DC Comics has finally revealed a release date for the long-awaited graphic novel Batman: Earth One Vol. 3. The latest chapter in writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank's Batman saga will release on June 8, 2021.
Johns and Frank are once again joined by inker Jon Sibal and colorist Brad Anderson for the sequel. Along with that release date, DC has also revealed the final cover art for the latest Earth One graphic novel:
As with the previous two books, Batman: Earth One Vol. 3 is set in an alternate, new reader-friendly DCU where Bruce Wayne is still a rookie hero. This sequel will explore the ongoing fallout of two major changes to traditional Batman mythology - Bruce's Arkham family heritage and the rise of a very different Two-Face.
As Vol. 3 opens, a heavily armored gang of criminals has begun terrorizing Gotham City. To Batman's horror, they seem to be led by Harvey Dent, despite Dent's apparent death in Vol. 2. However, given the way Vol. 2 ended, it seems safe to assume Harvey's sister Jessica is the gang's actual ringleader. Following the physical and mental trauma she endured, Jessica now suffers from dissociative identity disorder and believes herself to be Harvey.
Vol. 3 also features the surprise return of Bruce's grandfather, Adrian Arkham, promising an even deeper dive into the shared history between the Waynes and the Arkhams in this universe. And if the cover art is anything to go by, the book may also touch on the ancient, bat-worshiping Miagani Tribe.
The original Batman: Earth One was released in July 2012, with Vol. 2 following three years later in May 2015. That means six years will have passed by the time Vol. 3 arrives in stores. Despite these long gaps between volumes, the influence of the Earth One series has been clearly felt throughout the Batman franchise, particularly with adaptations like Gotham and Batman v Superman offering a more aggressive and militant take on Alfred Pennyworth.
Interestingly, DC's description for Vol. 3 gives no indication Johns and Frank will be adding the Joker to Batman's Earth One rogues gallery this time. Johns previously told IGN the duo are waiting for the "right time" to introduce Joker, which could imply they're planning to reunite for a fourth volume.
"The Joker, for Gary and I, is not something we're avoiding. We're just waiting until it's the right time in Bruce's story, for him to go up against someone like the Joker. We have a very specific take on the Joker that we're going to introduce. It's a little bit different than what we've seen before. So when the Joker shows up in our Batman: Earth One series, it will be because that time and place in Bruce's life is where he's going to have face something like that. We have a whole arc plotted out for Bruce, and you can kind of see it build out from book one to two and into three. I think it's going to come in at the exact right time," Johns said.
You can, however, see Johns add new layers to Batman and Joker's rivalry in the recent Batman: Three Jokers miniseries. Johns and Frank are also teaming up for their first creator-owned project together, a post-apocalyptic Image Comics series called Geiger.
Check out IGN's reviews for Batman: Earth One Vol. 1 and Batman: Earth One Vol. 2.
Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
