Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter

by Jay Kristoff, Tirso Cons (illustrator)

The Dark Knights of Steel saga, placing DC's heroes in the realm of epic fantasy, continues with a standalone tale starring Deathstroke in a deadly frozen wasteland!

The snow falls thick, blood runs black, and color itself is only a distant memory. The legendary assassin Deathstroke stalks a frozen wasteland, killing for coin among a nation of ever-warring jarls.

But when our murderer for hire finds himself cast in the role of reluctant guardian, will he fight to end the icy curse destroying his land or be consumed by the sins of his own dark past?

The red-hot Dark Knights of Steel epic, which reimagines DC's heroes in a medieval fantasy world, expands into bone-chilling new territories with new surprises in store, with a story written by Jay Kristoff, with striking images from rising star artist Tirso!

Plus, this volume includes a story by Dark Knights of Steel architect Tom Taylor and The Fellspyre Chronicles artist Riccardo Federici, detailing an all-new origin of Aquaman!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Dc Comics, Superheroes, Batman, Graphic Novels Comics

224 pages, Hardcover

First published March 18, 2025

About the author

Jay Kristoff is a #1 international, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of fantasy and science fiction. He is the winner of eight Aurealis Awards, an ABIA, has over two million books in print and is published in over thirty five countries, most of which he has never visited. He is as surprised about all of this as you are. He is 6’7 and has approximately 12,000 days to live.

He does not believe in happy endings.

Reviews

[Oscar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding!!

[Khurram · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Dark Knights of Steel series. This next book is an excellent continuation of the series. I love the artwork and story, and everything works well.

Slade the Deathstroke is a living legend. A sword or arrow for hire. Death to whomever he has been paid to target. However, are the sins of his past finally catching up to him? Has he got one more quest in him? Will it lead to death or redemption. The black, white, and splash of colour artwork works perfectly. Apart from a few familiar faces from his past, a new chanenger also enters the fray.

There is also a backup story staring the Kents. How do they fit into thus world and what secrets are they hiding?

Great story and artwork. This series is going strength to strength. I can't wait to see what is next. Every book in this series has been epic. The book finishes with a varient covers gallery and a sketch book.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7 stars

I didn’t enjoy the story quite as much as the original DKoS series but there was some bloody lovely artwork in this one.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always a little wary when series that were mostly a huge success because of the creative team come back with different people attached. It feels like they're trying to capitalise on something without actually realising what made it so great. But this Dark Knights Of Steel spin-off was absolutely fantastic, honestly, so I needn't have worried.

This story is set after the original book, but in a very different part of the world, following the adventures of Slade Wilson as he finds himself inadverently roped into trying to save an entire country from an endless winter (hence the title). There's a lot of clever pulls from DC canon here, not just the Deathstroke typical ones, and the dialogue's pretty good fun as well. The ultimate conclusion feels earned, and there's a lot of potential for follow-up too.

The artwork's the real winner for me though. Tirso chooses to draw almost everything in black and gray except a couple of points, and while I'm never usually a big fan of monotone, it makes perfect sense in-story, and has some great pay-off moments. The actual art is pretty solid, a little cartoony at times but it helps sell the dynamic fight scenes really well.

Also included are the back-up stories, by original Dark Knights Of Steel writer Tom Taylor with art by Ricardo Federici, detailing the story of the Dark Knights of Steel Aquaman. You can't go wrong with either of these guys, and the neat twist on the typical Aquaman origin works well in the Elseworlds canon while again leaving the door open for more.

A worthy addition to the Dark Knights Of Steel stable. Great stuff, cover to cover.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fantasy DC setting is still enjoyable but this one isn’t as fun as the original. The twists and turns just aren’t there. Centering the story on Deathstroke and doing it in black and white makes for a darker tale literally and figuratively. Aquaman backup story too has some good moments.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A by-the-numbers fantasy quest with some vaguely recognizable B-tier DC characters... and yet, it's pretty darn great. Jay Kristoff nails every predictable beat in the plot, from the long-lost wife to the chosen one child to the unexpected ally to the surprise "I'm not actually dead!" reveal. Pacing is perfect, dialogue is crisp, narrative flows smoothly. Can't really ask for more, even if I was never surprised.

The artwork is terrific too. I was at first concerned about the endless shades of grey, but it turns out that's part of the plot. The quality character designs and settings shine through the monotone.

The back-up tale from Tom Taylor (re: Aquaman's origins in this Dark Knights world) is fine. Also predictable, but with less energy. Definitely leaves the door open for another series.

[Jason Waltz · Rating 5 out of 5]

ALLWINTER is absolutely the best graphic novel I've read since it so spectacularly combined DC characters with Sword and Sorcery with great involvement of The Batman and spot-on art throughout. Kristoff delivers! Tirso delivers! Great story, great fun, great read! The second story, HEIR TO THE SEA, is also a great story I'd love to see the sequel to. Man, I loved ALLWINTER.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was precisely what I thought it would be and that’s a good thing because I know my own taste! And I always love Tirso’s art. Not to mention the lil Tom Taylor DKoS Aquaman short at the end

[RockAboi · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bore with drab artwork and and uninteresting twist on characters.

