Comic Review: Dark Knights: Death Metal #1

DC Comics

Writer: Scott Snyder

Artist: Greg Capullo & FCO Plascencia

Letters: Tom Napolitano

Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo are at it again with more Dark Knights shenanigans. The dynamic duo has created some fantastic stories together over the years and is giving readers an encore to their most metal series. Dark Knights: Death Metal #1 gives DC fans another crisis-esque story that’s full of memorable moments and wild action.

In this new series, Wonder Woman is the guardian of hell while The Batman Who Laughs is in control of the surface. It’s a bleak world where the Justice League doesn’t have the presence that we are used to seeing. I don’t want to spoil too much because most of this issue’s joy is found in discovering everything. Fans of Wonder Woman will be delighted to see that she takes center stage in this issue, complete with some stellar moments and rad lines of dialogue.

Like the rest of the books in the series, Dark Knights: Death Metal #1 fully embraces its name, embracing itself as one of the most metal superhero books ever. Snyder’s energetic writing is perfectly matched with Capullo’s distinct style, making the issue just feel loud. It’s fun, energetic, and has a feel that you won’t find in any other superhero comic book. What makes this issue even more impressive is that it isn’t all just mindless fun. Snyder and company have injected an incredible amount of heart into this book. The action is impressive and every beat hits just right. Dark Knights: Death Metal #1 has a soul that few superhero books have now, making it one of the best debuts for DC in quite some time.

With how strong Snyder’s script is, it’s impressive that Capullo manages to steal the spotlight in this issue. The character’s designs, especially Wonder Woman’s, are all absolutely fantastic. Wonder Woman is drawn with incredible strength, making her look more Amazonian than she has looked in years. Her (and everyone else’s) design is unique, injecting tons of personality into the character while still keeping the elements that make her recognizable.

Unsurprisingly, the art in general just looks fantastic. Capullo and colorist FCO Plascencia have unmatched chemistry. The art maintains a stellar amount of quality from panel to panel. The characters look consistently great in their poses and expressions. Plascencia’s decision to use bright colors in a moody world pays off here, adding tons of extra heart to this chapter. Tom Napolotino’s letters deserve praise as well. The font size and style enhance the aesthetic and gives the script just a bit more personality.

Dark Knights: Death Metal #1 is another home run for this creative team. Fans of these characters should absolutely pick up this issue and get on board.

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