wait until the last second to launch it. Consequently, he leaves Krypton with his pregnant wife long before it explodes, arriving on Earth in the Middle Ages, due to relativistic effects.

If in the 20th century a Kryptonian is already a god among the earthlings, in this dark age it is not difficult to imagine the power he could have. To counter this superiority, the screenwriter will introduce magic as an important element in the plot that could be the only hope for those who want to oppose the rulers of space…

But the members of this alien family won’t be the only recognizable characters we’ll see in this story, as Taylor will gradually introduce different heroes and villains of the world. DC Universe in its medieval version: from the omnipresent Batman and their robin A Black Canary in passing Harley Quinn, Green Arrow, Alfred Pennyworth, Constantine the Wonder Womanall very well represented in this intoxicating environment, maintaining what gives them their special touch and being perfectly recognizable.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

The theme of the corruption of power is not something foreign to Taylor’s stories, since he has addressed it on many occasions, always from a modern perspective, far from the conservative absolutisms more typical of past eras. On this occasion it is the father of Superman the one who goes from being the brilliant and kind scientist we all know to a ruler who sees those beneath him as ants as the years go by.

With this initial approach, the writer can play with his toys in a way that is fun for both him and the readers. We are not facing a masterpiece of the ninth art, but we are facing a comic that never bores and that maintains a vibrant rhythm and an intriguing plot until the end. You can’t ask for less from Taylor, we are talking about one of the greatest screenwriters of the present.

A discrete graphic section

In the drawing we have as main responsible Yasmine Putriwhich overall does a good job, with good character design and a clear narrative. However, one can criticize the fact that sometimes it is very difficult to distinguish some characters from others when they do not have the characteristic elements that make them unique. The rest of the artists involved (with the exception of Bengal(which we see much less than it deserves) would be a step below Putri, although to compensate for this we have Dan Mora as responsible for most of the covers.

Also worth mentioning is the presence of the well-known author of fantasy novels Jay Kristoffwhose talent is not used in the story he writes as a spin off from the main series. This, along with the revealing ending left by Tom Taylor, makes it clear that this is not the end of this universe. In fact, this year Kristoff himself has been tasked with writing a sequel in which he could shine as he deserves, with a brutal Viking take on Deadly blow as the protagonist, so everything looks like we’ll have the Dark Knights of Steel for a while…

The Dark Knights of Steel

A spaceship has arrived on Earth… and from it emerge Jor-El and Lara, the sole survivors of the ill-fated planet Krypton. In a medieval world far removed from the one we know, the couple raises their son Kal in the Kingdom of El. But magic makes them vulnerable, and what will happen when trouble begins to arise?

Italian:screenwriter of Injustice And DCsosoffers us this alternate version of the DC Universe that brings our favorite heroes into a heroic fantasy storyline starring the young prince Kal-El and Bruce, one of the kingdom’s most precious knights. A unique work that draws Yasmine Putri with the collaboration of Bengal And My First Encounter with Nathan Gooden.

Authors: Italian:, Jay Kristoff, CS sin, Caspar Wijngaard, Yasmine Putri, Michael Bandini And Sean Izaakse