We knew it had something to do with Metal, but DC tipped their hand in a livestream today from Dallas Fan Expo announcing “Dark Nights: Metal” from writer Scott Snyder, artist Greg Capullo, inker Jonathan Glapion, and colorist FCO Plascencia. “Dark Days: The Forge” and “Dark Days: The Casting,” which we covered here, lead up the event, with Metal launching in August.
The panel began with DC Co-Publisher Dan DiDio (whose last name was misspelled) saying how successful DC’s Rebirth initiative had been before bringing Co-Publisher Jim Lee out (Who is providing a third of the art on “The Forge” and “The Casting” with Andy Kubert, and John Romita, Jr.) alongside Snyder. They showed the cover for “The Forge” which we had seen in the June solicits, as well as pencils for Lee’s cover of “The Casting”
DiDio asked the two to describe where this was taking us with Snyder telling the crowd that “Dark Days” sets up the event and the scope of the story, when he pitched it the story was too huge that they needed a warm up. He then described that this story would bring back characters from before and has seeds and Easter Eggs all throughout the DCU in his and Capullo’s “Batman” run from The New 52, as well as Geoff Johns’ “Hawkman,” and the character Mister Terrifc, Grant Morrison’s “Batman” and Tom King’s current run. “This stretches back to the Source Wall and beyond,” Snyder stated, “We are going to have a crazy ass fun time this summer.” Lee added that it was an honor to work with Scott as he feels Snyder has a handle on weaving in concepts that feel like they should always be there.
The panel brought Greg Capullo out then and DiDio asked why Snyder and Capullo were returning and they agreed it had to be more than for Batman. Snyder said they were allowed to push the envelope in their original run and fans supported it. DiDio asked what the spirit of the event would be and Greg said “metal” Snyder had an idea about metalworking and we see that in the names “Forge” and “Casting.” Batman will discover new mysteries and histories of the DCU, stretching all the way back to the beginning of man, in Nth metal, in Hawkman, “from Oa to Star City.” This story has also been over a year in the making with Snyder working closely with Johns. This story will be grounded in “real world” (Snyder-manipulated) science, dark matter, dark energy, the periodic table, etc. They then revealed the title and first cover from Capullo.
Snyder added he hopes this story will be celebratory and totally bonkers. It’s not a dark Gotham-based story but a full DCU-spanning book with many “explosive, WTF moments.”
DiDio asked how it would effect the DCU, and Snyder said the core cast is the Justice League, and “Metal” will bring back characters and introduce new ones you won’t expect. This DC looking to the future. “If Rebirth was about bringing back the core of the old, “Metal” is about building on the new based on real DC cosmology and mythos.” Lee added that at the core this is story of Batman’s relationship with the Justice League.
On working with writers like James Tynion IV (“Detective Comics,” and co-writer on “The Forge” and “The Casting”), Joshua Williamson (“The Flash”) and Tom King (“Batman”) Snyder told the crowd, “This is like the fantasy I always had of working at DC.”
Capullo told the panel he is excited to do a ton of new design work and explore new areas of the DCU, as well as to reunite with Snyder on something new and special.
Snyder, said the impetus of the story was on Batman working a case and saying “I don’t want to solve this case because I don’t want to see what’s at the end of it.”
This story will draw again from everything Snyder and Capullo worked on from “Court of Owls” to “Superheavy” to Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason’s “Superman” and Greg Rucka’s “Wonder Woman.” Lee also added this is the first Batman-centric companywide crossover event.
DiDio closed asking what everyone is the most excited for.
Snyder told the crowd this is his and the artists love letter to the DCU and he hopes that scope is present. Capullo stressed this is the biggest thing he has ever worked on and hopes fans leave seeing all the possibilities and endless future story possibilities. Lee said this is the first big DC crossover event he has worked on, and hopes not to disappoint.
“Dark Days: The Forge” and “Dark Days: The Casting” come out in June and July subsequently before the main event launches in “Dark Nights: Metal” in August. We’ll upload the full livestream when it becomes available. Click here for coverage of the post announcement Q&A.
