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Dark Knights of Steel (Single Issues)
Dark Knights of Steel: Tales from the Three Kingdoms #1
Dark Knights of Steel: Tales From The Three Kingdoms features an anthology of three young adult tales set within the Knights of Steel universe. Tom Taylor, Jay Kristoff, and C.S Pacat transport readers to a simpler time before the war between kingdoms breaks out. Each adventure follows orphans or members of the El family in high fantasy coming of age stories.
46 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 6, 2022
15 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
About the author
Tom Taylor
1,286 books1,075 followersOnce a professional juggler and fire eater, Tom Taylor is a #1 New York Times Bestselling, multi-award-winning comic book writer, playwright and screenwriter.
Well known for his work with DC Comics and Marvel, Taylor is the co-creator of NEVERLANDERS from Penguin Random House, SEVEN SECRETS from Boom Studios and the Aurealis-Award-winning graphic novel series THE DEEP. Taylor is also the Head Writer and Executive Producer of The Deep animated series, four seasons of which is broadcast in over 140 countries.
He is perhaps best known for the DC Comics series, DCEASED (Shadow Awards Winner), NIGHTWING (nominated for 5 Eisner Awards), SUPERMAN: SON OF KAL-EL (GLAAD Award Nominee), INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US, SUICIDE SQUAD, EARTH 2 and BATMAN/SUPERMAN as well as Marvel's FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN, ALL NEW WOLVERINE, X-MEN: RED, DARK AGES and SUPERIOR IRON MAN. Taylor is also the writer of many Star Wars series, which include STAR WARS: INVASION and STAR WARS: BLOOD TIES (Stan Lee Excelsior Award winner). Taylor has written for Marvel, DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, IDW Publishing, Boom Studios, Wildstorm, 2000 AD and Gestalt Comics.
He can be followed on twitter @TomTaylorMade.
Well known for his work with DC Comics and Marvel, Taylor is the co-creator of NEVERLANDERS from Penguin Random House, SEVEN SECRETS from Boom Studios and the Aurealis-Award-winning graphic novel series THE DEEP. Taylor is also the Head Writer and Executive Producer of The Deep animated series, four seasons of which is broadcast in over 140 countries.
He is perhaps best known for the DC Comics series, DCEASED (Shadow Awards Winner), NIGHTWING (nominated for 5 Eisner Awards), SUPERMAN: SON OF KAL-EL (GLAAD Award Nominee), INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US, SUICIDE SQUAD, EARTH 2 and BATMAN/SUPERMAN as well as Marvel's FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN, ALL NEW WOLVERINE, X-MEN: RED, DARK AGES and SUPERIOR IRON MAN. Taylor is also the writer of many Star Wars series, which include STAR WARS: INVASION and STAR WARS: BLOOD TIES (Stan Lee Excelsior Award winner). Taylor has written for Marvel, DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, IDW Publishing, Boom Studios, Wildstorm, 2000 AD and Gestalt Comics.
He can be followed on twitter @TomTaylorMade.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 12, 2022
I was sold on this as soon as I realised
Jay Kristoff
was involved and it did not disappoint!
It's a cute lil series of three stories set in some random medieval reality where some familiar heroes (and villains) are living very different lives, yet with the same sort of objectives.
I loved how vastly different from the regular comics these stories were. I haven't read anything from the Dark Knights of Steel run, so there's quite possibly stuff I missed, but this was just so easy and fun to read on its own.
The artwork is colourful and fun, and there's a whimsy to these stories that highlights the fantasy elements. Plus, chibi-Batman? Yes please. SO CUTE!!
Personally loved it, but not sure how fans of the regular comics will receive it.
However, if you are a YA fantasy reader looking to branch into comics, THIS IS YOUR TIME. Jump on with this and you should be down the comic rabbit hole in no time.
It's a cute lil series of three stories set in some random medieval reality where some familiar heroes (and villains) are living very different lives, yet with the same sort of objectives.
I loved how vastly different from the regular comics these stories were. I haven't read anything from the Dark Knights of Steel run, so there's quite possibly stuff I missed, but this was just so easy and fun to read on its own.
The artwork is colourful and fun, and there's a whimsy to these stories that highlights the fantasy elements. Plus, chibi-Batman? Yes please. SO CUTE!!
Personally loved it, but not sure how fans of the regular comics will receive it.
However, if you are a YA fantasy reader looking to branch into comics, THIS IS YOUR TIME. Jump on with this and you should be down the comic rabbit hole in no time.
