DC’s Hero And Villain Rematch Of The Century Officially Ends In A Landslide Victory

Published Oct 25, 2026, 5:02 PM EDT Jared is a writer, editor, and Communications Studies graduate who loves popular nerd culture (almost anything to do with Marvel, DC, Star Wars, or The Lord of the Rings) and the interactive storytelling medium. Jared's first console was the PS1, wherein he fell for Spider-Man, Spyro the Dragon, and Crash Bandicoot. Few things are more thrilling in any DC or Marvel comic book than seeing a ‘hero’ and a ‘villain,’ whether or not such characters are actually so black-and-white as to earn being defined so reductively, or if it’s instead easier to simply lump them into a category as one or the other. Some villains, for example, are fairly stark in terms of how evil they are. A truly great villain will often have motivations or actions that readers may be able to sympathize with somewhat, and that’s arguably the case regarding the King’s Bane in Dark Knights of Steel. Typically, if you see Bane, you know he’s about to shatter skulls or snap spines. It doesn’t seem as if Bane could ever be redeemed as a character now, either, as he’ll forever be known as the villain who killed Alfred Pennyworth in Batman’s “City of Bane” storyline. In DC Elseworlds universes, however, Bane doesn’t need to be restrained by any of the baggage, lore, or retcons that the mainline one is. Sadly, what was mounting to a particularly suspenseful and epic grudge match between the Bat-Prince and the King’s Bane in Dark Knights of Steel II ended quicker than Batman could hurl a batarang. Is Dark Knights Of Steel’s Bat-Prince Too OP? Prince Bruce Wayne and the King’s Bane—whose real name is apparently Eduardo, according to Dark Knights of Steel’s Amanda Waller—were destined to meet again ever since the cover for Dark Knights of Steel II #4 revealed that the King’s Bane would somehow either escape or be freed from the El palace dungeons. Indeed, Prince Bruce and the King’s Bane’s encounter in issue #4 was one of the most highly anticipated moments of the whole limited sequel series after Prince Bruce, as a child, betrayed the King’s Bane in the 2022 spin-off one-shot Dark Knights of Steel: Tales from the Three Kingdoms. The King’s Bane is undoubtedly an antagonist whose ambitions were streaked red with blood. That said, they weren’t altogether unflattering or wicked—all he wanted was to see Prince Bruce usurp the Els and ascend to his rightful throne in the kingdom of Metropolis, believing that the Els were “monsters” and underestimating where Prince Bruce’s loyalties lied. Prince Bruce then deceived the King’s Bane and convinced him that they were on the same side, only for Prince Bruce to sever the tubes that supplied the King’s Bane with Dr. Crane’s green, “cursed magic,” which was the only thing allowing him to stand after his back was broken (ironically, it’s Bane’s own back that gets broken in this universe). The King’s Bane was imprisoned ever since, until General Waller abruptly recruited him and others to be Dark Knights of Steel II’s Suicide Squad in issue #4. It’s also in this issue that the King’s Bane finds a fleeting opportunity to get his hands on Prince Bruce, and their ‘fight’ is anticlimactic, to say the least. The King’s Bane Is Made A Fool Once More The Bat-Prince flies the King’s Bane into the air and slams him into the ceiling, landing back down on the floor of the House of El’s throne room before the King’s Bane’s body plummets behind him. It’s also not clear whether the King’s Bane was killed by this maneuver or if he was merely knocked unconscious, but the former would certainly be more disappointing due to how little of a fight the King’s Bane could muster. That’s twice now that Prince Bruce has made a mockery of the King’s Bane by swiftly incapacitating him, but the King’s Bane seems to no longer require the magic apparatus that he previously depended on. Perhaps Dr. Elizabeth Arkham or Dr. Crane was able to legitimately imbue the King’s Bane with magic. Either that, or his green tubes are well-hidden and well-guarded this time—a lesson learned once and a mistake not made twice. Unfortunately, it appears as if the King’s Bane and the Suicide Squad may be back-burned further as Dark Knights of Steel II approaches the limited sequel series’ halfway point. The solicitation for Dark Knights of Steel II #5 reads as follows: The kingdom of El is in mourning. And while the evil machinations of General Amanda Waller appear to have been thwarted, there is another who conspires in the shadows. Victor Falcone has been plotting... and he’s ready at long last to step into the light. Dark Knights of Steel II #4 is out now.