"The Dark Knight III: The Master Race" adds artists Kubert and Janson

The news from SDCC is coming hard and fast, and already an announcement regarding one of the year's most hotly anticipated comics is making waves. In addition to writer, artist and creator Frank Miller and previously announced writer Brian Azzarello, artists Andy Kubert and Klaus Janson have also signed on for the project.

Kubert, whose career has spanned the past three decades, introduced Damian Wayne into the DC Universe with Grant Morrison, and Janson has been an inker and artist on countless high-profile books, not the least of which being The Dark Knight Returns.

In addition to this announcement, it was also revealed that the upcoming 8-part series will consist of the main narrative as well as a 16-page "Dark Knight Universe" comic with a rotating team of artists.

The full release can be found below:

DC ENTERTAINMENT PROVIDES NEW DETAILS FOR
DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE
Icons Andy Kubert, Klaus Janson to Provide Art for Final Chapter of Dark Knight Trilogy, Book to Include Bonus Comic With A Host of Special Guest Artists
SAN DIEGO, CA (July 9, 2015) - DC Entertainment began Comic-Con International: San Diego 2015 with a blockbuster announcement, revealing today that artists Andy Kubert and Klaus Janson will be joining living-legend Batman writer and artist Frank Miller and acclaimed writer Brian Azzarello in bringing the final chapter of the celebrated THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS saga to life.
“THE DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE” is the epic conclusion to Miller’s 1986 classic THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS trilogy – heralded by TIME Magazine as one of the 10 greatest graphic novels of all time – and its 2001-2002 follow-up series BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN.
THE DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE will be an eight-issue, comic book periodical, to be published monthly under the DC Comics imprint. Within each 32 page periodical there will be a special 16 page “Dark Knight Universe” comic affixed in the center. Each "Dark Knight Universe" comic will feature a rotating cast of special guest artists and characters.
“We went into this knowing that we had to give fans more,” said Dan DiDio and Jim Lee, Co-Publishers for DC Entertainment. “We’re pulling out all the stops to deliver an amazing conclusion to this exciting body of work. We hope it inspires the next generation of writers and artists, the way it has already inspired us.”
According to Kubert, "Frank Miller and Brian Azzarello have crafted such an incredible story for DKIII, as I am truly honored to be associated with them, this project, and Klaus Janson. We, along with the fans, are in for a great ride!”
"Any opportunity to work with Frank Miller is a happy occasion for me,” said Janson. “When we add the talents of Brian Azzarello and Andy Kubert to the mix, we have the ingredients to achieve something truly memorable. This will be amazing!"
Marking the 30th anniversary of THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS original series, this periodical is slated for publication beginning in late Fall 2015.

As always, we'll keep you posted with more news and details as we hear it here at Batman News.

LINKS: DC Press Release

30 comments

ßαby J

July 9, 2015

When have I last seen Kubert's art ? Flashpoint ??
Anyway, cool news :)

JaymusYawsley
July 9, 2015
It looks like he penciled issues 5 and 6 of Action Comics a few years back, but yeah, nothing since then.
1. ßαby J
  July 9, 2015
  Oh. Thanks for the info.
2. Brione
  July 10, 2015
  Jay, Andy Kubert has done tons of stuff since then.
  1. JaymusYawsley
    July 10, 2015
    I just did a quick Wiki search. Good to know it was wrong.
meamwayne
July 9, 2015
Robin Rises Omega & Alpha were his most recent and some of his best work.
Brione
July 9, 2015
He did pencils and covers on a few issues of Convergence just a couple months ago.
1. Mark
  July 10, 2015
  That crazy pic on this article, though, with the tiny head and huge arm... It looks like something Dave Sim would have come up with on Cerebus, except Sim would have been doing it on purpose.

Space Gandalf

July 9, 2015

Am I going to have to read The Dark Knight Strikes Again? I hear it's pretty bad.

