Knight Terrors continues, and issue #3 makes an impact as we near the conclusion. Writer Joshua Williamson teams up with a strong art team that take us deeper into Insomnia’s nightmares and memories as the heroes try to get the Dreamstone. Last issue felt a little light, but this new installment delivers more punch. Get ready to be haunted in your sleep by scary memories and sacrifice, and then at the end of it all, you’ll question if good did indeed win the day.
Each issue of Knight Terrors has had a fun opener with Deadman, Boston Brand, acting like a talk show host and breaking the fourth wall. This new opener is my favorite yet. Seeing Boston as a theatre person is a kick, and it plays very nicely to how his character acts and his past as a circus showman.
On art duties, we have Giuseppe Camuncoli, Stefano Nesi, and Caspar Wijngaard. Wijingaard also does colors with Frank Martin. That is quite a collection of artists and styles on the issue, but Joshua Williamson’s script works with location and vibe changes to account for art. It is great to see the different vibes at work and how they come together for our entertainment.
When Robin, Damian Wayne, enters the story, you can tell Joshua Williamson loves this character. Damian is very tenacious when he comes in contact with the Sleepless Knights. Damian’s first attack on the Knights sets the tone for the action in this issue, so be ready for some brutal hits and intense damage. Williamson also sets up a future plot point, and maybe even another comic, to give us a meeting between Damian and Boston. If you can’t wait for that potential story, check out last year’s DC’s Terrors Through Time, which had a Damian and Boston meeting by Tim Seeley and Kelley Jones. Williamson has been giving both characters great voices and moments. I hope he gets to expand on that tease.
This issue goes deeper into Insomnia’s memories, which helps our trio of heroes stay ahead. When Boston travels deeper into the Dreamscape, we are treated to a visual that helps remind us that the rest of the DCU is fighting off attacks in their dreams. This keeps this portion of the story self-contained, but still gives a connection that makes this story “event worthy” and a purpose to the other stories as to why those characters aren’t involved yet. The development of Insomnia walks a fine line between someone you feel sorry for and someone you wouldn’t want to be in the same room with. The way the art plays out the memory and then folds back to Insomnia, knowing Boston is watching him, was a palpable “jump scare” of this villain’s powers.
The trio of heroes have essential roles to play in Knight Terrors #3, and moments that make them noble. Sandman plays as a great chemist and fighter, Deadman goes beyond to help save the day, and Robin is a terror of his own that spooks the villains. The introduction of the House of Horrors makes for a place that needs to get used more often with more characters, as it provides a challenge that will make you look at Deadman in a different light. If you remember from the last issue that a sacrifice needs to happen to wield the Dreamstone, then we see Boston make a sacrifice play for the stone. Williamson plays the script to make it questionable who has the stone in the end because the art helps to lead you to feel like this could be a wicked win.
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