DC’s upcoming “Dark Nights: Metal” event will be getting larger starting this fall. A series of seven one-shots will be released, all featuring evil, corrupted versions of Batman, invading Earth from the Dark Multiverse. DC Entertainment Executive Editor Patrick McCallum gave a hint of what to expect by revealing the names of the featured alter-egos, “With names like The Red Death, The Murder Machine, The Dawnbreaker, The Drowned, The Merciless, The Devastator and The Batman Who Laughs, it’s pretty clear that these creatures mean business and prove just how dangerous the Dark Multiverse will be for DC’s heroes.”
The one-shots will feature many familiar DC creators from the current ‘Rebirth’ books. Starting on September 20 and wrapping up on November 15, the books will come out more or less weekly in the following order: “Batman: The Red Death” #1 by Joshua Williamson and Carmine Di Giandomenico, “Batman: The Murder Machine” #1 by Frank Tieri and Ricardo Federici, “Batman: The Dawnbreaker” #1 by Sam Humphries and Ethan Van Sciver, “Batman: The Drowned” #1 by Dan Abnett and Philip Tan, and “Batman: The Merciless” #1 by Peter J. Tomasi and Francis Manapul. The teams for “Batman: The Devastator” #1 and “The Batman Who Laughs” #1 have not been announced at this time. Each one-shot will feature a foil cover with art by Jason Fabok.
There’s not much to go on right now, but some of the creator and character name pairings are interesting. For instance, The Red Death sounds like they could be Flash related, especially with the creative team of that series on it. The same goes for The Dawnbreaker and Green Lantern, The Drowned and Aquaman, and The Merciless and Wonder Woman. The cover art also seems to confirm those assumptions. I’m hoping the reason that DC hasn’t announced creators for “The Batman Who Laughs” #1 is that they’re lining up Ed Brubaker (who wrote ‘Batman: The Man Who Laughs’), but I won’t get my hopes up.
In addition to the one-shots, there will also be a crossover, titled ‘The Gotham Resistance,’ starting in the pages of “Teen Titans” #13 on September 13, before jumping over to “Nightwing,” and “Suicide Squad.” The first issue of the main event series, “Dark Nights: Metal” #1 by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, will be released on August 16.
Check out the preview images and the full press release below.
DC HINTS AT EVIL VERSIONS OF BATMAN FOR DARK NIGHTS: METAL ONE-SHOTS
Invaders from the Dark Multiverse Attack Earth, Giving Rise to
The ‘Gotham Resistance’
BURBANK, CA (June 16, 2017) – Evil versions of the Dark Knight are coming to terrorize Earth this September, as DC teased early details on a series of seven one-shot comics that tie into the upcoming DARK NIGHTS: METAL event. Each one-shot story spotlights a different, corrupted version of Batman spawned from the Dark Multiverse to wreak havoc on Earth.
“With names like The Red Death, The Murder Machine, The Dawnbreaker, The Drowned, The Merciless, The Devastator and The Batman Who Laughs, it’s pretty clear that these creatures mean business and prove just how dangerous the Dark Multiverse will be for DC’s heroes,” said Patrick McCallum, DC Entertainment Executive Editor.
The terror begins on September 20 with BATMAN: THE RED DEATH #1, by Joshua Williamson (writer) Carmine Di Giandomenico (artist), followed by BATMAN: THE MURDER MACHINE #1, written by Frank Tieri with art by Ricardo Federici on September 27. Writer Sam Humphries and artist Ethan Van Sciver will team up on BATMAN: THE DAWNBREAKER #1, on sale October 4, with Dan Abnett and artist Philip Tan collaborating on BATMAN: THE DROWNED #1 October 18. The month concludes with Peter J. Tomasi and Francis Manapul on BATMAN: THE MERCILESS #1, on sale October 25.
November features two additional one-shot titles, BATMAN: THE DEVASTATOR #1 (on sale November 1) and THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS #1 (on sale November 15).
The presence of these malevolent characters infects some of DC’s deadliest Super-Villains, who are ready to take down Gotham City once and for all. But rest assured, DC’s bravest heroes aren’t rolling over for anybody and are ready to fight for the city’s very soul in “Gotham Resistance,” a series of crossover stories beginning with TEEN TITANS #12 written by Benjamin Percy with art by MIrka Andolfo (on sale September 13), NIGHTWING #29 by Tim Seeley and Paul Pelletier (on sale September 20) and SUICIDE SQUAD #26 by Rob Williams and Stjepan Sejic (on sale September 27).
Continued below”With the combination of an event comic helmed by two of the most talented creators in comic history a legion of evil Batmen and crossover titles that show just how deeply this event impacts the DCU, fans will know now more than ever that DARK NIGHTS: METAL is something not to be missed,” said McCallum.
Each $3.99 BATMAN one-shot ships with a special foil stamped cover featuring a protective UV coating, with art by fan-favorite creator Jason Fabok (JUSTICE LEAGUE: DARKSEID WAR, SUICIDE SQUAD: THE BLACK VAULT, BATMAN ETERNAL). Issue #1 of DARK NIGHTS: METAL hits comic book stores and digital retailers on Wednesday, August 16. For more information on DC, visit the DC website, www.dcomics.com, or download the DC All Access app, available for both Apple and Android devices.
About DC Entertainment:
DC Entertainment, home to the iconic brands DC (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, the Flash, etc.), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables, etc.) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating across Warner Bros. and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is one of the largest English-language publishers of comics in the world.
