Overview:
In 2020, DC Comics released Dark Nights: Death Metal, a crossover event that follows the events of Dark Nights: Metal. Written by Scott Snyder and featuring art by Greg Capullo, the series expands the dark multiverse concept introduced in its predecessor.
The story focuses on key characters like Wonder Woman, Batman, and Superman as they unite against a new threat: the Darkest Knight, an evil version of Batman who seeks to dominate the multiverse. The event showcases various antagonists, including the forces of the Batman Who Laughs, who play a crucial role in the overarching conflict.
Fans and critics generally view Dark Nights: Death Metal positively, praising its bold storytelling and dynamic artwork. The series features numerous tie-ins, providing a wider exploration of a darker DC Universe and allowing different characters to shine. It blends elements of horror, fantasy, and superhero action, creating an epic narrative that resonates with both longtime fans and newcomers.
Dark Nights: Death Metal concludes the “Dark Multiverse Saga”, a 5-year chapter in the post-Rebirth DC Comics era.
Background Reading:
- Dark Nights: Metal
- Heroes in Crisis
- Year of the Villain
Related Guides
Best Way To Read:
Main Collection
Main Story
- Absolute Death Metal
- Collects: Dark Knights: Death Metal #1–7
Tie-Ins
- Dark Nights: Death Metal – The Darkest Knight
- Collects: Dark Nights: Death Metal – Legends of the Dark Knights #1, Dark Nights: Death Metal Guidebook #1, Dark Nights: Death Metal – Trinity Crisis #1, Dark Nights: Death Metal – Speed Metal #1 and Dark Nights: Death Metal – Multiverse’s End #1
- Dark Nights: Death Metal – War of the Multiverses
- Collects: Dark Nights: Death Metal – Last Stories of the DC Universe #1 and Dark Nights: Death Metal – The Last 52: War of the Multiverses #1
- Dark Nights: Death Metal – The Multiverse Who Laughs
- Collects: Dark Nights: Death Metal – Robin King #1, Dark Nights: Death Metal – Rise of the New God #1, Dark Nights: Death Metal – Infinite Hour Exxxtreme! #1, Dark Nights: Death Metal – The Multiverse Who Laughs #1 and Dark Nights: Death Metal – The Secret Origin #1
- Justice League: Death Metal – The Darkest Knight
- Collects: Justice League (vol. 4) #53–57
Alternative Collections
Main Story
- Dark Nights Death Metal
- Collects: Dark Knights: Death Metal #1–7
For crossover and significant events, I typically only read the main story the first time I encounter it. Trying to read all of the tie-ins with the story tends to make them increasingly convoluted and are not crucial to the main narrative. However, I think they are important to read, as many series-shifting plotlines can happen.
For the tie-in issues, I only read them as they come up in the reading guide that I am working through. This can become problematic because the tie-in issues are not always included in collected editions of the event. So you may need to hunt for them.
Reading Order:
| Title | Importance | Collected |
|---|---|---|
| Dark Nights: Death Metal #1 | Main Story | Absolute Death Metal Dark Nights Death Metal |
| Dark Nights: Death Metal #2 | Main Story | Absolute Death Metal Dark Nights Death Metal |
| Dark Nights: Death Metal: Legends of the Dark Knights #1 | Tie-in | Dark Nights: Death Metal – The Darkest Knight |
| Dark Nights: Death Metal #3 | Main Story | Absolute Death Metal Dark Nights Death Metal |
| Dark Nights: Death Metal: Guidebook #1 | Tie-in | Dark Nights: Death Metal – The Darkest Knight |
| Dark Nights: Death Metal: Trinity Crisis #1 | Tie-in | Dark Nights: Death Metal – The Darkest Knight |
| Dark Nights: Death Metal: Speed Metal #1 | Tie-in | Dark Nights: Death Metal – The Darkest Knight |
| Dark Nights: Death Metal: Multiverse’s End #1 | Tie-in | Dark Nights: Death Metal – The Darkest Knight |
| Justice League Vol. 4 #53 | Justice League Tie-in | Justice League: Death Metal – The Darkest Knight |
| Dark Nights: Death Metal #4 | Main Story | Absolute Death Metal Dark Nights Death Metal |
| ark Nights: Death Metal: Robin King #1 | Tie-in | Dark Nights: Death Metal – The Multiverse Who Laughs |
| Dark Nights: Death Metal: Rise of the New God #1 | Tie-in | Dark Nights: Death Metal – The Multiverse Who Laughs |
| Dark Nights: Death Metal: Infinite Hour Exxxtreme #1 | Tie-in | Dark Nights: Death Metal – The Multiverse Who Laughs |
| Justice League Vol. 4 #54 | Justice League Tie-in | Justice League: Death Metal – The Darkest Knight |
| Justice League Vol. 4 #55 | Justice League Tie-in | Justice League: Death Metal – The Darkest Knight |
| Justice League Vol. 4 #56 | Justice League Tie-in | Justice League: Death Metal – The Darkest Knight |
| Justice League Vol. 4 #57 | Justice League Tie-in | Justice League: Death Metal – The Darkest Knight |
| Dark Nights: Death Metal #5 | Main Story | Absolute Death Metal Dark Nights Death Metal |
| Dark Nights: Death Metal: The Multiverse Who Laughs #1 | Tie-in | Dark Nights: Death Metal – The Multiverse Who Laughs |
| Dark Nights: Death Metal: The Secret Origin #1 | Tie-in | Dark Nights: Death Metal – The Multiverse Who Laughs |
| Dark Nights: Death Metal: The Last Stories of the DC Universe #1 | Tie-in | Dark Nights: Death Metal – War of the Multiverses |
| Dark Nights: Death Metal #6 | Main Story | Absolute Death Metal Dark Nights Death Metal |
| Dark Nights: Death Metal: The Last 52: War of the Multiverses #1 | Tie-in | Dark Nights: Death Metal – War of the Multiverses |
| Dark Nights: Death Metal #7 | Main Story | Absolute Death Metal Dark Nights Death Metal |
Publications Impact
Coming out of Dark Nights: Death Metal, DC Universe moved into its Infinite Frontier relaunch with Future State.
- Series Ended in the Event
- Justice League vol. 4
- Batman and the Outsiders
References:
Feature Image from Dark Nights: Death Metal #1 cover art by Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion, FCO Plascencia
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