October 2, 2022
I miss this series so much. What happened?! Where’s #8?!?! Now that I’m done bemoaning the fact that this series has slowed down, I’m so happy Taylor came out with this one shot. It’s everything I miss from the main series. I enjoyed getting back into this world, and each story of the three included in this issue is interesting and funny and entertaining. I really hope Taylor and DC finish the main series. It deserves a great ending!!
September 7, 2022
The art continues to be amazing and my favorite part was definitely the Robins' origin story!
Great prequel comic!
Great prequel comic!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2023
Picked it up at random thanks to the beautiful covers of this series, and the concept looked cool, and it was quite good ! Will have to go back to the begining, now that I know that this is NOT the begining (thank you Sour Cherry Comics for providing me such knowledge 😌)
February 7, 2023
Desde luego que el universo "fantasy medieval" de Tom Taylor merece explorarse. Este trío de historias precuela quizás no expriman las posibilidades más grandes de ver esta clase de revisiones del DC Universe. Sí que me quedo con la última con Bane en clave Berserk con ese paradojicamente cruel girito final que parece querer hacernos olvidar que en la mayoría de las realidades este personaje es la ruina de Bruce Wayne. Las otras dos (y aunque la 1º parezca que va a tener repercusiones en la colección central), son historias bastante intrascendentes. Como la de llamara Jay Kristoff para que haga algo tan "Meh" como la historia de cómo la Corte conoce a los Robins.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2025
This is exactly why I pick up random books! Got this out of a dollar bin and now I have a new series to read. I love the medieval world that was created with the Els and Wayne’s. The dynamics are very interesting and if these stories are anything like the main series I am going to love it.
The first mini story hooked me with the children from the orphanage mysteriously disappearing and our 3 superheroes set out to find them only to uncover a big mystery. This is the story I want to be flushed out the most.
The other two were good as we were introduced to the Robins and Bane. Lots of world building!
The first mini story hooked me with the children from the orphanage mysteriously disappearing and our 3 superheroes set out to find them only to uncover a big mystery. This is the story I want to be flushed out the most.
The other two were good as we were introduced to the Robins and Bane. Lots of world building!
July 5, 2023
Taking a breather from the unfolding story, Dark Knights of Steel shines its focus on three separate stories across other parts of the kingdoms to offer medieval takes on Arkham, the Robins, and Bane. A fascinating assembly of tales which inform these iterations of the characters, and are wonderfully brought alive with the art style.
April 21, 2023
Ottima storia prequel che spiega le origini di varie cose e gruppi che ritroviamo nella serie principale. C'era il rischio di creare storie inutili, ma queste non hanno deluso facendo approfondimenti su vari aspetti e momenti del regno
December 17, 2023
Not taking place inside mainstream DC comics universe for obvious reasons. The fantasy nerd inside me loves being able to engage with the comic nerd inside of me. I've been a fan of both genres my whole life so to have them come together in a engaging fan story, is just delightful.
February 28, 2023
This was good, but I'm disappointed Zala didn't have a bigger spotlight. The King's Bane story was really good, though.
I liked seeing this as a prequel of how some things came to be.
I liked seeing this as a prequel of how some things came to be.
March 31, 2024
I can’t believe Mini bat did that to bane. After he trained him and was so loyal.. poor dude got thrown in the pit
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2025
Cannot get ENOUGH of this au!!!!! I want moreeeeee…🎶
October 13, 2022
Dark Knights of Steel has been a great new version of the DC Universe, transporting characters we know and love into a medieval fantasy setting, and doing some interesting new things with them; the Green Man was a triple combo that I was not expecting!
And whilst we're waiting for the next chapter of the regular series we get a new one-shot to tide us over, delving into the history of this world and taking a look at some of the unseen adventures.
The first story deals with Arkham Orphanage, and we get to see some child versions of this worlds Two-Face, Penguin, Killer Croc, Man-Bat, Riddler, and Jimmy Olsen. Jimmy getting adopted by Perry White and his wife to work at the printers press is a great choice, and him and a young Kal-El making friends when Jimmy goes up on the roof at night to look at the stars is lovely. I really like that even in this completely different world the two of them are still good friends, and that when Kal learns that Jimmy has gone missing he immediately sets out to help him.
Despite turning Arkham into an orphanage, the story still includes some of the dark history that comes with the name, as the head of the orphanage experiments on the children there to try and make magically powered beings; creating Man-Bat and Killer Croc. The fact that General Waller takes her into custody, and tells her that she's going to be working for Waller from now on does make me think that perhaps this is a story thread that could come back in the main series; especially with the kingdoms on the verge of war and more powered people being needed.
