Superman's origin gets a high-fantasy twist in DC's Dark Knights of Steel #1 preview

Dark Knights of Steel #1 excerpt
Dark Knights of Steel #1 excerpt (Image credit: DC)

Writer Tom Taylor is bringing Marvel Comics to The Dark Ages and now over at DC he and artist Yasmine Putri are taking the Justice League to medieval times in the fantasy-fueled 12-issue series Dark Knights of Steel that debuts November 2.

cover of Dark Knights of Steel #1  (Image credit: DC)

Set in a world of knights, wizards, monarchs, and castles, Dark Knights of Steel will turn the high fantasy-fueled trappings of its setting on its head when Superman's Kryptonian spacecraft lands on a doomed planet in a medieval setting rather than the modern era.

DC has released a five-page preview of Dark Knights of Steel #1 showing off Superman's familiar origin story but with an alternate universe-style twist. 

As seen on the above variant cover by Wayne Reynolds, the series won't just star Superman along with the other two-thirds of DC's 'trinity' - Wonder Woman and Batman - but again in the tradition of DC's Elseworlds will also feature alternative takes on Harley Quinn, Black Lightning, Alfred Pennyworth, Jor-El, Lara, Dinah Lance, Dick Grayson, and more. 

DC previously released a seven unlettered pages from Dark Knights of Steel #1, which can be seen here:

Taylor has made a career of writing alt-realities and out of continuity stories including his breakout run on DC's Injustice as well as the publisher's zombie-fueled DCeased. As mentioned, he's writing another alt-reality story for Marvel Comics titled Dark Ages, which, despite the title which evokes a medieval theme, actually shows a version of the Marvel Universe where technology and electronics are suddenly rendered inert.

"Combining DC superheroes and high fantasy is a dream come true," says Taylor of Dark Knights of Steel. "I grew up reading Lord of the Rings alongside Superman. Terry Pratchett alongside Garth Ennis. Robin Hobb and Mark Waid. Dragonlance and Justice League. Now, I get to bring all this together with the incredible Yasmine Putri, in the biggest story I could imagine. A tale of war and love, of despair and hope, of betrayal and improbable alliances forged in battle. A story where we take heroes we know so well and see them in a way never seen before."

Taylor goes on to say the series will present all-new origins for Superman, Constantine, Harley Quinn, and Black Lightning and also includes "new romances, new friendships, and shocking twists that start with the opening pages." 

"This is for the fans of Game of Thrones and Critical Role," continues Taylor. "This is for the kids who took dice to school and dreamed of flying in a cape, for the kids who chose their own adventure. This is the birth of a new DC Universe. This is Dark Knights of Steel." 

Check out a gallery of covers for Dark Knights of Steel #1:

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George Marston

I've been Newsarama's resident Marvel Comics expert and general comic book historian since 2011. I've also been the on-site reporter at most major comic conventions such as Comic-Con International: San Diego, New York Comic Con, and C2E2. Outside of comic journalism, I am the artist of many weird pictures, and the guitarist of many heavy riffs. (They/Them)