There’s a bit of over the top fun in Dark Nights: Death Metal #2. It’s an issue that has the heroes gathering for their next step to defeat evil while the villains make their move to create an even bigger threat. It’s also generally forgettable.

Written by Scott Snyder with art by Greg Capullo, Dark Nights: Death Metal #2‘s more entertaining moments are the variations on Batman they can come up with. For the most part, the comic doesn’t feel very “death metal”. Instead of being ramped up to 11, it feels more like a cover band thinking they’re doing so.

The Batman Who Laughs has been vanquished by Wonder Woman. This leads to a scramble to fill the void and for the heroes to get the upper hand. That means traveling to a mysterious location to rally the troops to take the fight elsewhere. It’s very Dungeons & Dragons gathering of the party before the quest.

Snyder and Capullo have put together some really interesting concepts and visuals that for some reason just feel… off. Batman’s wearing spikes on his shoulders, Swamp Thing is wearing glasses, we get what feels like a half dozen new evil-Batman. There’s a lot thrown into the issue that feels like interesting twists and ideas. Unfortunately, the ideas are never really fleshed out. Instead, we just go with the flow and accept this reality. It is, what it is. They’re thrown out there without explanation or real reason. It’s a fun “visual” comic that has a story. It’s not an engaging story with fun visuals.

Dark Nights: Death Metal #2 also prepares us for what comes next. The issue drops numerous hints that this should be called “Crisis and the Dark Multiverse”. Discussions of rebooting the universe and “infinite possibilities” are thrown around all leading to a groan of a time. It foreshadows the next reboot after only four years since the last.

But, Dark Nights: Death Metal #2 does deliver on some interesting visuals. There are some funny visual gags and the various characters looking a little beat down works quite well at times. At other times the comic feels a bit more comedic in its style than “metal,” and especially not “death metal.” Jonathan Glapion inks, FCO Plascencia‘s colors, and Tom Napolitano‘s lettering helps bring the visuals together in some of the more interesting aspects of the comic.

After the rocket launch of a first issue, Dark Nights: Death Metal #2 doesn’t feel as much “death metal” as it does a corporate suburbanite throwing on their leather jacket with some spikes and going to a show in the back. It never quite commits to the chaos of the mosh-pit but just kind of safely stands in the back admiring the musicianship, never committing to the gut experience. The comic in the end feels like two friends coming up with crazy ideas and throwing it all in a comic. Some times it works. Some times it doesn’t. But, it definitely keeps you on your toes.

Story: Scott Snyder Art: Greg Capullo
Ink: Jonathan Glapion Color: FCO Plascencia Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Story: 6.0 Art: 7.0 Overall: 6.0 Recommendation: Pass

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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Purchase: comiXology – Amazon – Kindle – Zeus Comics

Dark Nights: Death Metal #1 is an interesting comic. For the first half, I felt like I was completely lost and had missed something. In reality, I did. I’ve mostly skipped DC Comics‘ “Year of the Villain.” But, writer Scott Snyder does something interesting. There’s a point the comic pivots and catches up the reader. While you might be lost to start, after a while, the comic becomes new reader-friendly. The deep end becomes a shallow wade into the pool.

The Earth has been enveloped by the Dark Multiverse. The Batman Who Laughs has won the favor of Perpetua. The Justice League is at the mercy of the Batman Who Laughs. Humanity struggles to survive in a hellish landscape twisted beyond recognition, while Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman have all been separated and fight to survive.

Dark Nights: Death Metal #1 kicks off the latest chapter of Scott Snyder‘s meta-narrative that has added so much to the DC Universe. Along with his co-conspirator, artist Greg Capullo, this first issue ups the “metal” to straight-up “death metal.”

This issue is an interesting one as much of its enjoyment is to see what crazy ideas are come up with. With the Dark Multiverse opening up an infinite playground, The creative team gets to play in an endless sandbox creating variations of Batman that becomes part of the fun. B-Rex anyone? Yes, there’s a dinosaur Batman now. But that cranking it up past 11 also means each sequence needs to really bring it as well. Batman raising a ghost army. The reveal of a mysterious prisoner. Wonder Woman’s actions. It’s all amped-up and exciting keeping the readers on their toes. In a world where any twisted idea is possible, we get some pretty crazy twisted ideas.

There are some issues with the comic in that not enough is explained and things feel like they’re a bit too focused on a few locations but the action is tight and exciting reveals keep readers on their toes.

That action is helped by Capullo’s art which does sinister with a rock twist. You could easily go over the top in the scary department when it comes to The Batman Who Laughs, but Capullo never crosses that line giving us a darker take on the traditional superhero style. That just means a lot more spikes and pointed teeth really. Capullo is helped on ink by Jonathan Glapion, coloring by FCO Plascencia, and lettering by Tom Napolitano. It all comes together with an attitude that near matches the hype. There’s a few images that are fantastic (no spoilers) and a weakened Swamp Thing stands out in a comic that’s full of interesting visuals.

The team really nails the first issue. At first, you might feel lost but it all comes together. Dark Nights: Death Metal #1 really starts to connect the dots and finish the puzzle of a big picture story that was started years ago. We get some action but we also get the start of an event that feels like it’ll begin to really pay off for those who have stuck around for so long and trusted there was a bigger picture at work. You might think this is the next chapter of Dark Nights: Metal, but Dark Nights: Death Metal #1 ties into so much more of what’s been going on.

Story: Scott Snyder Art: Greg Capullo
Ink: Jonathan Glapion Color: FCO Plascencia Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.45 Overall: 8.05 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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Purchase: comiXology – Amazon – Kindle – TFAW – Zeus Comics