DC Comics reviews 8/8/23 – Batman Incorporated #11, World’s Finest Teen Titans #2

Knight Terrors #3

For its dedicated issues and multiple tie-ins, Knight Terrors just hasn’t felt like a story worthy of a two-month event. If there was a sense this was leading to something, maybe Knight Terrors would land stronger. Instead, it just feels like busy work as the heroes and villains of the DCU face their worst nightmares.

Deadman — in Batman’s body — is working with the coherent yet zombified version of the Golden Age Sandman to locate the Nightmare Stone to take down Insomnia. They get some help this issue from Damian Wayne. Writer Joshua Williamson wrote the last Robin series so this makes sense. Damian’s presence is welcome as he provides a different voice from Boston Brand’s semi-snarky narrator and Wesley Dodd’s more reserved combatant.

Williamson offers more insight into Insomnia’s origin, but it’s hard to invest in a villain that’s screaming bit player after this spotlight in a soon to be forgotten event.

The story isn’t aided by three different artists — Giuseppe Camuncoli, Stefano Nesi and Caspar Wijngaard — whose styles clash and don’t flow smoothly with each other. It’s frustrating how often DC comics needs multiple artists to tell one story. Especially in the context of an event book, DC would be better served finding an artist capable of handling the load on their own before divvying up portions to various art teams.

Knight Terrors isn’t a compelling story, let alone the basis for a two-month long event. The timing of this is even more questionable considering DC was making some very positive headway with titles like Shazam!, Green Arrow, Superman and Green Lantern in addition to stalwarts like Batman Superman World’s Finest, Nightwing and Titans.

This diversion is stalling out some hard-earned momentum and some fans might be too sleepy or lose interest to return.

Rating: 5 out of 10