JaymusYawsley
July 9, 2015
It is, and you do not. Find a summary or something to brush up on it.
1. Space Gandalf
  July 9, 2015
  Thanks
  1. JaymusYawsley
    July 9, 2015
    Just looking out for your well-being.
2. Hjrfjyffhvfjhvjfhvgjjhvg
  July 9, 2015
  Or just ignore its existence. That works too.
meamwayne
July 9, 2015
You know, I won't say that it's good, that wouldn't be right, but when I looked at it again I found things in it that are good, including things that seemed so right that they caught on with other writers and which we may have forgotten that we hadn't seen before then.
Wonder Woman portrayed as a credible version of what a person who grew up in an ancient Greek warrior culture might be like.
The Question as Steve Ditko's Question without apologies rather than reinvented into a less uncomfortable character like Denny O'Neill's Question or a subversion of the character like Alan Moore's Rorschach.
Brainiac as a distributed artificial intelligence system rather than a green and purple android.
The treatment of some of the other supporting characters was pretty spot on, too, including the Atom and Plastic Man.
1. JaymusYawsley
  July 9, 2015
  I remember the introduction of the Atom being pretty cool, and the twist with the Kandorians was quite effective. Good points all there.

Joker

July 9, 2015

Andy Kubert is great! I'm pretty happy with that cause the art has always been my main problem with TDKR.

JaymusYawsley
July 9, 2015
And Janson's inks are incredible. Very atmospheric and moody, while still maintaining character and not getting muddy.

Slam Bradley

July 9, 2015

I'm confused. So TDKR is 1 of the best ever. DK2 I haven't read but consensus seems to be negative. So are we supposed to be excited about this or wish they would just stop?

Huh. And usually I can't stand the comics fans groupthink yet seem to perpetuate it here.

JaymusYawsley
July 9, 2015
In this instance, I think it's more that Miller is having help in the writing and art departments. Before he was allowed to go off the rails because nobody seemed to tell him "no," whereas now there are people to (hopefully) rein him in.
Plus, you can look forward to something without necessarily thinking it will be good. I think.
1. Slam Bradley
  July 9, 2015
  Good points! Having a new artist and some reins can make a huge difference here.
  And you're right. I remember looking forward to the Batman and Robin movie even after seeing the suits and thinking"...um, ok?"

Ironman

July 9, 2015

batman, are you kidding me

JaymusYawsley
July 9, 2015
...no?

Julius Caesar

July 9, 2015

Here comes Hitler.... Arm yourselves.

Emperor Joker

July 9, 2015

Well I still never picked up the dark knight strikes again, but with this news I think I'll pick up Master Race (at least until it begins to take the turn towards holy terror) and just hope it doesn't rely too much on knowledge of DKSA, but if it does and is good, I may be forced to finally pick that book up.

Conner Nielsen

July 9, 2015

Andy Kubert is one of the 3 best artists in the business, so I may check this out.

Troll_Post_Sorry

July 10, 2015

This is going to be a hilarious trainwreck.

JaymusYawsley
July 10, 2015
I'm not even certain it's going to be funny...
1. Troll_Post_Sorry
  July 10, 2015
  ASBAR was funny.

Anthony Hillman

July 10, 2015

First thoughts: Ooh... Frank Miller may not have done anything decent for years, but Andy Kubert is awesome, so I may check this out after all.

Second thoughts: Jim Lee is awesome too, but even he couldn't redeem the steaming pile of crap that was All Star Batman & Robin.

Conclusion: I will happily keep on pretending that Miller's only works in the Batman universe are Dark Knight Returns and Year One - at least until I get some kind of confirmation from people I trust that this doesn't suck.

OptimistPrime99

July 12, 2015

An almost 70 year-old Batman running around Gotham, and kicking @$$! I love it!