The second story jumps forward in time to a point that doesn't seem too far removed from the main story, where Kal is sneaking out of the palace with Harley Quinn to get to see a bit more of his kingdom. Going out in disguise, they hope to blend into the Halloween festival going on. However, Bruce catches them in the act and insists on going along with them. The three of them come across a group of young thieves, the Robins, whilst trying to enjoy their evening.
This is a really cool story for showing us how Bruce ends up with his gang of Robins working for him, and feels like something that the main series definitely doesn't have the time to really delve into. The Robins have some important roles in the plot, so getting to see how they ended up with Bruce feels like a good use for this book. It also gets bonus points for including Haley too.
The final story goes back in time, and focuses on a young Bruce. When travelling through the forest with some royal guards Bruce and his soldiers come under attack from a huge, armoured figure; Bane. Bane kills his guards, but instead of trying to harm Bruce, swears fealty to him. Bane reveals that he loved Bruce's parents, and sees Bruce as the true heir to the kingdom, not the El's.
Bruce agrees to train with Bane, learning how to fight and how to get the better of your foe, and the two of them eventually travel to the castle so that Bane can use his magic weapons to kill the El's. However, Bruce betrays him, immobilises him, and has his taken away to be locked in 'the pit'. Bruce swears loyalty to the El's and promises to forever protect them from the dangers of magic.
This story gives a little insight into how the characters fear magic, and have a hard-line stance against it; as well as showing the sheer cunning of Bruce. It's also really cool to get to see this worlds version of the Secret Six. Bane and Ragdoll in particular have absolutely great designs.
As I've been enjoying the main series so much I'm absolutely happy to see the world expand with books like this. I hope that we get the next issue of Dark Knights of Steel soon, but if we have to wait give us more stuff like this whilst we do.
And whilst we're waiting for the next chapter of the regular series we get a new one-shot to tide us over, delving into the history of this world and taking a look at some of the unseen adventures.
The first story deals with Arkham Orphanage, and we get to see some child versions of this worlds Two-Face, Penguin, Killer Croc, Man-Bat, Riddler, and Jimmy Olsen. Jimmy getting adopted by Perry White and his wife to work at the printers press is a great choice, and him and a young Kal-El making friends when Jimmy goes up on the roof at night to look at the stars is lovely. I really like that even in this completely different world the two of them are still good friends, and that when Kal learns that Jimmy has gone missing he immediately sets out to help him.
Despite turning Arkham into an orphanage, the story still includes some of the dark history that comes with the name, as the head of the orphanage experiments on the children there to try and make magically powered beings; creating Man-Bat and Killer Croc. The fact that General Waller takes her into custody, and tells her that she's going to be working for Waller from now on does make me think that perhaps this is a story thread that could come back in the main series; especially with the kingdoms on the verge of war and more powered people being needed.
The second story jumps forward in time to a point that doesn't seem too far removed from the main story, where Kal is sneaking out of the palace with Harley Quinn to get to see a bit more of his kingdom. Going out in disguise, they hope to blend into the Halloween festival going on. However, Bruce catches them in the act and insists on going along with them. The three of them come across a group of young thieves, the Robins, whilst trying to enjoy their evening.
This is a really cool story for showing us how Bruce ends up with his gang of Robins working for him, and feels like something that the main series definitely doesn't have the time to really delve into. The Robins have some important roles in the plot, so getting to see how they ended up with Bruce feels like a good use for this book. It also gets bonus points for including Haley too.
The final story goes back in time, and focuses on a young Bruce. When travelling through the forest with some royal guards Bruce and his soldiers come under attack from a huge, armoured figure; Bane. Bane kills his guards, but instead of trying to harm Bruce, swears fealty to him. Bane reveals that he loved Bruce's parents, and sees Bruce as the true heir to the kingdom, not the El's.
Bruce agrees to train with Bane, learning how to fight and how to get the better of your foe, and the two of them eventually travel to the castle so that Bane can use his magic weapons to kill the El's. However, Bruce betrays him, immobilises him, and has his taken away to be locked in 'the pit'. Bruce swears loyalty to the El's and promises to forever protect them from the dangers of magic.
This story gives a little insight into how the characters fear magic, and have a hard-line stance against it; as well as showing the sheer cunning of Bruce. It's also really cool to get to see this worlds version of the Secret Six. Bane and Ragdoll in particular have absolutely great designs.
As I've been enjoying the main series so much I'm absolutely happy to see the world expand with books like this. I hope that we get the next issue of Dark Knights of Steel soon, but if we have to wait give us more stuff like this whilst we do.
December 16, 2024
Kings story is by far the strongest.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews