And with that, it seems like Tales From the Dark Multiverse has come to an end. For a while now, DC Comics has been delivering entertaining one-shots. Tales from the Dark Multiverse has given us “dark” takes on classic events of the DC Universe. The comics generally entertained with some stronger than others. The concept as a whole was a fun idea that delivered a bit of “what if?” with an Elseworlds feel. Tales From the Dark Multiverse: Dark Nights Metal #1 seems to wrap up the concept with a Dark Multiverse version of Dark Nights: Metal.

The original Dark Nights: Metal was written by Scott Snyder. Snyder has a story credit along with writers Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing. Tales From the Dark Multiverse has been presented and framed by Tempus Fungnaut. Fugnaut’s a being whose role is search “the dark for a single spark of light”. Through the stories presented there has been lots of death and destruction and little hope. This issue attempts to deliver that as a group of heroes make a stand against Barbatos and his twisted “dragons”.

What’s interesting is Kelly and Lanzing deliver a take on Snyder’s concepts that’s a little bit easier to understand. Though the story is rather compressed, it does a good explanation of the villain Barbatos’ creation and the general events of the real Dark Nights: Metal.

Tales From the Dark Multiverse: Dark Nights Metal #1 is the final stand against Barbatos with the final Justice League battling it out. Who remains is interesting and while there are hints at how they’ve remained the comic could have been helped by being expanded. Like so many of the Tales From the Dark Multiverse, the issue is worthy of being a miniseries or even more expanded issue or graphic novel. The comic is a bit too compressed in that way. Some great concepts that I’d love to see more of.

The comic also does a lot more on the “metal” concept. Snyder and the team of creators he’s worked with have often talked about the musical aspects of their two events. The events take on a “metal” attitude but neither has really played heavily on that concept. Here, it’s leaned into heavily with one weapon being a guitar reminiscent of guitar blasters of the past. Within one character we get more of the “metal” attitude than the whole of both of the real events this riffs off of.

The art by Karl Mostert is interesting. Mostert is joined by Trevor Scott and Norm Rapmund on ink, Romulo Fajardo, Jr. on color, and Andworld Design on lettering. Some of the design reminded me of the video game Brutal Legend but overall, there’s some solid concepts in characters and the world. There’s a death and destruction of it all without it being overly dark and depressed. The opening of the comic features a great use of panels and a character running from one to another. It helps speed along the story and really nails home what’s going on. The design of the comic overall has a very “rock and roll” feel about it while still delivering bright colors evoking a little bit of 70s van art in a good way.

Tales From the Dark Multiverse: Dark Nights Metal #1’s ending would lead me to believe this series of one-shots is done which is a shame. It provided an interesting outlet for creators to deliver something different, infusing a darker/horror/twisted take on classic DC stories. Who knows what lies on the other side of Dark Nights: Death Metal but here’s hoping it leaves space to explore more of the idea and let us see the adventures of The Final Knight.

Story: Scott Snyder, Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly Writers: Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly
Art: Karl Mostert Ink: Trevor Scott, Norm Rapmund
Color: Romulo Fajardo Jr. Letterer: Andworld Design
Story: 7.5 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.5 Recommendation: Read

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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