All roads lead…to darkness. In the devastating and epic conclusion to DC’s cataclysmic event series, heroes from across the universe make their final charge into the unknown to battle the forces of the Dark Multiverse! Space and time, dreams and nightmares, all will collide – and what is left at the end will leave the DC Universe irrevocably changed!

This is it, the end of Dark Nights: Metal and the big question is, can writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo stick the landing? Dark Nights: Metal #6 is absolutely entertaining and it has that last act moments for this type of event that you’d expect. The moments you need to turn your brain off and just enjoy. It’s the final act of the big budget blockbuster and it’s really entertaining.

Dark Nights: Metal is really exemplified by this issue in that it both mixes the “dark” and the “hope” of the DC Universe. I said it in my review of the first issue in that it feels like a solid bridge between the “grittiness” of the New 52 and the “optimism” of Rebirth.

It’s difficult to fully review the issue in that I don’t want to spoil the fun but it’s over the top. But, where the issue stumbles, only slightly, is that it’s clearly a chapter in a bigger story and suffers slightly in that its epilogue sets up what’s next, Justice League: No Surrender, the next event. It’s a tactic that a certain other publisher used a lot with their events and it got old, quick. But, what’s teased will make long time fans excited as it touches upon a lot of DC history continuing to blend the old with the new.

Now, I said the issues is over the top and that’s partially due to Capullo’s art. Batman rides a Joker dragon! Capullo is joined by Jonathan Glapion on ink and FCO Plascencia on color and it all comes together for an epic conclusion. Visually, Capullo nails it with so much packed into every page. My only knock is his Clark and Bruce look a little too alike but I’ve noticed that with a few DC artists lately. But, when it comes to staring at panels and spreads at the utter insanity, this comic delivers and then some. Snyder and Capullo are a dream team of creators and it’s clear with this entire event series the two are in sync.

On it’s own, it’s hard to judge this individual comic but as a conclusion for the event, it’s very satisfying and then some. I found myself saying “hells yes” multiple times and smiling as the “epic” nature of it all crescendoed. There’s a solid conclusion that makes sense and also feels like it sets up a lot to come which has me, and hopefully comic readers, excited. Dark Nights: Metal has been a crazy ride and delivered what was promised, a rocking “metal” comic event.

Story: Scott Snyder Art: Greg Capullo
Ink: Jonathan Glapion Color: FCO Plascencia
Story: 7.99 Art: 9.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

The Justice League faces the final extinguishing of our world, invaded on all sides by unimaginable nightmares, fueled on to the edge of oblivion only by the belief that there must be a light in the endless darkness-somewhere. But…what if there’s not?

Writer Scott Snyder has delivered a sense of desperation throughout Dark Nights: Metal and in Dark Nights: Metal #5 that is upped a few factors as the heroes struggle to find their footing.

Snyder takes his time to cover the various teams and where they’re at, whether it’s the group on Hawkworld, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, or Batman and Superman. What’s interesting is most of those play out as scenes as Batman and Superman’s struggle plays throughout. While each has their own beat, it’s Batman and Superman’s struggle that really creates that sense of hope and defeat. Without that, the rest wouldn’t work. Those two character’s struggles emphasize the desperation of the whole and Snyder plays out the story so that we get emotional highs and lows. This one isn’t just about the action, it’s that excitement of success and and crushing failure rolled into one. The reader is toyed with much like our heroes and with a one-shot and one more issue to go, I have no idea how this one will end.

There’s also some rock and roll moments as heroes rise up in desperation. What I’d describe as “fuck you” moments. You’re cheering on… then you get crushed. But, even then you’re still rooting for the win.

The art by Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion, and FCO Plascencia is as fantastic as ever. The “metal” aspect is there with imagery that you’d expect to find on a cover of a rock album. What particularly stands out is the use of color and lettering. Each setting has a very unique color palette and it all works together to set the various moods for each. They enhance the location and gives the reader a better sense of the world. The lettering for this series as a whole has been fantastic but here each character, especially the corrupted Batman have a style that has you imagining what they sound like. It helps create the character, especially the menacing aspect of them.

There’s not much more to go and I have no idea how this is ending. The issue is solid in playing with the reader’s emotions and when you think things are turning for the better, you get knocked back down. It’s an emotional roller coaster with intelligent plotting that uses the various storylines to enhance each other and toy with those ups and downs. Another solid addition to the event series.

Story: Scott Snyder Art: Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion, FCO Plascencia
Story: 8.75 Art: 9.0 Overall: 8.75 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review