DC K.O. KNIGHTFIGHT #2: Mind Games

You didn’t think Batman didn’t have a plan in case things went wrong in the tournament, did you? As it turns out, Batman cheated, and the heart did not appreciate his deceit, so it has created a world just for him! Now Bruce must overcome the mind games thrown at him and determine what’s real and what’s fake. The gloves are off, will Batman have what it takes?

This comic is reviewed by both Megan from the Vigilante Vibes Podcast and Matt from the Hops “Geek” News podcast!

Creative Team: Joshua Williamson (WRITER), Dan Mora (ART and COVER), Triona Farrell (COLORS), and Tom Napolitano (LETTERS).

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

The Story:

Megan: Knightfight is somehow getting better and better with every issue, all thanks to Joshua Williamson. Batman, who turns out cheated in the tournament, is stuck in these worlds that he can’t explain. In the first world, he had to battle Dick Grayson, who had his own team of Robins. Batman couldn’t put a finger on it, but something just wasn’t right with any of it.

Once he beats Dick, he aggressively gets transported to another world where he’s in an even worse position where he has to fight someone else he truly cares about. As well as the first world, the new and familiar enemy doesn’t believe Batman is who he says he is. Again, Batman must prove himself but it seems to fall on deaf ears. Although he found out who this is all being controlled by, Batman is still nowhere near learning how to get out of this backwards reality.

Matt: Williamson is perhaps creating the best world within DC we have ever seen. The entire K.O. storyline just somehow continues to get better and better. This time, we are seeing Batman being forced to face his fears and fight those he loves, as it turns out, he cheated in the tournament. It’s a clever way to keep Batman involved in this storyline while allowing for the overarching plot to progress forward. Josh is diving through the history of Batman and dropping hints to other famous storylines in such a fun way, and giving the fans a massive treat as we now see Batman vs Jason once more.

The Art and Letters:

Megan: The only way to describe the artwork of Knightfight #2 is pure fire. Dan Mora, Triona Farrell, and Tom Napolitano go out of their way to create a gorgeous comic that’s riddled with full page panels that will keep your eyes glued to the pages. Dan Mora and Triona Farrell give artwork that’s nothing short of stunning that works heavily off the perfect detailing and the masterful use of contrasting stark colors. Tom Napolitano handles the lettering and controls the dialogue of the comic, putting the reader in the same headspace as Batman, feeling every emotion he does. Together, all three artists grab your attention and keep it throughout the entire read.

Matt: Artistically, Mora and Farrell are giving us a visual masterpiece. There are panels where the art is allowed to tell the story through action and facial expressions, which they nail perfectly. There are also a couple of splash pages where Batman and Dick are fighting, and the way they weave the fight around the page in smaller forms to what is happening center stage is breathtaking. Farrell is bringing the colors out and plays on tones throughout this issue. The scenes in Arkham initially are black and white, with Jason’s red mask standing out. It’s these details that leap from the page and grab your attention.

Final Thoughts:

Megan: 10/10 easy. DC K.O. may be my favorite thing to come out of DC K.O. as you don’t know what to expect at any given point. There’s depth, there’s emotion, there’s action, and there’s a storyline that just can’t be beat.

Matt: 10/10! DC K.O. Knightfight #2 is making the heart of Darkseid a really powerful foe and diving into Batman’s fears as well as his rich history. Visually, this may be one of the best colored and drawn books I have read this year, and I cannot get enough!

Overall Grade: 10/10

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