Warning: spoilers ahead for Dark Knights of Steel #6!
In the alternate DC Universe seen in Dark Knights of Steel, the medieval realm’s Ra’s al Ghul has a new form that’s absolutely brilliant. With multiple kingdoms preparing to go to war and several royals having been murdered, the grieving seer John Constantine has grown desperate to bring back the king and prince of the Kingdom of Storms. However, the cost may to too great after he summons Ra’s al Ghul and his new demonic form.
In previous issues of Dark Knights of Steel, the Kingdoms of Storms and House of El are preparing for war. While tensions have been high, the death of King Jor-El created a domino effect of royals allegedly losing their lives at the hands of Jor-El’s surviving Kryptonian family members, such as Prince Kal and his sister Princess Zala. King Jefferson (Black Lightning) and his son Prince Jacob both lost their lives to the Kryptonian royal family, or at least that’s what the realm has been led to believe. While several witnesses believe they saw Zala murdering Jefferson and Jacob, the princess has no memory of the event, indicating a sinister force at work that’s looking to incite war.
Now, the new Dark Knights of Steel #6 (from Tom Taylor and Yasmine Putri) features John Constantine looking to bring back the king he once served and loved along with his son, no matter how dark the process might be. Resorting to a dark ritual in his quarters, John casts a spell to summon none other than Etrigan the Demon, a classic DC anti-hero who exists as a powerful demonic entity bonded to a human host. However, Etrigan’s host is not Jason Blood (his typical host). Instead, Etrigan is tied to none other than the Batman villain Ra’s al Ghul, leader of the League of Assassin, whose name famously proclaims him “the demon’s head.”
Ra’s al Ghul name is now far more fitting in Dark Knights of Steel that it ever has been in the main continuity. In recent issues of DC’s Robin, it’s been revealed that Ra’s chose his name in the primary DC Universe to oppose the supernatural myths about a literal demon being the power behind the Lazarus Pits; the resurrecting waters he uses to extend his life far beyond the norm. By becoming the Demon’s Head, R’as was trying to prove his superiority over any supposed demon (even though said demon was confirmed to indeed exist in recent issues.)
An arrogant villain with designs on treating the planet as his personal fiefdom, it’s a fitting fate for Ra’s to be separated from the natural world and left to the beck and call of others. While Etrigan has had some unusual hosts in the past, none are quite as darkly appropriate as DC’s assassin king.
Being bonded to Etrigan gives Ra’s al Ghul’s name a whole new meaning that’s far better and quite the clever status quo change. Furthermore, it seems there may be hope that Ra’s can bring Prince Jacob back to life (so long as Constantine gives up the yet-to-be-revealed Titans.) As such, it seems this new issue of Dark Knights of Steel won’t be the last readers will see of this Ra’s al Ghul/Etrigan hybrid as the series continues.
Dark Knights of Steel #6 is available now from DC Comics.