ßαby J
July 9, 2015
When have I last seen Kubert's art ? Flashpoint ??
Anyway, cool news :)
1. JaymusYawsley
  July 9, 2015
  It looks like he penciled issues 5 and 6 of Action Comics a few years back, but yeah, nothing since then.
  1. ßαby J
    July 9, 2015
    Oh. Thanks for the info.
  2. Brione
    July 10, 2015
    Jay, Andy Kubert has done tons of stuff since then.
    1. JaymusYawsley
      July 10, 2015
      I just did a quick Wiki search. Good to know it was wrong.
2. meamwayne
  July 9, 2015
  Robin Rises Omega & Alpha were his most recent and some of his best work.
3. Brione
  July 9, 2015
  He did pencils and covers on a few issues of Convergence just a couple months ago.
  1. Mark
    July 10, 2015
    That crazy pic on this article, though, with the tiny head and huge arm... It looks like something Dave Sim would have come up with on Cerebus, except Sim would have been doing it on purpose.
Space Gandalf
July 9, 2015
Am I going to have to read The Dark Knight Strikes Again? I hear it's pretty bad.
1. JaymusYawsley
  July 9, 2015
  It is, and you do not. Find a summary or something to brush up on it.
  1. Space Gandalf
    July 9, 2015
    Thanks
    1. JaymusYawsley
      July 9, 2015
      Just looking out for your well-being.
  2. Hjrfjyffhvfjhvjfhvgjjhvg
    July 9, 2015
    Or just ignore its existence. That works too.
2. meamwayne
  July 9, 2015
  You know, I won't say that it's good, that wouldn't be right, but when I looked at it again I found things in it that are good, including things that seemed so right that they caught on with other writers and which we may have forgotten that we hadn't seen before then.
  Wonder Woman portrayed as a credible version of what a person who grew up in an ancient Greek warrior culture might be like.
  The Question as Steve Ditko's Question without apologies rather than reinvented into a less uncomfortable character like Denny O'Neill's Question or a subversion of the character like Alan Moore's Rorschach.
  Brainiac as a distributed artificial intelligence system rather than a green and purple android.
  The treatment of some of the other supporting characters was pretty spot on, too, including the Atom and Plastic Man.
  1. JaymusYawsley
    July 9, 2015
    I remember the introduction of the Atom being pretty cool, and the twist with the Kandorians was quite effective. Good points all there.
Joker
July 9, 2015
Andy Kubert is great! I'm pretty happy with that cause the art has always been my main problem with TDKR.
1. JaymusYawsley
  July 9, 2015
  And Janson's inks are incredible. Very atmospheric and moody, while still maintaining character and not getting muddy.
Slam Bradley
July 9, 2015
I'm confused. So TDKR is 1 of the best ever. DK2 I haven't read but consensus seems to be negative. So are we supposed to be excited about this or wish they would just stop?
Huh. And usually I can't stand the comics fans groupthink yet seem to perpetuate it here.
1. JaymusYawsley
  July 9, 2015
  In this instance, I think it's more that Miller is having help in the writing and art departments. Before he was allowed to go off the rails because nobody seemed to tell him "no," whereas now there are people to (hopefully) rein him in.
  Plus, you can look forward to something without necessarily thinking it will be good. I think.
  1. Slam Bradley
    July 9, 2015
    Good points! Having a new artist and some reins can make a huge difference here.
    And you're right. I remember looking forward to the Batman and Robin movie even after seeing the suits and thinking"...um, ok?"
Ironman
July 9, 2015
batman, are you kidding me
1. JaymusYawsley
  July 9, 2015
  ...no?
Julius Caesar
July 9, 2015
Here comes Hitler.... Arm yourselves.
Emperor Joker
July 9, 2015
Well I still never picked up the dark knight strikes again, but with this news I think I'll pick up Master Race (at least until it begins to take the turn towards holy terror) and just hope it doesn't rely too much on knowledge of DKSA, but if it does and is good, I may be forced to finally pick that book up.
Conner Nielsen
July 9, 2015
Andy Kubert is one of the 3 best artists in the business, so I may check this out.
Troll_Post_Sorry
July 10, 2015
This is going to be a hilarious trainwreck.
1. JaymusYawsley
  July 10, 2015
  I'm not even certain it's going to be funny...
  1. Troll_Post_Sorry
    July 10, 2015
    ASBAR was funny.
Anthony Hillman
July 10, 2015
First thoughts: Ooh... Frank Miller may not have done anything decent for years, but Andy Kubert is awesome, so I may check this out after all.
Second thoughts: Jim Lee is awesome too, but even he couldn't redeem the steaming pile of crap that was All Star Batman & Robin.
Conclusion: I will happily keep on pretending that Miller's only works in the Batman universe are Dark Knight Returns and Year One - at least until I get some kind of confirmation from people I trust that this doesn't suck.
OptimistPrime99
July 12, 2015
An almost 70 year-old Batman running around Gotham, and kicking @$$! I love it!

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