Dark Nights: Metal by Scott Snyder is a DC Comics graphic novel event book that brings nightmare forms from the dark universe to do battle with the Justice League. This book introduces The Batman Who Laughs a character that is created from a Batman nightmare where he becomes the Joker. This new villain is an instant classic that will be around the DCU for a while. Every scene with The Batman Who Laughs works well, but he’s not in this book enough. This book is very disjointed from the beginning and gets to about the halfway point until everything starts to click together. The beginning jumps all over the place and then when things start happening I feel like I missed something, or if it was a flashback. I will go for the ride with any crazy scenario the writer comes up with, just have it make sense, is my only ask. The second half of the book is good it still flips back and forth but has a real purpose and direction that is heading for an epic finale. I read Dark Days: The Road to Metal previously and would not recommend that whole book. The only two books you need to read before Dark Nights: Metal is Dark Days: The Forge #1, and Dark Days: The Casting #1. Scott Snyder is my favorite writer in modern-day Comics but I have not enjoyed the Metal saga, it’s missing the focus in writing the Court of the Owls saga. I’m still a fan but Dark Days and Dark Nights have been missed opportunities in his writing for me. Dark Nights: Metal collects DARK NIGHTS: METAL #1-6. Dark Nights: Metal was published on June 12, 2018.

Plot Summary: The Dark Universe breaks through the Multiverse. When it comes in it sends Batman to the Dark Universe. The Justice League has to both save Earth and save Batman. Superman journey’s into the Dark Universe. While teams search for metal objects that can drive hurt and drive the Dark Universe back Wonder Woman and Hawkgirl, Aquaman and Deathstroke, Green Lantern and Mr. Terrific, and Cyborg and Flash. Only the heroes don’t know that the metals can also increase the powers of the Dark Universe.

What I Liked: The Batman Who Laughs is terrifying especially his demon Robins who all look like the Joker and are led by chains. I don’t know why the only thing they say is “Crow”, but I loved the design. The Batman Who Laughs is Batman’s nightmare, and Superman’s nightmare is Batman Doomsday, Which is a combo of Batman and the creature who almost killed Superman, Doomsday. I loved the Batman team-up with a very unlikely foe, I don’t want to spoil that moment but it’s great and a highlight of the book. The ending was great and led to an epic ending. Snyder and artist Capullo teaming up again I liked a lot of the character art in this one and the details in the one-pagers were epic.

What I Disliked: The beginning is very rough and hard to put together. I considered making Dark Nights: Metal a did not finish but was able to push through. I felt like I missed reading something in the beginning because it did not make sense and some of the jumps in the narrative are jarring. The team-up that I brought up in my likes was awesome, but narratively there’s a big stretch of how did this character get to that place. Barrbatos the main villain just wasn’t all that interesting when compared to The Batman Who Laughs.

Ratings and Recommendations: It hurts me to say this but I will not recommend Dark Nights: Metal. The beginning did too much damage to a good solid second half. I liked some parts a great deal and hated others. I rated Dark Nights:Metal By Scott Snyder 2.5 stars out of 5.