[Al Tarancón · Rating 3 out of 5]

La historia principal esta muy entretenida, en la linea de la saga. Remixes de personajes e historias típicas de Dc con un toque de fantasia que resulta en una historia con sabor propio . El dibujo, de nuevo estupendo.
La segunda, sin embargo, no funciona igual de bien. Todo parece muy forzado, y los giros son bastante burdos. El arte tampoco me ha vuelto loco.

[Scarred Wizard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't get the low ratings. This is a 5 star read for me. I was skeptical at first with this new series by a different writer. Tried the #1 online to see how it goes. I was instantly hooked. Few months later i finally got the HC. What a beautiful book! amazingly written action-packed stories by both authors Jay Kristoff (Main story) & Tom Taylor (additional story). I don't regret my purchase at all. This is as good as the original.

My only complain is i'm not really liking of how the main artist Tirso draw people's faces (too cartoonish & out of shape). Everything else is perfect! Love love the human-like drawing on second story. Gorgeous! Some of you are definitely gonna hate the black & white style on the main story but it is for a reason.

Highly recommend it if you love the original!

9.5/10

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great action, decent art, an OK story.

It’s black and white which I usually balk at but you find out quickly that it’s because the whole country went gray there due to a spell, so that was cool.

The story is written by Jay Kristof who writes a series called Empire of the Vampire that I love so I was stoked to see what he’d do in a comic and it was mostly good. The story at a glance is pretty similar to his Vampire series, but in that story the world is permanently dark so vampires rise to rule the earth, and both star gruff anti-heroes trying to get a child savior to a certain place. So that was weird. But a solid book all in all.

[Namrac · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 and half stars.

Another two episodes in the Dark Knights of Steel universe. What started has a very exciting word building has slowed to formula driven story taling. None reach the excitement of the original. The two stories in this arc are solid but predictable. The uniqueness of discovering where DC heroes and villains landed in this world has gotten predictable.

Still, it’s a fun read and Kristoff offers a fresh look at this world.

[Jacob Shaffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I read a Dark Knights of Steel I finish it in one day. Unfortunately now I’m out of Dark Knights of Steel :’)

The black and white was a hard adjustment and then I came to love and appreciate it

Allwinter could’ve been a 4 star read, if not for the backup story Heir to the Sea

Just stupendous I loved it

[Jackson Flash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now THIS is what I’m talkin about. Deathstroke as a viking? Great concept, great story, and great art.

[Amber Loptien · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the artwork and the story. While I prefer Slade/Deathstroke when he is villainous, he works as a hero in this story. There is also a side story following Arthur (aquaman) and his adoption by the Kents, which I am hoping is turned into the next Dark Knights of Steel spinoff.

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

8/10

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Collects Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter issues #1-6

I was a big fan of the previous two "Dark Knights of Steel" collections that I read, but this one didn't hold my attention in the same way. I ended up skimming most of it so that I could finish it off and return it to the library.

[Roargh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un poco sobado, y sufre de la comparación con la frescura de la primera miniserie. El dibujo fantástico.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another trip to the medieval world of Dark Knights Of Steel as this time it focuses on Deathstroke and a cold, colorless land in the north. The book is separate from the main series but has some connections that make this world more connected. Slade is similar but different like almost all these characters. Author Jay Kristoff does a good job with this story and the dialogue but I thought the ending was way too convenient. The art was very good but the coloring was the star as it played into the story extremely well. Overall, another cool story in DC's best Elseworld.

[Mocassin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Le spin-off meilleur que l'original ? C'est fort possible tant Allwinter est une réussite.

Le noir et blanc est d'abord perturbant, mais on comprend rapidement qu'il se justifie au sein même du récit, une idée qui n'est certes pas nouvelle mais qui fonctionne particulièrement bien. Il faut dire que le dessinateur Tirso Cons livre une véritable masterclass parfaitement à-propos, tout aussi efficace dans sa gestion de la couleur.

Si le rapprochement avec Game of Thrones était déjà établi dans Dark Knights of Steel pour ses batailles de clans familiaux, c'est dans ce récit qu'il m'a semblé le plus flagrant. L'univers dépeint ici est véritablement sombre, rude et violent, avec un contexte hivernal largement semblable à l'œuvre de G.R.R Martin, sans que cette similitude ne soit un défaut, bien au contraire.

Cela fonctionne autant grâce à son protagoniste, le complexe Slade Wilson, qu'on connait dans l'univers commun de DC comme le mercenaire ultime, trait qu'il conserve ici mais dans un monde viking. L'auteur Jay Kristoff se sert avant tout de ce que le personnage est devenu ces derniers temps, un anti-héros plein de remords, et réinvente avec brio son parcours de vie, intrinsèquement lié à l'intrigue d'hiver éternel racontée ici. Chaque personnage est intelligemment revisité sans jamais laisser perplexe comme cela pouvait être le cas dans Dark Knights of Steel. Le lien avec le récit original est d'ailleurs très bien tissé, permettant à Allwinter d'en profiter tout en racontant sa propre histoire.

[BookMadLibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s been a while since I’ve read a graphic novel so I felt it was about time I picked up one. Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter has been sitting on my shelves since last year and screaming for my attention.

Comprised of two parts - one written by Jay Kristoff and illustrated by Tirso Cons and the second by the Dark Knight creator Tom Taylor and Riccardo Federici - this volume delivers on all fronts. Kristoff’s story features Deathstroke in a reimagined medieval world with a heavy Norse/Viking influence that I am here for. The detail of Tirso’s art is amazing, the use of black and white echoing the starkness and the brutality of the setting of the story. Kristoff’s signature feisty banter, sarcasm and humour is injected into Deathstroke and the other characters featuring in the story and be prepared for some harrowing and brutal moments that are characteristic of Kristoff’s brutal storylines. This reimagining of Deathstroke works perfectly - the living legend and sword for hire who’s on a path to either death or redemption and he doesn’t give a sh!t.

Taylor’s focus on the origin story of Aquaman and Federici’s style of art is very different to Tirso and Kristoff’s but equally enjoyable and visually pleasing. I’m still more of a fan of the Kristoff/Tirso combination because their style just seems to sell the story to me (I love the starkness and details - clearly a fan of the darker graphic novel style).

The alternative covers in the back are just perfection (my favourite has to be Reiko Murakami’s which is just epic)

[Vincent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as interesting a story to me as the first Dark Knights of Steel. I think there is something fun about having most of the Justice League transplanted into a quasi-medieval, fantasy universe. But following only Deathstroke isn't as interesting to me, and I've never been invested in following Rose Wilson or William Walsh (I think it is meant to be Walsh?) as I mostly know Deathstroke from the original New Teen Titans run. I would have expected Rose to be more overtly heroic than she is here.

However, having Alec Holland as the "cub" to Wilson's lone wolf was fun enough in isolation but again, we don't quite get a traditional version of Holland. To me the point of these stories is that the characters should be unchanged in essence though transported in time and space and we lose something if they are reduced to their power set.

[Patmol25 · Rating 3 out of 5]

● Première lecture

Un spin off déroutant. L'histoire est bien, j'aime bien le concept, j'adore l'ambiance plus viking, mais je connaissais pas Deathstroke, et ça impacte clairement la lecture. On ressent moins le côté Alternate Universe, et mis à part la rencontre avec le prince ou le personnage de Solomon, j'ai pas reconnu grand monde durant la lecture.
La réécriture de Deathstroke est sans doute pertinente, mais je peut pas l'apprécier à sa juste valeur, contrairement à celle de Viktor Freeze qui est excellente.

Visuellement très cool, avec de bonnes idées, un spin off très chouette.

Dark Knights of Steel : Heir to the Sea est moins beau en comparaison, mais l'histoire est sympa quand même. ça donne envie de lire d'autre aventures dans cet univers.

[Richard Pulfer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a 3.5 for me.

So . . . it turns out Deathstroke the Terminator fits right in with Dark Knights of Steel's medieval setting. The art is great, and Slade's violent action makes him a perfect character for a traditional swords and sorcery tale. The art is great, and overall this is a fun if familiar tale.

The familiarity is the only downside. If you're familiar with Deathstroke's background - particularly his blood ties - then a lot of the story will be predicable for you. Beyond, the writer definitely pulled from Game of Thrones - right down to the ice zombies.

Overall, it was a fun read, but didn't strike me particularly as strong as Tom Taylor's initial run, but it was still a good read nevertheless.

[Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was pretty good. a story of family, guilt, and redemption.
art was fine, not great. it was interesting the the way that the world had lost colour, and how Alec was the only one with colour speaking with the green.
pretty obvious story and plot, but enjoyable. dont really understand what happened with Addie.

the back up was fantastic. loved that and looking forward to more of it. art was outstanding.

[Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

another piece of the 'Dark Knights of Steel' universe...
(sounds like there's more coming throughout 2025)

This is the story of Deathstroke, his family, and his service to Lord Vandal Savage. He was a great sellsword for many years, but a deal made with a magus named Viktor may change EVERYTHING.

The Allwinter will fall...
The Green will rise...

[Mike · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dull and repetive, the characters aren't worth the hassle of reading them. This world has basically lost all interest. And the gimmick with the colors wasn't good at all, made everything more difficult to get through.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esta reinterpretacion de los heroes y villanoa de DC en epoca medieval me gusta mucho, si que es cierto que este me ha parecido un poco peor que la saga de superman y batman, aun asi mantiene, en buena medida, la esencia de estos comics

[deLibroenLibroconAJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Después de leerDKoS, continué con la saga nórdica Allwinter, con Deathstroke como prota y, la verdad me pareció una historia mejor lograda. Las ilustraciones están de lujo, sobre todo al inicio con esos tonos grises por una maldición.

Ojalá algún día tenga continuación...