Comic Review: Batman: Last Knight on Earth #3

Comic Review: Batman: Last Knight on Earth #3

DC Comics

Writer: Scott Snyder

Artist: Greg Capullo

In Last Knight on Earth #3, Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s eight-year Batman saga finally reaches its explosive conclusion. This final issue sees the new, younger Batman face off against the sinister Omega with the free will of all Earth’s survivors at stake. Snyder uses this final issue to tie up as many loose ends as possible from the preceding issues, resulting in an immensely satisfying (yet bittersweet) farewell to this version of the Dark Knight.

Last Knight #3 is jam-packed with story, building on and resolving mysteries established in Books 1 and 2. Few stones remain unturned: Snyder reveals the true nature of the new Batman’s origin, the source of the mysterious Crime Alley case that opened Last Knight, and, of course, the identity of Omega. Some minor world-building plot threads from the preceding issues remain unresolved but overall this issue is a massive payoff for the series and for the world of the Snyder-Capullo Batman. 

As with the rest of the series, Greg Capullo’s art is in top form. The action scenes are especially entertaining; the final battle between Batman and Omega is gruesomely detailed. Fans who have followed Capullo’s work on Batman since 2011 will be more than satisfied both by this issue’s action and by its slower character moments. The inks and colorwork by longtime Batman collaborators Jonathan Glapion and FCO Plascencia are also commendable, with heavy black areas contrasting with the vibrant palette to emphasize the issue’s grim, yet still over-the-top, atmosphere.

The cast of characters featured in Last Knight #3 is massive. It’s not quite everyone –some of the major players, like Alfred and Lex Luthor, made their exit in the previous issue –but almost every other character who has been a part of this final journey thus far, from Wonder Woman, Bane, and Scarecrow to a few notable members of the Bat-family, makes an appearance here. The focus of the issue is, of course, the conflict between Batman and Omega, so some of the side character appearances amount to little more than extended cameos, but it’s great to see this story’s versions of some of those classic characters. Fortunately, enough attention is given to Dick Grayson and his new Court of Owls such that they don’t feel left out of the story. Joker, who has been a constant presence since the series’ start, also gets significant screen time both as comic relief and as an important ally to Batman. Finally, the Batman-Omega battle feels as much like an ideological clash as it does a physical one. Batman and Omega speak and interact frequently throughout the issue so in spite of Omega’s limited appearances in Books 1 and 2, he still feels like a fully fleshed-out character who has earned his place as Batman’s last challenge.

Batman: Last Knight on Earth ranks as one of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s greatest stories; this concluding issue absolutely sticks the landing. Last Knight #3 sees the New52 Batman creative team at their peaks as they close the book on the character, delivering an incredible story, fantastic art, and a ton of cameos and callbacks to both the New52 Batman run and the greater DCU. Last Knight on Earth is a must-read for Batman fans; while it’s sad to see this version of the character reach the end of his journey, it could not have ended on a higher note.