DC’s Take on Game of Thrones May Finally Include the Justice League’s Greatest King

A year ago, Dark Knights of Steel ended. This series, created by Tom Taylor and Yasmine Putri, reimagined the DC universe as a fantasy world full of magic, knights, and, surprisingly, Martians. Taylor and Putri redesigned several DC heroes and villains as medieval archetypes but still treated the fans to a twist worthy of DC Comics. Now, a new Dark Knights of Steel series has been released.

Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter tells two stories in the same universe — “Chapter One: The Deathstroke” and “Heir to the Sea, Chapter One.” Both stories expand on Earth 118, but “Heir to the Sea” is a prequel to a storyline developed in the original series. It finally delves into a storyline that was only teased at the time as it follows Jonathan and Martha Kent’s life before they became farmers and raised the man who would grow up to become Aquaman. Of course, fans are hyped that a small detail from the previous series has spawned a whole new story in this epic alternate universe.

Other Justice Leaguers that didn’t make it to the original series are Zatanna, Plastic Man, Hawkman, and Hawkgirl.

Tom Taylor’s Dark Knights of Steel introduced the fans to a new DC alternate universe that reimagined heroes and villains alike in a medieval fantasy setting, modifying their backstories to fit this type of narrative. Tom Taylor took license to re-create these characters alongside Yasmine Putri, who re-designed them as royals, warriors, and even fantastic creatures, like dragons. This is how some of the most iconic DC characters changed completely. Batman became a royal knight with a personal vendetta against magic, Black Lightning became the monarch of a kingdom with control over the weather, and Poison Ivy became the forest witch, both feared and beloved by the Kingdom of El.

Although this 12-issue series introduced dozens of different DC characters, some were also missing — no matter how big. For instance, Aquaman. Although Arthur Curry is one of the most iconic members of the Justice League, Aquaman didn’t have any part in Dark Knights of Steel . However, Dark Knights of Steel #7 teases his appearance. Following the Bat-Prince’s fight against a villainous Prince Kal-El, he escapes and ends up at the Kent Farm. Contrary to Earth-Prime, this universe’s Kents didn’t raise Kal-El — since the whole El family arrived on Earth, not just him. Instead, Martha and Jonathan Kent raised Arthur Curry.

The comic never mentions Curry explicitly, but Jonathan describes him as “the son of a man from land and a woman from the sea,” Martha adds that “he has become a great king.” Following this revelation, fans expected to see Aquaman in Dark Knights of Steel, but the King of Atlantis never appeared, leaving the fandom to wonder how different he might be from his Earth-Prime counterpart. Almost a year after the original series ended, Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter may have an answer.

“Heir to the Sea, Chapter One” Is A Prequel To His Story Delving Into The Kents’ Time As Heroes

Jonathan and Martha Kent also took in Raven, Beast Boy, Kory, and Victor, this universe’s version of the Teen Titans.

“Heir to the Sea,” by writer Tom Taylor, artist Riccardo Federici, colorist Arif Prianto, and letterer Wes Abbott, serves as a prequel to the original series. Specifically, it focuses on Martha and Jonathan Kent. The original series explains that the Kents used to belong to King Thomas’ army, and “Heir to the Sea” expands on this, going back 25 years. Known as the Cleavers of Rothfus, Martha and Jonathan have grown tired of their life, all full of violence. The couple doesn’t see a way out, but there may be one. By the end of the issue, the couple is reassigned to the ports after a civil war fractured Lemuria, a city on Atlantis. At the same time, Emperor Manta (this universe’s version of Black Manta) learns that “the false heir” mother has escaped her prison.

Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter won’t be released until October 2024, but knowing about the future of the Cleavers of Rothfus thanks to the original series, it isn’t difficult to guess what’s coming. While working close to Lemuria, Jonathan and Martha will stumble upon Atlanna and take Arthur to raise just like they did with Kal-El in other universes, choosing to become farmers and abandoning their lives as knights to the king. Eventually, Arthur will grow up, return to Atlantis, and take his spot as the rightful heir to the throne, while his parents will take it upon themselves to help other lost children on their farm.

Of course, things won’t be as simple, and if Allwinter is as complex as the original series, there will be plenty of scheming, political conflict, and tons of epic fights before anything is solved. All these Machiavellian plots coming together for an overarching arc are exactly why Dark Knights of Steel has been dubbed DC’s own Game of Thrones. The series remains true to the DC universe while taking tropes fans know and love from high fantasy.

Tom Taylor Pays Homage To High Fantasy In The Dark Knights Of Steel Sequel

“The Deathstroke” introduced new DC heroes, such as the titular character, Killer Frost, and Alec Holland/Swamp Thing.

Besides “Heir to the Sea,” Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter includes another story, “Chapter One: The Deathstroke,” by writer Jay Kristoff, artist Tirso Cons, and letterer Wes Abbott. This black-and-white comic follows Slade, a brutal Viking living in Jarnlünd. Six weeks after the War of the Three Kingdoms from the original series, Slade associates with Vandal Savage to take down Black Mask in a territory war that began after the Old Kingdom fell. Although Slade doesn’t care about the conflict (only about the money), he stumbles upon a central piece of the problem: Alec Holland, a kid who — contrary to everyone and everything else in the kingdom — has color.

So far, “The Deathstroke” doesn’t connect to the first 12 issues of Dark Knights of Steel like “Heir to the Sea” does. All readers know is that, contrary to the other story, this one is a sequel. However, “The Deathstroke” doesn’t need to be part of the original narrative to be a perfect addition to this universe. The Nordic inspiration behind this story opens the door for new fantasy tropes to make it to Dark Knights of Steel and has allowed for an incredible character design for icons like Killer Frost and Deathstroke. Additionally, the black-and-white art — which happens to be central to the actual story — makes it an immersive story.

Both “Heir to the Sea” and “The Deathstroke” offer a fresh take on the DC universe without neglecting DC Comics’ essence, remaining faithful to what makes this publishing house so great: amazing characters and even more amazing stories. These series pay homage to high fantasy not just by using great tropes and beloved archetypes but actually referencing the genre. So far, there are two great Easter eggs. Jonathan and Martha’s moniker, the Cleavers of Rothfus, refers to Patrick Rothfuss, famously known for his fantasy bibliography with titles such as The Name of the Wind and The Kingkiller Chronicle trilogy. Additionally, the Kents are reassigned to the city of Leguin. This city’s name pays homage to one of the greatest fantasy and sci-fi writers of the last century, Ursula K. Le Guin — whom fans may recognize for her masterpieces The Earthsea Cycle and The Left Hand of Darkness.

Surely, fantasy fans will have to keep their eyes open for more of these references in future issues.