So many choices …
I’ve been a little late in getting my arms around this but, hell, Dark Knight III: The Master Race is coming out next month and it’s time to start ramping up.
Here’s the thing: I’m not actually looking forward to DKIII, as it’s being called. I would have loved it if Frank Miller had left well enough alone 30 years ago. Dark Knight Strikes Again was utter dreck.
Before the fall …
But I can’t ignore it either — and the bottom line is that the first story remains one of the top three or four Batman stories I’ve ever read. Which is to say, it’s one of the top three or four comic book stories I’ve ever read. (Where exactly it goes on the list depends on my mood on a given day.)
The first panel of DKIII by Andy Kubert and Klaus Janson.
Of course, we’re variant obsessed around here as well. So with about 20 covers for #1 having already been released sans formal trade dress — some regular, some retailer-specific — I’ve decided to start curating my faves.
If you want more info — and you do, because this whole business is pretty complicated — head on over to DC’s website. Oh, and there are more coming.
But on this cold and dreary day, it seemed like a good time to listen to some grim and gritty Batmusic and pick my 13 Favorite Dark Knight III Covers … So Far. See if you can figure out the (rough) order …
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Tim Sale
Dave Gibbons. Probably my favorite. Neat having the Watchmen artist take on the book that also helped redefine the comics industry.
Kenneth Rocafort did the image from a different angle.
Lee Bermejo
Rafael Albuquerque …
… Gabriele Dell’Otto …
… and Darwyn Cooke all had very similar ideas. In different styles, naturally.
Kelley Jones …
… and Dave Johnson were instead inspired by the final showdown with the Joker.
Klaus Janson
Mike Allred …
… Gary Frank …
… and Sean Murphy, meanwhile, picked the Batman vs. Superman smackdown.
