Prior to the death of Brainiac, he assembled four different groups consisting of various mainstay teams of the DC Comics universe.
The Justice League, the Teen Titans, Justice League Dark, some members of the Suicide Squad, and some of the Legion of Doom are all mixed up in splinter units to help prevent the universe from plummeting into chaos. As The four Justice League teams try to stop the giant-sized Titans that are ravaging Brainiac’s home planet Colu, Amanda Waller and Green Arrow try to find solutions to save earth. If the Justice League fails to save the planet Colu, then both Colu and earth will die of the same fate. Can the four Justice League teams consisting of different established teams get along long enough to prevent the death of their planets? Is there a traitor among them? And who is behind the impending destruction of Colu and earth?
The writers on this book are all well-established writers who have a pretty good resume. Snyder and Tynion are no strangers to each other having written a ton of Batman stories together since the New 52, and Joshua Williamson is no stranger to writing Justice League since he wrote a solid 6 part mini event that featured the Justice League and Suicide Squad going toe to toe. Each writer shows their strengths, balancing out the character dynamics and making the plot as interesting as the visuals presented within this title. The good thing is that Batman isn’t center stage, which was a brief concern that I think many readers were worried about. Snyder is a good writer and Dark Nights Metal was an enjoyable event despite minor delays. But thankfully, with the collaboration of Tynion and Williamson, that isn’t the case. Every character feels like they have some shine more than the usual. The team dynamics of each justice league team are fun and exciting. We get to see what each team has to offer to the table when face to face with a threat that puts them all (hero, anti-hero, and semi-villains alike) out of their element. The writers do a great job at establishing the different dynamics and chemistry of each time which it makes it just as much of a thrill ride as the story itself.
As for the art, it’s no surprise that Francis Manapul does a fine job at drawing cool layouts and panels. At times, one almost forgets that it’s Manapul drawing his pages because there is a certain look to his style that shows more growth in his craft. Accompanied with artwork by Marcus To, it’s just a solid combination of artists to help bring the plot and characters to life. None of the art is shabby and it shows within the pages that they’re bringing their A game on this title with this issue alone.
If you wanted to see the fall out of the Dark Nights Metal event has caused for the DC universe, or have an interest to see where the DCU is going next, then you should definitely pick up this title. It’s not every day that readers can get a cool book where the core teams of the Justice League, JLA, Teen Titans, Justice League Dark, Suicide Squad, and the Legion of Doom are all on the same side to fight a larger threat. Add it to your pull list!!!
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